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The One Where I Babble About Superman

…it’s not really not about Superman.

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a planet called Krypton. Its inhabitants—a peace-loving community of scientists, intellectuals, philosophers living in a socialist utopia—were called Kryptonians. One of the scientists, a vastly intelligent man called Jor-El discovered that their sun—a red one—is about to supernova and obliterate everything in its path. In fact, it would be happening soon enough that there would be no time for an elaborate escape plan for the rest of the planet. Not that anyone believed him, anyway. “Oh, Jor-El, you’re such a doom and gloom prophet,” they said, “Go back to your lab, you pencil-neck!” Thus Jor-El and his wife Lora decided that if they could not save themselves, they would save their infant son, Kal-El, by sending him to a planet called Earth where he would survive and carry on Jor-El’s legacy. Krypton blew up because nobody believed Jor-El’s gloomy predictions and the Kryptonian infant, Kal-El crash-landed in a cornfield in Kansas, where he was found by a childless farming couple called Jonathan and Martha Kent. Martha, dismissing her husband’s concerns about the child’s origins, proclaimed that they would be adopting the boy and he will be known as Clark Kent, Clark after Martha’s maiden name (or according to Siegel and Shuster, the debonair actor Clark Gable).


Clark Kent became Superman and Superman starring Christopher Reeves (RIP), a film released in 1978 (the year I was born) by Warner Brothers based on the comic books I collected as a child, was my first film on VHS. In it, Superman does a super-awesome feat of turning back time by flying around the planet in super-speed in an attempt to reverse its rotation, so he could save Lois Lane, who was squished by boulders* during an earthquake caused by Lex Luthor sending an atomic bomb at the San Andreas’ Fault in an attempt to make Death Valley a beachfront property. I watched the movie enough times that my mother threatened to destroy it if I didn’t watch something else. But on my sixth birthday, my grandfather gave me another VHS tape: Superman II.

It was not till this movie that I began to recognize the allusion of Superman as a Christ-figure. At the start of the first Superman, Jor-El, Kal-El’s father, banished three very dangerous criminals and imprisoned them in an alternate dimension called the Phantom Zone. General Zod, the leader of the criminals, was a very charismatic man who was trying to incite the people of Krypton to rebel against the government. This, of course, reminded me of the biblical tale of God casting the angel Lucifer into the fiery depths of hell for attempting to turn the angels against God’s will, so they could take over heaven. That would make Kal-El, the son Jor-El sends to Earth for the boy’s salvation, the Jesus figure because even though he is more powerful than any creature on the planet, he decides to use his powers to help people.

In Superman II, Superman accidentally frees General Zod and his minions from the Phantom Zone when he throws a nuclear bomb into space and the resultant explosion causes a shockwave that shatters the Zoner’s glass prison. General Zod, dastardly in his black goatee and silky black jumpsuit, flies to Earth with his minions with the intention of turning Earth into a “new” Krypton and his first order of business as Earth’s Supreme Ruler would be to conquer the son of his jailer, Superman. There is a scene in the film that directly mirrors Lucifer’s attempt to lure Jesus into the dark side in Matthew: Chapter Four by promising to give him all of the riches he desired if Jesus would only pledge his loyalty to Lucifer. In Superman II, General Zod promises not to kill everyone that Superman has ever cared for if he would only kneel before Zod and swear to obey only him. But this is not the only resemblance of the Superman tale with the Jesus tale. Perhaps the most obvious reference to the Jesus mythology itself was that, like Jesus, Clark Kent had to surrender his life so that the rest of the world could live in peace and harmony. Unlike Jesus, however, Superman doesn’t actually surrender his life, but any chance at all to live a normal one. He is, when it all comes down to it, the ultimate servant of mankind. He is unable to have a life of his own because he’s always off somewhere saving Metropolis from Solomon Grundy or helping Batman fend off the villainous army of Ras Al Ghul, when all he really wants is to just sit down somewhere and have a nice dinner with Lois Lane. This is almost eerily similar to Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ where Jesus is tempted off of the cross itself by Lucifer when the latter promises him a life with the woman he loved, Mary Magdalene.

Growing up in a Catholic family, I was quite excited about this because my mother was always harping on me to read the Bible instead of my comic books, which she was sure would lead me to hell. My attempts to discuss with her Superman as a Christ-figure was deemed blasphemous and I was forced to go into confession with Father Michael every time I brought it up. Nevertheless, it didn’t stop me from watching Superman II at least a hundred times in my childhood. To date, I must have seen the movie at least a hundred times and over the years, I have had numerous copies of it worn out from over-usage and currently own a copy of it on DVD, which I bring out from time and time and watch when I’m needing a little religion in my life.

Case in point, my Aunt Carol said to me the other day, “Girl, you need Jesus in your life.” I did not respond with “No, I need Superman in my life.”

*ETA: According to my geek buddy, Lois Lane “wasn’t squished by boulders, she was sucked underground and died of suffocation due to the mass of loose dirt compacting around her.” What a nerd. *fans self*

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 21st, 2007 at 9:02 am and is filed under Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

24 Responses to “The One Where I Babble About Superman”

  1. Meljean
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 9:26 am
    1

    Superman II. Yes. Watched it a hundred times, at least. *happy sigh*

  2. shuzluva
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 9:51 am
    2

    Wow, not being of Christian upbringing I seem to miss a lot of those allegories. Apparently there’s one for Star Wars but I fail to see it. Regardless, I did always love Superman II.

  3. Ann(ie)
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 12:06 pm
    3

    I can see the symbolism but Supe doesn’t do it for me. I thought the Routh movie was too emo. I know, I know…

    But I’m a Batman kinda girl.

  4. December/Stacia
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 12:48 pm
    4

    Yep, I’m a Batman girl too.

    But I’m emailing this to my husband.

  5. Jackie
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 1:27 pm
    5

    Terrific post, Bam.

    I’m totally with Ann(ie).

    And actually, I (heart) Hunter Rose. Ah, Grendel…

    And Kevin Matchstick. Any Matt Wagner fans here?

  6. Karen W.
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 3:04 pm
    6

    And I thought *I* was the only one who watched “Superman II” a hundered times. :-) That’s one of my all-time favorite movies… Sigh…

  7. Shar
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 3:07 pm
    7

    Yep, Jackie. I am all about Hunter Rose. The best Grendel in the series in my opinion. Maybe that is because Matt always writes him. I enjoy most of Matt Wagner’s stuff including Mage. I always adored Mirth from that series. I like Kevin, but Mirth rocks.

    I enjoy Superman in the comics and some movies (not Superman Returns though), but I am more of a Batman/Grendel girl. :)

    I agree with you about the whole similarities between Jesus and Supes. Especially in the movies. Jor-el gives his only begotten son to Earth. Wonder why that sounds so familiar….

  8. April
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 3:59 pm
    8

    In my mind, Christopher Reeve is the best Superman of all. I didn’t even bother watching the new ones.

    Also, I was aware of the allusions but have never really thought about them that much until now. Then again, I gave up on Catholicism sometime after Confession. :-\

  9. BevL(QB)
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 4:31 pm
    9

    “Clark Kent became Superman and Superman starring Christopher Reeves (RIP), a film released in 1978 (the year I was born)”

    I graduated from college the year BEFORE that. Thus I am well within my rights when I refer to you as “that Bam brat”

    “Growing up in a Catholic family, I was quite excited about this because my mother was always harping on me to read the Bible “

    Again with the age difference… as Catholics, we were not encouraged to read the Bible. Instead, we were to heed what the Catholic Church TOLD us was in it.

    However, Kudos for your keen perception Bamster. I never caught the symbolism in the Superman movies. Actually, I rarely catch symbolism in ANYTHING.

  10. Ann Bruce
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 4:37 pm
    10

    Oh, yeah. Way too many Christian allegories in Superman. The 30 second teaser clip they aired for Superman Returns made me roll my eyes. Superman floating over the earth while his father says: “I have sent to earth my only son.” Sheesh. Can you make it any more obvious?

    And, I’m with Ann A: Supe’s too goody-goody for me and he’s all brawn, very few brains. I’m a Batman kinda gal.

    “Leave it to you to charge in with both arms swinging.”
    - Batman to Superman in Superman: The Animated Series, episode “The Demon Reborn”

  11. Rosie
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 6:34 pm
    11

    Ah yes, confession as the cure-all to every sordid thought, word and deed. I remember it well.

  12. Ann Bruce
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 7:43 pm
    12

    Ah yes, confession as the cure-all to every sordid thought, word and deed. I remember it well.

    I haven’t been to confession in over a dozen years. At this point, I’m afraid to because it’ll be at least 1000 Hail Marys and I don’t think my knees can handle it.

  13. Samantha
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2007 at 7:51 pm
    13

    I love finding Biblical allusion - I don’t know why - I’m not religious anymore. Sometimes it’s like you just can’t get away from it when you grew up that way. I just accept it and try to relate it in a scholarly way; should have done that religious studies minor.

  14. Mrs Giggles
    Posted: Aug 22nd, 2007 at 2:36 am
    14

    I never liked Superman. Those jokes about super sperm kill it for me. I am not too fond of Batman’s emo act too, although Christian Bale can easily make me change my mind.

    I prefer Wolverine when he looks like Hugh Jackman. But the superhero that really has a place in my heart is the scarred wisecracking Deadpool from Marvel.

  15. Jackie
    Posted: Aug 22nd, 2007 at 3:16 am
    15

    I prefer Wolverine when he looks like Hugh Jackman. But the superhero that really has a place in my heart is the scarred wisecracking Deadpool from Marvel.

    Actually, while I wouldn’t kick Hugh out of bed, he’s just not Wolvie. Logan is SHORT and Canadian.

    (Yeah, I know, I’m a purist. To this day, when anyone asks me about CONSTANTINE the movie, I go off on a rant about how the REAL John Constantine is British, blond, and wears a TAN trench coat.)

    And Shar, I SO hear you on the Mirth lurve. Truly. ((dreamy sigh))

    I like the grim Bats. The Batman who doesn’t overthink shit. The Dark Knight, SO not the Caped Crusader.

  16. Shar
    Posted: Aug 22nd, 2007 at 3:41 am
    16

    I try to see the movies as seperate things from the comics anymore. They do too many changes (Logan in X-men being tall as you mentioned Jackie). Sometimes they are good. Sometimes I go, “what were they thinking by changing that?”

    I am still upset over the X-men movies. The changes there…OMG. Not for the good. I have to admit that they did cast the right guy with Hellboy. I liked the comics, but the movie casting really got Hellboy in my head/heart. Ron Perlman rocks my world as Hellboy. The climax at the end needed work (a lot of work), but the rest of the movie was bliss with Hellboy. How can’t you like a hero who goes and hits things with an oversized fist while yelling gleefully, “Boom!”.

  17. Shar
    Posted: Aug 22nd, 2007 at 3:43 am
    17

    Ooh! Mrs. Giggles, I agree with you. Wade’s story you just can’t help but love. Plus he is an assassin and loves to make fun of the spandex heroes. What’s not to love? I still have his monthly comic series hidden in a box under my bed on those days when I need cheering up.

  18. Ann Aguirre
    Posted: Aug 22nd, 2007 at 5:04 am
    18

    Agreed on Hugh Jackman and Wolverine. I understand they’re giving him his own movie. If that’s true, I’m so there.

  19. Ann Bruce
    Posted: Aug 22nd, 2007 at 5:17 am
    19

    (Yeah, I know, I’m a purist. To this day, when anyone asks me about CONSTANTINE the movie, I go off on a rant about how the REAL John Constantine is British, blond, and wears a TAN trench coat.)

    Check out Neil Gaiman’s The Book of Magic. Constantine calls himself, Mister E, Dr. Occult, and The Stranger the “trench coat brigade.”

    Shar — They’re making a Hellboy sequel with a bigger budget. Yeah! I still break out the first DVD when I feel like a laugh, even though the ending felt very rushed.

  20. Ann Aguirre
    Posted: Aug 22nd, 2007 at 5:59 am
    20

    Hellboy is one I can watch over and over again. I was so excited when I heard about the sequel. I love me some Ron Perlman.

    And there are some quotes that make my toes curl.

    “I can promise you two things. One: I’ll always look this good. Two: I’ll never give up on you… ever.”

    (swoon)

    “I said, ‘Hey, you, on the other side - let her go. Because for her I will cross over, and then you’ll be sorry!’”

    (double swoon)

    Ahh, Hellboy…

  21. Shar
    Posted: Aug 22nd, 2007 at 6:07 am
    21

    *dreamy sigh*
    The “blue collar” working demon. Can’t go wrong there.

    I saw the animated cartoon come from Hellboy. I wasn’t as fond of it despite Ron’s voice. It lacked the one-liners he is so well known for. I have been impatiently waiting for the sequal ever since Ron said he was signed up for it. Glad to hear it is being amped up on the budget.

    Wolverine they are thinking of a fall 2009 debut. It looks like it will be pre-x-men possibly or a lot of flashbacks as they are dealing with more on his WEapon X days. Fun! I hope they keep the “animal” like scenario from Barry-Windsor Smith’s Weapon X. Scarier to see him break out like that.

  22. Mrs Giggles
    Posted: Aug 22nd, 2007 at 6:56 am
    22

    Count me on the Hellboy movie love. It has the perfect blend of action, melodrama, and romance.

    As for Wolvie movie, I have no expectations after the crap they pulled with X2 and X3. I just want Wolverine to spend the movie wearing as little clothes as possible.

    I still have the Deadpool Marvel series too. I also have the X-Man one (Nate Grey). I liked the first few X-Man issues when Nate was this loner, and I kept with it even after the usual Marvel-itis sinks in and the series turned into a soap opera with too many unresolved subplots. But nowadays I collect Hong Kong mangas rather than American comics.

  23. Sotheara
    Posted: Aug 22nd, 2007 at 5:05 pm
    23

    I’ll take Batman over Superman any day. I’m eagerly awaiting next year’s release of The Dark Knight.

  24. suzzy
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
    24

    Nice! Here is something interesting about superman logo

    http://www.logoblog.org/superman_logo.php

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