Superman is causing right-wing temper tantrums – and we’re here for it

Right-wing Americans have labelled the latest Superman movie as ‘superwoke’. Despite its strong opening reviews and debuting on Rotten Tomatoes with 91%, it has sparked political debate about immigration.

James Gunn’s ‘SUPERMAN’ debuts with 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Read our review: https://t.co/3sWy8gsNCU pic.twitter.com/bebVXFbjAb

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 8, 2025

Obviously, as soon as Superman director James Dunn pointed out the political subtext, the right-wing media threw a tantrum.

Travis: I wanted to go see Superman, I’m not that interested in going to see it now— this moron with his take deciding to say Superman was super political and it was about an immigration story—I think he’s alienated half the country and he made a really poor decision. pic.twitter.com/9AMUXWCFJ8

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 9, 2025

Superman: a history of political commentary

Here’s the thing – comic books like Superman, and therefore the films they have been turned into, have a history of political and social commentary.

Superman has been political since his very first comic. Comic books have always been political.

— Czartin Rawsese (@KlyntarCzar) July 9, 2025

The pro-Trump, anti-immigration gammons are clearly not smart enough to figure out that almost every previous superhero movie is optical. They had to wait until the director pointed it out.

I just want to get this straight. The conservative controversy around Superman is that… he’s the good guy in the movie, has a comic-accurate origin as an immigrant, and he’s nice to people? So they just hate the character Superman? It’s like being mad at Batman for making plans.

— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) July 8, 2025

The earliest Superman comics featured him fighting against slum landlords and corrupt orphanages, both deeply political issues.

Similarly, in the Marvel universe Spider-Man was the working-class hero. Peter Parker was moving from job to job when he wasn’t wearing his Spider-Man suit.

Then, the Iron Man series explores what happens when one person has unchecked power, especially in a military-industrial context. Tony Stark goes from being a selfish arms dealer to a heroic figure.

Additionally, two Jewish artists created Captain America in the lead-up to the US entering World War II. They did this amongst rising antisemitism and Nazism in the US.

In DC, both Batman and Wonder Woman often tackle the issues of corruption and inequality.

DC films like Superman often touch upon themes of social justice, with characters like Batman and Wonder Woman often taking on issues of inequality and corruption.

In the Superman animated series, Superman himself said: “There is a right and wrong in the universe and that distinction is not hard to make.”

The message that Superman has had since 1938? I’m sorry if this one is particularly difficult for you but he’s been around for a while.

— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) July 8, 2025

Also, Superman is literally an immigrant. Do they want him locked up in an ICE detention centre, too?

Wait… maga really doesn’t know Superman is an immigrant?
He’s literally from another planet.🤦🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/xQPNSywl5l

— Chicano Marine 🇲🇽🇺🇸💙 (@elchicanomarine) July 8, 2025

A glimmer of hope

Often, people look to movies, books and music for some small sense of hope in what has become a very dark world.

Can confirm this is what watching #Superman felt like. pic.twitter.com/rjiLQX1JSJ

— The Green Kasey 🎃 (@RawbertBeef) July 9, 2025

I would argue that the very concept of superheroes like Superman and the amount of power that they yield is, in fact, political. With power comes great responsibility, and we are living in a world where those with the most power are abusing it time and time again, and – much like Tony Stark – are completely unchecked.

As usual, Superman has given the people on Earth an ideal to strive towards.

Feature image via the Canary