Superman Captures the Fall of 20th-Century Liberalism

The American Spectator ^ | July 29, 2025, 10:04 PM | Shiv Parihar

[E. Pluribus Unum]

His story and his principles are meant to be unifying touchstones for us all.

The 2025 iteration of Superman is worth a watch if the subject matter at all catches one’s eye. Eschewing a decade of attempts to twist the character into darkness, this reboot embraces the morality at the soul of an American icon.

Gone are the attempts at a moral middle ground or a blurring of the story in an attempt to subvert tropes. The film’s heroes are unquestionably morally good. Its villains are unquestionably depraved. In short, it represents a cinematic return to normalcy.

That is not to say that Superman deserves no criticism. Leaving the classic slogan “truth, justice, and the American way” unsaid was an unfortunate decision. However, political analyses of the film from either side of the spectrum often read more politics than necessary into the film.

Many of my compatriots on the right were quick to denounce director James Gunn for calling Superman “an immigrant” in a pre-release interview. Gunn wasn’t wrong, per se. His status as an alien from Krypton is often referenced by his on-screen nemesis Lex Luthor. The minor comment was unfairly blown out of proportion by most political observers in an attempt to coddle or cudgel the director.

Superman is all-American, and he chooses to be so. This theme resonates throughout the film, eventually culminating in several examples of him choosing the Americans that raised him over the alien parents he never knew. Choosing the forebears of America and her values is an essential part of the integration of newcomers and their descendants.

Other conservatives critiqued a storyline where a dictatorial nation suggested to be a U.S. ally invades a hapless neighbor, whose unarmed populace sport hijabs and Afghan caps. The victims were certainly based on Gaza, but the invaders...

[Dr. Sivana]

Luther also is an immigrant.

Lex Luthor was born in Smallville or Metropolis, depending on which canon (and which earth) you go by. I don't recall him ever being considered an immigrant in any sense.

[mairdie]

Mixed Supermen - Superman - Five For Fighting - streaming from my website
https://www.iment.com/maida/tv/sv/video/Supermen-Superman-Five-For-Fighting.htm

Lois and Clark - Time After Time - Eva Cassidy - streaming from my website
https://www.iment.com/maida/tv/sv/video/Lois-and-Clark-Time-After-Time-Eva-Cassidy.htm

Smallville - XMAS - Song for a Winters Night - Sarah McLachlan - Jonathan Kent & family
https://youtu.be/LgHKu5-9WNU

Superman - I Wonder - ABBA
https://youtu.be/IDVvzZQ6-VE

[SaveFerris]

👍👍

[SaveFerris]

(The victims were certainly based on Gaza)

But remember, the movie isn’t political.

LOL 😂

[AceMineral]

Luthor was from Metropolis, but moved to Smallville to be near his hero Superboy. That is the history I’m sticking with.

[Dr. Sivana]

Luthor was from Metropolis, but moved to Smallville to be near his hero Superboy. That is the history I’m sticking with.

Agreed. Warner/DC insists on making everything complicated. They lost me when they changed him from a mad scientist to a malevolent CEO.

[mass55th]

"But remember, the movie isn’t political."

🤣

[cpdiii]

I knew Christopher Reeves in England. One of the English Studios was doing the special effects for the superman movies. Reeves was a pilot and glider pilot. He flew with us at Wycomb Air Park. He was a nice guy and helped with operations just like the other pilots in the club did.

However one day our tow plane for the gliders broke down. We requested he pick up the tow rope with his teeth and launch us. We all had a good laugh. I had no idea what his politics were. To us he was just another glider pilot and nice guy.

[RetiredArmyMajor]

Thank you for letting us know.

[Political Junkie Too]

IIRC, the original Superman didn't fly, leapt in long bounds. The old Fleischer Brothers cartoons had a leaping Superman.

I read that, over the years they kept making Superman stronger and stronger (like laser vision instead of telescopic or x-ray vision) and to the point where he became invincible and there was no suspense to the stories anymore. The writers had to start making slowly weaker to compensate.

-PJ

[Bernard]

The core problem with Hollywood today is that in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, Hollywood was heavily influenced by the presence of a large number of people who had fled Europe to avoid facism and socialism. Those people were grateful to have a place like America to come to, not just to practice their trade, but to be alive and not in some concentration camp or dead.

As a result, America as a concept was celebrated and cherished. Patriotism was high.

Then those people got old and retired, and the next generation of leaders in Hollywood found it fashionable to dislike America. It has come to fruition today, and people like James Gunn find it convenient or required to downplay or trash America.

Now, will the muslim invasion of Europe repeat history? Only time will tell.

[alexander_busek]

I knew Christopher Reeves in England.

Regards,

[The Duke]

Superman flies because Chuck Norris gave him permission to fly.