50 Greatest Super Heroes In Comic Book History
By FanSided
2. Superman
(Write-up by Steve Lam, Bam Smack Pow Staff Writer)
Superman. Clark Kent. Kal-El. The Man of Steel. The Last Son of Krypton. The Man of Tomorrow. The Metropolis Marvel. The Big Blue Boy Scout. No matter what name he goes by, people everywhere (in our reality or in fiction) can immediately identify him. The first comic book superhero, and the granddaddy of all of them, his emblem is the second most recognizable symbol in the world — with the Christian Cross being first. Superman was created to be the ideal embodiment of the best humanity has to offer — a standard so high that even striving for it would be a noble cause in and of itself.
Coming in at #2, Superman’s only faults for not coming in at #1 is the clichéd statement ,”He’s just too perfect.” A character devoid of conflict and any inherent darkness, the Man of Steel has always been a storyteller’s bane (and yes, that was a pun directed at a certain Dark Knight). However, his character biography is probably closer to more modern-day Americans than some may initially think.
(Read More > See where Lex Luthor ranks among the 50 Greatest Super Villains)
Born on the dying planet Krypton and sent to Earth by his parents, Superman is the ultimate immigrant. Though his Smallville home life was filled with support and love by his adoptive Earth parents, his childhood and adolescence were marked by awkwardness and being an outcast. Always hiding his abilities from his peers, Clark would come to understand that his powers and abilities had a higher purpose. Armed with strong morals and a never-ending drive to help humanity, Clark donned the alter-ego of Superman: a beacon of hope and the de facto protector of all life.
So say all you want about Superman being over-powered or boring. One thing’s for sure, when he’s in action, it’s usually the greatest and most amazing spectacle you’ve ever seen. The overall consensus may be that Superman is #2 — for now — but in my mind, he’ll always be #1 — the greatest and most awesome being who ever lived!
Next: No. 1: I shall become a bat