Viking Restaurant

Bloggin' Superman

This may take more than one post, and it certainly will take time I dont have to write all of this down, but I would like to see if I can record some of my thoughts about Superman. With a new movie coming out and an insane marketing campaign that could get a president elected, Superman is having the year of his life. 2006 will ultimately see the first release or special edition rerelease of pretty much every cultural incarnation of Superman since 1938. The 1940's serials, the 1950's TV show, special editions of the Christopher Reeve films, Supergirl, the 1980's TV Show "Superboy," the phenomenal 1990's animated series, the 1990's TV show "Lois and Clark," and more are all being released to the public this year. For the first time ever, Superman in all of his entirety is being delivered to the consumptive appetites of the American public. Heck, the only thing still being hidden from us is the 1970's TV adaptation of "Superman: The Musical." And added to all this, we are about to be treated to what just might be the greatest of all the Superman movies. So pardon me, if I go a little bit geek fanboy on you, but I think if there was ever a time to be bloggin' Superman, its now!

I dont think any other character in American fiction has a deeper, longer, or more complex cultural history than Superman. Superman represents the American experience in just about every major way. As an orphan and as an immigrant, he identifies with the story of American minorities, which as a history teacher I must say "is" the story of America. As a Mosaic metaphor (a Savior figure abandoned by his true parents to be raised in a culture not his own), Superman identifies with the American tendency to associate itself with the epic plight of Israel. As a Christological metaphor, Superman is a symbol of hope and Judeao-Christian morality with a "Passion" story to boot (the Death of Superman is one of of his best comic storylines to date). As a total bad ass with almost unlimited power, he represents America's "superpower" ego and its role as the protector and defender of truth and justice in the world. As a midwestern farmboy who moves to the big city to do big league reporting, he represents both America's agricultural and urban consciousness. Lets face it, the guy has been around since before World War II. Hes been around as long if not longer than some of America's finest novels. He's a fictional giant, and bears about as much cultural importance as any other major American literary figure that I can think of. And unlike other American literary figures, he has been allowed to grow and change with America, to find cultural representation in every decade since his inception, and to develop one of the richest characterizations in pop culture history.

I think what I would like to do is to post my own personal reflections about Superman, how I became a fan through various experiences in my life, and how I have come to rediscover him a lot in the past year. Its actually pretty interesting stuff when I reflect on it. For instance, one of my most prominent memories of time with my father as a child has to do with Superman. And Superman would also go on to help me cope with my parent's divorce. Wierd I know, but Ill try to explain later. I got to meet Teri Hatcher (1990's Lois Lane) in high school. And I'll never forget the Catacombs Superherobattle skits my dorm hall performed in college, one which opened very memorably with the theme song from "Superman: The Movie." And you know, "Smallville" is one of the only shows I know of that both of my brothers enjoy along with me. Yeah, I have plenty of memories associated with Superman. And I think the guy is always going to be a hobby/interest of mine.

So maybe Ill get to share some of them on this blog. But for now, Ive got to grade some papers!