Moving on from “the American way”, DC reveals Superman’s new motto

2 mins read

The Man of Steel is making an official move from “the American way”.

Superman’s motto will be “evolving” from the popular line that he contests for “Truth, Justice and the American Way”, according to Jim Lee, DC’s chief creative officer and publisher during a virtual fan event DC Fandom on Saturday.

The “mission statement” of the superhero will become “Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow,” which was created “to better reflect the storylines that we are telling across DC and to honor Superman’s incredible legacy of over 80 years of building a better world,” the company explained in a press statement.

Superman’s motto, in fact, has evolved over the years, playing around the terms “truth” and “justice” which is the focus of his identity.

The motto “Truth, Justice and the American Way” was, in reality, not sourced from Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s first Superman comic books. It was created in the early 1940s through the “Superman” radio serial, which served as a way to boost the American troops during World War II.

The “American Way” statement was sourced from the 1950 TV series “Adventures of Superman”, in time with the Cold War and with the peak of McCarthyism fear.

The motto evolved to “truth, justice and freedom” in the 1960s on “The New Adventures of Superman” children cartoon series.

The feature film in 1978 starring Christopher Reeve became the most popular “Superman” adaptation. It brought back the “American Way” version which was spoken by Superman himself, establishing it in the cultural awareness.

But the “American Way” motto came out of favor since then. DC Comics’ “Batman/Superman #16” issue released eight months ago unveiled the superhero’s motto as “Truth, Tolerance and Justice,” NBC News reported.

The company, with its decision to announce Superman’s mantra through its head, seems to mean that the superhero is everyone’s here, as it pushes to widen its representation. Recently, Jon Kent, Superman’s son, appeared to also wear the superhero’s supreme “S”, would come out as bisexual.

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