Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?

Something I wrote on my Tumblr perfectly states why I've always been a Superman fan and why I continue to be one to this day. Reading something I wrote nearly a decade ago today and realizing it still has weight in this weird, wrong, morally corrupt age we're in right now, maybe more than ever -jh


A question in regard to Superman in the modern era as always been asked, especially after Man of Steel came out and presented the icon in a darker persona than we're used to seeing: 

"Whatever happened to the Man of Tomorrow?"

The Man of Tomorrow got lost in a world that thinks wealth equals power and fear is a more powerful force than hope, which is why, for some odd reason, Batman is THE de facto hero of DC Comics and the template of the DC Entertainment empire. They feel that a cynical world needs a cynical hero.

I don’t believe that. 

I never believed that.

A cynical world needs a hero who inspires us. One who sees value in all of its citizens and believes that the human spirit is not only stronger than people believe it is but is also greater than anything that tries to defeat it. 

The whole “nothing to fear but fear itself” attitudes of the FDR administration has been replaced by a “fear everything and everyone that’s not like you” attitude. People would have brash, egotistical, and self-obsessed characters who have their own agendas and a skewed, pessimistic view of humanity represent them. 

Broken folks nor people who truly see the good in others need not apply. 

Superman could rule the world if he wanted to, but he doesn’t want that. It never crossed his mind.

I hear the “oh, he’s so overpowered” excuse too much when I try to defend Superman. Yes, he has a great list of abilities, but he’d trade them in in a heartbeat if he could. Instead, you have a powerful individual walking on eggshells and being careful around others.

It’s not easy.

I think the proof that Superman can keep his powers in check, still remain optimistic in a dark world where the antihero reigns is proof enough for me that Superman is indeed badass. The other stuff is just cake.

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