Ep 3. The Trials of Superman

AMC's Visionaries: Robert Kirkman's Secret History of Comics episode 3 of season 1, titled "The Trials of Superman" explores the turbulent history and political controversy surrounding the world's most iconic superhero, Superman. The episode features insightful interviews with comic creators, writers, historians, and cultural critics that delve into Superman's social and cultural influence and its evolution from the 1930s to the present.

The episode opens with the origin story of Superman, created in 1938 by two Jewish teenagers, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. They created Superman as a hero who could fight against injustice and oppression that they had experienced in their lives. The episode follows the character's rise in popularity, and in the process, showcasing how Superman's ethos evolved over the decades to reflect the changing attitudes of America.

The episode covers in great detail the political debates that frequently surrounded the character, beginning with Jerry Siegel's own political leanings. Siegel, a socialist, often imbued the early Superman comics with socially-conscious narratives. But as America's political climate shifted during World War II, so too did Superman.

The episode then takes the viewer through the four different eras of Superman. The Golden Age depicted Superman as a true embodiment of the American spirit, while the Silver Age made him seem less tough and more family-friendly. In the Bronze Age, the character changed to reflect the political movements of the era, namely feminism, race issues, and youth culture. Finally, the modern age saw Superman's identity complicated by the multitude of retellings, incursions, and conflicting motivations of successive writers over animation, television, and film.

The episode focuses particularly on the Black Superman controversy that arose in the 1990s. One of the seminal moments of this era was the introduction of the character of Steel, a Black Superman created by popular comic writer John Henry Irons. With Steel, readers saw a new form of superhero, one who was influenced by the empowerment of Black culture. While some fans loved the new direction, others were not happy about it, especially because of what they perceived as a political agenda.

Towards the end of the episode, the creators discuss the steps they took to continue to make Superman relevant-a huge challenge, given that the character has now been around for over 80 years. They explain how comics will always remain social and political comentary, toeing the line between entertaining readers and influencing real societal change.

Overall, "The Trials of Superman" is an intriguing episode that sheds light on the history of one of America's most iconic superheroes. It provides an insightful look into the character's origins, evolution, and cultural significance, touching on thorny political and social issues that have surrounded Superman throughout his existence.