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Introduction - What Superman Represents
Superheroes are icons in pop culture. They represent the best of what we can be, and throughout the history of superheroes what they represent has changed. These values often change with events or common ideas in the real world, what currently matters to the common audience. For example, when Iron Man came out the villain were terrorists, reflecting the negative events at the time. This exhibit is about Superman however and will take a look into what he represented during different times. -
Bibliography
“The Man of Steel (Comics).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, February 13, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_of_Steel_(comics)#Issue_One.
“Action Comics Vol 1.” DC Database. Accessed April 5, 2022. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Action_Comics_Vol_1_1.
Cecchini, Mike. “DC's New Superman Is Bisexual, Socially Conscious, and More like the Original Character.” Den of Geek, October 12, 2021. https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/dc-new-superman-bisexual-socially-conscious-original-character/. -
Action Comics #1
Superman's first appearance was a brief one, only vaguely covering his back story and giving some insight into his adult life. With such a short look at Superman in his first debut it's somewhat difficult to draw conclusions about what he represents. A scene that sticks out is Superman sticking up for a wife who is being abused by her husband, something more common and accepted around that time. -
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Years of Superman
Superman has been around a long time, roughly 84 years. His first appearance in Action Comics #1 (DC 1938). With his most recent appearance in the ongoing Superman: Son of Kal-El. With this fast time gap the values that Superman represents have changed vastly along with the values of the audience. -
Man of Steel
Man of Steel was a big point in Superman history, changing up his origin story and how he was as a character. A noticeable change is the villain Lex Luthor, who goes from a mad scientist to a wealthy businessman (Wiki Man of Steel). This reflects a change in the 80s where wealthy owners of corporations were starting to be disliked and can be found often to be the villains of many 80s media. -
Superman: Son of Kal-El
In the latest issue of Superman his story takes a new turn, putting his son into the spotlight Jon Kent. This new take on the character symbolizes the vastly changing times. Where not just changing superman cuts it anymore, a new superman is needed. The values this new superman represents are easy to pick out. One of the villains is a school shooter, something relatively new to society. Another big new take is Superman's sexuality, showing that it is ok to have a different sexuality (DenofGeek).