American Nightmare - Third Superpower

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American Nightmare

Authored by Michael Pate on August 8th, 2003 at 9:02 PM

JLA #83

President Luthor has Qurac on his hit list, and heaven help any hero who stands in the way! Now Superman finds himself in a living nightmare as his fellow Leaguers fall one by one to Lex’s executive order: support the war or be “neutralized!” - JLA #83 Description

This story was fantastic (Save for Batman drop kicking a cop)! I would have loved to have seen it expanded and explored. Superman is in a perfect position to be marketing itself to young college students who are protesting foreign wars waged in their name. Superman is primed to fall back into his role of representing the little man, and capitalizing on it by making him cool to the masses again. When Superman was created 65 years ago he was the people’s hero cracking down on wife beaters and public corruption. Now I’m aware that doesn’t make for the most exciting comic adventures in the modern era but the concept rings more relevant than ever. It was until post-WW2 during America’s do-no-wrong period that Superman became a bland vanilla representation of what he was and Superman was tied in with the establishment. As time went on, however, and America lost her way Superman stuck by the sides of the powers that be despite his original rebel qualities. - John-Paul Zito

From his origins as a New-Deal social crusader and vigilante to his role as champion of the establishment and super-cop in his later years, Superman has always embodied the best attributes of America: our idealism, compassion and strength. The liberation of the Iraqi people showed that America still has the courage of its convictions, but it seems that Superman has lost his way. AOL/Time-Warner may own Superman, but he belongs to America. And we deserve a hero who isn’t a shill for murderous tyrants. - Joshua Elder

I guess he got pissed he’s being booted off the book soon. Mr. Kelly has officially taken a creative bowel moment on the comic book industry, and whether you were for the Iraqi war, didn’t care, or against, NO ONE should pick up this ugly turkey of a comic book. - Tim Hartnett

No, Joe Kelly isn’t leaving “JLA” — not exactly. Rather, he’s doing a year-long sequel to “Action Comics” #775, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Love and the American Way” (which editor Mike Carlin on Sunday called “the best Superman comic in years”), which pit Superman against a DCU superteam that bore a striking resemblance to the then-red-hot Authority. Next year, instead of merely butting heads with the more violent, more pro-active Elite, members of the Justice League will be working with them, in the pages of “Justice League: Elite,” with art by Doug Mahnke, in a storyline spinning out of “JLA” #100. - Beau Yarbrough

Yes, Superman is bigger than I am, of course… But ultimately he’s a vessel for ideas. He was when he was created, and still is today. Without a point-of-view to drive the character, what do you have? That caricature that the world at large writes off as �kids stuff.� Also, I will point out that this story is in JLA, NOT Superman. There’s a reason for that. Though he’s the focal point of this story, it’s the Justice League of America who must ultimately deal with the politics of their namesake. - Joe Kelly

Links in this entry:

A Hate-America Superhero?
Chaykin, Willingham, Simone on JLA
JLA #83
JLA #83
JLA #83
Writer Joe Kelly Responds To JLA Critics

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