Superman: The Existential Battle for Cultural Relevance

Superman was once the simplest of heroes: sincere, hopeful, and unapologetically good. But in a cynical, polarized age that prizes flawed anti-heroes, that optimism has become a problem. In this episode, we trace Superman’s cultural journey from his comic-book origins through darker modern reboots to James Gunn’s latest attempt to restore his moral clarity. Why does kindness now seem naïve? And can an earnest hero still matter in a world that distrusts power and sincerity? We explore why Superman’s greatest strength today may be the very trait that once made him seem outdated.https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/07/17/why-superman-is-the-least-relevant-superhero