It is impossible to argue that Superman is the greatest hero both in his representation in the comics and in pop culture. There are several qualities that could lead to such dominance. Perhaps it is his powers. It is virtually impossible to defeat him with his limitless powers. Perhaps it is his look. For almost 70 years, his costume has remained relatively the same, with the primary colors and the iconic S shield. Maybe it’s the simplicity of what he stands for. He stands for “Truth, Justice, and the American Way”, things that every person in our nation desires. But there is perhaps another aspect that has given him more respect than hordes of other comic superheroes, and that is the idea of Superman as a Savior figure, particularly of the Christian tradtion.
Comics are often to be said to be our culture’s mythology. Superman, like many characters, is a new vision of classic mythological characters. In examining his story in the comics, Superman is a combination of the story of Moses and Jesus Christ, two of the greatest heroes in religion.
Virtually every person can tell the story of the origin of Superman: A planet and it’s people are doomed. A man sends his son in a spaceship to save him. The son is found by a different people and raised as their own. Upon growing up, he becomes their champion. Simple enough. Now take the story of Moses: A people are in danger. A woman sends her son in a basket down the river to save him. The son is found by another people and raised as their own. Upon growing up, he becomes their champion. This is not some unintentional coincidence. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who created Superman, both come from Jewish descent, so the story of Moses is very much a part of their idea of what a hero could be.
As Superman’s mythos has developed, he has most certainly evolved from his first incarnation in 1938. Not only has he taken on new powers through the decades, but his image has evolved, surpassing a mere “hero” and into an icon. With this, he has become a Savior figure. In the comics, he is the ultimate hero who has set the standard for all who follow. The way he tends for the people of Earth, he indeed seems to be this incorruptible figure of purity and truth. Then over a decade ago, the final addition to his mythos came: Superman fighting to his very death, sacrificing himself to save the people of Metropolis; only to rise from the dead. One cannot deny the poignancy of this and how it compares to the Bible story of Jesus dying as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, and later rose from the grave.
Bryan Singer revisited this powerful aspect of Superman with the new movie Superman Returns. The general plot is that Superman has been gone from Earth for 5 years and with the people he loves in the greatest peril ever, he returns to save them.
A lot of fans have taken note of the significance of Superman’s name on his home planet: Kal-El. “El” in Hebrew traditions is a name for God.
Finally, there is the story itself of Superman being gone for a period of time and returning to a world in turmoil is not unlike what the Bible speaks in reference to the end times. After walking on Earth for a time, Jesus was ascended into Heaven, leaving us for a period of time. According to the book of Revelations, when the world is coming to its end, people and political events will be in complete turmoil (in the movie, this is represented by Lex Luthor and his plot, Lois being engaged with a kid, etc). Revelations goes on to say that Jesus will return at this time to save the innocent and punish the wicked and restore order to how it is supposed to be. Obviously, Superman returning and thwarting Luthor’s plans and saving the people is very comparable to the scriptural allegory.
In the very first teaser trailer released for Superman Returns, the images are accompanied by the voiceover of Marlon Brando as Superman’s father Jor-El in which he states in his iconic voice, “Even though you’ve been raised as a human being you’re not one of them. They can be a great people, Kal-El. They wish to be. They only lack the light to show them they way. For this reason above all - their capacity for good- I have sent them you… my only son.” The idea of a father sending his son to save a people is much like the idea of the God of the Bible sending His Son, Jesus, to Earth to save humanity. In the Bible, Jesus is a catalyst to begin a new era of redeeming humanity. He became the figurehead of Christianity and a focus of prayer and strength for millions. As Jor-El states, though being raised by humans, Superman is not one of them, because he is an alien with special powers. Such is the same for when Jesus was on Earth, he looked like a human and was raised by them, but he was so far beyond a mere human being. Furthermore, in the book of John, the writer uses the motif of “Light” to describe the effect of Jesus in the world, with evil being represented by darkness, and how he would illuminate things, showing the Truth to the people of how to live and such. Using the wording of “they only lack the light to show them they way” is no accident. The writers specifically wished to tap the power such words would have. Those words immediately call up ideas of Jesus and religion in a person’s mind. Bringing in the language and imagery of the Savior figure, particularly of the Christian tradition, brings a new depth to the movie and character that entices fans and viewers. Most western people have a special place in their hearts for religion and anything that seems related to such is given added (or at least different) attention and appreciation. It is a tool that has perhaps made Superman the most recognizable hero in the world.