The Politics of Super-heroes

With the upcoming Presidential election, politics have been dominating the media and even bleeding out of the news and into the realm of pop culture. So as a comic book fan I find myself wondering for whom would my favorite super-heroes vote for. And I realize I can’t answer that question. Because most superheroes (with a few exceptions) do not have a political preference. And for this I am glad.

Now as I mentioned, there are exceptions. Green Arrow has always been described as a bit of a liberal and I’m sure the Punisher would never vote for someone who might take away his second amendment rights (of course as a convicted felon he can’t vote anyway so it’s a moot point). But for the most part super heroes do not have political agendas. Except when a particular writer tries to force one on them. Which is something I hate.

In Action Comics #900 Superman renounces his American citizenship when he is accused of being an agent of the American government while trying to avert a disaster on foreign soil. But the problem here is that Superman is NOT an American citizen. Clark Kent is. Superman is merely a persona Clark puts on to protect those he loves from those who would seek to harm him. Superman is a costume he puts on. Not an actual person. It would be like Brad Pitt renouncing the citizenship of Tyler Durden. Personas do not have citizenships.

An even worse offender of super-hero politics was the DC Universe Decisions mini-series. An unknown villain is targeting presidential candidates (fake candidates, though this storyline did occur during the actual 2008 presidential campaign) and since the assailant is meta-human in nature the Justice League feels it is their duty to protect the candidates. This leads to disagreements among the team members because they each want to protect the candidate whom they agree with ideologically. This struck me as a warped concept. These are supposed to be heroes. It shouldn’t matter what a person’s political motivations are. As a hero they are supposed to save them. It’s the same as being a doctor. You have sworn an oath and nothing can break that oath.

But in this mini-series, not only do the heroes defend the political candidates with whom they agree, THEY ENDORSE THEM! They pose for campaign pictures shaking the hand of the candidate. Even Batman who is usually the most mysterious and aloof of the Justice League signs over a nice big donation check as Bruce Wayne. The entire idea of the Justice League feels polluted and tainted. It turns out the sworn protectors of the earth are just as petty and cheap as anyone.

Now one could argue that if there really were Super-heroes they would indeed display political preferences, just as celebrities do. But that’s mostly where my complaint lies. Super-heroes are creatures of fiction and as such do not have to be burdened with the trivial matters of real life. No matter who is in office, Superman is Superman and Batman is Batman. Our heroes will save us regardless of our vote and that is truly the world we should wish to live in.

"Who needs Superheroes?"