President’s Day
It’s President’s Day and I’m reminded of the squandered Superman plot; President Lex.
Luthor, an independently wealthy candidate with a history of alleged criminal activity, assumes the Presidency during a period of peace and prosperity. Allegations of election fraud are ignored and no sooner has he settled into the Oval Office than we find OUR WORLDS AT WAR.
Story lines similar to the 2000 elections unintentionally mirrored the public sentiment post 9/11. Stuck with a President he didn’t want and a war he didn’t ask for Superman is thrust into battle. By 2003 Clark Kent is even investigating allegations that Luthor had manipulated the truth just as CNN was first reporting the selective honesty of our own leaders.
Lex Luthor has always represented the evil establishment. During the age of atomic power Lex was a scientist on the verge of destroying us all. During the 80’s Lex became a “Gordon Gecko” manifestation of corporate greed. Finally, in a time when we couldn’t trust the motivations of our political leaders, Lex had become the President of the United States.
DC could have grabbed headlines the same way Joe Q. has done with Civil War and returned Superman to his roots as a hero of the people.
When Superman was created 65 years ago he was cracking down on wife beaters and public corruption. Now I’m aware that doesn’t make for the most exciting comic adventures in the modern era but the concept is more relevant than ever.
By taking on the President, Superman reclaims his golden age appeal as a hero of the people instead of the flag waving, tool of the establishment he’s often portrayed as.
Obviously, most of this was plotted far in advance of actual events but I hoped the writers might capitalize on these odd coincidences. Unfortunately the President Lex story ends abruptly when Luthor goes bat-shit-crazy to and tries to kill Superman in a battle suit on live television.
…Not exactly the Manchurian Candidate twist I was expecting.
Happy President’s Day.
-Johnny Zito
