Grant Morrison, prolific comic book writer, once had this to say when it comes to writing stories about Superman:

“Writers often say they find it difficult to write Superman. They say he’s too powerful; you can’t give him problems. But Superman is a metaphor. For me, Superman has the same problems we do, but on a Paul Bunyan scale.”

Superman is not a distant figure that is completely detached from the average person. Anyone can identify with who he is and what he represents. It is because of this that he has remained culturally relevant for the better part of a century.

Throughout his history, Superman has served as a socially conscious reflection of the times. When Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, both sons of Jewish immigrants,

created him in 1938, they envisioned Superman as the “Champion of the Oppressed.” In his very first appearance, he saves an innocent woman from being executed on death row, pummels a wife beater, and investigates a corrupt governor. He doesn’t start out with the supervillains and bombastic fights we associate with him now. The first evils he fights are ones we see in our real world day to day.

There was a slight shift in the 80’s, where Superman’s role in American culture shifted from the radical hero who fought the establishment to a figure who upholds it. Under Reagan-era conservatism, Superman became the ultimate portrayal of patriotism, even rejecting his immigrant roots in a now infamous panel written by John Byrne. He was even portrayed as Reagan’s lapdog explicitly in the story The Dark Knight Returns, where he follows his direct orders. While within the story they imply he does this somewhat begrudgingly, it does not lessen the imagery of a character who once confronted corrupt politicians directly now being at the beck and call of Ronald Reagan. This too, was a reflection of this period in time: being confident, nationalistic, and far removed from the street-level injustices he was created to oppose.

But like society’s tastes and needs, Superman has changed over time as well. The world of 2025 is dictated by cynicism, political distrust, online discourse, and an overabundance of superheroes portrayed as morally grey on screen. With this in mind, Superman’s purpose now isn’t to be an unquestioning symbol of American power, but proving that the ideals he was originally built upon — truth, justice, and a better tomorrow — are still possible, even today.

The recent movie from writer and director James Gunn tackles this head on, portraying Superman in a world that is abrasive to what he represents, yet in the end sees the power in his principles. This is mirrored in the real world as well, with much of the film’s discourse being around a change in perception of the character. All throughout social media, Superman’s conversation with Lois, where he calls his endless optimism and willingness to see the good in others “punk rock” has taken over. People have latched on to the quote, not with irony but in genuine embrace of what it represents. It showcases a widespread push against the world’s cynicism. In that sense, Superman feels radical once again, reclaiming his place as a cultural force of disruption and hope.

From his roots as the “Champion of the Oppressed” to the Reagan-era figure of authority, and now to the 2025 Superman who inspires hope in a cynical world, the character has always mirrored the times. The latest film proves that, nearly a century later, he remains culturally relevant, a reminder that even in a world that doubts ideals, someone can still stand for truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.