Superman’s Bold Stand: Why Saving Lives Is the Simplest Choice of All!

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“People were going to die!“

In the movie “Superman,” directed by James Gunn, David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman intervened in a war, an action so universally good that it seemed unarguable. Remarkably, people still disagreed, making this act a pivotal moment in the film. This underscores the significance of this idea in “Superman,” as it serves as a reminder that when it comes to saving human lives, the line between right and wrong can indeed be straightforward.

In this Superman scenario, Clark Kent’s frustration with Lois Lane’s interview about Superman wasn’t merely due to her persistent questioning as a journalist. Rather, it stemmed from her suspicion towards his actions in Jarhanpur. Specifically, she wanted to know if he had sought approval from political leaders and military officials before taking unilateral action. It seemed that Lois was not only questioning him as a reporter, but also expressing personal doubts about the rightness of his actions. Somehow, it appeared to Clark, everyone was questioning the morality of saving innocent lives.

To Clark, it was completely irrational. This is why he became enraged in “Superman”. He didn’t care about diplomacy, fragile egos, political alliances, legality, laws, history, or future consequences because nothing else mattered when people’s lives were at stake. There’s no worse situation than that. You can renegotiate agreements and restore friendships. However, you cannot resurrect the dead. For the world’s most powerful being, it was that straightforward because it is that straightforward. Saving lives and halting a conflict—which we later discovered was just a pretext for Boravia to commit genocide, something that politicians and analysts all seemed to overlook/disregard/deny—was entirely commendable. It was the right thing to do in “Superman”. Period. It was inherently good for all the reasons war is inherently bad.

Even though it’s clear to many, only Superman seemed capable of perceiving things differently. Unlike others who viewed Boravia and Jarhanpur through political lenses or as allies or adversaries with past issues, Superman saw them simply as people. This powerful alien from another world recognized their humanity, a perspective that few others shared in the DCU. It was only Superman who could see this when no one else could, as it seems both the DCU and our own world are often blind to obvious truths. The lives of the Jarhanpurians were just as valuable and deserving of protection as anyone else’s. Saving them was the correct choice, they deserved a chance to live, and taking their lives was wrong.

It turns out that Clark was correct once more. Superman’s kindness, his talent for viewing individuals beyond their political roles as mere pawns of the powerful, embodies the spirit of punk rock. His defiance in halting a war that others considered acceptable, made him anti-establishment. Through his steadfast goodness, Superman encouraged others to be heroic and do what is right. The Justice Gang, initially an arrogant group of corporate elites, took action when Jarhanpur was in peril again. Without Superman’s virtuous example as a beacon of righteousness, guiding the way, the Justice Gang might have chosen to remain idle. Consequently, countless innocent lives – women, children, and men alike – would have been lost.

The world can be intricate and full of complexity, affecting us individually and collectively. Yet, when it comes to saving lives, things become straightforward. Deciding whether to end a conflict or not shouldn’t require extraordinary wisdom. It’s simple: people will perish if we don’t act. This is something everyone should be able to understand without needing superhuman insight.

Mikey Walsh, who works as a staff writer at TopMob, is part of the “War Is Bad” team associated with Superman. You can keep up with his updates on Bluesky under the handle @burgermike, and he’s also recognized for ranking the Targaryen kings in various lists.

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2025-07-14 18:05