Wednesday is Comic Day!

Bill Willingham, the talented creator of works like Fables and upcoming writer of Justice Society of America posted an editorial that has stirred up conversation, although maybe more so for some of the whacky responses than the original post. His editorial can be read over at Big Hollywood, here. It would be nice if he had actually given an example of a mainstream superhero not complying with his view of moral clarity or "Old fashioned ideals of courage and patriotism, backed by a deep virtue and unshakable code" - each example he gave centered on one thing - American patriotism. Okay, Superman may not have said "American way" in a while - but has Superman given up his virtues? Is he violating his code? Is he no longer courageous? Astronauts have been quoted as saying that when they looked down on the Earth it looked small and they could see no borders. Superman has flown high and far. While growing up in Kansas Superman definitely knows that Americans can be great people and he can be proud of his adopted home, he's traveled enough to know that Italians can be good people too. Heck, Mr. Willingham, even the French can be good people. Superman would be wise enough to know that ideals are not exclusive to geography. It sounds, to me, that what he is really saying is that superheroes are no longer gung-ho American and that if they were they would be more courageous, more virtuous, and better role models. That sounds naive. It's also insulting to readers from other countries. I've lived half my life in England and half in America. I have not yet come across a virtue that people in America have that people in England do not. If he wants to add a few story notes in which characters show their pride in their homeland, great. But if he intends to use the books as a pulpit to espouse the superiority of one country over others, then he will be abusing the stewardship of the characters he is fortunate enough to be able to write.