My Answer is Simple

At this point, I feel like I’ve read everything that there is to read about my topic. The conversations that are being had have been going on for a very long time, and I feel that as an insider, I’ve heard them all. Especially since the negative conversations and comments have been directed at me on occasion. It’s often difficult to be a Superman fan. Many times, the powers that be don’t understand him, and write him so completely out of character that I feel like I’m just buying the name on the cover, instead of the adventures of my hero. Other times, simply wearing a Superman shirt is enough to garner ridicule from passersby. I’ve received stares and scoffs simply by purchasing Superman memorabilia. Far too often, the character is perceived as “childish.” I’ve been told countless times that Batman’s better, and that Superman is lame. I don’t have enough fingers to count all of the times that I’ve seen “Superman is stupid because he wears underwear on the outside” comments. Side note: they are not underwear, they are traditional Kryptonian garb. I’ve got my “Why Superman is My Favorite Superhero” speech practically memorized because I’m asked why every time I make a new friend.

My answer is simple: Superman inspires me to be a better version of myself. The character has been there with me in good times and bad, and has even kept me from going off the deep end. It sounds really stupid to an outsider, but to me, it makes sense. The character embodies everything that I believe in: truth, justice, equality, honor, respect, and hope for a brighter tomorrow. I like other superheroes just fine, and some more than others, but for me, Superman is tops. He’s the one that started the superhero genre, and his story served as a template for every character to come in some form or another. He’s not just a drawing on some stacks of stapled paper, or a man in a colorful costume rigged with wires earning a paycheck. To me, he’s so much more. He makes me feel good, and that’s all the reason I really need. I shouldn’t have to justify my love for the character to anyone, because the character himself should be enough. He’s Superman. He’s the pinnacle of strength and honesty. Some people see fault in this. But if people are unwilling to appreciate a character that represents the best in humanity, doesn’t the real fault lie in them?