Superman is a story based on the greatest

“Superman is a story based on the greatest story ever told. That’s why we are all drawn to it…” – Mark Matthias

What is a “hero”? • hero (1) “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities” • “Noble qualities” include: ü Prudence (thinking about our words and actions before we speak and act, applying God’s teachings and wisdom, not our own…) ü Justice (treating all people with the same fairness and charity that we would like to be treated with…) ü Temperance (having the spiritual discipline to not over-indulge in our physical appetites); and ü Fortitude (having the courage to practice our Catholic Faith each and every day despite others mocking us for our convictions…)

The four Cardinal Virtues… • Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude are the central virtues of a Christian's life (CCC 1804, 1805) • These “Cardinal Virtues” are spoken of in many different ways throughout Sacred Scripture. They are distinguished as Faith, Hope, Charity, and then as Honesty, Chastity, Moderation, Patience, Kindness, Humility, Forgiveness, Diligence and Sacrifice (CCC 1813, “Theological Virtues”) • Virtue is “written on our soul” because our soul is made in the “image and likeness” of God (Gen. 1: 26 -27) • Virtue lies dormant within us until we awaken it by an “act of the will. ” An “act of the will” is when we choose between good or evil. When we choose to do the right thing, each and every time, we grow in the image and likeness of Christ…

Vice, the opposite of Virtue • Behavior that is contrary to Virtue is known as a Vice. The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists seven vices, they are: Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Envy, Anger, Pride, Sloth (CCC 1866) • Vices are also known as “Deadly Sins” because they smother the virtuous life that lies within us. For every one of our Virtues there is a Vice that tries to suffocate it: ü “Lust” tries to suffocate “Chastity” ü “Greed” tries to suffocate “Charity” ü “Gluttony” tries to suffocate “Temperance” ü “Envy” tries to suffocate “Kindness” ü “Anger” tries to suffocate “Patience” ü “Pride” tries to suffocate “Humility” ü “Sloth” tries to suffocate “Fortitude”

What are the qualities of a hero? ü They live by the four Cardinal Virtues of Prudence, Justice, Temperance & Fortitude while avoiding all Vices ü They believe the world can be a better place and try to make it a better place ü They are honest, chaste, moderate, patient, kind, humble, forgiving, diligent and sacrificial (CCC 1813) ü They “lead by example” so others can learn from them ü They put the needs of others before their own and even lay down their life to save the lives of others ü Jesus said, “Greater love has no man this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. . . ” (John 15: 13)

The connection between heroes and Jesus Christ… • Our God is holy and virtuous in all ways. Because our Soul is made in the “image and likeness of God” our Soul recognizes what is holy and virtuous • This is why we admire heroes and are drawn to them. Their example of valor and goodness is something we know, down deep, is the way we are all supposed to be • Jesus is the “visible image of our invisible God” (Colossians 1: 15). Jesus is our example of the type of person God originally designed all of us to be… • A hero is someone who has figured out that being just like Christ is the epitome of what the human soul can achieve

Heroes in American culture • Does any know who the first fictional hero was in American pop culture? • ZORRO! Created by New York fiction writer Johnston Mc. Culley in 1919 • Believed to be based on 1903 fictional character created by Emmuska Orczy in England known as The Scarlet Pimpernel 1919

Early popular heroes in America • Buck Rogers, in the 25 th Century, created by Philip Francis Nowlan in 1929 (comic strip) • The Shadow, in 1930 created by Maxwell Grant and Walter B. Gibson (radio)

Early popular heroes in America • The Lone Ranger and Tonto, created in 1933 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker (radio) • The Green Hornet and Kato, created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker in 1936 (radio)

Heroes are all around us… • Moms and dads are heroes by placing their children’s welfare before their own • Sons and daughters are heroes when they place the welfare of their parents before their own • Medical professionals are heroes when they place their patient’s needs before their own • Firefighters, police officers, rescue workers, soldiers, teachers, coaches, managers—workers of all kinds—are heroes when they place the needs of the people they serve before their own • And of course, those who live in service to the Church and its people (laypeople & religious) are heroes as well!

Heroes are role-models • All the everyday heroes living around us act as role-models for others to learn how to become heroes • Fictional heroes like Zorro, Buck Rogers, The Shadow, The Lone Ranger and Tonto, The Green Hornet and Kato are stories that feature characters whose noble qualities reflect the virtue, sacrifices and teachings of Jesus Christ • This is why we are drawn to stories about heroes. Our fictional heroes remind us of our greatest hero, Jesus Christ. This is why the greatest role-model and hero of all time is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ • If you want to become a hero, become like Jesus Christ!

The “new” hero… • In 1933, a new fictional hero came along that not only exhibited the virtues of Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude, this hero possessed unusual powers to defend others against those who chose to live a life of vice, rather than virtue • This hero was no mortal man like the other fictional heroes of the day (i. e. , Zorro, Lone Ranger and Tonto, Buck Rogers, Green Hornet and Kato, etc. ) • This hero transcended all other heroes. This hero was both a “man” and a “god”. He was a “super” hero a “superman…”

• Superman was developed in 1933 by two Jewish high school students—Jerry Siegel and Joseph Shuster • Superman originally based on “Hercules” and “Moses” • Superman would be a champion of social justice during the Great Depression of the 1930’s • Superman would fight corruption and help rebuild “Metropolis” under the catalyst of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's “New Deal” (“Relief, Reform, Rebuild”) Original etching of Superman in 1934

• Superman came to earth when he was a boy from the planet Krypton. There he was known as “Kal-El” the son of “Lara-El” and “Jor-El” • “EL” is a common Hebrew name for God (Elohim) in the Old Testament • Gabriel (“strength of God”) Michael (“who is like God”) Raphael (“healer from God”) 1946

• In 1938, Siegel and Shuster sold the character of Superman to “Detective Comics” later known as “DC Comics” • Superman first appeared in the DC publication, “Action Comics” in June of 1938. Superman would be a defender of “truth, justice and the American way!” June 1938

Jesus as the “new” Moses… The Apostle’s claimed Jesus was the “prophet like Moses” foretold in Deuteronomy 18: 15. (See also John 6: 14; 7: 40 -42; Acts 3: 19 -22). The prophecy said everyone “must listen to him…” Parallels of Moses and Jesus: • Kings sought to destroy both Moses and Jesus when they were babies • Both were sent by God to be deliverers • Both Moses and Christ authenticated their missions with miracles • Both gave laws from God (Jesus as God) • Both fasted forty days • Both performed duties of priests • Both controlled the seas • Both had 70 helpers • Both grow up in societies where they were foreigners • Moses’ face glows as it reflects the light of God from Mt. Sinai. Jesus’ body glows as he is transfigured before Peter, James and John, Moses and Elijah • Moses was a shepherd, Jesus is the “good shepherd” • Both supplied manna (bread) from heaven

As the decades passed, the comic book writers made more and more metaphors between Jesus and Superman 1973 1961

Parallels between Superman and Jesus…

• Krypton under attack by evil general Zod. Earth under attack by evil general “Satan”. Father sends his only son to be savior of world • Both are “human” (Clark Kent) and “divine” (Superman) • Both have parents who know his secret but can’t tell anyone • Both ridiculed and mocked. Perceived as “weak”, “too humble”, “too good”. Both rejected by society • When Superman wants to be alone with his father he goes to the “Fortress of Solitude”. Jesus’ fortress of solitude is prayer with his Father

• Both sent to Earth to be an example of virtue. If one follows their example they will soar in the heavens (physically and spiritually) • Both willingly sacrifice themselves for the good of mankind. Superman wears a red cape when he saves the world. Jesus wears a red, blood-stained cloak • Clark Kent works at “The Daily Planet” which is an “observation tower” of the daily shortcomings of earth. Heaven above sees earth’s sinful behavior too • In the 1987 film, Superman, The Movie, Lois Lane says, “I am with a god…” In the 2013 film, Man of Steel, Jor-El says, “He’ll be a god to them…”

Superman as a “type” of Jesus was understood in the 1971 Broadway musical, “Godspell” 1973 1998

The divine qualities of Superman were carried over onto the big screen in the 1978 film, “Superman, The Movie” 1978

References of Superman being a Christ-figure continue to appear in “Man of Steel” 2013

QUESTION: What is the big difference between the mythology (“reality mixed with imagination”) of superheroes like Superman and the life of Jesus Christ?

Jesus is a real, historical figure and he is still alive today as he always was! • Despite overwhelming evidence that Jesus was a real historical person who lived 2000 years ago, some insist on portraying Jesus’ life and miracles as “mythical” stories comparable to stories of superheroes, or Greek gods Dec. 2012 Times Square, Dec. 2012

Gracias por su atención! Dios te bendiga

Thank you for your attention! God bless you