Our theme for the month of June is “confessions.”
Primary colors. Perfect hair. A warm smile. For eighty seven years, Superman has been a friend to all. My first role model was my dad; my first hero was Superman. In my younger years, I dressed up as Superman for Halloween, grew up watching the corny Super Friends cartoon (and the holds-up-surprisingly-well Superman: The Animated Series show), and wrote one of my first short stories about Superman discovering flight. Meeting me, you probably wouldn’t know that I am a huge Superman fan. In a way, I’m not. I don’t read Superman comics, I don’t love the Superman movies, and most of my Superman knowledge is from my childhood copy of Superman: The Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel.
And yet, I’m currently obsessed with Superman. The newest Superman movie is coming out on July 11 (less than a month away!) and I haven’t been this excited for a movie since Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Maybe it’s the intoxicating anticipation of a summer blockbuster (mark my words, Superman (2025) will be a smash hit. I’m talking a billion dollars at the global box office. I believe in James Gunn).
Maybe it’s that—I confess—I’d like to be Superman. He’s selfless, handsome, brave, daring, kind, passionate, thoughtful, young at heart, and can fly. But Superman wasn’t the first to fly. Steven Spielberg’s thoughts on flying resonate with me: “Anytime anything flies, whether it’s Superman, Batman, or E.T., it’s got to be a tip of the hat to Peter Pan. To me, flying is synonymous with freedom and unlimited imagination.” Whether it’s Peter Pan or Superman, I have always longed to fly, especially the floating kind of flying. For my money, the closest kind of floating-flying you can actually experience is when you’re fully submerged in a lake or ocean. It’s one of the few ways to capture a special feeling of peace and solitude. Unaware of its problematic production at the time, Superman rising to the sun to regain his strength in Superman Returns was a powerful image of serenity for my nine-year-old self. But even if you take away the eye-catching elements of Superman—his superpowers, good looks, and costume—Clark Kent is still just as worthy of respect. It’s what he chooses to do with them that matters.
When I really think about it, I think being a comic book version of Superman would be an overwhelming task of responsibility. I’d rather be a more local version of Superman. I’ll never be able to fly, but I can be like 1999’s Iron Giant and choose to use my gifts for good. As cheesy as it sounds, I sometimes ask myself, what would Superman do? I’m not ashamed of this—in fact I think more people could ask themselves this question. The world needs simple altruism. It could be as small as watering someone’s plants and arranging their desk the way they like it.
Often I get so overwhelmed by not knowing how to help the world’s calamities. I need to remind myself that being better and doing good doesn’t have to look like fixing the world’s problems or “saving everyone.” After all, when Lois Lane asks Superman, “Who—are you?” Superman says, “A friend.”
See you at the movies.
Isaac graduated Calvin in 2019 studying English, secondary education. After finishing teaching English, he’s enjoyed working in higher education at Hope College while taking steps to be a certified hospital chaplain. Isaac loves movies and lighthouses more than most things.
