By d. emerson eddy — “What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?”…is a song written by Nick Lowe. Many people probably came to it the same way I did, as a cover by Elvis Costello. It's basically a cry against the seeming darkness and disconnected nature of society, as well as a call for “peace, love, and understanding” in the name of a brighter humanity. That empathy is something to be upheld, not something to be mocked. It's this song that I have in mind whenever I think of the title from Action Comics #775, “What's so funny about Truth, Justice, and the American Way?”, by Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke, Lee Bermejo, Tom Nguyen, Dexter Vines, Jose Marzan, Wade Von Grawbadger, Wayne Faucher, Rob Schwager, and the Gang at Comicraft.

Truth and justice, those I can get behind. The American Way? That's a bit more of a quibble, because it raises questions of American exceptionalism and the hegemony of culture that could be considered American Imperialism, but that's a different argument for a different time. This has more to do with the empathy mentioned earlier. This is the comic that generated the Superman vs. The Elite story, as Superman finds himself face to face with an Elite foursome that's analogous to DC's other heavies over in the Wildstorm corner of the universe, The Authority.

Kelly, Mahnke, and Bermejo — plus an army of inkers — set up Superman's idealism, his tenacity, and desire to see the best in everyone, in a belief that people can eventually change, up against the Elite's cynical charge that the only way to deal with villainy is to eradicate it completely, to essentially kill it, quickly and without quarter. It presents the argument that the optimism and idealism of Superman are outdated and unnecessary in a world where giant apes and grassroots terrorists are leveling cities with impunity.

It is somewhat over-simplistic to think that Superman's heroism and the Elite's anti-heroism are the only two ways to serve — especially when you consider that Superman has a tendency to uphold an unjust status quo when you really think about it — but it works within the framework of the world the two positions find themselves among.

This all essentially reminds us why we need a Superman. Regardless of the shades of grey of the trappings of the outside world, Superman still stands as an icon to doing the right thing. Of seeing the good in everyone, even the villains, and of fostering a world where you can have a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance of making something heartfelt, making something real, and having a life that works out better in the end. That we need a symbol of hope to help pull us through and not to give into the darkness, the cruel, and the killing, just because it's easy.

Costello sang, “Is all hope lost? Is there only pain and hatred and misery?” and Action Comics #775 replied, “not on our watch.”

CLASSIC COMIC OF THE WEEK: Action Comics #775

Action Comics #775
Writer: Joe Kelly
Pencillers: Doug Mahnke & Lee Bermejo
Inkers: Tom Nguyen, Dexter Vines, Jim Royal, Jose Marzan, Wade Von Grawbadger, Wayne Faucher
Colorist: Rob Schwager
Letterer: Comicraft
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 31, 2001
Extra-sized issue! Has Superman become outdated in our modern world? A new aggressive team of metahumans called the Elite certainly thinks so, and they're about to wreck the Man of Steel's truth, justice, and American way. And if a lot of innocent bystanders get killed in the process, so be it!
Price: Action Comics #775 $1.99 | Available collected in Superman: A Celebration of 75 Years ($7.99)

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d. emerson eddy is a student and writer of things. He fell in love with comics during Moore, Bissette, & Totleben's run on Swamp Thing and it has been a torrid affair ever since. His madness typically manifests itself on Twitter @93418.