Reimagining Superman: A Reflection of Modern Liberal Values

The latest “Superman” film by director James Gunn is less a critique of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and more an exploration of the alienation many liberals feel from America.

Traditionally, Superman has fought for “truth, justice, and the American way,” a slogan dating back to the 1940s radio shows and popularized in the 1978 film starring Christopher Reeve. Gunn’s vision, however, shifts the narrative. He describes Superman as a hero from nowhere, guided by sentimentality rather than a clear allegiance to America’s ideals. The film portrays America and Superman as unremarkable, emphasizing universal kindness over patriotic exceptionalism.

Superman is depicted as an orphan from Krypton raised on Midwestern virtues, yet in Gunn’s version, the character lacks a distinct self-identity or connection to the American identity. Instead, he embodies a vague idea of goodness, not a patriotic spirit. Unlike prior versions, he does not speak about “the American way,” instead emphasizing that his flaws are what make him human.

This portrayal mirrors a broader cultural trend among liberals, emphasizing universality and morality over patriotism. The film’s villains, for example, are involved in spreading disinformation and collude with foreign enemies, drawing only loose parallels to actual political figures.

The film also questions the moral boundaries of heroism; Superman refuses to kill, advocating for non-lethal methods even in life-or-death situations. While this aligns with some ideals of liberalism, it also exposes the shortcomings of such an approach when heroes are powerless to prevent violence or injustices, like the shooting of a man by the villain Luthor.

Overall, Gunn’s “Superman” presents a hero defined more by sentiment than patriotism, highlighting a worldview that minimizes America’s significance. Critics argue this reflects the broader liberal tendency to de-emphasize national identity, favoring a more universal, yet less rooted, moral outlook.

In this view, viewers longing for a hero who embodies pride in America and the strength to uphold its values may find Gunn’s Superman to be a mirror of modern ideological trends — a hero who never truly stands for the American way.