Superman: Origins

 

I’ve always felt that Superman was boring because he’s basically invincible, and the only weakness he has is one he can never overcome. It doesn’t seem like the best formula for producing stunning character arcs (which was exactly the problem that drove me away from Smallville after a few seasons). Fans of Superman have informed me that I’m missing the point; he’s not supposed to be the flawed anti-hero like Tony Stark—he’s supposed to be an uncorrupted symbol of hope. No matter how bad the world gets, there’s one almost perfect man who will never turn his back on humanity. And that’s kind of beautiful (not to mention allegorical).

As I was thinking that over, it occurred to me that Superman's origins are highly significant to the kind of person he is. Now, when I say "origins," I'm not talking about Krypton. I'm talking about the Kent family farm, where he grew up. One of the best known, most beloved superheroes of comic book history is a humble farm boy from Kansas. But is the farm where he fights the bad guys? No, because the Kent farm and the town of Smallville are home, and no evil dwells there. The farm is wholesome and idyllic, a quaint paradise, and it’s the reason Superman is a wholesome, ideal individual. The evil springs up from and resides in the big city, Metropolis. Essentially, the big, corrupt city needs the good, honest, hard-working farm boy to swoop in and save it.

Clark Kent’s farm upbringing says a lot about farm culture in the U.S. The Kent farm is exactly the stereotypical image of a Great Plains family farm: red barn, slightly rusted grain silo, comfortable and inviting farmhouse, tractors, and livestock, all surrounded by acres and acres of tall, green rows of corn. And the people are just as idyllic as the farm itself. Jonathan and Martha Kent are kind, wise, sincere, and loving, and they encourage their adopted son to reach his full potential. Growing up on a farm did not turn the last son of Krypton into an uneducated bumpkin; it molded him into the kind of man who would devote his life to helping others.

Perhaps this was accidental. Perhaps the creators of the original comics weren’t trying to make a statement about the character of farmers in general when they crafted Superman’s backstory. But if it was an accident, then it seems all the more telling about how Americans perceive the farm. It’s not about being complex and clever; it’s about being a constant, simple standard of goodness.