Why I love Superman

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I always had a special attraction for Superman, he has always been my favourite superhero, even with his ridiculous costume and equally funny hairstyle (Though the modern version got an almost 'better' upgrade). I never understood why it was Superman that I loved so much, instead of the other superheroes. I even had his stickers pasted all over my Walkman. 

And then, years later I heard of the following lines from Kill Bill: "Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone. Superman didn't become Superman. Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red "S", that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears - the glasses, the business suit - that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent. He's weak... he's unsure of himself... he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race."

And I instantly knew why I always loved Superman. Because he has inherently always been Superman and only put up a face for the world, to hide his real identity. Superman is a strong character, full of idealistic views, he is a saviour, a crusader against the evil, but it was not something he developed unlike others, instead, he was born with it. He was the first man ever to make me believe that it is worth to fight for your beliefs, but he was also the first man to make me realise that it is quite lonely out there. Yes, Kent got Lane in the end, but the question is was she ever really able to understand him, his loneliness?

The point is, I am no Superman, but who says you need to be Superman to believe. Do what you want to, even if it means getting hurt, fighting with people, being lonely or often being sad or depressed. Be your own Superman.


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