There’s no doubt about it. Superman, the Man of Steel, is my favorite superhero. Not because he was the first one, or the most ineptly powered. My love for the Metropolis Marvel grows from a much more deeper place than that.
Don’t get me wrong. Lois Lane is still my all-time favorite fictional character. Her reputation for uncovering the truth and exposing corruption is so utterly iconic it transcends anything super powered.
Superman and Lois Lane’s constant crusades for certainty is inspiring. This dynamic duo of the Daily Planet has inspired me in so many ways that it swayed my decision in tearing the Metropolis paper of record forth from the pages of DC Comics into the real world.
Even though Warner Media temporarily turned down my proposal for legitimizing the Planet through publishing rights, turning it into an indelible news source, I still push for what the comic incarnation accomplished.
For those wondering, the @DailyPlanetDC team pitched a publishing proposal to Warner Media and DC Comics earlier this year. Basically, we asked to publish as a recognized news source under DC. Unfortunately we were denied this temporarily and asked to pitch the Planet in six months.
Anyway, truth, justice and its constant safeguard are why Superman is my favorite superhero. This immaculate man, who can push an entire planet out of its orbit, recognizes the importance of freedom and free speech. He’s familiar with the importance of information and historic archivals.
Growing up watching shows like “Justice League Unlimited” and “Smallville,” I was quickly well acquainted with the Daily Planet and its iconic presence. The paper always exposed evil in the world and Superman always ensured the paper was safe.
Though the Planet’s headquarters have constantly faced attacks in its past, Superman’s heroic presence overshadowed the danger that came its way.
It’s an interesting allegory to Superman’s personal code: standing up for the weak and oppressed by exposing those who take advantage and safeguard of truth and justice. He knows he’s blessed, and cursed, with extraordinary gifts and uses them to make the world a better place.
That’s what extraordinary journalists do as well. Journalists that are passionate about their work insert themselves into the midst of danger and ask public figures the hard questions. They do this to ensure that everyone is aware of the honest to goodness truth.
The world of Journalism is such an admirable career, a profession that I am still striving to achieve. Reporting covers a wide range of topics. Journalists record history by collecting information on recent events, be it news, entertainment, human interest, etc.
In recent history, the profession of journalism has faced major extradition at the hands of high powered public figures. In the comics, a major trope for villains to accomplish is the undermining of the Daily Planet.
This is a move presently witnessed in “Superman and Lois” where the Metropolis newspaper is under major scrutiny at the hands of Morgan Edge. You see, a true villain understands that laying mistrust in a previously established and well trusted news organization leaves the public vulnerable.
I’ve always respected the extreme dubiance of Lex Luthor, Ms. Marisol Leone and Morgan Edge when they purchased the paper and censored it. I’ve appreciated the heroes even more when they obtained the Daily Planet back from their villainous clutches.
That perseverance, even in the face of total destruction and loss of previous prestige, is so… commendable. The Daily Planet has constantly held the truth up to the light, even when it meant combating it’s own. The truth is of the utmost importance at the paper and that’s reflected solely through the individuals that bring the ink-stained facts to the universe.
This core value has always stood omnipresent at the Planet. Before Superman broke the Metropolis sky, the paper had been exposing corruption while simultaneously speaking truth to power.
Their philosophies of truth weren’t always perceived justly by the so called City of Tomorrow and their circulation and advertising revenue suffered as a result. Though their pursuit of truth and justice wasn’t always popular to the Metropolitans in denial of their city’s corruption (after all, bad things only happened in Gotham. *eye roll*), the Planet persevered and landed the scoop of a millennium by earning the admiration of Big Blue.
Holding onto the core values similar to his own, Superman came to Metropolis because of the Daily Planet. He gravitated to the paper due to its commitment of honesty. Once landing in the bullpen, he fell in love with the people that kept the paper going.
In most incarnations, this is where Clark Kent meets and falls for the intrepid Lois Lane. A tenacious reporter with a nose for hard news. In the early days of the Superman mythos, before the 50s and 60s era of sexist comics, Lois Lane was an inspiration to people.
Lois Lane has been an omnipresent force of journalistic integrity and human equity since the very beginning. Starting out as a “lovelorn” columnist for the Daily Star in 1938, Lois often rubbed elbows with misogynistic filled male counterparts, always scooping them on major stories.
Later on in the Superman mythos, Lois Lane became synonymous with the Daily Planet. Much of the Planet’s reputable recognition is due to Lois’s stories and exposes. The Planet would not exist without her. Lois has constantly strived for equality, fighting for the truth while always demanding justice. Now recognized as the Daily Planet’s top Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist, Lois is an indelible superhero in her own right.
This is why the Daily Planet is so inspiring. To both myself, hundreds of other journalists and the world’s greatest superhero. In a way, Lois Lane upholds everything the Daily Planet represents. A newspaper is only as good as its journalists, and there is no one better than the Reporter of Steel, Lois Lane.
Lois Lane, Clark Kent, Perry White, Cat Grant, Ron Troupe, Jimmy Olsen, Franklin Stern, Steve Lombard, etc. Totally different characters that all pursue one thing – Justice through truth.
“In the times of fear and confusion, the job of informing the public is the responsibility of the Daily Planet. A great metropolitan newspaper whose reputation for clarity and truth had become a symbol of hope for the city of Metropolis.”
Superman: The Movie (1978)
So, when the Daily Planet faces an attack at the hands of a supervillain once again, Superman will be there to save the day. Because he understands the importance of free press. He knows the value of freedom of information. He accepts the gravity of truth, justice and the American way.
We need resolute journalists now more than ever. After all, in a world without a Superman, why not aim to be Lois Lane and Clark Kent?
