# Superman renounces his American citizenship **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 28, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094 "2011-04-28T23:50:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/1 "2011-04-28T23:50:32Z")
This week in _Action_ #900, Superman declared himself a citizen of the universe and[renounced his American citizenship.](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/superman-renounces-us-citizenship-as-183347) > [@](#): > > The Internet is abuzz over this week’s 900th issue of Action Comics, in which Superman says, “I am renouncing my US citizenship.” After officials criticize him for joining a million protesters in a peaceful anti-Ahmadinejad vigil in Iran, he reflects, “I’m tired of having my actions construed as instruments of US policy. ‘Truth, Justice and the American Way’ – it’s not enough anymore. The world’s too small. Too connected.” An American icon succumbs to PC bullshit … ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/2 "2011-04-28T23:55:05Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > This week in _Action_ #900, Superman declared himself a citizen of the universe and[renounced his American citizenship.](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/superman-renounces-us-citizenship-as-183347) > > An American icon succumbs to PC bullshit … I thought you’d be happy. He’s an illegal alien after all. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/3 "2011-04-29T00:02:08Z")
Out of curiosity, **Lonesome** , how long has it been since you’ve bought a Superman comic? ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/4 "2011-04-29T00:05:27Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Out of curiosity, **Lonesome** , how long has it been since you’ve bought a Superman comic? He has ceased to buy comic books ever since Captain America partnered with The Falcon. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/5 "2011-04-29T00:07:51Z")
Ah, I was wondering when the tighty-rightys would start complaining. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/6 "2011-04-29T00:08:13Z")
I’m sure Clark Kent is still an American. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/7 "2011-04-29T00:10:09Z")
Your passport please, Mr. Superman. Oh, you don’t have one? You are not a citizen of any nation? Then I’m sorry sir, but you have entered the United States illegally and without permission. We must ask that you leave and not return until such time as you have your paperwork in order. ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/8 "2011-04-29T00:15:29Z")
Great! But don’t worry, you still have Captain America isn’t? ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/9 "2011-04-29T00:20:58Z")
Correct me if I’m wrong but in John Byrne’s comics, Superman did not emerge form his birthing matrix until after his ship crashed in Kansas. If that is the case, then he’s as American as you, me, or anyone else who emerged from a birthing matrix within the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/10 "2011-04-29T00:41:10Z")
Shuster’s plan _finally_ comes to fruition… ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/11 "2011-04-29T00:47:01Z")
Wow, Superman, this seems like an awfully over-the-top way to dodge jury duty. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/12 "2011-04-29T00:49:07Z")
Can’t be a genuine citizen without the long form. Why doesn’t he show us his birth certificate? What is he hiding? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/13 "2011-04-29T00:53:07Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > He has ceased to buy comic books ever since Captain America partnered with The Falcon. I did the same once those two “got married”… ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/14 "2011-04-29T01:02:38Z")
When did Superman stop being a citizen of _Earth_? This was explicitly part of his character in the Silver Age. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/15 "2011-04-29T01:03:22Z")
I thought the UN declared Superman a citizen of every country. He’s certainly helped the people of the world, regardless of race, creed, or nationality. So why would his actions be seen as reflections of US policy? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/16 "2011-04-29T01:09:22Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > Wow, Superman, this seems like an awfully over-the-top way to dodge jury duty. Well, he couldn’t help it, okay? He and Clark Kent were slated to appear in the same group, and he knew that if Superman dodged out, nobody would fuck with him, whereas Clark would get litigation up in his ass. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/17 "2011-04-29T01:10:34Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong but in John Byrne’s comics, Superman did not emerge form his birthing matrix until after his ship crashed in Kansas. If that is the case, then he’s as American as you, me, or anyone else who emerged from a birthing matrix within the United States. You do realize that Byrne’s Superman was more than a quarter century and over 600 reboots ago, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/18 "2011-04-29T01:57:22Z")
It was silly anyway, since even without the birthing matrix, he’d _still_ be a natural-born citizen, as a foundling whose citizenship was not challenged before his 18th birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/19 "2011-04-29T02:17:58Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > This week in _Action_ #900, Superman declared himself a citizen of the universe and[renounced his American citizenship.](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/superman-renounces-us-citizenship-as-183347) > > An American icon succumbs to PC bullshit … We need to stop buying the comics and boycott the bullshit movie that’s coming out. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094/20 "2011-04-29T02:32:43Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Can’t be a genuine citizen without the long form. Why doesn’t he show us his birth certificate? What is he hiding? Suddenly, [this photo](http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/06/celebrate-superman/) makes a lot of sense… :eek: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-renounces-his-american-citizenship/580094.md?page=2)