Why the ‘American Way’ is Antithetical To Superman Today
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On Saturday, amidst its company wide Fandome event, DC Comics Chief Creative Officer and Publisher Jim Lee announced that the Man of Steel’s motto will be “evolving” from the well-known mantra that he fights for “Truth, Justice and the American Way.”
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Superman’s new “mission statement”: “Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow.”
In a press statement, the company said the decision is meant “to better reflect the storylines that we are telling across DC and to honor Superman’s incredible legacy of over 80 years of building a better world.”
“Truth, Justice and the American Way” did not originate with the first Superman comic books by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Instead, the saying came from a “Superman” radio serial in the early 1940s, as a way to cheer on American military efforts in World War II. The “American Way” motto was revived for the “Adventures of Superman” TV series that aired in the 1950s — during the first days of the Cold War and the height of McCarthyism paranoia.
By the 1960s, the motto shifted to “truth, justice and freedom” on the kids cartoon series, “The New Adventures of Superman.” But arguably the most well known “Superman” adaptation — the 1978 feature film starring Christopher Reeve — revived the “American Way” version, with the Man of Steel speaking the words himself, further cementing it in the cultural consciousness as the superhero’s credo.
Since then, however, the “American Way” motto has fallen out of favor. On the 1993 live-action series “Lois & Clark,” Superman fought for “truth and justice” full stop, and in the 2006 movie “Superman Returns,” starring Brandon Routh, Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White (Frank Langella) blithely asks if Superman still fights for “truth, justice, all that stuff.”
Comics writer Tim Seeley commented on Twitter: “Changing Superman’s motto tells you that the American Way has just come to mean “for profit and with as little concern for humanity as possible.” Fix that and maybe it’s worth fighting for.”
Changing Superman’s motto tells you that the American Way has just come to mean “for profit and with as little concern for humanity as possible.” Fix that and maybe it’s worth fighting for.
— Tim Seeley (@HackinTimSeeley) October 17, 2021
And longtime DC writer Gerry Conway said: “The motto only came into existence at the beginning of the Cold War, and was a political act meant to pacify the right wing, not really a statement of moral values. Like adding “One nation under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance, purely political.”
The motto only came into existence at the beginning of the Cold War, and was a political act meant to pacify the right wing, not really a statement of moral values. Like adding “One nation under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance, purely political.
— Gerry Conway Got the Shots and Lived (@gerryconway) October 17, 2021
DC’s decision to have the head of the company officially announce Superman’s motto appears to be a pointed statement that the Man of Steel is a hero for everyone, part of a wider effort across the company to broaden its representation. Most recently, on Oct. 11, DC announced that Jon Kent — Superman’s son, who also wears the iconic “S” shield as a superhero — would come out as bisexual.
