It's a Bird. It's a Plane. It's Superman!
BY DERYA SONER (MBG/IV)
a_soner@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
"I teach you the Übermensch. Man is something to be surpassed.
What have you done to surpass mankind?"
Friedrich Nietzsche
Well, Nietzsche's "Superman" was not exactly the self-sacrificing superhero, but people like to interpret his idea in an idealistic way, interpreting Superman as the better man we can all become if we try hard enough. Nietzsche's Superman, however, was mostly about doing whatever it takes to reach the next level of mankind in evolution. He stated that once we become supermen, we will regard men as men now regard apes.
This is not the case with the comic-book hero Superman, however, for he does not regard men as a subject of ridicule, but an honorable race that is worth protecting. But he was not always this merciful. When Jerry Siegel first created Superman, he was more like a villain that was based on the ambitious Superman described by Nietzsche. He was later re-designed to become the savior angel we know today, and his arch-enemy, Lex Luthor, was designed to resemble Nietzsche's power-seeking superman.
Superman was created in 1938, in a time when the people of America needed a hero to believe in. It was the time of the Great Depression, mankind was rolling towards another World War, and Nazism was causing a lot of distress. And from the ashes of this despair arose Superman. His enemies in the initial comic books were, of course, mostly Nazis. At these first years, however, Superman had some dubious character flaws, remnants of his Nietzsche-esque past version, but in time he evolved into an arch-angel.
Superman was the first example of superheroes as we know today, and was later followed by Batman and Wonder Woman, also published by DC Comics. The next major superhero was Spider-Man, which was created by Marvel comics in 1962. Although Batman and Spider-Man has been more widely popularized by Hollywood these days, Superman has always been special since he was the first superhero, and was the only superhero that was born as a superhero. Hence, I'd like to quote Bill from Kill Bill: Vol. 2 at this point;
"Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone. Superman didn't become Superman. Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red 'S,' that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears - the glasses, the business suit - that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He's weak; he's unsure of himself; he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race."
What do you think? Perhaps men should take this critique into account and let go of their insecurities to become brave and idealistic "Supermen" who can carry humanity to the next level?