Framed along the well loved Superman lore including having his super briefs on the outside, the story digs deep into self-concept. Is Superman really that beacon of light for the world?
And while most of us can’t fly, we can take 3 lessons from Superman’s innermost journey.
1. Who do you say you are?
Superman grew up believing his powers meant he was chosen for something good. But when he discover the truth of his legacy that he was actually sent to Earth to conquer it, everything he had believed himself to be, caved in.
“Your choices, Clark, your actions. That’s what makes you who you are.” – Jonathan Kent
However, wisdom from Superman’s adoptive dad reminds us that what matters isn’t the story we are supposed to follow, it’s the one we decide to write for ourselves.
Self-belief doesn’t come from being told you’re good enough. It comes from saying, “I get to decide who I want to be,” even when everything in your past tries to tell you otherwise or even if that disappoints a few people along the way.
2. Loving your messy parts
In this newest installment of Superman, we see the villian using public opinion to undermine Superman. If you wonder why people pile-on in social media, here’s a thing to consider.
Lex Luthor doesn’t hate Superman because he’s strong, Luthor envies him, because Superman loves himself in a way that Luthor can’t.
When Lex screams out that Superman is an alien, we see Superman accepting himself, and making peace with the parts of himself that’s vulnerable.
“I’m as human as anyone. I love, I get scared. I wake up every morning and despite not knowing what to do, I put one foot in front of the other and I try to make the best choices I can. I screw up all the time, but that’s being human. And that’s my greatest strength. And someday, I hope, for the sake of the world, you understand that it’s yours too.” – Superman
Wow, that’s like telling all your haters that you believe there is goodness in them. That’s superpower indeed!
But that kind of strength can happen when we first learn to forgive ourself after making blunders. Or accept that we need therapy when the going gets rough. Or tell our friends we are not okay instead of pretending.
3. Regaining trust by being true to yourself
When the world found out that Superman was meant to conquer them, it turned against him. Not because Superman did anything wrong but simply because they were afraid.
Sometimes you only know who’s got your back, when the rest of the world turns upon you. These were the ones Superman leaned on to overcome the betrayal and to believe in himself again.
Figuring out who you are, what you stand for, and what kind of person you want to become, sometimes happens only after the biggest inner battles of our lives.
“It is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have”. – James Gunn, Director Superman
Love superhero movies? Read more articles here:
Thunderbolts: A story about giving yourself grace
Deadpool & Wolverine, Why haters hate!
The Marvels: Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse: Miles’ decision dilemma
Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse: Miles’ decision dilemma.
Images taken from:
https://collider.com/superman-teaser-trailer-david-corenswet/
https://arstechnica.com/culture/2025/05/krypto-steals-the-show-again-in-superman-trailer/
https://deadline.com/2025/07/james-gunn-superman-tv-spinoffs-1236454947/
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