This is the second entry in the Troublesome Fictions file, wherein grant starts feeling weird about stories he didn’t think much about before adopting his daughter.
Today, we’re leaping over tall buildings with a single bound, and bumping right into what’s possibly the most familiar icon on the planet.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s….
Who is this?: Birthname: Kal-El. American name: Clark Kent. Also known as Superman, the Man of Steel, the Last Son of Krypton.
Habitat: At least three generations of public consciousness. Born in the comic books in 1939, exploded into radio serials, countless movies, at least three live-action television series and several animated ones, novels, T-shirts, bumper stickers, slogans, pajamas, episodes of Seinfeld, action figures, et cetera, and so on, &c.
Why is this troublesome?: In TF#1, faithful readers will remember Harry [expletive] Potter was identified as a norphan, a mighty norphan. The Last Son of Krypton is the ultimate mighty norphan.
He’s a resident alien, whose origins far, far from his adoptive home in the American heartland have granted him abilities far beyond those of ordinary mortals. He even follows the same multi-named, multi-identitied personality pattern as internationally adopted kids. (Heck, the sometimes hyphenated, sometimes run-together name of KalEl/Kal-El even follows the traditional Chinese naming pattern.)
He’s obviously got a pretty tight (adoptive) family, but deep inside, I’ve always suspected that he spends more time in the Fortress of Solitude, trying to work things out. It’s not easy being the Last Son of a unreachable, faraway place, even if you are bulletproof. His appeal as a character is based on being alienated, misunderstood and having a divided personality.
Does the trouble extend to other areas?: Well, as the figure who made superhero a regular part of the global lexicon, there’s been reams written about Superman… as icon, as myth, as psychological figure, as philosophical ideal, and so on. He was also so immensely marketable that his story impacted dozens if not hundreds of subsequent fictions, in comic books and beyond. There are plenty of mighty norphans in the four-color pages of DC and Marvel.
I couldn’t trackback, but I did a post about your thoughts. I’ve always thought that Supes was more comfortable being Clark Kent.
Like Mr. Incredible said, “No matter how many times I save the world it always gets in trouble again! Sometimes I feel like the maid. ‘Can’t you keep this place clean for FIVE MINUTES?!!’” Anyway. I like these thoughts, though so far I haven’t agreed.
Hey Grant -
When did Superman get “resident alien” status? I thought he was still technically undocumented.
- Jim
Jim, I refer you to Superman’s relationship with “El Presidente Kennedy” as recorded here:
http://members.fortunecity.com/mbestradera/past5.html
I’m pretty sure it’s one of those special executive things, like Nixon making Elvis an F.B.I. agent.
Although, now that I think of it, when Lex Luthor became president in 2000, he might well have rescinded any special privileges….
There’s an overview on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lex_Luthor#President_of_the_United_States
but it doesn’t mention explicitly what President Lex did about Superman.
Aw, man — I just read that wikipedia thing. How did I not know LUTHOR was a foster kid???