10 Superman Questions That Always Confused You

1. What Is The 'American Way'?

Since around the beginning of the 1940s, Superman has stood for three things specifically - truth, justice and the 'American way'. But what is the American way? Is it necessarily even quantifiable?

Superman's synonymy with the United States is unquestionable, but one of the most fascinating things about the character is that he enables us to delve into the concept of America itself. Truth and justice are resolute, but the United States is different things to different people. For a literal immigrant like Kal-El, that statement could mean all sorts of things; it could mean the ideals expressed in The New Colossus, the poem etched into the Statue of Liberty that spoke of a land of freedom, acceptance and shelter, or maybe even the New Deal politics of FDR's Presidency, the kind borne out of the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression that followed.

in the 21st century, the United States stands for a lot of things to a lot of people, but the thing with Superman is that he exemplifies the idea of America - not necessarily the state itself. Whether it correlates with history or not, the Man of Steel speaks to a version of the United States where all are created equal, where tyranny and prejudice are challenged at every opportunity, and where everyone has the freedom to carve out their own destiny.

Now, more than in a long time, is that idea needed. Supes represents the best of us, but also a version of the US that transcends borders, for while the Last Son of Krypton may be Kansas born and raised, he's Earth's champion too.