Chapter 36 – The Interview

The Daily Planet

Superman: He's Out of this World!

By Lois Lane – July 14th, 1989

Superman – he's here! He's the lead story in every news outlet. He's on everyone's mind. He's faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! He flies at supersonic speeds. Bullets can't hurt him, fire doesn't burn him, and his enhanced senses enable him to see through solid objects, see into the next state, and also see on a microscopic level, and to hear the softest sound from great distances away.

He's Superman – who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands. He's saved people in planes, trains, and automobiles, put out fires, and rescued people from those same burning buildings, as well as one of the firefighters.

Nobody knows who or what he is – until now.

On a tip, Clark Kent and I traveled back to Smallville and to my surprise, Superman was there, having just headed off the derailment of a chemical train. I caught up with the Man of Steel and hoped he would answer a few questions. To my surprise, he was willing to sit down and talk with me at length.

As it turns out, Superman is not the product of some crazy government experiment, as some news outlets have irresponsibly reported. Nor his he a mutant. I must warn my readers to make sure that you're seated for this.

I recorded my interview with him on microcassette, so what I will share is unedited. Here is just some of what we talked about.

LL: "So, let's start with the question that's on the minds of many a lady in Metropolis – are you married?"

Superman: "No, no I'm not."

LL: "Girlfriend?"

Superman: "No, I don't, but if I did, Miss Lane, you'd be the first to know about it."

(His response caught me off guard – at first, I thought maybe he was hinting at something else, but I think it's more that as a reporter, I tend to find things out before anyone else.)

LL: "How old are you?"

Superman: "Over twenty-one."

LL: "Oh, I get it; you don't want anyone to know how – okay – how tall are you?"

Superman: "About six-four."

LL: "Six-four – and how much do you weigh?"

Superman: "About two-thirty-five, two-forty."

LL: "Two … forty?"

(Superman just smiles and shrugs.)

LL: "Well … um … uh … I assume then that the rest of your bodily functions are … normal?"

Superman: "Sorry, I beg your pardon."

(He was incredibly polite throughout the interview)

LL: "Well … putting it delicately … do you … eat?"

Superman (smiles, seemingly relieved at where the question led): "Yes, yes I do – when I'm hungry."

LL: "Of course, you do. Now, is it true that you can see through anything?"

Superman: "Pretty much."

LL: "And that you're totally impervious to pain?"

Superman: "So far."

LL (taking a que from my colleague, Cat Grant): "What color underwear am I wearing?"

(Suffice it to say that Superman knew the answer – that happens to be privileged information that will not be printed in this article.)

LL: "Do you have a first name?"

Superman: "My name is Kal-El. I descend from the house of El."

LL: "That brings me to my next question; where do you hail from?"

Superman: "I'm from pretty far away – another galaxy as a matter of fact." (He looks up into the night sky) "I come from a planet called Krypton, which resided in the Andromeda Galaxy."

(I was overcome in his presence – I had just learned that we are not alone in the galaxy, and for this reporter, I was overcome with awe and with hope)

LL: "Why are you here?"

Superman: "My home world was destroyed when I was an infant, Miss Lane. My father was the preeminent scientist on Krypton and had built a prototype starship (yes people; I saw his starship). It was a small craft, only capable of carrying one passenger. I went with the hopes of a dying people to Earth."

LL: "But why are you here – I mean as Superman?"

Superman: "To fight for truth, justice, and freedom."

LL (laughs in disbelief): "You're going to end up fighting every elected official in this country!"

Superman: "I have no intention of interfering in the electoral processes of sovereign nations."

LL: "I don't believe this. How can a man with your kind of power … not fight against corrupt officials?"

Superman: "That's your job, Miss Lane. I don't involve myself with politics and I have no aspirations to seek higher office."

LL: "It's hard to believe that a man with your kind of power has no aspirations to gain political influence and authority."

Superman (looking at me very intently): "Lois, I never lie."

LL: "So … the people of Earth can trust you?"

Superman: "Trust is earned, Miss Lane. I don't expect humanity to blindly assume that I'm a good guy. Human nature is to be suspicious. Some people trust me already, others do not – some never will. I hope to earn your trust. Actions speak louder than words – your reference to elected officials bearing that out in spades."

LL: "So, to end things on a lighter note, now that you've made Metropolis your home, are you a Meteors fan?"

Superman (chuckling): "I'm from Kansas, Miss Lane – Chiefs fan for life."

We spoke more, and this reporter can safely and authoritatively say that Superman is not too good to be true – he really is everything that he seems to be.

Kal-El is not a god. He is not an angel. He is not a government science project or mutant. He is a child who was sent to America, the Land of Opportunity, to find a new life, not unlike many of our own ancestors.

Kal-El's is the ultimate immigrant story. He came here to escape disaster in a faraway land. He was embraced by humans who loved and cared for him. He grew up here in the United States and thinks and feels as an American.

Like all who come here seeking a better life, he just wants to do his part to contribute to this great society of ours. Rest assured, Superman is one of us. He's not some alien god. He's just a hard-working man who has powers and abilities far beyond ordinary mortals.