The Return of Super Hombre!
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scans_dailyBeen meaning to post this for a while. Felt inspired by ComicsAlliance essay on 'Grounded.' About 5 pages from a 17 page story.
The short story in this issue is sort of a prequel to Superman's introduction to Destiny of the Endless that I posted earlier here. That story is part of the transformation of Superman in the 1980s, from DemiGod who can push around planets and turn back time, to being merely superhuman--despite his powers and abilities, he is still as much a bug to them as any human. At the same time, the story is about the balance of being too 'above' and too much involved in the affairs of a race that were so beneath him as to be like pets.
Elliot S! Maggin's first story was called "Must There Be A Superman?" I first read of it in Maggin's introduction to Kingdom Come. Kingdom Come isn't kind to those ignorant of it's characters; it was a long time before I finally was familiar enough with them to actually get through the book. Once done, however, it blew me away. Superman 247, vol. 1, 1972, became the first book I sent away for. It was cheap enough since I didn't care about condition, just wanted to read it.
The Guardians of the Galaxy have asked Superman to save some galaxy or other, in the course of which, Superman is injured. He spends some time healing on Oa and after, the Guardians ask if he'd like a tour. The Guardians also gossip sneakily amongst each other--they intend to plant an idea in Superman's subconscious! (The Guardians were always evil. Always.)
They show him his adventure on another planet where Superman lectured the natives about the need to change their ways because it was their own polluting tendencies that had caused the crisis, and intergalactic heroes would not always be available.
Superman angrily asks why the rest of the group did nothing to help the boy. No one answers.
Superman takes the boy for a walk. The boy tells his story about seeking a better life, but Superman finds himself thinking of his own background as an immigrant. Clearly, he identifies with the boy and his courage.
At the boy's house, people overwhelm Superman with requests. He tells them what he's going to do.
Suddenly! An earthquake shakes the ground! Roofs fall in! Superman leaps to act immediately, mucking about underground.
Muhaha. They're rubbing their hands under those robes, you just know it.
A longtime comic book writer (the text I can't find right now) has stated that reaching out and helping people is how Superman feels like part of the world. It is the human values of good neighbors and giving back to the community that he was raised with. Restraining himself is literally alienating to him.
And from Gary Engle's essay, "What Makes Superman So Darned American?":
Like the peoples of the nation whose values he defends, Superman is an alien, but not just any alien. He’s the consummate and totally uncompromised alien, an immigrant whose visible difference from the norm is underscored by his decision to wear a costume of bold primary colors so tight as to be his very skin. ... .... ... Superman’s powers–strength, mobility, x-ray vision and the like –are the comic-book equivalents of ethnic characteristics, and they protect and preserve the vitality of the foster community in which he lives in the same way that immigrant ethnicity has sustained American culture linguistically, artistically, economically, politically, and spiritually. The myth of Superman asserts with total confidence and a childlike innocence the value of the immigrant in American culture.
The story is posted elsewhere in it's entirety online, but I can't find a legal right for them to do so so I'm not linking.
Not a popular story, despite it's importance. The focus on philosophy, the criticism of Superman...I also imagine most people disliked the subtext that they were depending on others/God to the point of letting those others/God control their lives to their detriment. (The epitome of this theme would probably be the Church of Superman.) My main disappointment is that though the cover and first splash page hint at a dramatic TRIAL!..it never shows up.
The short story in this issue is sort of a prequel to Superman's introduction to Destiny of the Endless that I posted earlier here. That story is part of the transformation of Superman in the 1980s, from DemiGod who can push around planets and turn back time, to being merely superhuman--despite his powers and abilities, he is still as much a bug to them as any human. At the same time, the story is about the balance of being too 'above' and too much involved in the affairs of a race that were so beneath him as to be like pets.
Elliot S! Maggin's first story was called "Must There Be A Superman?" I first read of it in Maggin's introduction to Kingdom Come. Kingdom Come isn't kind to those ignorant of it's characters; it was a long time before I finally was familiar enough with them to actually get through the book. Once done, however, it blew me away. Superman 247, vol. 1, 1972, became the first book I sent away for. It was cheap enough since I didn't care about condition, just wanted to read it.
The Guardians of the Galaxy have asked Superman to save some galaxy or other, in the course of which, Superman is injured. He spends some time healing on Oa and after, the Guardians ask if he'd like a tour. The Guardians also gossip sneakily amongst each other--they intend to plant an idea in Superman's subconscious! (The Guardians were always evil. Always.)
They show him his adventure on another planet where Superman lectured the natives about the need to change their ways because it was their own polluting tendencies that had caused the crisis, and intergalactic heroes would not always be available.
Superman angrily asks why the rest of the group did nothing to help the boy. No one answers.
Superman takes the boy for a walk. The boy tells his story about seeking a better life, but Superman finds himself thinking of his own background as an immigrant. Clearly, he identifies with the boy and his courage.
At the boy's house, people overwhelm Superman with requests. He tells them what he's going to do.
Suddenly! An earthquake shakes the ground! Roofs fall in! Superman leaps to act immediately, mucking about underground.
Muhaha. They're rubbing their hands under those robes, you just know it.
A longtime comic book writer (the text I can't find right now) has stated that reaching out and helping people is how Superman feels like part of the world. It is the human values of good neighbors and giving back to the community that he was raised with. Restraining himself is literally alienating to him.
And from Gary Engle's essay, "What Makes Superman So Darned American?":
Like the peoples of the nation whose values he defends, Superman is an alien, but not just any alien. He’s the consummate and totally uncompromised alien, an immigrant whose visible difference from the norm is underscored by his decision to wear a costume of bold primary colors so tight as to be his very skin. ... .... ... Superman’s powers–strength, mobility, x-ray vision and the like –are the comic-book equivalents of ethnic characteristics, and they protect and preserve the vitality of the foster community in which he lives in the same way that immigrant ethnicity has sustained American culture linguistically, artistically, economically, politically, and spiritually. The myth of Superman asserts with total confidence and a childlike innocence the value of the immigrant in American culture.
The story is posted elsewhere in it's entirety online, but I can't find a legal right for them to do so so I'm not linking.
Not a popular story, despite it's importance. The focus on philosophy, the criticism of Superman...I also imagine most people disliked the subtext that they were depending on others/God to the point of letting those others/God control their lives to their detriment. (The epitome of this theme would probably be the Church of Superman.) My main disappointment is that though the cover and first splash page hint at a dramatic TRIAL!..it never shows up.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-01 12:58 pm (UTC)I'm not saying it isn't, "permanently" isn't being used in that context. The implication is that by becoming educated, you have a responsibility to become part of the chain that allowed that education to be fostered, so there isn't absolute dependence on one person to fund education. It happens in the real world in the form of taxes. I help pay for the education of others by paying a higher rate of tax because, thanks to my education, I can get a better job than I could without my education. There is no single dependence for funding because it's a rolling system.
And yes, of course, the "Give/Teach fish" analogy has flaws if you want to tear down an analogy to that extent, the underlying principle still applies.
The rest of your polemic I'm leaving alone, for no other reason than it's just not a discussion I'm in the mood for today, though I admire your enthusiasm.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-01 01:12 pm (UTC)As in, you cannot help a person, not you cannot help the state of humanity, that would be "You cannot help man by doing for men what they can and should do for themselves."
(Actually, I think your logic is still flawed even with the second; sure if you pay for someone's education it doesn't better the whole of humanity unless they do something with it, but you've still, by paying for it, done something for them. So if you pay for a man's education when he could afford to pay for it himself, and then he uses it to do good things and better humanity, you have bettered men and Man by doing for a man what he could(and many, especially in America where he was speaking, would argue should) do for himself.)
All right, in as bare and uncomplicated terms as the analogy itself: It's no good teaching a man to fish if he starves to death while he's learning.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-01 01:22 pm (UTC)Again, the word "permanently" sorts out your problem, the notion is that it's presumably seen as good form to keep your pupils alive to learn, otherwise it's a real pain when it comes time to find your valedictorian.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-01 01:33 pm (UTC)the notion is that it's presumably seen as good form to keep your pupils alive to learn
Unfortunately, while it's quite obvious in the fish analogy, when things become larger scale people lose sight of the need to support needy people until they can support themselves, rather than just giving them a bunch of tools (or an inspiring speech) and expecting them to work it all out themselves. This is why despite pouring billions upon billions into aid, global poverty is still a colossal problem.