I’ve never heard it described as a ‘justice fantasy’ but it really is apt.
Superman was created by two Jews during the rise of Nazism in the 1930s. He’s a retelling of Moses, but the modern day Pharos are Nazis and the 1%, and Superman is the dream that someone powerful might choose kindness and finally stand up for the powerless. All of the powerless, equally. Superman is absolutely a justice fantasy. This is why in prosperous times Superman is boring, but he has a resurgence of popularity during hard times, the people crave justice.
Unfortunately too many of his writers have not understood that and subsequently have not known how to write for him.
Let’s not forget too that this just isn’t background and author intent. Superman as a fighter of injustice is directly on the page of his early work. He stops capital punishment, fights greedy bosses, and beats up Nazis. Post WW2, they could have used Superman as an anticommunist propaganda piece. Instead, creators at the Superman radio show had him battle the KKK and this actually added to snowballing downfall of the organization. Superman is a symbol for a reason.
I’ve never heard it described as a ‘justice fantasy’ but it really is apt.
Superman was created by two Jews during the rise of Nazism in the 1930s. He’s a retelling of Moses, but the modern day Pharos are Nazis and the 1%, and Superman is the dream that someone powerful might choose kindness and finally stand up for the powerless. All of the powerless, equally. Superman is absolutely a justice fantasy. This is why in prosperous times Superman is boring, but he has a resurgence of popularity during hard times, the people crave justice. Unfortunately too many of his writers have not understood that and subsequently have not known how to write for him.
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Let’s not forget too that this just isn’t background and author intent. Superman as a fighter of injustice is directly on the page of his early work. He stops capital punishment, fights greedy bosses, and beats up Nazis. Post WW2, they could have used Superman as an anticommunist propaganda piece. Instead, creators at the Superman radio show had him battle the KKK and this actually added to snowballing downfall of the organization. Superman is a symbol for a reason.