NY Post

 

Great Caesar's ghost! The world's most famous champion of truth, justice and the American way says he intends to renounce his US citizenship.

Superman makes the shocking pronouncement in this week's Action Comics No. 900.

"Truth, justice and the American way - it's not enough anymore," the Man of Steel tells the president's National Security Advisor.

"I intend to speak before the United Nations tomorrow and inform them that I am renouncing my US citizenship."

And no, he's not giving up his citizenship because of health care reform or high taxes. He made the declaration after his protection of protestors in Iran becomes an international incident.

"I'm tired of having my actions construed as instruments of US policy," he says, explaining that he wants to help wherever and whenever he's needed. "I've been thinking too small. I realize that now."

In a statement to The Post, DC Comics co-publishers Jim Lee and Dan Didio said that despite the global outlook, the character is and always will be a red-blooded American at heart.

"Superman is a visitor from a distant planet who has long embraced American values. As a character and an icon, he embodies the best of the American Way," the statement says.

"In a short story in ACTION COMICS 900, Superman announces his intention to put a global focus on his never ending battle, but he remains, as always, committed to his adopted home and his roots as a Kansas farm boy from Smallville."

The story isn't expected to have any repercussions in the "Superman" line of comics - it's unclear whether he actually follows through with the pronouncement - but whether he actually has any citizenship to renounce may be a job for Donald Trump's crack investigative team.

In his origin in the comics, he's sent to Earth as a baby to escape the demise of his home planet of Krypton and he's found by a Kansas couple who raise him as their own son.

Since he wasn't technically born in the United States - and since his adoptive parents the Kents didn't legally adopt him - he'd likely be considered an illegal alien.

The citizenship story has been heavily criticized online by some readers who take it as the character turning his back on the US - ustownhall.com called the tale "troubling" and "distressing"- but there have been precedents in the comic book world. In the early 1990s, "Justice League of America" became "Justice League International" so they could deal with more global threats.

In a move that was politically motivated, Steve Rogers briefly gave up his alter-ego as Captain America in the 1970s out of frustration with government corruption. He later returned to his identity as the star-spangled avenger to fight for the American dream, not the American government.