Superman’s ‘Woke’ Controversy: The Man of Steel’s Latest Political Storm

Blimey, who’d have thought calling Superman an immigrant would cause such a kerfuffle? Yet here we are in 2025, watching the internet lose its collective mind over James Gunn’s perfectly reasonable observation about a bloke who literally fell from the stars. As someone who’s been covering superhero films since Christopher Reeve was still donning the cape, I can’t help but marvel at how we’ve managed to turn even the Big Blue Boy Scout into a political football.

The Immigration Situation: What’s All the Fuss About?

Let’s get real for a minute. Superman’s origin story is about as immigrant as you can get – he’s literally from another planet! But when James Gunn mentioned this blindingly obvious fact in relation to his upcoming film, certain corners of the internet went absolutely bonkers. Former Superman actor Dean Cain threw his cape into the ring, arguing there “have to be limits” – though what those limits are when we’re talking about a chap who flies around in his pants remains delightfully unclear.

Truth, Justice, and… All That Good Stuff?

Remember when superhero films were just about watching someone in spandex punch bad guys? Those were simpler times, weren’t they? Now we’ve got Kellyanne Conway on Fox News having a meltdown because new Superman David Corenswet didn’t recite the full “American way” motto like he was reading from the Bible. What’s proper fascinating is that this supposedly sacred catchphrase wasn’t even part of Superman’s original story – it was tacked on during World War II for the radio show, didn’t appear in comics until 1991, and has been about as consistent as British summer weather.

The History Lesson No One Asked For (But Everyone Needs)

Here’s a bit of trivia that might blow your mind: Superman was created by two Jewish immigrants, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who knew a thing or two about being outsiders in America. The character has always been an allegory for the immigrant experience – a stranger in a strange land who chooses to use his differences to help others. It’s not exactly subtle, is it?

FAQ: Your Burning Superman Questions Answered

Is the new Superman film actually pushing a political agenda?

Unless you count “being kind to others” as a radical political stance, not really. The film hasn’t even been released yet, and all Gunn did was acknowledge Superman’s well-established backstory.

Why is Superman’s immigrant status controversial in 2025?

It’s less about Superman and more about current political climate. The character has always been an immigrant – that’s literally his origin story. The controversy says more about our times than about the Man of Steel.

What’s changed about Superman’s motto?

The “American way” bit was added during WWII radio shows, wasn’t in comics until 1991, and has been tweaked numerous times. The core values of “truth and justice” have remained constant.

The Bottom Line

Look, at the end of the day, we’re arguing about a fictional alien who wears his pants over his tights and shoots lasers from his eyes. Perhaps instead of getting our knickers in a twist about whether Superman is “too woke,” we might want to focus on what the character has always stood for: helping others, standing up for what’s right, and giving everyone a fair shake. Isn’t that super enough?

What do you reckon? Has Superman always been political, or should we keep real-world issues out of superhero stories? Drop your thoughts in the comments below – just try not to heat-vision anyone who disagrees with you!