Article #29
Superman
Gives Mom Her Due!
(Or, the Mother’s
Day Entry)
Well,
it’s May and Mother’s Day is upon us. A
wonderful time for sons and daughters throughout the land to show their moms
just how much they appreciate all that they’ve done. We all have at least one fond memory of our
mom, and hopefully, that memory doesn’t involve Superman. What the heck am I talking about? Well, read on and find out as I present a few
choice Superman newspaper comic strips from the early 1940s, and reprinted in
recent hardcover editions (and I apologize in advance for the curly scans)…
Ah yes,
nothing says Mother’s Day like neglecting a child. But hey, it’s the 40s, things like strollers
probably weren’t invented yet – and if they were, they probably cost too much
for this poor, arms full of shopping, lady.
Of course, her husband’s nowhere to be seen either. I’m feeling sorry for the kid already.
Okay, first she leaves her baby
alone, next she loses her hat. What’s
next?
Oh yeah, I forgot about her
losing the apartment.
This whole segment reminds me of
the annual baby toss back home. Oh, the
fun we had!
Most
gripping drama indeed! I guess that 1940
was a different time. Nowadays the cop would
be slapping handcuffs on mom for child neglect.
As for the baby, he looks completely stunned out of his mind in the last
panel. I can predict a future for this
boy filled with abandonment issues, trouble flying or working and living in
high places, fear of loud noises and mixed issues dealing with Superman (he
caught me, but he dropped me, but he caught me…). I think we’ve just uncovered the secret
origin for Superman’s future arch nemesis, Maladjusted Man!
A
traumatic experience followed by a lifetime of psychiatry – isn’t that what
Mother’s Day is all about?