Why Superman is More Important Now Than Ever...

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Published 2023-07-10
Superheroes have defined popular culture and storytelling ever since Superman made his major debut in Action Comics only a year prior to the start of the second world war. Soldiers used Superman stories to live out fantasies of punching that damn supervillain in the face and foiling their evil scheme. Ever since Superman's creation, Superman has been defined as a figure that stood for the little guy, and stood up against injustices. For decades, Superman has been a incredibly powerful symbol of hope, until recently. Due to how popular media has represented Superman, people have developed a misunderstanding that Superman is a "boring" or "tired" character, that Superman is just a lifeless brooding god. In this personal video essay, I talk to the skeptics, explain to them how Superman has had a major impact on my life, and show them the reasons why even after almost a century, Superman will always remain a timeless character. Superman is a timeless symbol for hope in our society, and we need him more than ever to be represented properly in our media. This video was a long time in the making so I hope you enjoy it. For those wondering, my next video will be on Aggretsuko season 2.

Video Footage Sources:
City Stock Footage:    • Epic Free Stock Timelapse footage | F...  
Handshake Stock Footage:    • handshake stock footage  
Demon Reborn Clip:    • Video  

Obscure Music Tracks:
Cavetown - Juliet Instrumental:    • Video  
All Star Superman Credits Theme:    • Soundtrack ALL STAR SUPERMAN by Chris...  
Superman Vs The Elite Theme:    • Superman vs. The Elite main theme (fr...  
e s c p - Downtown Walk:    • | e s c p | Downtown Walk  
(all music has been credited within the video as it appears)

0:00 Intro
4:17 Superman's Ideology and Character
15:02 Idealism of All Star Superman
24:59 Deconstruction of Superman Vs The Elite
47:27 Conclusion

All Comments (21)
  • @IAsimov
    I didn't appreciate Superman until these last ten years. After seeing people endlessly idealize the antihero and brute force, I've realized how absolutely necessary idealism is. Not just as humans, but for a functioning society.
  • @Lucario4thewin
    Superman isn't Superman because of his gifts, he is Superman because of how he chooses to use them.
  • @JAKphoenixify
    You know Superman is a good guy when even a writer like Garth Ennis who idealises the anti-hero praises him.
  • @orboakin8074
    The whole thing about people finding Superman boring and lacking in personality is mainly a western phenomenon. In much of Africa, were i am from, and most of the world (many manga heros were inspired by him) he is still belived and adored as a great hero and personality mainly because our societies don't have the weird cultural obsession with relativism and we prefer heroic characters who stand for good, no matter how cliched it seems❤
  • @LaneCorbett
    Lex Luthor liking Clark but hating Superman will never not be funny.
  • @RedStar441
    If being an all around good natured person is a revolutionary idea, something has gone terribly wrong.
  • @Aldgri
    After Homelander and Omniman, I honestly think a golden hearted, compassionate, good morale superman is what we need tbh
  • @TheLastGarou
    "In many ways, Clark is the most Human of us all.... ...Then he shoots FIRE from the sky, and it is very difficult not to think of him as a God. And how lucky we all are that it never occurs to him." - Batman, 'Batman/Superman: Public Enemies' "Clark Kent is who I AM. Superman is just what I can do." - Clark Kent "'Kingdom Come' flew, so 'Injustice' could stumble along like a drunken amnesiac." - Me
  • @caldeandrade69
    As a fan of Nightwing, I started to slowly appreciate the importance of Superman. Superman showed the importance of having a heart in hero work to the young Dick Grayson. Because of that, I started watching reading Superman in different medias.
  • Characters like Superman, Optimus Prime, Ultraman (The Japanese one), and Gamera are some of my favorites in all of fiction. Those characters that, while they will acknowledge that there is malice in the world, they will always see the good that coexists with said malice, and will always fight to protect it. And it’s always inspiring.
  • @Cody-5501
    "no one can ever be as good or kind as superman" maybe but we'll never know unless we try
  • @Swenglish
    Where Spider-Man is someone who has to keep reminding himself that "with great power must also come great responsibility" and is in a constant battle with his selfish impulses, Superman is someone who internalizes that responsibility at an early age and makes it part of his identity. Rather than having to remind himself, he reminds others through his actions and the choices he makes with the power that he refuses to be corrupted by, not against the temptation of corruption but out of a fundamental understanding of the very simple fact that corruption is bad and kindness is good.
  • @harryfleutv666
    It’s sad that Superman has been overlooked as just a ‘boyscout superhero with no problems’, even though Batman and Spider-Man are my two favourite superheroes, I can’t deny that Superman is the best hero, not because of his powers, but because of his kindness and compassion, one of my favourite animated movies ‘The Iron Giant’ perfectly encapsulates the vetoes and meaning of the Superman character, and it’s me I’ll always remember and hold close to my heart
  • I legit had someone recently tell me that "Superman Vs The Elite isn't pessimism vs optimism, it's strawman made to cope with the fact The Authority outsold Joe Kelly's Superman run". I just responded with "Who the fuck is The Authority?"
  • I used to think he was boring a long time ago, but then I began to realize why he really does matter. Great video!
  • @BluePhx17
    Superman is the epitome of a good person doing what they can to help. The idea of a friend who will always come through for you is so beautiful. Superman is such an inspiration.
  • @zubairsadiq5565
    Superman is the iconic....the most iconic and amazing superhero....I have always gotten inspired by this character and love him a lot. ❤
  • @aaronfraire9073
    You put it to words better than I ever could. I'm actually a jaded, cynical, nihilistic pessimist, but Superman has always been my favorite DC superhero because the exact opposite. He represents what humanity could be. He may be an alien, but he's arguably the most human hero DC has to offer.
  • @itszu6836
    I was also on those category who used to think Superman is pretty boring. But after I read several comics. I realized I was wrong. Superman is someone we should look up to.❤
  • @soysaucefool
    I didn't realize how much I loved Superman until I got teary eyed explaining to a friend why Superman is a Super.... man.