‘Batman And Superman: Battle Of The Super Sons’ Brings Back The Man Of Steel’s Iconic “Truth, Justice, And The American Way” Motto

JB Augustine |

Oct 24, 2022

Source: Superman Returns: "The Prequels" (2006). Words by Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris, and Bryan Singer. Cover art by Adam Hughes.

Out of all the changes Tom Taylor made to the mythos in Superman: Son of Kal-El, the most egregiously dividing was altering the hero’s motto from the iconic “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” to a fairly generic “Truth, Justice, and A Better Tomorrow.”

This new slogan proved to be so badly revolting to a number of well- established DC creatives that one of them, colorist Gabe Eltaeb, abruptly quit the company a year ago and expressed his displeasure openly on the way out.

Well, fear not, good citizens! There is a sign that the pendulum is swinging back in favor of the old-school fans who preferred Superman and his catchphrase the way they were.

Those little words “The American Way” are restored in Warner Animation’s latest DC feature. Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons uses the iconic maxim coined in the days of George Reeves and black-and-white TV at least once.

A clip from the animated film has surfaced online. In it, Superman is flying above the clouds with his son Jonathan on his back. A doting dad, Clark is explaining to his boy what a true-blue hero he is when he utters what everyone hoped to hear.

“My job, my real job, is helping the world,” he says. “Standing for truth, justice, and the American way, wherever that takes me.”

Now that's the Superman we know! pic.twitter.com/14XtnrXDEA

— Mr.Bug (@buggy_con) October 10, 2022

That does sound more like the Superman we all remember. The problem is this case could be a one-off return to form for WB than a more permanent one as Discovery’s overhaul of WB is only beginning.

Still run by and filled with the people who think establishment characters need changing to “reflect our times,” as they see them, WBD hasn’t gotten to cleaning the house of DC yet. A small moment like the one in Super Sons is a step in the right direction, though.

Pitting Batman, Superman, and their young sons Jon and Damian against the threat of Starro, Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons is available now in 4K on Blu-ray and digital.

NEXT: Resurfaced Interview Clip Shows Co-Creator Jerry Siegel Confirm Superman Stands For Truth, Justice, And The American Way