Superman Returns

This Week's Prompt: "Opportunities Not Taken" Think of a time when you made a negative decision: chose not to do something, not to go somewhere, not to act in a certain way.


I have been in this business my entire life, literally. I’ve sold t-shirts, action figures, books, memorabilia, costumes, you name it. But what is my purpose through all of this? An American icon? I’ve saved the lives of millions of people but they only see my as a cartoon, a toy, a symbol. That’s the American dream, ain’t it? A poster child for truth and justice with all the accolades but the personal satisfaction drifted away decades ago. More than once I’ve thought of just ending it all, but of course, I’m Superman and I’m invincible. Hell, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve “died” and come back to fight once again for the American way.

Who can forget that time when a Kryptonic meteor collided with the sun and a solar flare caused my godforsaken powers and responsibilities to melt away. I went from Superman to Normalman overnight and I was criticized for my freedom. A damn savior of the planet countless times and they hated me for being like them. Talk about some therapy sessions just waiting to happen…Fear and self-loathing in Metropolis. I digress. I was spit on, kicked, mocked, ridiculed. My action figures thrown away, shirts burned, costumes tossed. Now was my chance to end it all. Show the world my greatest power, my greatest villain finally defeated…but I didn’t. Why? Love? Truth? Justice? The American way? I’m not Captain fucking America, I’m Superman. I stayed on this rock flying meaninglessly through space because of some lesson my Kryptonian parents instilled in me. And then my powers returned.

“The Great Superman Returns!” People rejoiced and felt safe once more. My triumphant returned once more in the monetization of my fame. There’s no money in being Superman though, they all like the goddamn Batman more anyway.