HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ & Modern Comics is More Politics Than Superhero Adventure

Superhero comics have spent years drifting away from simple stories about courage, duty, and stopping criminals. The industry now seems far more interested in identity, personal labels, and cultural arguments that belong on social media instead of in a four-color adventure. That shift has changed who writes comics, what stories get promoted, and what kinds of heroes publishers believe deserve attention. Comics have always attracted outsiders, and some creators may have kept parts of their lives private in earlier eras. Still, modern superhero books often treat identity as the main event while heroism gets pushed into the background. Superman may be the clearest example of the problem. He is old-fashioned because he represents a moral ideal that does not need a long lecture. He saves people. He protects Lois Lane. He does the right thing even when nobody is watching. In an entertainment culture obsessed with tearing down traditional ideals, that kind of character can appear almost offensive. Meanwhile, DC’s screen projects have leaned hard into political and cultural messaging. HBO’s Lanterns series has already raised concerns about whether its focus is on superhero adventure or soc...