Was there something in the water when DC was preparing this week’s books? Something… anti-American?!? Spoilers for those who haven’t made it to the store yet.Not only did Superman renounce his American citizenship in Action Comics #900 – in a story by the man who’s written the upcoming Man of Steel movie, so it’ll be interesting to see how big the outrage to this gets – but in Justice Society of America #50, we got to see the Golden Age Flash explain that his team isn’t really the Justice Society of America…
…As if that wasn’t enough, Batman officially reforms the Justice League International at the end of Generation Lost (Justice League of America not enough for you anymore, Dark Knight?) and Brightest Day #24 appears to declare that only an Englishman can keep Swamp Thing in check.
I know these are all coincidences (and, for that matter, none of these events are actually anti-American in anything other than the most reductive, outrage-seeking eyes), but still: Weird week for DC when it comes to patriotism, this week.
April 28th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
You’re hoping someone from Fox News reads this Blog post, aren’t you?
–J.
April 28th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Someone once said “There’s no such thing as bad publicity”, or some such thing. Alienating half of the country for no real reason may just prove that point wrong.
With any luck, this may finally be the tipping point DiDio.
April 28th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Considering the vast percentage of comics creators (along with editors & higher-ups) are pretty liberal, it should be no surprise that stuff like this makes it into the comics every now and then. Every generation defines its heroes as it sees fit, and if you’re the “gatekeeper” to those heroes, then you define them as you see them. It’s unfortunate that in the case of Superman renouncing his U.S. citizenship (not sure if he ever had it to begin with, but whatever), it’s an act of rejection, rather than the inclusive act of the U.N. granting Superman world-wide citizenship, as they did several decades ago. That way, he was still very much a “Citizen of the World” without specifically rejecting citizenship in his own country.
But, what better way to goose attention for Action Comics #900 than to lob a politically-loaded grenade or two? Modern Comics Marketing 101.
April 28th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
So what are the writers at DC trying to imply here. The American Way is the WRONG WAY????
If so, maybe the writers should QUIT their jobs and go build electric cars in France. If it weren’t for the American Way, these spoiled Liberal Writers that hate America wont be living out their dreams.
When will the Anti-Capitalism issue be coming out? I go and put it on reserve, NOT!!!
America isn’t in the wrong, it’s the current Administration, Congress, and Czar’s that are making America look bad in the world.
This Superman #900 would NEVER HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY DURING WWII and even during THE COLD WAR. You guys at DC better come to grips with reality here. A major Majority of Americans LOVE THIS COUNTRY and I’ll be damned if a few in the MINORITY that Hate this country are going to set the Trend of how we see ourselves. These writers MUST hate America, hate the Military, DESPISE the very Rich and Salivate over a Tyranny Government. I wonder when Superman is going to BURN THE AMERICAN FLAG?????? Hey, do I have ESP??? That coming next??? I admire the Superman franchise but with it going in this direction, you can say goodbye to fans of it like myself an THOUSANDS of others.
Good Luck Spreading the Hate of this Country and get some Anti Bacterial soap to keep your face nice and clean after KISSING OBAMAS ASS!!!!!!
April 28th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
DC Comics are the ones spreading the hate of this country? Really? Interesting.
You guys seriously think this has anything to do with an anti-American agenda? I’m saying “seriously” here, people.
Any of you actually read the 8-or-so-paged short that all this is stewing from?
Further, any of you read the dialogue in the panel shown here in this article? Anyone?
God Bless The U.S.A!
–J.
April 28th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
They IS Bad Publicity. It’s Called BOYCOTT!!!! DON’T BUY THIS CRAPPY ANTI AMERICAN TOILET PAPER , DC is Charging $2.99 for. Walmart has a 4 pack of Scott Toilet tissue for $4.69. More wipes for your buck!
April 28th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
There is a big difference between Jay Garrick calling out Joe MaCarthy and Supes renouncing the US. The former is the sort of thing we see all the time from Captain America, to great effect. The latter, sadly, seems petulant.
I get that you can write a story where Supes feels like he’s being used by Washington. But this…it feels wrong. And I say that as a liberal who has never been big on “my country, right or wrong.” I really hope that this doesn’t go any place.
April 28th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
I said elsewhere this proves to me that dc is run by people who are segment of liberals that don’t believe America is great. What superman wants to do should not have denounce his citizenship. JSA thing goes back a while and statement for the insanely paranoid McCarthy and his modern day witch trials. Superman thing is one of the stupidest thing I have heard and right up there with one more day. They were already moving away from Truth, Justice, and american way comics and movies. This is just proof.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
In the Superman backup story in question, Superman’s intent is to prevent blowback against the US for actions that he takes on his own initative internationally. He is so closely associated with America that anywhere he goes people assume he’s acting somehow in concert with the government. It makes sense that he would try to do something to say “I’m my own man, I don’t work for the government”, but “renouncing citizenship” just seems dumb way to do it. I mean, Clark Kent is still a US Citizen, right? And anyway, in the story it seemed he was really standing up for American style principles of democracy in Iran, so he clearly still believes in the American Way at least as an ideal. Can we all just agree that it is a poorly scripted story?
April 29th, 2011 at 7:16 am
Superman will renounce his citizenship, but still act as if American values and morals are correct, it is the typical schizophrenic liberal mindset; give me liberty, but not responsibility. Maybe this will lead into a story showcasing decisions have repercussions. I suggest they give Superman a limited “alien” visa, once it expires he must leave the US soil or become a citizen. Then they could have a story line with Supes spending time in all the other Nations before he realizes no nation is perfect, you take the good with the bad, and you live a sacrificial life for the good of others without whining about how people “perceive” you-you know, sort of like how Shuster and Siegel created Superman to be.
April 29th, 2011 at 8:06 am
To be legitimately unfair to DC, because the timber of this debate isn’t mockingly stupid enough, this week did see Swamp Thing slaughter a corporate board who were lifting up humanity by poluting the planet. The trickle down effect from their market capitalism was amazing, and yet that “green” bastard Swamp Thing killed them.
April 29th, 2011 at 8:31 am
Congratulations DC Comics for a clear-eyed, intelligent direction for its heroes. Justice does not end at America’s borders and super heroes, by definition, are not xenophobes and bigots. But there is even more work for them to do now in America, ironically. Nearly two-thirds of Americans soon will be cornered into a desperate, enduring underclass while a narrow, tiny mega-wealthy elite–enabled by politicians of all stripes and a corrupted media–sucks the nation’s wealth into their already full coffers. With wealth, power, corruption, and greed so concentrated in America, our super heroes have the biggest fight of their lives ahead of them.
April 29th, 2011 at 8:46 am
To paraphrase Kurt Busiek, there’s a difference between “renounce” and “denounce.”
April 29th, 2011 at 9:09 am
I can see how it would be easy to have a knee-jerk reaction to the panels at the top of the article. And they do look stupid/anti-American when out of context.
But, at least in my view of the story, it wasn’t so much attacking America as it was a rehash of the storyline in Gurenwald’s Captain America where Steve Rogers quits being Captain America to avoid being an instrument of the government. Or here, being perceived as an instrument of the US government.
Basically, not condemning, but trying to put distance between a character and the government.
April 29th, 2011 at 11:35 am
Any criticism of U.S. foreign policy is de facto “anti-Americanism.” Any dissent from an American Exceptionalist ideology is “anti-Americanism.” Suggesting that my country should respect the rule of law, both domestic and international, refrain from violence as a first resort, walk the talk of human rights rhetoric — “anti-Americanism.”
I say this as an American who deplores the corruption of our democracy by corporations, imperialists and plutocrats — kindly rethink your terms.
April 29th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Applause for Kevin!
April 30th, 2011 at 10:15 am
this is shamefull!
May 8th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
I wonder if DC penned that before Navy Seals took out Osama Bin Laden May 1st, 2011. Superman might want to rethink his role in aftermath of that incident. Eh, or go kick back for a cold one in Fortress of Solitude until all the bin Laden videos released. Would make for good comic book!
May 15th, 2011 at 7:56 am
You know damn well that if Superman made a claim that he was not satisfied with Obama’s Liberal agenda then all hell would break loose in the media calling Superman a racist and all sorts of other crap. We get upset about him resigning his citizenship and were told to stop whining because “its just a book” wake up people the Liberals are starting to control every thing its called spoiled brat mentality. Every thing bad can happen to us cuz were whining but nothing bad can happen to them cuz their spoiled