Commentary: Western Heroes Are Properties. Not Lives.

There’s a common problem with Western superhero comics. It’s known by many names, but the basic concept is that these characters exist in a time-compressed world, meaning that the years do not move the same way it does in the real world. This is how characters can have children that grow up into adulthood while their parents stay the same age decades later. This happens because these characters are ultimately properties to be exploited by their owners who are not concerned with giving them full-fledged and meaningful lives. So it’s a breath of fresh air when these characters do have some semblance of a life outside of comics, such as the approach Superman & Lois is taking.

Even though the show has a definitive present where the main narrative takes place, it does span a wide range of time. It, of course, discusses Superman’s (Tyler Hoechlin) youth as well as his early days in Metropolis when he first met Lois (Elizabeth Tulloch) and they started a life together. The show also details an extensive saga with Lex Luthor (Michael Cudlitz) that spans seventeen years. And as Superman has returned from the dead, he’s having to deal with real problems of mortality as he continues to raise his children and support his wife.

Because of the finite nature of television, where productions can’t go on forever and actors age, shows are able to give these characters full lives that they otherwise wouldn’t have had in the comics. It feels more akin to manga, which has definitive beginnings and ends to their series. Characters such as Goku from Dragonball and Naruto from Naruto grow and age from children into adulthood. They lead full lives similar to the way Superman does on this show. It’s just a shame the same can’t be said for his comics because it’s not profitable to have their stories come to a close.

Superman & Lois is Mondays on The CW.