SUPERPRESIDENT - REPORT FROM WITTENBERG (III)

There are millions of reasons why to consider John F. Kennedy as a hero but one of them, according to Dr. Andreas Etges from the Free University of Berlin, is so distinctly American: no other president has appeared so often in the Superman comic books. During his tragic-ended career he starred in the U.S. trademark series four times, including one appearance in summer 1964, almost a year after the assassination.

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John F. Kennedy and Superman

The story was not intended to be a posthumous tribute – it was prepared before the Dallas shooting but after that the publishers wanted to bookshelf it out of respect for the family. It was published only thanks to Lyndon B. Johnson who allegedly gave a personal order to the directors of DC Comics to commemorate the memory of his predecessor in that way.

The story concentrates on the party organized by the White House on which both Superman and Clark Kent are invited. Feeling that the absence of one of them will be very suspicious the Man of Steel in a private conversation reveals to Kennedy his second identity. The president is sympathetic about Superman's problem and offers the solution – during the party he himself disguises for Clark Kent so that the secret would be saved. After everything ends well Kennedy assures Superman he will keep his mouth shut. Superman accepts presidential promise and as his words suggest he holds the leader of the nation in the high esteem – try imagine him saying that to Johnson or Nixon. Like I mentioned before, the story was not intended as a JFK tribute but still remains one of the weirdest ways of immortalizing him.

Superman's mission for president Kennedy

And now for something's completely different: there are some people back in the U.S., mainly female activists, who still cannot come to terms with Hillary losing the struggle for nomination. Dr. Janet Martin from Bowdoin College, Maine, who by the way appears to be one of them, hopes that not all the hope is lost and Clinton supporters will find a way to change the outcome of the convention and even wreck it if necessary. It's hard to find a conceivable scenario that could lead to Hillary being the nominee but the determination of those people is really creepy. Good for McCain, I guess.

Maciej Józefowicz

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