Superman is one of my favorite comic book stories. Zach Snyder’s Man of Steel is one of the better origin
stories, but it has its flaws. Interestingly, the film’s strengths and weaknesses
accentuate what draws me to Clark Kent’s story—and what leaves me wanting.
Snyder clearly accentuates the story’s religious themes. In the 1930s,
Superman’s creators drew on many sources, one of which was the story of Moses. Over
the years, the lore has taken on messianic themes, and Snyder gives us a savior
sent from the heavens who grows up among humans, lives in humble obscurity and
then reveals himself at 33 to lay down his life to save the world and become a
beacon of hope for all.
Sounds familiar.
I was moved by Snyder’s depictions of Clark as a child wrestling with an
identity that sets him apart from others. In one scene, Clark’s adoptive father
comforts and gently guides him after he finds out why he is different. That made
me ponder Jesus’ experience as a child and his relationship with his earthly
father, Joseph.
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| copyright Warner Brothers Pictures |
But ultimately, Clark Kent isn’t Jesus. In fact, he’s more like us—a
mixture of strengths, weaknesses, feats and failures yet wrapped in purpose, steps
of faith and hope. And it is this very human mixture with which I resonate most.
Central to many comic book hero journeys is the struggle to right what’s
wrong within even as they take on the wrongs in the world around them. Man of Steel doesn’t explore this as
deeply as other adaptations, but Clark’s journey covers familiar territory:
struggles with identity, trust, selfishness, fear, and deciding what is worth
living—or dying—for.
In Man of Steel, Clark
overcomes these struggles by taking a “step of faith.” Clark chooses to embrace
a purpose in spite of his fears and offer his own life in order to save others.
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| copyright Warner Brothers Pictures |
But a disappointment in Man of
Steel is how that choice is tainted by the staggering destruction resulting
from Superman’s battle with his enemy, General Zod—and how Clark ultimately deals
with Zod himself. Contrary to the earlier image of meekness, we witness the
devastation of “power out of control”: a Metropolis in ruins and, presumably,
an untold number of civilian (and Kryptonian) causalities.
One of the things I’ve always loved about Superman is Clark Kent’s dogged
devotion to do all he can to avoid any loss of life—even that of his enemy. It
is an essential aspect of his tenacious hope,
and it is missing from this film.
The best of Man of Steel
points me to our own Story. We too are called to take a step of faith, die to
our desires and fears, embrace our purpose and use our empowerment to confront
evil and approach life with “power under control,” sacrificial love and dogged
hope.
But Man of Steel also reminds me why stories like this fall short. In
our Story, God isn’t making us into superheroes whose battles leave a wake of
wreckage. God is transforming us into the likeness of Jesus and calling us to a
life lived together defined by sacrificial love and joint labor with him in his
redemptive and restoring work.
And the power we have within us—the indwelling Spirit who is far greater than any super
power—shapes our communities and response to injustice, oppression and evil in
radically different ways than those of comic book heroes.
Like Clark, we are not Jesus, but our Christ-likeness can be a beacon for
a greater Hope, one that not only saves the world but transforms our very souls.
(For a companion piece to this post, see Clark Kent is one of us)