As I watch trailer after trailer for the new Superman film,
I can’t help but notice all the inspirational language used by several
characters to describe the titular character. While the character has always
been viewed as a hero and a role model, there appears to be a push towards
describing Kal-El as an almost Christ like figure. Superman is not just here to
save us from extraterrestrial threats, but to save us from our very sins.
As I’ve said before (
here and
here), I am an Atheist. But
before I came to this realization I was very much a good little Christian. I
even went to Sunday school. But while I lost faith in the church, I never lost
faith in comic book heroes. As I said in my previous entries, I truly believe
comic book super heroes are where I get my true sense of morality. And since
Superman is the well from which all other super heroes sprung from, then he
truly is a messianic figure.
Now more than just being a fan of comic books, I am also a
fan of documentaries and examinations ABOUT comics (which is kind of why I
write this blog). And I can tell you I am not the first to make a religious
comparison between Superman and biblical figures. It is impossible to not see a
certain parallel between the origin of the Man of Steel and the biblical story
of Moses. An infant child who is spared from death (Superman; the destruction
of Krypton. Moses; the slaying of the first born in Egypt) only to be taken in
by a family (Superman; The Kents. Moses; The Pharoah) eventually learn of your
true origins and discover you are destined for greatness (Superman; World
saving superhero. Moses; Lead the Jews out of Egypt).
But while the origin of Superman is more like Moses, there
is no doubt that many writers try to make a parallel between Superman and
Jesus. In the trailer for the upcoming Man of Steel there are several quotes
from Jor-El (Superman’s father) about he sees his son leading humanity to
greatness. This type of language was also used in Superman Returns using unseen
footage of Marlon Brando from the original Superman films. Lots of allegoric
language is used comparing Superman to a “bright light” and “the way into
greatness” which seems reminiscent of Jesus claiming to be “the way and the
light.”
I even mentioned in a previous entry (
see here) that in the
Kingdom Come storyline follow up The Kingdom, there was a church set up around
Superman. The Man of Steel literally becomes a Christ figure of this religion.
The church is even decorated with the “S” shield standing in place of the crucifix.
Essentially it eliminates all subtlety and pretense of the Superman character
as a religious figure.
One of my favorite allusions to Superman as being a
Christ-like figure is from the show
Smallville. Despite my many complaints about the show (
see here), the
initial promotional material for the series was a stroke of genius. The
original poster depicted a young Clark Kent in a cornfield, strung up on a
rudimentary cross (originally intended for scarecrows) with a red S
spray-painted on his chest (for Smallviile, not for Superman, since this is an
origin story). Of course this type of imagery gets overused in the show with
Clark’s Kryptonian father Jor-El constantly alluding to Clark’s greater destiny
on earth. If we could imagine a teenage Christ (coming to the CW this Fall,
kidding) we might see similar stories of doubt and allusion to a greater destiny.
In many ways, all fictional heroes exhibit a messiah aspect
to their character. They are meant to be examples of behavior, to fight for
people, and in many stories to die for us. All things that Superman has done.
He shows us how to be brave in the face of danger and to live by a moral code.
His mantra is “Fight for Truth, Justice and the American Way” (though many
writers drop the “American Way” bit, feeling that the character is more of a
universal protector). He has also died for the protection of innocents in the famous
Death of Superman storyline where the Man of Steel gave his last breath to
defeat the marauding Doomsday. It is not inconceivable that a future
generation, millennia from now may read Superman comics and believe he was a
holy figure to us living today. And in some ways they may be right.
As I watch trailer after trailer for the new Superman film,
I can’t help but notice all the inspirational language used by several
characters to describe the titular character. While the character has always
been viewed as a hero and a role model, there appears to be a push towards
describing Kal-El as an almost Christ like figure. Superman is not just here to
save us from extraterrestrial threats, but to save us from our very sins.
As I’ve said before (here and here), I am an Atheist. But
before I came to this realization I was very much a good little Christian. I
even went to Sunday school. But while I lost faith in the church, I never lost
faith in comic book heroes. As I said in my previous entries, I truly believe
comic book super heroes are where I get my true sense of morality. And since
Superman is the well from which all other super heroes sprung from, then he
truly is a messianic figure.
Now more than just being a fan of comic books, I am also a
fan of documentaries and examinations ABOUT comics (which is kind of why I
write this blog). And I can tell you I am not the first to make a religious
comparison between Superman and biblical figures. It is impossible to not see a
certain parallel between the origin of the Man of Steel and the biblical story
of Moses. An infant child who is spared from death (Superman; the destruction
of Krypton. Moses; the slaying of the first born in Egypt) only to be taken in
by a family (Superman; The Kents. Moses; The Pharoah) eventually learn of your
true origins and discover you are destined for greatness (Superman; World
saving superhero. Moses; Lead the Jews out of Egypt).
But while the origin of Superman is more like Moses, there
is no doubt that many writers try to make a parallel between Superman and
Jesus. In the trailer for the upcoming Man of Steel there are several quotes
from Jor-El (Superman’s father) about he sees his son leading humanity to
greatness. This type of language was also used in Superman Returns using unseen
footage of Marlon Brando from the original Superman films. Lots of allegoric
language is used comparing Superman to a “bright light” and “the way into
greatness” which seems reminiscent of Jesus claiming to be “the way and the
light.”
I even mentioned in a previous entry (see here) that in the
Kingdom Come storyline follow up The Kingdom, there was a church set up around
Superman. The Man of Steel literally becomes a Christ figure of this religion.
The church is even decorated with the “S” shield standing in place of the crucifix.
Essentially it eliminates all subtlety and pretense of the Superman character
as a religious figure. 
One of my favorite allusions to Superman as being a
Christ-like figure is from the show
Smallville. Despite my many complaints about the show (see here), the
initial promotional material for the series was a stroke of genius. The
original poster depicted a young Clark Kent in a cornfield, strung up on a
rudimentary cross (originally intended for scarecrows) with a red S
spray-painted on his chest (for Smallviile, not for Superman, since this is an
origin story). Of course this type of imagery gets overused in the show with
Clark’s Kryptonian father Jor-El constantly alluding to Clark’s greater destiny
on earth. If we could imagine a teenage Christ (coming to the CW this Fall,
kidding) we might see similar stories of doubt and allusion to a greater destiny.
In many ways, all fictional heroes exhibit a messiah aspect
to their character. They are meant to be examples of behavior, to fight for
people, and in many stories to die for us. All things that Superman has done.
He shows us how to be brave in the face of danger and to live by a moral code.
His mantra is “Fight for Truth, Justice and the American Way” (though many
writers drop the “American Way” bit, feeling that the character is more of a
universal protector). He has also died for the protection of innocents in the famous
Death of Superman storyline where the Man of Steel gave his last breath to
defeat the marauding Doomsday. It is not inconceivable that a future
generation, millennia from now may read Superman comics and believe he was a
holy figure to us living today. And in some ways they may be right.
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