 |
| Action Comics vol.1 (1938) DC Comics Copyright |
 |
| Action Comics (1938) #3 |
 |
| DC Comics Online |
Est. Pub. Date: 01-June-1938
Page Count: 13 + cover
Story Title: "The Blakely Mine Disaster"
Review:
It would seem Siegel & Shuster's Superman has been a "social justice warrior" (SJW) from his very inception (to the great dismay of comicsgate members everywhere, no doubt).
 |
| Superman's Super Speed (still not flying yet) |
In this case, Superman tackles the unsafe working conditions of miners working for Thornton Blakely in the town named after him: Blakelytown.
 |
| Disguised Superman is immune to poison gases (--cool) |
Instead, Superman spends his time disguised as a "bohunk" miner infiltrating the Blakely Mine in order to rescue an injured miner (& the fallen rescue workers who have succumbed to the poisonous gases released by the mine disaster to which, we learn, Superman himself is immune).
An Aside:
What is a "bohunk," you ask? I, too, was unfamiliar with the term, so I did my own intrepid reporting to discover its origin as a derogatory slur for someone of Bohemian/Hungarian descent.
 |
| Google Definition for "bohunk" |
 |
| Uniformed Henchmen discover Disguised Superman spying on the party |
 |
| Thornton Blakely dissing on his own people |
At a glitzy party (which the apprehension of Disguised Superman interrupts), Blakely calls his guests "pampered nincompoops" whose "boredom" comes from having no meaningful labor or purpose.
 |
| Top Hats & Party Dresses visit the mines |
It is because of this very boredom that Blakely invites his guests, as a gag or entertainment, to see how the "other half" lives by travelling down into the mines where the "bohunks" work.
((Mathematically, that is actually how the other 99% live, not half, but I nitpick.))
While down there, Disguised Superman concocts a plan to show these party-goers the very real dangers faced by miners working in this environment every day.
 |
| Selfish Capitalist Doomed by Externalization of Safety Expenses in order to Maximize Profits |
Disguised Superman blocks off the exit to the mine causing it to collapse. The party-goers quickly panic when they realize they have only an hour's worth of air left.
Blakely tries to calm himself & the party-goers when he recalls the safety measures mines like his are supposed to have to protect miners during such a collapse.
Alas, Blakely's "skin-flint" nature has doomed the group. It turns out that Blakely has not equipped the mine with these safety precautions (which he, apparently, has forgotten as he seems as shocked to discover that this life-saving equipment is missing as his guests are).
Their very real fear of dying forces Blakely & the party-goers to wield pickaxes as they vainly endeavor to get free. Exhausted by these efforts, Blakely finally admits his error and vows to reform his behavior if he survives this crisis.
Upon hearing this, Disguised Superman removes the obstruction blocking their escape (once Blakely & his guests have passed out from their frenetic labors, of course, so that Disguised Superman's identity remains a secret?) all of which enables them to be "rescued."
Later, when Clark Kent returns to Blakely's office, he finds Blakely has lived up to his promises of reform.
However, in the parenthetical indicating his internal thoughts, Kent promises Superman will return if Blakely falters in his resolve to improve conditions for his miners.
 |
| Finally! He gets it. |
 |
| Trust but verify (especially with wealthy capitalists) |
Later, when Clark Kent returns to Blakely's office, he finds Blakely has lived up to his promises of reform.
However, in the parenthetical indicating his internal thoughts, Kent promises Superman will return if Blakely falters in his resolve to improve conditions for his miners.
Last Notions:
Not only does Superman use his super powers to save the miners trapped by a collapse in the mine, he also attempts to awaken Blakely's lost compassion and fellow-feeling for the have-nots, just like Superman does with the war-mongering munitions maker, Emil Norvell, from the last issue.
And, in the first issue, Superman tackles the corruption of a lobbyist on Capitol Hill trying to bribe a senator to send "bohunks" -- and their like -- to war. The consistent theme here seems to be Superman defending the average joe against a system that benefits predominately the wealthy and powerful.
Is this not the very definition of a social justice warrior?
Well…
Shuster & Siegel critique the corruption within American democracy/capitalism of the late 1930s by having Superman enforce the rule of law/justice that the system has failed to provide.
However, theses authors do not propose scrapping the system entirely -- wealth & capital have not changed hands or been forcibly redistributed by government (or superhero) intervention.
Rather, Shuster & Siegel present a hopeful vision of mankind's basic nature -- that once directly exposed to the harm their corruption has caused, the wealthy capitalist can be trusted (sort of) to care enough to mend the “error of his ways” and protect the working class.
Is this sufficient? Perhaps, perhaps not. We'll see.
Not only does Superman use his super powers to save the miners trapped by a collapse in the mine, he also attempts to awaken Blakely's lost compassion and fellow-feeling for the have-nots, just like Superman does with the war-mongering munitions maker, Emil Norvell, from the last issue.
And, in the first issue, Superman tackles the corruption of a lobbyist on Capitol Hill trying to bribe a senator to send "bohunks" -- and their like -- to war. The consistent theme here seems to be Superman defending the average joe against a system that benefits predominately the wealthy and powerful.
Is this not the very definition of a social justice warrior?
Well…
Shuster & Siegel critique the corruption within American democracy/capitalism of the late 1930s by having Superman enforce the rule of law/justice that the system has failed to provide.
However, theses authors do not propose scrapping the system entirely -- wealth & capital have not changed hands or been forcibly redistributed by government (or superhero) intervention.
Rather, Shuster & Siegel present a hopeful vision of mankind's basic nature -- that once directly exposed to the harm their corruption has caused, the wealthy capitalist can be trusted (sort of) to care enough to mend the “error of his ways” and protect the working class.
Is this sufficient? Perhaps, perhaps not. We'll see.
Creators:
| The Heroes: | The Villains: | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment