With the release of the new Superman film, a fresh round of controversy has erupted from Trump supporters over the character's origins and message, with fans and media observers responding with mockery at their apparent ignorance of the source material.
The flareup began earlier this month when director James Gunn characterized the movie as about an "immigrant that came from other places" and said the franchise has a clear political message, lamenting that people have "lost" the value of "basic human kindness."
That didn't sit right with many in the MAGA universe.
"Superman is an illegal immigrant who was sent by his parents to outbreed humans and eventually take over Earth," wrote right-wing webcaster Tim Pool. "What was James Gunn trying to tell us?"
Dean Cain, the lead actor in a much earlier Superman film, was similarly enraged.
“How woke is Hollywood going to make this character?” said Cain. “How much is Disney going to change their Snow White? Why are they going to change these characters to exist for the times? For Superman, it was ‘truth, justice in the American way.’ Well, they dropped that … I don’t think is a great idea.”
But many others ridiculed this meltdown, with some noting that not only has Superman always been considered an immigrant in the original comics, he very frequently pushed messages about inclusion, diversity, and treating people different from yourself with kindness.
"Superman, a fictional character, is an alien from the planet Krypton who seeks refuge in America," wrote podcaster Wajahat Ali. "He is literally an undocumented immigrant."
"I just want to get this straight. The conservative controversy around Superman is that… he’s the good guy in the movie, has a comic-accurate origin as an immigrant, and he’s nice to people?" wrote comedian Mike Drucker. "So they just hate the character Superman? It’s like being mad at Batman for making plans."
"I got news for you MAGA snowflakes: Superman is, and has always been, WOKE," wrote Really American PAC's Majid "Brooklyn Dad Defiant" Padellan. "He is also an undocumented immigrant. If he were real, he'd slap the s--- out of ICE. He fights for the little people. And he fights monsters, corrupt politicians, and even Nazis. His main enemy: A billionaire. The movie is hella fun, full of humor, hope, and great action scenes. If you boycott it, it will probably make 3x more money. And we will laugh at you. I can't wait to see it again."
