And then there was that time when Superman renounced his American citizenship, and everyone went crazy. I admit, my favorite “mainstream” reaction to the story came from the rightwing politico site Pajamas Media, which took an entirely different message than everyone else – that the White House was to blame for forcing Superman’s hand (“That the Administration thought it could dress down Superman with impunity proves that it doesn’t understand how far it has fallen since the heady days of 2008, long before the desire for change was upended by the “change” that actually ensued,” it declared) – but lots of eyes are suddenly on the Man of Steel, and not for the reasons that DC would probably like them to be. So, what happens next?
Wow, That Whole “Walking Across The Country” Thing Really Must Have Soured Superman on America, Huh?
Now, Chris Roberson may have brought me on board “Grounded” – For those who jumped off the Superman title when J. Michael Straczynski got started and haven’t taken another look since Roberson replaced him, you really should, you know – but I can’t help but feel that David Goyer’s short in Action Comics #900 weirdly undercuts the premise of the entire arc a little. Before Superman is even done rediscovering himself by walking amongst common Americans, he’s renouncing his citizenship and saying that the American Way “isn’t enough anymore”? How can that not be read as a commentary on his “Grounded” experience, even if it’s an accidental one?
I have to wonder whether the inevitable follow-up to the Goyer short – and with this much controversy, there’ll definitely be some kind of follow-up – will be a quick swerve by Roberson to explain that Superman’s walk ends with him deciding that he will un-renounce his citizenship having realized that the American Way is less to do with American politics and more to do with the American dream. I mean, if Roberson can save us from JMS’ unfeeling Barry Allen with one line, then surely he can fix this for DC, right?
Why Was DC So Clearly Unprepared For This?
It’s not just that there was no fanfare ahead of time for the citizenship thing, it’s that the official DCU blog is still entirely devoid of any reference to the story, the coverage, anything. The “This Just Happened: Action Comics #900” post from yesterday was entirely about the cliffhanger ending to Paul Cornell’s lead story, with no mention about what people were actually talking about in the issue. Did no-one at the company think that maybe Superman saying that he didn’t stand for Truth, Justice and The American Way anymore would be of more interest to most people than four different Doomsdays? Really?
Who Knew That Citizenship Was So Important In Comics?
Between this and Marvel’s “American Panther” storyline in upcoming Black Panther issues, somehow citizenship has become the hot new topic for superhero comics. As one who went through all the immigration paperwork and testing myself, I can at least attest to the experience being full of drama and deep emotional pain – I can’t wait for the issue focusing on T’Challa reeling from realizing how expensive the whole process can become – but, seriously, who saw this coming? With Marvel already knee-deep in Fear Itself, I think DC has the chance to take advantage of all this publicity and apparent need to address these issues. Dan, Jim, I have two words for you: Immigration Crisis. You know it could work. Give me a call.
April 29th, 2011 at 8:45 am
So, if Superman is not American, then where does that leave Clark? It’s always funny to see how the mainstream media will pick up on something like this and then never put it in context. For now, it’s just a short back up story in an issue. It may never mean anything or be referred to again. The Damen Lindeloff piece in the book, about Jor El contracting someone to help design the ship that will send Kal El to earth was WAAY more compelling, I think.
April 29th, 2011 at 8:59 am
DC had to know that this would kick up a dust storm of trouble. If they didn’t anticipate it, then they’re all a bunch of idiots.
April 29th, 2011 at 9:50 am
DC is rudderless these days. Oh, yes, it has some really good comics and some really good writers. But outside of the Batbooks and the big events, things kind of just happen. Editors either overedit or underedit. Writers with shiny resumes do what they want. Nothing is consistent with anything else. It’s no wonder that JMS prefers to write the Earth-One books.
I prefer DC to Marvel. Always have, always will. But Marvel is the better run company. We might not like the direction that Joey Q and Brevort send things, but it’s done with a plan, with everyone on board, and with remarkable media savvy. Can’t really say that for DiDio and friends.
April 29th, 2011 at 9:51 am
Since JMS was to lazy to finish Grounded (just like the Twelve and Squadron Supreme) people don’t care about Grounded. Yet another story about a depressed Superman. It didn’t work before (Superman For Tomorrow where Jim Lee’s art couldn’t even save it)and it doesn’t now. New writer or not. People don’t want weak Superman. They want a strong one that people will actually be inspired by. The back up story was just that a back up story. The editor didn’t think nothing of it and the rest of the higher ups at DC most likely had no clue about it. Come next week the media will not even care anymore. End of story.
April 29th, 2011 at 9:51 am
I’ve actually been surprised by some conservative commentators not having a problem with this. Saying superman is protecting us from political fallout
April 29th, 2011 at 9:58 am
They shouldn’t have written it more as Pro-World and not so Anti-America. In some regards, it makes sense, haivng Superman protect the planet and not just one country. But how boring is it going to be if Superman leaves Metropolis and just solves world issues. i wouldn’t read that. This is a bad call. Not because its “anti america and the unpatriotic liberals are taking over” because that’s just iggnorant red neck talk. But because its a bad move for storytelling.
April 29th, 2011 at 10:04 am
The Pajamas Media thing seemed partially tongue in cheek to me. I think you took it too literally.
April 29th, 2011 at 10:16 am
I figured it was one of those things were DC knew there would be some talk and didn’t really worry about it and it just blew up in their faces once it started picking up steam and didn’t know how to actually react to it. It makes me wonder if that means DC is changing directions on the Superman title again to capitalize on this.
April 29th, 2011 at 10:23 am
On the plus side, pointless nonstop coverage of the wedding of the potential future symbolic leader of another country on another continent has drowned out the uproar somewhat.
As far as this goes–it’s a back-up in a 100-page book. I really wouldn’t be surprised if DC wasn’t anticipating anyone noticing. It’s not like they’re about to launch into a massive “Superman Without a Country” arc or anything. In the context of the way these anniversary issues tend to work, I don’t think regular comic readers pay much attention to the back-ups or expect them to represent major status quo changes. I just got the sense that they gave Goyer a few pages to write whatever he wanted and this was what he came up with.
That said, wasn’t the point of one of those JMS “Grounded” issues that Superman is the ultimate illegal immigrant? If we’re going to take all of this so seriously, I would think conservatives would be more outraged that he obtained US citizenship to begin with. And as others have said, there’s no indication that this is meant to reflect at all Clark Kent’s citizenship status. I can see frustration over the symbolic loss of the whole pursuit of the “American way” thing, but Superman not wanting his actions to be seen as representing the US kind of makes sense.
I’m amused by the idea that some of them are arguing it’s typical liberal anti-American crap and others think it’s a critique of the Obama administration, though. You would think talk radio would have gotten all of their talking points in order for them by now.
April 29th, 2011 at 10:45 am
“I think DC has the chance to take advantage of all this publicity and apparent need to address these issues. Dan, Jim, I have two words for you: Immigration Crisis.”
Sounds a little too much like Marvel’s recent crossover about illegal immigration.
Y’know: Secret Invasion.
April 29th, 2011 at 10:51 am
I’ll admit I’m disappointed with this decision. The reasons behind Superman’s decision make sense, but I think it could have been better without the controversy.
April 29th, 2011 at 11:24 am
I can’t wait to see what Colbert will say about this on Monday!
April 29th, 2011 at 11:37 am
I don’t read Supes but wasn’t he technically not an American when he left Earth to live on New Krypton…which Americans destroyed if I understand correctly.
April 29th, 2011 at 11:40 am
One less title to buy now. Good call DC. :-p
April 29th, 2011 at 11:52 am
MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT CLARK KENT AND SUPERMAN ARE TWO SEPARATE PERSON. I KNOW THAT SUPERMAN AS KAL-EL WAS BORN ON ANOTHER PLANET BUT CLARK KENT WAS BORN IN THE STATE OF KANSAS. IT WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF ACTION WILL COME FROM THE STORY. WILL WE AS FAN SEE SUPERMAN BATTLES CRIME IN THE OTHER PART OF THE WORLD. GOOD LUCK TO THE FUTURE. YOUR TRULY CHARLES DAVID HASKELL
April 29th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
About dam Time I mean come on there so munch you can do in a country of pure evil but these is nothing you can say bad about DC that marvel has done worse.
at least DC is able to keep their president unlike marvel who went throw 5 so far these year
April 29th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Superman can’t really just stand for The American Way anymore….THAT was a slogan first created for the radio show that was on during W.W.II. Superman’s more about the entire Earth as well as protecting the Universe AND all beings….not just America.
Also Clark Kent is still American. Clark is his civilian/legal identity and Superman is his heroic one. Clark has to be the American citizen. He has to be in that he grew up here in Smallville, Kansas, and obviously must have a social security number and all that given he holds a job as a reporter in Metropolis at The Daily Planet.
The Superman persona is supposed to live up in the Arctic in his
Fortress Of Solitude anyway. The Arctic is not owned by ANY country in the world or even those countries bordering it. Superman can survive up there and has laid claim to his Fortress there on that piece of frozen tundra…which is obviously not in America.
The reason for Superman to renounce his citizenship ACTUALLY kind of makes sense for what he does. (IF he even has any citizenship or IF he was given some honorary U.S. citizenship by a past presidential administration in a back issue I haven’t seen). He wasn’t born here, he was born on Krypton and is literally an ALIEN immigrant.
WONDER IF DONALD TRUMP WILL ASK FOR HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?!!!? ;D
Think about it: Superman flies over Libya and sees people protesting getting maimed and shot down by Quadaffi’s forces. He intercedes to save lives. Quadaffi could says to Superman, “YOU BEING AN AMERICAN AND INTERCEEDING IN THIS WAY CAN AND WILL BE CONSIDERED BY LIBYA AND I AS IT’S RULING POWER AS AN ACT OF
WAR FROM AMERICA AND ON AMERICA’S BEHALF!!!”
OR
He saves lives in this same instance and the American Govt. could say to him, “WE THE AMERICAN GOVT. CONDEMN YOUR ACTIONS! THOSE ACTIONS WERE NOT SANCTIONED BY THE U.S. GOVT. AND WE WILL NOT TOLERATE IT!!!”
By renouncing his citizenship, he’s not saddled by red tape and
legalities to act or not act by anyone else’s say-so or condemnation reflecting upon anyone….his actions would truly be his own. So Superman is still a protector fighting for Truth and Justice, but he’s not just acting in the interests of America, but the entire Earth. His main goal remains the same….protecting the innocent and those that cannot fight for themselves.
Interesting thing about that short story in Action Comics #900:
That panel where he renounces his citizenship……He says he sees the world as too small and too connected……In that panel the artist drew it where his face looks a bit EERIE/FOREBODING and the colorist has his eyes glowing for some reason (one kind of blue the other kind of green). I’m wondering if there’s more to THAT. Could he be influenced or his body overtaken by some villain? Hmmmmmm……MORE STORIES FOR THE FUTURE ISSUES, MAYBE? Just tossing out a last minute speculation, there.
April 29th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
This 6 page story was the only reason I even picked up the issue and read it.
That says a lot about me as a Superman fan from way back.
Reading the contemporary version is often painful and embarrassing to what this character should be.
So Supes stand for 24 hours in the middle of the protesters in order to save innocents from slaughter. You can’t say he really didn’t know what he was doing.
But that’s the way it was handled in the story.
Kind of “I’ll give it a try and is what happens”, No, he’d have to smarter than that.
The way the potential of this story is handle is wrong.
Marvel did a better variation of this idea years ago in the New Avengers, and it was handled better.
At the end of this story Superman mention that as he flew away after 24 hours, the crowd had increased in size.
And a protester offer a solider a flower, the solider lowered his weapon and took it.
This seems like such hogwash, at Kent State America soldiers fired on student protesters, now were supposed to believe this flower power bull-crap 38 years later?!
Come on!
David Goyer hit the mark here, and whats ironic is the last image in the book is the evolution of the character over the years illustrated by Brian Stelfreeze.
The last image is Superman holding the American flag,………but he just told the government he renounced his citizenship????
D.C. has got to get it’s house in order.
April 30th, 2011 at 12:09 am
To Yea but:
Speaking as someone from who Ohio who has heard and read about the Kent State shooting my entire life, don’t be a jerk and insert it into something that has nothing to do with that event… They’re separate issues.
DC mishandled this event no doubt.
For the vast majority of people who have ever read or cared for the Superman character, they expect to read about a character who brightens the day, the man who does the impossible, and saves the day.
To put him into the middle of real-life contexts — where it’s not even clear that the people protesting are really protesting for freedom the way most of us understand it; many credible reports are suggesting there are al-Quaeda supporters AND Sharia law activists mixed into those protests –, it’s just going into territory where a fictional character who’s operated best as a character of light shouldn’t be heading into.
Most of us expect Dan Didio to slam headlong into minefields and controversial situations like this. The impression a lot of us have gotten over the years is that the man is essentially clueless about the DC characters and comic fandom in general.
The huge fallout that’s going to come from this is that apparently the rest of DC editorial — which includes both Jim Lee and Geoff Johns — is apparently as misguided and unknowledgeable about the fanbase and the negative PR this going to give DC and Superman.
April 30th, 2011 at 2:17 am
I thought this was great, I don’t normally get Superman but will be picking this up now as #900 was a fantastic read (Gerry I agree about the Jor El story, that was BRILLIANT).
As a brit living in Australia I never really got the whole “American way” thing with Superman, I mean, what makes the American way so different from any other first world developed countries’ ways? I guess it might be a patriotic thing (which I’m guessing is why so many feelings were hurt over this one).
In all honesty though I think people are blowing this rather out of proportion and taking it way too personally, Superman loves America, he doesn’t want America responsible for his actions, makes perfect sense to me…although I’m not American.
April 30th, 2011 at 3:39 am
It is not possible to renounce one’s U.S. citizenship while still on American soil. Superman should have flown to a U.S. embassy abroad and renounced there. (The paperwork normally takes months to go through, and must be approved by the State Department.) Along the way, he will have to show them his passport–which will presumably be in the name of Clark Kent. You can’t just say “I renounce my citizenship!” any more than Hank Hill can just point at someone and say “You’re sued!”
April 30th, 2011 at 8:41 am
@Woofus:
You are assuming that the identity of Superman even has a citizenship… I’m guessing if he has one, it’s an honorary one, given by the prez. ( with a diploma and such)
As such, then his special honorary passport given to him by the Prez, no doubt says Kal “Superman” El – honorary citizen.
I guess all he has to do, is give it back to the Prez…
I welcome this change btw, because I’m not a US Citizen and my outsiders view is that Superman long since stopped being about current US ideals. He’s far bigger, and far better than that.
Read Geoff Johns LoSH arc with Gary Frank, he says it the best right there: “I’m for everyone.”
If Superman implies that he wishes to be a symbol of good even for Alien beings that think and feel completely different, and has different values than a human USA-ian can ever even COMPREHEND, then how in the world is he going to sell the “American way”??
Btw, America is bigger than the USA you know… might want to look that up in a geography-book sometime…
April 30th, 2011 at 11:20 am
Personally, I think the whole idea is stupid. They way Superman is handled nowadays they’ve been moving away from his “roots.” In Superman Returns, Perry White said “Find out if he still stands for Truth, Justice and all that other stuff.” See, “The American Way….” line was left out. So, why do this? They didn’t need have him renounce anything publicly. Creative writing would have taken care of this issue.
April 30th, 2011 at 11:50 am
I’m really starting to wonder if this was a test balloon for the tone of the new Superman movie. It makes sense given the writer and the Hollywood concern over how the Captain America (another distinctively American icon) movie will perform in international markets.
April 30th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
The idea is actually interesting. The U.S. military aka Project 7734 destroyed New Krypton where Superman was trying to create his hoped for utopia. When Superman returns to Earth, he’s blamed for another persons random death of all things. Why couldn’t a superhero be pushed to the limits by their own society for just trying to do the greater good?! It sounds like a interesting storyline to focus on instead of plastic fights and been-there stories. It’s not anti-American to show the hypocrisy of our own governments interests.
April 30th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
The comments about how this is right for Superman miss the point entirely. You speak as if this were the decision of Superman. This was the decision of a writer who has an agenda. He pushed his agenda through a character, who for about 70 years has stood for “The American Way”. The American way is an ideal, not our current leaders, or the ones before them, nor will it be the ones who follow.
You cannot rationalize it and say the move is not anti-American. Because it clearly is. There have been a lot of comic storylines over the years that I have really disliked. I have seen thousands of calls to stop buying this title or that, don’t buy this publisher any more. I always wrote them off. But this time I will not ignore it. I’m not looking to start a movement. I’m not looking for a reverse of the decision. I am not buying DC any longer for myself and myself only. The Superman today is NOT the Superman I grew up with. He is not the Superman I read about from childhood through now. He is not he Superman personified by Christopher Reeve a generation ago. He is now a product of an anti-American attitude permeating the media that the current crop of comic book writers have embraced. I hope to return to the title one day when the writers have changed or matured.
April 30th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
I love Superman and try to let the stuff DC does roll off my back. However, Superman Secret Orgin was ruined by Superman fighting US soldiers. Now they want Superman to renounce his citizenship. It bothers me as a Superman fan, a loyal DC customer, and as Vet. I don’t need an ultra patriotic Superman, but to have Superman renounce his citizenship is just wrong.
May 1st, 2011 at 3:20 pm
For the record, JMS wasn’t “lazy” about his story arc, he left Superman and Wonder Woman to go write another Earth-1 book at DC’s request.
As for this issue, it seems so pointless either to bring it up it in the first place or to debate it.
May 1st, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Silence is golden. I say they absolutely knew this would blow up. Way to go! This just opens up door for the citizens to show Superman why being an American is still what a lot of people desire to be.
May 2nd, 2011 at 4:49 pm
If DC wasn’t so arrogant to have completely shut down their comments section on THE SOURCE blog, they wouldn’t have been blindsided by this. I understand that a flame war broke out in one blog post. So what? Just about every Web site encounters this. They moderate the comments and ban the bad apples. The upside of a comments section, though, is learning what your audience is interested in — and at other times, what is truly bothering them. DC would have gotten an early warning from their own readers if the blog comments section was there.
Not now, though, sad to say.
May 2nd, 2011 at 8:25 pm
DC Editors, what are you guys thinking? Superman was a proud American for 899 issues and because of the US government he renounces his citizenship. Can’t he explain himself to the UN as an American and still do what he thinks is right without trashing his citizenship. Does citizenship mean that little to you? You had to OK this “slap in the face” to the American way. He was over in Iran showing the principles of freedom and justice in that he was great and true American no matter that he was born on Krypton. Do we abandon our citizenship this easily and not stand for these ideals that many have died for? Superman would never give up his citizenship so easily. At least not the one I grew up with. Have the President not accept his renouncement and give him the freedom to act as he sees fit as all Americans do. Please make this right.
May 2nd, 2011 at 8:47 pm
This just in: American Citizen Renounces Superman: Off to Marvel for me! What is DC thinking? That they can pull in more international readers to compensate for lost US readers with this boneheaded move?
May 3rd, 2011 at 8:44 am
I will never buy a Superman comic or ANY DC comic until Superman makes a statement that he is a proud American citizen. Superman is a flag waver. That’s an iconic part of the character. Just because the writers at DC don’t seem to appreciate their country doesn’t mean they have to put their spew on such an iconic character.
This is also making me rethink if I’m going to see the upcoming movie with this writer.
May 3rd, 2011 at 8:45 am
Oh, and yes, I’ve been an avid comic buyer for quite some time, including the entire 52, Blackest Night, Infinite Crisis events, and many more.
May 6th, 2011 at 8:30 am
Maybe DC can wake up from this dream sequence before it does too much damage. The whole renounce USA think makes Big Blue look like Marvelman who takes over everything because he can, “for their own good.”
October 23rd, 2011 at 8:35 am
Marvel created Superman for entertainment, why give so much fuss with this “US Citizenship.” Sometimes media just blows up things out of proportion, just saying…
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:51 pm
You’re in reality a just right webmaster. The website loading velocity is incredible. It seems that you are doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a fantastic job on this topic!
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Hi my loved one! I wish to say that this article is amazing, nice written and include approximately all vital infos. I’d like to see extra posts like this .
November 8th, 2011 at 11:27 am
Wonderful post, very informative. I ponder why the opposite specialists of this sector do not understand this. You must proceed your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!|What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & aid other users like its aided me. Good job.