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Nothing but Respect for My Superman, Brandon Routh! (And None for Dean Cain.)

By Jul 6th, 2020, 4:58 pm

Batwoman -- "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two" -- Image Number: BWN108b_0224.jpg -- Pictured: Brandon Routh as Superman -- Photo: Katie Yu/The CW -- © 2019 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

I am but a child of the ’90s—meaning I was born in 1991 and didn’t have my own live-action Superman movie until Brandon Routh’s turn in 2006. That being said, the ’90s did have Lois and Clark on TV from 1993 to 1997. The short-lived show brought many into the world of Superman, and I cannot fault them for it. I was too young to understand what was happening on it and focused my love on Christopher Reeve from his 1978 film.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t know about Dean Cain. I do. I did watch Lois and Clark; it’s just not my favorite Superman property. (That might still be Smallville but is to be determined.) Still, seeing Dean Cain take to Fox News to drag the name of Clark Kent into his bad political opinions is upsetting.

Before we begin, I like to point out that Superman, as a character, was created as a direct response to fascism, so it is hilarious that a TRUMP SUPPORTER (a.k.a. fascism lite) thinks they know anything about the character. You played him on TV, Dean. That doesn’t mean you know a single thing about what Superman represents.

So, Cain took to Fox News to talk about being a former actor on television (and now a cop) to claim that in today’s America, Superman wouldn’t be able to say, “Truth, justice, and the American way.”

I got angry because Superman, for all intents and purposes, is an immigrant—something he talks about freely in the comics. Dean Cain found my tweet, that he is NOT tagged in, to say that Superman is a “foundling.”

Fine, yes, if you want to get technical, according to law, he is a foundling, but he’s still an immigrant who is proud of being from Krypton and talks about it frequently. He’s also a JOURNALIST and someone who fights the rich. So … I guess Dean Cain just spent 4 years thinking Superman would be like, “Trump is a racist, sexist? That’s fine cause he’s AMERICA.”

What was great was Tom King even … pointed out that what Cain was yelling about is in a comic.

Lucky for me and my Brandon Routh-loving heart, the Superman Returns star took to Twitter to share the importance of wearing a mask to protect others, because he’s an ACTUAL hero—unlike Dean Cain, who was forced to wear one and then complained about it the entire time.

And others pointed out that Christopher Reeve, my other favorite Clark, also understood Superman and his importance.

So, I continue to love MY Superman, Brandon Routh—and none for you, Dean Cain. You get Kryptonite.

(image: Katie Yu/The CW)

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Rachel Leishman - Assistant Editor

Rachel Leishman (She/Her) is an Assistant Editor at the Mary Sue. A writer her whole life but professionally starting back in 2016 who loves all things movies, TV, and classic rock. Resident Spider-Man expert, official Leslie Knope, actually Yelena Belova. Wanda Maximoff has never done anything wrong in her life. Star Wars makes her very happy. New York writer with a passion for all things nerdy. Yes, she has a Pedro Pascal podcast. And also a Harrison Ford one.