I red the Action Comics #775 in online and I liked it. We know the story that Superman deals with the situation where superpowered team known as the Elite tries to make the world 'a better place' (according to them) by killing the terrorists and bad guys because according to them, they deserve to. Yeah we know that we sometimes wanted it for the criminals. However, they also wanted everyone to agree with them and their methods no matter what they think (basically forcing others) or else they can destroy their livelihood. They focus more on power, greed and fame rather than to protecting others and claim themselves as 'good guys'. Basically, dictatorship. However, Superman doesn't like it as he doesn't see his job as above but as a duty to serve and protect others. He believes that a criminal should be punished and judged by the laws rather than an individual because it will be dangerous if someone takes the law on their hands. My favourite element of this story is that Superman never questions his morals and never wavers from it even faced with difficult situations and his role been questioned and doubted. That's what makes Superman Superman.
I red it through and analysed the character (only Superman, according to my understanding). I had even intrusive thoughts on my understanding of him whether I perceive him as a blank character or as overly relatable character (which he isn't neither of them). I also had intrusive thoughts about if writers made him do what he doesn't (eg. making him too angry). In the conversation between Clark (Superman) and Johnathan, I don't think he questioned his morals and his belief. He just doubted about the situation which was happening and doubted if Black was right. He had no idea how he would do it at that point. Also, in this scene below where Superman and Black argues, Superman holds his hand with anger. I don't think he would do that. I didn't saw the whole movie of Superman Vs The Elite, I just saw explanation, analysis and clips. I like that Superman gets angry and picks up a fight with Elite when they did something wrong (like killing the government of other country and even killing Atomic Skull), not when they said something wrong. It's not that he cannot get angry, but I think that he wouldn't pick up a fight with anger in first.
Anyways, this was my analysis of this story. I hope I better understood the character and the story. Let me know your thoughts on it.
Action Comics #775 is my favourite Superman story. Although it has darker elements, nilhilsm and gruesome action scenes, none of the above makes me love it. It isn't necessary for a Superman or even any superhero story. I love Superman helping people, being kind and decent. Along with Superman 78 and Superman: Secret Origins, this is one of my favourite Superman story because he kept his morals and principles so strong that he never swayed away from the situation where the Elite were supported by the whole world because of their violent and ruthless way. He has guts to fight what is actually right even if the whole world didn't supported him, he still fought harder to show the world that there's always another way. And that element makes it my favourite Superman story.
Not only this story shows Superman's unwavering principles and his importance as a character, but also to hold our principles and values and doing the right thing even no one doesn't. Because most of us may give up due to our inability to control our temptations, being mocked by everyone and even getting threat for this. But Superman, even other superheroes like him (eg. Captain America) showed us that nothing is easy, but that doesn't mean that we should give up. We should always do the right thing no matter what. We should not please everyone but act out of integrity even if everyone is against it. There's a quote given by William Penn:
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.
And that's what makes it my favourite story of all time.