Just as feminists have sought alternative readings of Shakespeare so too have those who would re-engineer our world invented interpretations for Superman that suit their views. The writers too are responding to the political correctness around them. Next Superman will discover his Gay side and Lois Lane will be required to empathise and gush sensitivity and support.



The creator of Superman, Jerry Siegel was a young man who like the greatest majority of nice young men who continually suffered the rejection of women, who true to this day, prefer the 'bad' boys. Siegel imagined that if he could show off his prowess in leaping over buildings and doing great deeds he could finally win the attention and hopefully the affection, of women.



Jerry Siegel, Superman's Creator, Dies at 81

By ROBERT McG. THOMAS Jr

Published: January 31, 1996



Jerry Siegel, whose teen-age yearning for girls gave the world Superman, died in Los Angeles on Sunday. He was 81 but was remembered less as the Cleveland visionary who dreamed up the greatest superhero of all time than as the naive young man who sold the rights to a billion-dollar cultural and commercial juggernaut for $130.

...

http://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/31/us/jerry-siegel-superman-s-creator-dies-at-81.html



What is interesting is that present day Clarke Kents, mild-mannered, respectful but 'ordinary' men and there are many of them, still ask the same questions of women, "Why do women pursue the 'bad boys', when they (the women) say they actually prefer the laudable traits of character, honesty and a sense of humour, and money and power are not supposed to matter?"



Of course women have similar questions of men, relating to such apparently superficial aspects as bra size. This riddle of attraction is as old as creation itself.



Going back to the subject report about Superman, the attempts to fiddle with the 'meaning' of Superman reveal the workings of the far Left and the far Right, and also the triviality and sensationalism of the media, the last mentioned of which (the media) Lindsay Tanner has had something to say about in his new book.



“The two key rules that now govern the practice of Australian politics are: (1) look like you’re doing something; and (2) don’t offend anyone who matters.” Lindsay Tanner



Predictably, the media has wrinkled brows about any criticism for aiding and abetting the trivialisation and sensationalising of news. Their reaction at Tanner's Press Club address was interesting to see. Can't link to it sorry.

I was always under the impression that Superman was an illegal alien, living in the US without citizenship, green card or residence status...... I am surprised that he is not being housed in Guantanamo Bay.........

I was always under the impression that Superman was an illegal alien, living in the US without citizenship, green card or residence status...... I am surprised that he is not being housed in Guantanamo Bay.........



Good, that would work as an example of modern 'alternative' readings. Thank God my children are past secondary education and I don't have to suffer proof editing assignments on the alternative feminist interpretations of Macbeth.



Nostalgia

I had very few comics as a child and this thread instantly evoked memories me of a boy in primary school, an only child, who had hundreds of comics. I can even see and smell the paints used by his father, a sign writer, who used to do the advertising signs for the cinemas.

Odd how things come back to you and how some images stay so he park bench staring into the distance is not far off



Grrr, I edited this twice. My eyes are playing up after recent problem.