Truth, Justice, and the Power of Kindness: Dr. Heather Ness-Maddox Talks Superman’s Enduring Appeal

Author: Sheron Smith
Posted: Monday, July 21, 2025 12:00 AM
Categories: Pressroom | Faculty/Staff | School of Education and Behavioral Sciences

Macon, GA

Dr. Heather Ness-Maddox catches the new Superman film.

More than eight decades after his debut, Superman remains a cultural powerhouse. But what makes the Man of Steel so enduring, even in an era of cinematic antiheroes and moral ambiguity? In this MGA faculty Q&A, Dr. Heather Ness-Maddox, a member of the psychology faculty and director of the University’s Honors Program, unpacks the character’s immigrant origins, his evolving portrayal through decades of American history, and why his most powerful trait might just be his unwavering kindness.

Superman has been around for more than 85 years. What is it about this character that continues to resonate with audiences across generations?

Here’s the thing that is necessary to really get Superman; it’s a deeply American story. The character was originally created in a specific cultural context that provides some insight into the character.

Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938. Siegel was a first- generation American of Lithuanian Jewish immigrant parents. Shuster’s family also immigrated from the Netherlands to Ontario where he was born and then immigrated to the U.S. Both families Americanized their last names (Segalovich to Siegel, Shusterowich to Shuster).

Their shared experiences gave birth to Superman, an alien, originally named Kal-El who goes by the more American sounding Clark Kent, sent to earth, specifically Midwest America, to escape a world in a state of destruction. The story reflects both their Jewish heritage - Superman’s story evokes imagery of baby Moses sent in a basket to escape persecution and to grow up in Egypt - and their experience of growing up in America in the 1920s and 1930s.

Superman is the story of an American immigrant, the same story as many people in both 1938 and 2025. In my cross-cultural psychology course, we talk about the acculturation and wellbeing of immigrants. Studies show that the most well-adjusted, happy, and mentally well immigrants are those who integrate their cultural identity with the new culture of their new home.

Superman is the perfect example of this. Not only is he balancing his superhero and alter ego identities as superheroes tend to do, but he embraces his heritage as a Kryptonian while being fully human. He boldly boasts his Kryptonian family crest on his chest, a symbol of hope, and lives the values Pa and Ma Kent of Smallville, Kansas, taught him. He speaks multiple alien languages and has band posters and baseball pennants pinned up in his childhood room.

While rooted in cultural context, Superman is also so universal. At its core, Superman is the story of a boy who wants to be the kind of man his parents raised him to be. It’s a common human experience to love the people who raised you and want to be a person they can be proud of. It’s a common human experience to love your friends and want to protect them. Who are Superman’s friends? He’s friends with everyone.

How has the portrayal of Superman evolved over time, and what do those changes say about shifting cultural values or societal concerns?

Comics have changed a lot since 1938. The Golden Age of comics (1938-1956) can be characterized by idealism, patriotism, and the introduction of classic heroes (e.g., Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman). And what was happening in the world from 1938 to 1956? We have the Great Depression, continued influx of immigrants through Ellis Island, the rise of Nazism, and the U.S. participation in World War II. Humanity needed a hero to inspire hope. To be fair, comics were also a vehicle to inspire American patriotism and disdain for our enemies (some offensive depictions of Japanese soldiers pop up in Superman comics in the 1940s).

In 1956-1970 we get the Silver Age of comics where things get delightfully weird and whacky. We get a whole host of new superheroes with creative powers beyond just super strength, and Superman himself gained new powers like time travel, super ventriloquism (very useful in a pinch), and making tiny versions of himself.

Things sort of even out in the 1970s-1985 during the Bronze Age of comics, and then we have the Dark Age (1986-2000s). Comics shifted from bright, primary colors to dark hues. Storylines became grittier. Heroes become conflicted and morally gray. In 1986 we get The Dark Knight Returns in which Superman is the muscle of the corrupt U.S. government (an out of character move for Superman).

Trends in film depictions have usually been a step behind comic depictions. Superman the Movie (1978) gives us the blueprint for a classic origin story. The tone is hopeful and patriotic, while the later sequels lean toward the more whacky storylines. While Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) came out after when we typically consider the Dark Age of comics to have ended, that time in comics certainly influenced those films. The lighting and coloring are darker than Superman the Movie, the soundtrack more somber. Superman is dealing with much more emotional and moral conflict, which worked for some audiences and not so much for others. Henry Cavil’s Superman reflected the idea that a hero can have ideals but sometimes a hero is forced to do terrible things for the greater good.

Some more recent Superman stories suggest that while doing good is not always easy – in fact, it’s often really hard and might get you knocked out – discerning what is good and right isn’t all that difficult. Superman: Up in the Sky (2020) is a favorite of mine because when faced with a seemingly lose-lose situation, Superman is always going to find another way to protect others, even at cost to himself. Similarly, David Corenswet’s Superman has a hard moral line: are people going to die if this happens? If so, then it’s wrong.

I think we’re in a similar position as in 1938 when Superman was first introduced. We’re still reeling from a global pandemic, the effects of which there literally has not been enough time to fully research. Economic futures are uncertain for many. Climate change. Russia and Ukraine. Israel and Gaza. In 1938, news was filtered through radio and newspapers; now we can get on our phones and see videos of death, famine, and cruelty all the time, any time. It’s so easy to be cynical and overwhelmed. We need hope. Even more so, we need inspiration for kindness, respect for humanity, and proactive good.

With a new Superman film now in theaters, what challenges do modern storytellers face in keeping such an iconic and idealized character relevant to today’s audience?

Kindness is always relevant. The trick is to present kindness and caring for others as not cheesy or as weakness, as it’s often portrayed. Superman is the super man – yes, he’s strong, bullet proof, and handsome, but his kindness is also a part of his masculinity. Superman’s super manliness involves protecting those weaker than himself, looking out for kids, being gentle with animals, surprising Lois with a homemade dinner, and answering his mom’s calls. When you watch the new Superman film, contrast this with the fragile masculinity of Lex Luthor whose ego and cruelty are his Achilles’ heel. Superman shows that kindness is strength, and I can’t think of anything more relevant.

What did you think of the new movie?

I loved it! I laughed out loud several times, teared up twice, and whispered, “c’mon, Superman” at least once. The film brings to life the bright, colorful pages of Silver Age comics, embracing the fantasy and fun of superhero comics. It emphasizes that comic book movies can be bright and hopeful and still present a meaningful message and poignant social commentary.

What recommendations from the comics do you have for those who want more Superman?

• All-Star Superman
• Superman for all Seasons
• Superman: Up in the Sky
• Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – to prep for the Supergirl film in 2026!
• Supergods by Grant Morrison – for more comics history.

Dr. Heather Ness-Maddox is the director of MGA’s Honors Program as well as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology & Criminal Justice. Her research focuses on how characteristics of visual narratives (comics, film, video games) influence how we understand and think about the story. Her favorite Marvel character is Spider-Man (Peter Parker), and her favorite DC character is Batgirl (Cassandra Cain).