Sorry, Marvel. The Greatest Superhero is Superman

In the 1950s, a moral panic swept through America. Comic books were banned in schools and burned by parents, who feared they were distracting kids from learning and turning them into juvenile delinquents. We know now that superheroes have the opposite effect.

Psychologists find that when kids imagine themselves as Batman, they stay focused longer. When they put on a Superman cape, watch a video of him, or pretend to be him, they’re better at delaying gratification. And after playing a superhero in a video game, we do more to help others in the real world.*

For the past two decades, many kids have found their heroes in Marvel movies. As entertaining as the MCU can be, I’m thrilled that Superman is back in theaters. The new DC film** reminded me why I grew up reading and watching everything I could find featuring the Man of Steel. He wasn’t just the first comic book superhero—he’s also the greatest.

1. He’s the most super… and the most human

The typical hero has limited superpowers. The Flash can run fast enough to time travel but can’t save his mom. Spider-Man has strength and agility but can’t shoot webs—he has to build the tech. Iron Man is nothing without his suit; Green Lantern is dependent on his ring. And Batman’s primary advantage is the privilege of having been born rich.

Superman is far more powerful. He can freeze your Thanksgiving turkey by breathing on it, thaw it by looking at it, and tell you when it’s cooked by looking inside it. He can also eavesdrop on what your in-laws say about your cooking after you’re asleep. He’s virtually invincible. And he’s faster than a speeding bullet, stronger than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound (which is totally unnecessary since he can fly).*** That makes him inspiring.

At the same time, he’s the most vulnerable hero. He can be incapacitated by a tiny rock. Like a kid with severe allergies, even airborne particles can put his life in danger. That makes him relatable.

Unlike many of his arrogant peers, Superman has humility. He questions whether he’s strong enough to stop supervillains and whether he’s doing enough to help people. That keeps him grounded and growing.

2. He has the strongest moral compass

Most heroes are content to patrol their city and save their own kind. Daredevil is there for the people of Hell’s Kitchen, Spider-Man covers the rest of Manhattan, and Ms. Marvel watches over the outskirts in Jersey City. Superman has a much broader circle of concern. He doesn’t limit his rescues to Smallville or Metropolis; he patrols the whole planet. He’s not just an immigrant—he’s an alien from another solar system who devotes his life to protecting an entirely different species. He’s principled; he doesn’t kill.

Even Superman’s alter ego is prosocial. As Clark Kent, he fights crime as an investigative reporter. Compare that with the more self-centered career choices of other so-called heroes. Deadpool is a murderer for hire. Hawkeye teaches archery… where he can practice his archery. Spider-Man’s day job is literally taking selfies.

3. He lives the most well-rounded life

Iron Man’s “friends” are mostly on his payroll. Batman burns the midnight oil like an investment banker. Superman knows there’s more to life than work. As he once put it on TV, “Superman is what I can do. Clark is who I am.”

Clark is a family man who cherishes his time with Lois Lane and regularly visits his parents in Smallville. He stays in touch with his childhood besties Lana and Pete. And in contrast to many heroes who don masks to hide their identities, when he steps into a phone booth, he changes his uniform without changing his values.****

Every kid needs good role models. In hindsight, it’s easy to see why Superman was one of mine. As the last son of Krypton and the first on Earth, he’s an original. He discovers his hidden potential growing up on a farm, rethinks his purpose in life, and goes on to become the world’s biggest giver. We need more characters with that kind of character.

*Some research has shown that when people think specifically about Superman’s traits rather than superheroes in general, they volunteer less… presumably because they associate him with an impossible standard. They apparently missed the memo about his weaknesses.

**I loved the new movie. Superhero films have long been beleaguered by taking themselves either too seriously or too lightly, and Superman delivered the ideal balance of gravity and levity.

***In the original 1938 comic, Superman couldn’t fly; he just had an epic vertical leap.

****Superman’s disguise is a crash course in the psychology of confirmation bias. As the saying goes, “Seeing is believing, and if I hadn’t believed it, I wouldn’t have seen it.” Since people can’t fathom that Superman walks among them, a pair of glasses is enough to conceal his secret. (They also seem unfazed that he wears underwear on top of his pants, but that’s another conversation.)