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The World Reacts To A Superman Without America

The World Reacts To A Superman Without America

Oh look, the world noticed.

The Guardian (UK)

Several posters branded conservative critics of the storyline "Earthers" – a reference to the Birthers – the nickname for the rightwingers who have questioned Obama's citizenship.

The plot comes as the superhero from the planet Krypton, who was raised by a Kansas farmer and his wife, looks to take on a more global mission for his battle against injustice. "The world's too small. Too connected," Superman says.

Hollywood Reporter (USA)

What's next? Will Superman change his name to Stalin — which also means "man of steel?" Probably not. But this summer's Captain America: The First Avenger will drop Captain America from the title in Russia, Ukraine, and South Korea. And it's no accident that both Superman's renunciation episode in Action #900 and the forthcoming film Man of Steel, set to shoot this summer, are written by David S. Goyer. "They intended this to be a political statement, but it is really a slap in the face of the American identity," claims Swamp Fox Press. "Show me any one country that has done more for the world than America."

Vancouver Sun (Canada)

In the storyline, a frustrated Superman is angrily questioned by the president's national security adviser about why he flew down to take part in a peaceful protest in Tehran.

The fictional demonstration, showing citizens standing opposite police forces, is an obvious parallel to recent real-life pro-democracy rallies seen in countries like Egypt, Libya and Syria. The Obama administration has garnered some criticism for not offering enough support to such rallies across the Middle East.

The Herald Sun (Australia)

In his origin in the comics, Superman is sent to Earth as a baby to escape the demise of his home planet of Krypton and a Kansas couple raise him as their own son.

But since he was not technically born in the United States – and since his adoptive parents did not legally adopt him – he could be considered an illegal immigrant anyway.

Le Point (France)

"Croit-il en l'interventionnisme britannique ou à la neutralité suisse ?", écrit-t-il. "Vous voyez où je veux en venir : si Superman ne croit pas en l'Amérique, alors il ne croit en rien."

TM News (Italy)

A provocare l'inattesa decisione dell'Uomo d'Acciao, nell'ultimo numero delle sue avventure pubblicato dalla Action Comics, sarebbe il governo iraniano, che definisce la sua (non violenta) partecipazione alle manifestazioni antigovernative come un "atto di guerra" per conto dell'Amministrazione: "Sono stanco che le mie azioni vengano interpretate come politica statunitense", commenta Superman.

Publico (Spain)

"Pretendo hablar en Naciones Unidas mañana e informarles de que renuncio a mi ciudadanía estadounidense. Estoy cansado de que mis acciones se interpreten como instrumentos de la política de EEUU", ha sido la frase de la polémica.

The Jersualem Post (Israel)

"I'm tired of having my actions construed as instruments of US policy," Superman said in a short story in the issue, Action Comics No. 900 from the Time Warner Inc unit DC Comics.

In the comic, Superman never actually renounces his citizenship, he only talks about his plans to do that.

The Washington Times: (USA)

Rich Johnston, a British columnist and blogger who covers the comic book industry at BleedingCool.com, said Thursday that DC Comics may have underestimated the impact of Superman's comments about citizenship, which take place in a short story that appears in the back of Action Comics No. 900, a special anniversary edition.

"As soon as I saw it, I knew this was going to be big," he said. "But I don't think there's any hint of a conspiracy here. There's really no sense that this is part of a marketing scheme or a publicity stunt by DC."

And why did Comics Alliance's piece get so many insane respondents who, as Gail Simone pointed out, appeared never to have read a comic before. The Portland Mercury explains;

Drudge links to a Comics Alliance post, where former Mercury karaoke blogger/Comics Alliance Editor Laura Hudson must've had quite the afternoon moderating the more than EIGHT HUNDRED comments on the post so far.

Here a few of those comments (now up to 1250, and most likely the site's most popular piece of the year)

If you renounce your citizenship, you need to LEAVE the US. Guess you and LOIS better get used to living in the Fortress…because you don't need to be in the US. Oh and if you decide that Clark Kent CAN live in the US, then you are a hypocrite! You HIDE your citizenship in order to make your life MUCH better living in the US…and even VOTE in our elections…but you don't want to be a citizen.

Makes me want to PUKE!

Does this mean Superman will stand by to defend the Palestinians after they launch 200 rockets at Jewish Families?

I knew Superman was a Russian Spy. I knew it!
We know why this is happening. DC wants to expand its growth around the world and make more money. How Noble. This is like any other company that has left to manufacture in Mexico or China. If he was a true Amercian, he would stay and fight for the things he believes in and protest here and not in Tehran. Its only a comic strip, but it does reflect where the elites are heading.
Lemme get this straight: Superman is renouncing his citizenship because the most liberal administration in my lifetime is not liberal enough with its foreign policies?

Man of steel my grannies big toe. He needs a green kryptonite enema.

And that's just in the last hour….

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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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