Pod People Protect Us!

This blog is about delightful deceptions in the Superman Family mythos, particularly at play in the stories written by Otto Binder, Jerry Siegel and Edmond Hamilton. As I riff on the Son of Krypton’s secrets and their impact on his burgeoning circle of friends, there will be references to pseudo-science galore. Not only physics and astronomy, but psychology and sociology get boggled for the sake of a sensational story.

In contrast to rationalization, mystification provides an ongoing interplay of secrets and revelations. The drive to demystify compels readers to delve more deeply into these texts and images. Those only interested in the ostensible and apparent may stop here.

The pseudo-mythology created under Mort Weisinger’s aegis emerges from an onslaught of story twists. These subversions of expectation drive circuitous plots that often rob the characters of their humanity. Or do they? Depicted on comic book covers with one purpose--to sell, and sell they did--every attractive conceit reveals as much about the buyer and reader as it does the writer and editor.

The hearts and souls of the creators correspond with the humanity of their public through the shared secret of trickery. When we feel the world around us has become robotic we fear that our humanity puts us outside. Self-ostracized, the game of life feels rigged.

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” hits theatres on February 5, 1956, a month before my birthday. Emblazoned with the title “The Robot War of Smallville!” Adventure 237 (June 1957) probably hit the stands in April or May of that year. I choose these two pivotal events as metaphors for the shared development of our young will to power.

The stories we tell project our desires as personae. Some disingenuous personae stem innocently from the desire to fit into a particular social structure. Superboy wears a distancing mask for fear of hurt feelings or the reprisal of enemies. The “pretty” or “white” lies authored by each of us serve as much purpose as straight talk.

Must we rely on Interplanetary Vigilantes to set us straight?