"You Need Me to Save You": The Fall of Superman and the Death of the American Dream

The most iconic superhero to grace comic book shelves and the silver screen, Superman has long been held as an American icon. Created in 1938, Superman became a symbol of hope, justice, and a pioneer of the American way. In a world on the verge of war, Superman became an ideal to strive for, and always fought for good. However, in the decades that followed, new iterations of Superman began to gain popularity across all forms of media, and these iterations were not always as virtuous. New versions of a ‘Superman’ figure are often created in times of political and social anxiety, with the ‘Superman’ becoming a conduit to express fears and frustrations over a multitude of issues including threats of war, extreme capitalism and consumer culture, and even existential dread. This article prioritises three iterations of superman: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s original Man of Steel, Alan Moore’s Dr Manhattan (Watchmen), and Garth Ennis’ Homelander (The Boys). Through these, alongside the examination of ideas put forward by James Truslow Adams, Richard Hofstadter and others, this article identifies that Superman and his successors are indicators of public faith in American ideals, and that the current trend shows that this faith is dwindling.