Superman renounces US citizenship – is he tired of being asked where his birth certificate is?

by on April 28, 2011 · 3 comments

in Culture, Media

Editor: Is it true? Is it true that because of Donald Trump’s racism, Superman has renounced his American citizenship? Or is he just tired of the questions about where his long form birth certificate is?  Neither – for the Man of Steel has his other reasons.

By Dareh Gregorian / New York Post / April 28, 2011

Great Caesar’s ghost! The world’s most famous champion of truth, justice and the American way says he intends to renounce his US citizenship.

Superman makes the shocking pronouncement in this week’s Action Comics No. 900.

“Truth, justice and the [bold]American[end bold] way – it’s not enough anymore,” the Man of Steel tells the president’s National Security Advisor.

“I intend to speak before the United Nations tomorrow and inform them that I am renouncing my US citizenship.”

And no, he’s not giving up his citizenship because of health care reform or high taxes. He made the declaration after his protection of protestors in Iran becomes an international incident

“I’m tired of having my actions construed as instruments of US policy,” he says, explaining that he wants to help wherever and whenever he’s needed. “I’ve been thinking too small. I realize that now.”

In a statement to The Post, DC Comics co-publishers Jim Lee and Dan Didio said that despite the global outlook, the character is and always will be a red-blooded American at heart.

“Superman is a visitor from a distant planet who has long embraced American values. As a character and an icon, he embodies the best of the American Way,” the statement says.

“In a short story in ACTION COMICS 900, Superman announces his intention to put a global focus on his never ending battle, but he remains, as always, committed to his adopted home and his roots as a Kansas farm boy from Smallville.”

The story isn’t expected to have any repercussions in the “Superman” line of comics – it’s unclear whether he actually follows through with the pronouncement – but whether he actually has any citizenship to renounce may be a job for Donald Trump’s crack investigative team.

In his origin in the comics, he’s sent to Earth as a baby to escape the demise of his home planet of Krypton and he’s found by a Kansas couple who raise him as their own son.

Since he wasn’t technically born in the United States – and since his adoptive parents the Kents didn’t legally adopt him – he’d likely be considered an illegal alien.

The citizenship story has been heavily criticized online by some readers who take it as the character turning his back on the US – ustownhall.com called the tale “troubling” and “distressing”- but there have been precedents in the comic book world. In the early 1990s, “Justice League of America” became “Justice League International” so they could deal with more global threats.

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Rick Ward aka mr.rick April 29, 2011 at 9:23 am

I m not really sure why ustownhall.com is all of a sudden sweating Superman. He can do a much better job representing American Values if he isn’t preceived as a tool of US policy. Besides, if we get in a “Jam” the TEA party will save us. As long as the Koch bro’s bankroll the effort. Since the demise of the “OB Spaceman” Ocean Beach is really vulnerable to anything that could be solved by a “Super Hero”. I suppose the OB Rag Collective could fill in until another Super Hero could be annointed. I nominate The Checkered Demon to fill in until Spaceman’s son (where are you?) grows up. By the way, Faye’s green Ob t-shirt was in the mail box when we got home this A.M. For someone who isn’t from OB and has only myself as a connectionto OB, she sure was stocked! She said “It’s great,the green OB sure shows up good.” Before I sign off I would like to attribute “The Checkered Demon” to S.Clay Wilson.

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tj April 29, 2011 at 11:13 am

It was a no brainer – given legitimate doubts, the info should have been made public years ago.

Good timing though on it’s release – made the 1%er multi-millionaire President’s $1,700,000 income last year – just a blip in the media.

Obama won by his “promises” for “Change” – now he will lose by abandoning them – in his business as usual in DC.

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Citizen Cane April 29, 2011 at 3:45 pm

Should we really accept that he’s from the planet Krypton? Has anybody ever seen his birth certificate?

On a related issue…is Wonder Woman a US citizen?

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