Superman was never my favorite super hero. Maybe because he is a little boring, too perfect, too strong, too impeccable, too moral, too selfless, too good. Too dedicated to help strangers, to help anybody!
On April 18th, 1938, the first issue of Action Comics hit news stands out. 75 years later Superman is alive, standing proudly among other more trendy super heros.
Superman had a specific target group. He was born to help those struggling with the Depression; as people lost faith in their institutions—banks, the government, corporations—they could believe in an alien angel-man who could be counted on to save the day.
Early Superman seamed to be a socialist; fighting the rich and the corrupt and standing up for the week and the poor.
Todd Van Der Werff outlines our most prevalent superhero's history as follows:
Superman at his adventures stands up for the helpless during the Great Depression, fights in World War II, grows bored and listless with ultimate power in the ’50s and ’60s, loses himself a bit in the ’70s, then grapples with an ever-maturing world that threatens to leave behind his brand of innocence from the ’80s onward.
This years, Superman is returning for another adventure! 75 years later, as the latest threat is: A menacing message from General Zod threatening – and kind of delivering – the annihilation of Earth if Superman doesn’t surrender to him. Will director Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel slay audiences? It’s looking good, but we’ll know for sure on June 14th.
You can read more at: motherboard.vice.com
