Superman: American Icon Or Global Icon?

[BBally]

After encountering the discourse that led me to writing this article (https://www.supermanhomepage.com/sup...r-global-icon/), I decided to make a poll to see what everybody else on the forum think.

Do you think Superman is an American icon, a global icon or is he both?

[bat39]

Both is IMO the only realistic answer here if we're all being honest about it.

[manwhohaseverything]

Superman can't be an icon at all cause icon is the icon.

[BBally]

Both is IMO the only realistic answer here if we're all being honest about it.

Yeah, I agree.

[PCN24454]

Everyone knows about Superman even if they prefer other heroes as well. Manga and anime wouldn't be able to base characters off of him otherwise.

Now that I think about it, why wouldn't he be an American Icon?

[Batfleck89]

Heys both i don't think you could ever limit him to one country

[Ascended]

Both, obviously.

The man is the second most well known fictional character on the planet, even after all these years of mismanagement and poorly received efforts in larger media. For almost a century, his face has been seen from one corner of the globe to the other and you can't find an elderly grandmother anywhere who doesn't recognize his emblem. Superman reached the level of "global icon" before any of us were even born.

But Clark also represents the very best of American ideals. Every good thing we're supposed to be, Clark embodies. He's as utterly American as any idea can get, and he couldn't have been created anywhere else in the world.

[13th Superman]

Both for me. My dad is not from the US but he is the one that got me into Superman and comics. To have left That kind of impression on my dad and then for him to pass that on to me and my brothers speaks to how much of an icon the Man of Steel is. This is unrelated but that scene in Superman IV where he's at the UN needing a sponsor and every nation raising their hands gets me every time.

[Hoodj]

Both, obviously.

The man is the second most well known fictional character on the planet, even after all these years of mismanagement and poorly received efforts in larger media. For almost a century, his face has been seen from one corner of the globe to the other and you can't find an elderly grandmother anywhere who doesn't recognize his emblem. Superman reached the level of "global icon" before any of us were even born.

But Clark also represents the very best of American ideals. Every good thing we're supposed to be, Clark embodies. He's as utterly American as any idea can get, and he couldn't have been created anywhere else in the world.

id argue hes 4th

[Ascended]

id argue hes 4th

The rankings may have changed since the study was done (it's a few years old now), but I wasn't speaking from my own opinion but citing a peer reviewed research paper. I doubt the results would be much different though, it wasn't measuring short-term popularity like what you'd see after a successful movie premier, but "true" fame; sheer recognizability factor.

Mickey Mouse was number one, Clark was number two, and I forget who else came after that. Batman and Wonder Woman, among a few other Western characters, made the list (Diana was near the bottom but she was on it), as did a few characters from the other side of the world I didn't know. And the survey omitted figures from religions, many of whom would have likely ranked fairly high.

Sometimes I think I should have gone into sociology, they get to research the weirdest sh*t.

[captchuck]

Originally, he was an American Icon, but now he is recognized around the world. Success does that!