Snapshots
JOR-EL. For the thousand orbits, a shining planet circled a celestial font of heat and light. The people of that world grew tired of war so they achieved a united society. They feared the unknown… so they conquered it with the marvels of science. They yearned for heaven… so they created it beneath their very feet. For ten thousand orbits, a clump of dirt careened around a red dwarf star. And it accomplished miracles no one will ever remember.
KOBE. Probably – though the real threat is more insidious. The true threat comes in having our identity stolen. Take this child’s textbook as an example. We Ghuri have long been subservient to the neighboring Turaaba tribe. They hold the wealth of the region. And they are our only legitimate source of employment. For many years, we have cleaned their fine houses, shopped their markets, attended their schools. And thus we have raised a generation of children who spend their days steeped in Turaaba culture while their own is marginalized. Children who are told by word and by context that they are an inferior people. And that is what we must change… will change. When we lose our pride, we lose ourselves.
How much of Kenyan myths and legends do I know? It doesn’t help that a lot of the comics available at hoopladigital.com are Western-centric. A selection from :
- The Mulla of the Somali Dervish Empire that could turn enemy fire into harmless water, and beat British forces (collected from as far as South Africa, India, and Gambia) in the wilderness.
- Cierume, of the Embu and Mbeere, who led them fight off the invading Akamba while wielding not a machete, but a dancing stick. Lost her chieftainship from a conspiracy by jealous men who could not stand a woman as their leader.
- Karuri wa Gakure, a healer turned military leader turned chief whose medicine made Kikuyu warriors invincible. When the British came, he collaborated with them, and adopted Christianity while renouncing his other sixty wives as illegitimate.
- Mepoho, the Giriama diviner. She was found abandoned as a baby after an especially stormy night. On a specially requested Ngoma za Pepo (special spiritual dance), she foretold the coming of strangers with hair as white as sisal, fantastic vehicles in the waters, Giriama land taken away, and their culture destroyed. She said it was her time to leave, and the earth opened and swallowed her alive.
- Mekatilili wa Menza, who mobilized the Giriama against the British while she was in her 70s. Breaking free from prison in Kisii, she walked more than 700km back to Kilifi. Captured again and imprisoned in Kismayu, Somalia, she broke free and walked back again to Kilifi. She’s buried in the Dakatcha Woodland, the only place in the world where Clarke’s Weavers build their nests.
- Mukite wa Namene was orphaned by the Bamia of the Teso tribe. Playing war drums, he galvanized the Bukusu, organized their military, and led them to reclaim their lands.
Lots of promising content for an African mythos, especially which could be a tragedy, and for a hero’s journey.
collaborated with the Museums of Kenya in , but their website, as of Mar 2023, is scant on current whereabouts.
Lupita Nyong’o, , is the most prominent Kenyan in Hollywood, and so would probably be the forerunner of a modern Kenyan mythos? She voices and is an executive producer of Super Sema, which follows Sema’s adventures in the neo-African-futuristic community of Dunia. Lupita is also a shareholder in Kukua, the startup behind Super Sema.
KEBILE. Must understand, Mr. Kent. We Turaaba fought long and endured
many hardships to make this area habitable. The Ghuri, by contrast, were
settlers attracted by the benefits of our labor. Latecomers. We
already employ them. Kobe Asuru stirring up their ingratitude is
deplorable enough. Now they wish to throw us from our homes –
CLARK. “Latecomers”? They’ve been here for generations, Representative
Kebile. And no one’s advocating a coup – merely fair representation in
your – their – government.
KEBILE. Give an inch, Mr. Kent…
The Ghuri desire recognition? For what? Bottom-feeding? We’re
content to let them be. We insist upon the same courtesy. Asuru’s ideas
are dangerous and substantially threaten our way of life.
Similar parallel in Kenya. In the independence speech, Jomo Kenyatta declared “we all fought for freedom” and beseeched Kenyans to “forgive and forget the past”. The Mau Mau freedom fighters, who accelerated the granting of independence, were predominantly from the Kikuyu tribe. There was some discord among the freedom fighters who bore most of the cost, but everyone wanted to share in the fruits of freedom. Especially divided were Mau Mau fighters and Kenyan loyalists. However, in Kenya’s case, the Mau Mau fighters did not form the ruling class.
LEX. I’ve been cataloguing the natural abilities Superman has thus far demonstrated. His senses are inhuman. Eye witnesses claim he has uncanny hearing, as well as eyes that can see x-rays and other energy wavelengths– and even emit them in the case of infra-red. He can control his personal gravitational field. His muscles – presumably processing solar radiation, the only conceivably sufficient energy source – can shatter diamond – and are sheathed in an epidermis stronger than titanium yet common in appearance. Where do you suppose such a being comes from? Metropolis? Japan? Penobscot, Maine? Try here. A mega-gravity planet dwarfing Jupiter, orbiting a star emitting only the dimmest of red light. By my best calculations, these – and only these – are the environmental factors that would force a humanoid to evolve ocular nerves and cellular tissue to Superman’s exact specifications. This is your story, Miss Lane. Your so-called “Superman” isn’t a man at all. He’s an extraterrestrial… a strange visitor from another planet… and… I have proof.
’s treatment of Superman’s abilities falls on both ends of the spectrum. On one hand, Luthor using conservation of energy to deduce the sun as Superman’s power source is plausible. On the other hand, being able to see and interpret(!) sound waves is pretty unconventional.
Superman collecting ultrasonic waves in Superman: Birthright Vol. 1 #05
LEX. Oh, the hip bone’s connected to the… backbone… The backbone’s connected to the… antigravity neural network…
CLARK. Lex always played it off, but I could tell what gnawed at him the worst, what made him feel most alone, was the expression pretty much everyone but me had shown him by then – not just in school but all over Smallville. Underneath all that scorn and mocking, Lex saw it as bright as day on folks' faces. It was fear. Not terror, just… unease. The sad truth is, people are afraid of what they don’t understand or at least, can’t communicate with. That Lex came from money only created another social barrier for him. When he offered designs and financing for a new high school stadium, the administration, already leery of Lex, said thank you, no. Bad move.
Ironic that Lex is alienated despite his humanity, while Superman is accepted in spite of it.
Clark’s great empathy is warped in Lex as Lex’s inability to treat people as people. His search for extraterrestrial life is a search for people smart enough for him to talk to.
Clark is the alien who tries to fit in. Luthor is the human who refuses to.
CLARK. And hope he doesn’t see through my disguise.
JONATHAN. He’s
not looking, Clark, remember? “Nothing good will ever come out of this hick
town but Lex Luthor.” Hopefully, so long as you’re always extra-careful around
Lex in both your identities… Even if he wanted to link Superman to
Smallville, his ego wouldn’t allow it.
CLARK. He’s won. The city is his. Any second now, he’ll swoop in to the
“rescue” just to seal the deal – and all I can do is WATCH.
JONATHAN.
Son, this is your father. COME HOME while you still CAN. If Luthor really is
behind this, he’ll call it off long before he levels the city. If he just wants
to be the “hero” instead of YOU, then LET him. Don’t put yourself THROUGH this.
Clark communicating with his Mum through using pseudonyms in some secure chat channel is some realistic touch.
Parents with autistic children are forced to become authorities in developmental learning. Parents whose children aspire to Olympic medals become expert coaches. In the years following Clark’s adoption, Martha Kent took it upon herself to learn everything there is to know about UFOs – where did this baby come from? – and it’s something she studies to this day.
Others' Snapshots
To [the Gen-X and Gen-next audience], and probably more accurately so than we’d like to believe, their world is one where capitalism always wins, where politicians always lie, where sports idols take drugs and beat their wives, where white picket fences are suspect because they hide dark things – and to them, that’s the world Superman represents and the status quo he defends. […] Yes, Superman combats street crime and alien invaders and natural disasters – but he also takes an active stand against political and corporate corruption and tackles, at least allegorically, 21st-century problems. And he shows a temper when justified, when innocent lives are put in deliberate danger. If you’re on the side of the angels, he’s the greatest friend you ever had. If, on the other hand, you’re his enemy, God help you.
Luther, here more than ever, shields himself from Superman by continually drawing moral and ethical lines that he believes Superman will not cross – those that pose the kind of questions Superman actively wrestles with as he defines his role.
Waid was disappointed with Superman’s portrayal in Man of Steel. Too many human casualties, and yet Superman does not go out of his way to reduce them, e.g., taking the fight into less populated areas, focusing on the terraformer in Metropolis that’s killing thousands per second, etc. And when Superman was struggling to actually save innocents, he did so by breaking the “Superman doesn’t kill” rule.
Clark being a journalist is one of the most important elements of the Superman mythos. Supposedly, Marvel’s heroes are the relatable ones and DC’s heroes are the aspirational ones, but Clark’s interest in journalism means that, even if he didn’t have powers, he’d still be out there fighting for the greater good. ’s spotlight on Clark as a journalist is a welcome relief.
makes a serious, and very believable, attempt to explain Superman’s disguise, e.g., baggier clothes, glasses to mask eye color, adjusted hair, slouching, etc.
Some creators resort to pass pessimism for realism, but not so with . It takes on modern struggles with safety and fear-mongering, but in the end unapologetically pushes forth hopefulness and trust. Small touches like Martha being a UFO enthusiast and Clark being a vegetarian, and big touches like questions of identity and belonging contribute to the realism.
Morrison literalises Superman’s journey from Golden Age crusader to Silver Age protector. Johns celebrates the paragon of virtue and the ideal. Waid explores the alien from another world. None of these versions feel “whole” in the way that – for example – the origin of Batman in “Batman: Year One” feels “whole”.
Superman is the embodiment of the American Dream. Putting him in West Africa and having him witness (and intervene in) tribal conflicts gives him a sense of weight and relevance. That he can’t punch the tribal conflicts into submission makes it seem that is set in the modern world.
LUTHOR. Ready? Okay. Your homeworld… Your race… Your parents…? All dead.
Gone. Scattered to the celestial winds. As far as the universe is concerned,
Superman… You are completely and utterly alone.
Luther wants to
see Superman break. Like the Joker in The Dark Knight, he wants to confront
Clark with all that loneliness and bitterness and present it as an absolute
reality. Luther wants his own view validated by Superman, his own hatred and
anger and isolation. And Superman doesn’t.
Sometimes feels like the 21st century is being reworked as a response to the nineties, e.g., Superman going to stop a high-school shooting. The only attempt to tackle post-9/11 fear is via Luthor’s suicide bombers, which isn’t as potent as they’re failed invaders and not fanatics.
References
- Superman: Birthright Vol 1 #1. In the Beginning. Mark Waid; Leinil Francis Yu; Gerry Alanguilan. dc.fandom.com . Jul 2, 2003. Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Superman: Birthright Vol 1 #2. Heart of Darkness. Mark Waid; Leinil Francis Yu; Gerry Alanguilan. dc.fandom.com . Aug 6, 2003. Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Superman: Birthright Vol 1 #6. The Remains of Krypton. Mark Waid; Leinil Francis Yu; Gerry Alanguilan. dc.fandom.com . Jan 7, 2004. Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Superman: Birthright Vol 1 #8. Every Town Has a Secret... Lex Luthor in Smallville. Mark Waid; Leinil Francis Yu; Gerry Alanguilan. dc.fandom.com . Mar 3, 2004. Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Superman: Birthright Vol 1 #10. Part Ten. Mark Waid; Leinil Francis Yu; Gerry Alanguilan. dc.fandom.com . May 5, 2004. Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Reimagining the Man of Tomorrow. Mark Waid. www.dc.com . Dec 13, 2022. Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Lest we forget | World news | The Guardian. Jeevan Vasagar. www.theguardian.com . Mar 7, 2005. Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Shujaa Stories: 21 Superheroes of Kenya. National Museums of Kenya; Tatu Creatives. artsandculture.google.com . Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Abdulla: The Story of The Mad Mulla. National Museums of Kenya; Tatu Creatives. artsandculture.google.com . Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Cierume: The Story of The Dancing Mbeere Warrior. National Museums of Kenya; Tatu Creatives. artsandculture.google.com . Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Karuri wa Gakure: The Story of the Gikuyu Medicine Man and Warrior. National Museums of Kenya; Tatu Creatives. artsandculture.google.com . Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Mepoho: The Story of The Giriama Magic Woman. National Museums of Kenya; Tatu Creatives. artsandculture.google.com . Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Mekatilili Wa Menza: The Story of the Giriama Wonder Woman. National Museums of Kenya; Tatu Creatives. artsandculture.google.com . Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Mukite wa Namene: The Story of the Drumming Bukusu Warrior. National Museums of Kenya; Tatu Creatives. artsandculture.google.com . Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Lupita Nyong'o. en.wikipedia.org . Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Tatu Creatives – a creative company that provides innovative digital experiences across various industries. tatucreatives.co.ke . Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Lupita Nyong'o Teams With Startup Kukua For 'Super Sema' At YouTube, Africa’s First Kid Superhero Animated Series. Dino-Ray Ramos. deadline.com . Mar 3, 2021. Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Dem Bones. en.wikipedia.org . Accessed Mar 24, 2023.
- Review: Superman — Birthright. theliteraryomnivore.wordpress.com . May 19, 2014. Accessed Mar 25, 2023.
- Review: Superman: Birthright. Mike Henry. www.geeksundergrace.com . Jan 1, 2018. Accessed Mar 25, 2023.
- Superman: Birthright. Frida Keränen. www.multiversitycomics.com . Dec 26, 2019. Accessed Mar 25, 2023.
- Man of Steel, since you asked. Mark Waid. thrillbent.com . archive.is . Jun 14, 2013. Accessed Mar 25, 2023.
- Superman: Birthright (Review/Retrospective). them0vieblog.com . Jun 26, 2013. Accessed Mar 25, 2023.
theliteraryomnivore.wordpress.com
How do advanced civilizations crumble? House of El (2021 - 2023) explores Krypton’s demise in more depth. Maybe such stories enchant us because ours might be next, but still hope to indefinitely stave off our demise by pre-living the possibilities.