Superman: An “Illegal Alien” Perspective in Recent Editorial

An editorial from a Hollywood journalist, co-written by a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, asserts that Superman represents an “illegal alien” and relies on the concept of birthright citizenship to validate his existence.

Filmmaker James Gunn stirred controversy by labeling his upcoming Superman film an immigration narrative. Critics reacted negatively, suggesting he was injecting politics into the story. However, the editorial counters this by stating that Superman has indeed been characterized as an “illegal alien” for the past 87 years. The piece was authored by Andrew Slack and Jose Antonio Vargas, the latter of whom won the Pulitzer in 2008 for his reporting on the Virginia Tech shooting.

Gunn’s recent comments also made waves when he said that Superman is, in essence, an immigrant from another world. He emphasized that the film conveys political themes, highlighting human kindness as a crucial value that seems to be in decline.

The character, created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, tells the story of Kal-El, the last son of the doomed planet Krypton. Raised by a Kansas family as Clark Kent, he eventually becomes Superman.

Slack and Vargas defend the idea that Superman’s narrative has always included political undertones. They reference past storylines where Superman stood against oppressive forces, including the Ku Klux Klan and other symbols of hate. The editorial suggests that without birthright citizenship, the very existence of Superman is in jeopardy, linking this issue to broader immigration debates fueled by recent administrations.

The column further argues that policies targeting birthright citizenship threaten the legacy of Superman, a character that embodies American ideals. In light of this, it highlights the significant impact of the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to those born on U.S. soil.

In a somewhat provocative statement, the editorial reads: “Without birthright citizenship, Superman wouldn’t exist.” It notes that if Siegel and Shuster had been deprived of their citizenship, they might have faced significant limitations on their creative expression.

A comparison was also made between President Trump and fictional supervillains, particularly Lex Luthor, suggesting that the portrayal of Luthor in the ’80s resonated with Trump’s own rhetoric and actions in modern politics.

As debates surrounding birthright citizenship continue, the Supreme Court has issued rulings that affect the powers of lower courts regarding executive orders targeting this issue. Overall, as many argue over the character’s relevance and significance today, it seems that Superman’s legacy might still be very much tied to the human experiences of immigration and identity.