A World Without SUPERMAN

A Necessity for Modern Society

On a cold December evening in 2024, Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, stepped out of a Midtown Manhattan hotel. Thompson was no stranger to power or controversy. As the head of one of the largest healthcare companies in the United States, he embodied the duality of corporate leadership: for some, he was a visionary businessman; for others, a symbol of everything wrong with the healthcare industry. That night, as he walked briskly toward his car, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione approached him with a gun. Moments later, Thompson lay dead.

The murder shocked the nation. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate with no prior criminal record, claimed he was acting out of frustration with a healthcare system he deemed irredeemably corrupt—a system, he argued, that thrived on greed and suffering. Brian Thompson, as its most visible representative, became the focal point of his rage.

The reaction was polarizing. On one side, there was deep mourning for Thompson as a man, husband, father, and professional. Friends and colleagues described him as a complex but earnest figure, someone who worked within an imperfect system rather than shaping it unilaterally. Yet on the other side, Luigi Mangione was lionized by an angry public. Social media transformed him into a symbol of rebellion against corporate greed, with hashtags, memes, and even merchandise glorifying him as a vigilante hero.

The collective response to the tragedy was a disturbing mirror of our time. It revealed a society so disillusioned by systemic injustice that even an act of violence could feel like catharsis. While Mangione’s actions were unequivocally wrong, they resonated with millions who feel abandoned by a system designed to protect them. His crime forced us to confront uncomfortable truths about inequality, corporate excess, and the eroding moral foundation of our institutions. The question lingered: what happens when people lose all faith in justice? What happens when despair becomes the default?

Amid this chaos, the world needs more than reform. It needs hope. It needs clarity. It needs someone—or something—to remind us of the principles we have lost. And in a world grasping for such ideals, Superman stands out as not just a hero but a necessity.

A World Adrift

The tragedy of Brian Thompson’s murder is a microcosm of a larger crisis. Our modern society is adrift, unmoored from the values that once anchored it. Technological advancements promised to unite us, but instead, they have deepened our divides. Social media amplifies outrage, spreading misinformation and stoking tribalism. Economic inequality continues to widen, leaving billions struggling while a select few control unimaginable wealth. The existential threat of climate change looms larger every day, yet meaningful action remains elusive.

Our institutions, from healthcare to government, often feel more like bureaucratic monoliths than sources of support. The healthcare industry, in particular, has become a labyrinth of red tape, inaccessible to millions and devastatingly expensive for those who can access it. Stories of families choosing between life-saving treatments and financial ruin are not rare; they are everyday realities. In this landscape, acts like Luigi Mangione’s, though abhorrent, reflect a growing sense of desperation.

When faith in institutions crumbles, so does faith in each other. The moral compass of society begins to falter, and the line between right and wrong blurs. This drift toward moral ambiguity is not limited to healthcare; it pervades every corner of modern life, from politics to personal relationships. We live in a world where anger is louder than compassion, where cynicism drowns out hope.

Superman’s Origin: A Beacon of Hope

Superman was born in a time of similar despair. Created in 1938 during the Great Depression, Superman emerged as a response to widespread suffering and uncertainty. Millions of Americans were out of work, families were displaced, and the looming specter of World War II cast a shadow over the future. It was in this crucible of hardship that Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two sons of Jewish immigrants, conceived a hero who could embody hope.

Unlike other figures of his time, Superman was not a flawed or self-serving character. He was an ideal, a symbol of justice, compassion, and resilience. He protected the powerless, challenged the corrupt, and inspired people to believe in a brighter future. Superman didn’t just save lives; he restored faith.

In many ways, Superman was a reflection of the world’s aspirations. He was the answer to a question that haunted society: what could humanity achieve if guided by its better angels? His stories resonated because they reminded people that even in the darkest times, hope was not only possible but necessary.

Today’s Parallels: Then and Now

The challenges of the Great Depression and today’s crises share haunting similarities: economic instability, widespread fear, and systemic failures. Yet there is a crucial difference. During the 1930s, hardship brought people together. Communities leaned on one another, driven by the belief that collective action could rebuild a shattered world. Today, that sense of unity feels distant.

Social media, while connecting us globally, has also deepened ideological divides. Instead of fostering dialogue, it often amplifies division. We are more connected than ever before, yet we feel more isolated. This fragmentation makes it harder to confront systemic issues like healthcare inequities or climate change, as collective action is replaced by individual frustration.

Superman’s relevance in this context is profound. Where once he symbolized the possibility of rebuilding after the worst had passed, today he represents a lifeline—a reminder that unity, justice, and compassion are still within reach. His unwavering commitment to doing what is right, even when it is difficult, challenges us to rise above our divisions.

The Case of Luigi Mangione and Brian Thompson

The tragedy of Brian Thompson’s murder and the polarizing response it provoked reveal the depth of our moral fracture. Mangione’s supporters framed him as a man driven to desperation by an unjust system. His actions, they argued, were not the result of malice but of a society that had left him no other recourse. This perspective, while emotionally compelling, ignores a fundamental truth: violence cannot be the answer.

Yet Mangione’s story forces us to confront the failures of our systems. Healthcare, an institution meant to protect and heal, has become a source of fear and frustration. Brian Thompson, as CEO of UnitedHealthcare, became a scapegoat for these failures, though he was far from their sole architect. The system that allowed such inequities to persist is not the work of one man but of decades of policy, profit-driven practices, and collective inaction.

Superman, in contrast, would have approached this crisis differently. He would have used his power not to destroy but to uplift, not to exact vengeance but to seek justice. His stories consistently emphasize the importance of systemic change, achieved through courage, empathy, and unwavering commitment to what is right.

The Moral Compass We Need

Superman’s greatest strength is not his superhuman abilities but his moral clarity. In an age of moral relativism, where the line between right and wrong is often blurred, Superman offers certainty. He does not act out of anger or self-interest; he acts because he believes in the inherent worth of every individual. His sense of justice is not transactional but universal.

This clarity is particularly relevant in the context of the Mangione-Thompson case. While Mangione’s actions were indefensible, his motivations were rooted in genuine pain and frustration. Superman’s example reminds us that the answer to systemic injustice is not violence but collective action rooted in compassion and integrity.

Superman’s universality is one of his most powerful attributes. As an alien who chooses Earth as his home, he transcends borders, cultures, and ideologies. He belongs to no one nation or group; he belongs to humanity as a whole. In a world increasingly defined by division, his ability to unite people around shared values is a powerful antidote to polarization.

Imagine if the principles Superman embodies—justice, compassion, and hope—were applied to the healthcare system. What if healthcare were treated not as a commodity but as a fundamental right? What if corporate decisions were guided not by profit margins but by the well-being of people? Superman’s example challenges us to reimagine our institutions as reflections of our shared humanity.

The murder of Brian Thompson and the public reaction to Luigi Mangione’s actions reveal a society grappling with profound disillusionment. It is a society where anger often replaces dialogue, where institutions fail the people they were meant to serve, and where hope feels increasingly out of reach. But Superman’s enduring relevance reminds us that this does not have to be our future.

Superman is more than a character in a cape; he is a symbol of what humanity can achieve when guided by its highest ideals. His unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and compassion serves as a guiding light in a world that often feels adrift. He challenges us to confront our failures, to rebuild our systems, and to create a world that reflects the principles we claim to believe in.

Today, more than ever, we need Superman—not as a savior but as a reminder of our own potential. His example inspires us to act with empathy, courage, and integrity. In a world yearning for hope, Superman shows us that even in the darkest moments, there is light to guide us. It is up to us to follow it.

Superman is not merely a want. He is a need—a timeless hero for a society in desperate need of unity, purpose, and hope.

By Noel | Fowklaw