I started reading a new comic book called Superman Red & Blue. It’s an interesting concept with various writers and artists coming up with their own take on Superman. Each issue has multiple short stories and each story has a different art style. It’s a great way to see Superman from different perspectives. But there was one story in particular that caught my eye and it is probably one of my favourite Superman story of all time now.
It’s the issue number 5 called Generations by Daniel Warren Johnson. It’s a story not necessarily about Superman but his father Pa Kent. It starts with a young Pa Kent walking into a church to talk to his priest. He is feeling overwhelmed and inadequate trying to adopt and raise this young “alien” kid that he just landed on his farm. He doesn’t know anything about this kid. He tells his priest that he is just a farmer from Kankas. What does he have to offer?
The priest tells him the story of Jesus being baptized and how god looked at Jesus and says this is my son whom I love and who makes me proud. The priest tells Pa Kent that as long as he makes Clark (Superman) know exactly how he feels about him, everything else is going to happen naturally. Pa Kent then goes back home and picks up and holds Clark who is still a baby. He simply says three phrases - “I love you.” “You are so special.” and “I’m proud of you.”
And we see only these three phrases repeated throughout Clark’s life. Through his teenage years when he is discovering his powers. In every situation.
Until finally Pa Kent dies and we see Clark as an adult standing over his grave. And what does he say? He says - “I am so proud of you.” He takes off his suit and puts on the Superman costume and he goes and saves people while echoing these three lines that Pa Kent always told him. “You are so special.”, “I love you.”, “I’m proud of you.”
Finally the comic book ends with Superman looking over the world and saying “I love you and I am so proud of you.” I think we all need that message sometimes. Someone to look at us and say you’re not alone and what you’re doing is good and what you are doing is enough. You’re making me proud. Unfortunately we don’t all get that person. But that doesn’t make those three phrases untrue. So even if you’ve heard it a thousand times in your life or if you’ve never heard it before, always remember-
“I love you.”
“You are so special.”
“I’m proud of you.”
