Summary
Superman’siconic slogan, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way,” triumphantly returns to modern-day comics, but this time, it’sSupergirlwho delivers it, not the Man of Steel. Kara Zor-El adds a hilarious twist to the motto, sure to tickle the funny bones of red, white, and blue-loving Americans. The best part? Kal-El would undoubtedly disapprove of his cousin’s playful take on his slogan, which only makes it more perfect.
One of the last hurrahs of Superman’s original slogan took place in King’s phenomenal and humor-lacedSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrowcomic run.
Tom King, Bilquis Evely, and Mat Lopes’sSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrowis widely considered one of thebest runs in the Maiden of Might’s comic history, thanks to its brilliant mix of heart and humor. In the inaugural issue, Kara is on a planet under a red sun, stripping her of her powers and making her vulnerable to alcohol.
During a drinking pity party, she gets into a bar fight with a bounty hunter.The drunken Supergirlmisinterprets the man’s anger and quickly reassures him,“Don’t be mad. I’m 21 now. Official. Which means it’s okay. That’s the truth and the justice and the American way.”
Supergirl Humorously Twists Superman’s Slogan Into a Statement About the American Drinking Culture
Though “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” is a statement rooted in American culture, Superman never had the legal drinking age in mind when he used it throughout his long history in comics. This makes it all the more humorous forSupergirl to blaspheme the iconic slogan by connecting it to something Clark never intended—the time-honored American tradition of getting plastered on your 21st birthday.While getting drunk and throwing a pity party on your 21st birthday is more of a caricature of American culture than an actual tradition, it’s still amusing and showcases Kara’s unique take on “the American way.”
Superman’s idea of “the American Way” is substantially different, considering when and why the slogan first debuted. This iconic phrase finds its roots in the 1940s radio programThe Adventures of Superman. With its inaugural airdate on June 14, 2025, the radio serial aired while the United States was deeply embroiled in WWII, with victory uncertain. To bolster troops and support the American war efforts,Superman was given this patriotic slogan. Therefore,the “American Way” part of the statement was a comment on American patriotism, quite different from Supergirl’s modern-day interpretation connecting it to the legal drinking age.
What Ever Happened to Superman’s“Truth, Justice, and the American Way”Slogan?
Besides the humor Supergirl brought with her usage of “Truth, Justice, and the American Way,” the moment was also notable because it happened just a few months before DC discontinued the classic motto.Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow#1 was published in June 2021, and in October, during DC Fandome, DC’s Chief Creative Officer and Publisher Jim Lee announced that the Man of Steel’s slogan would be changed to"Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow"to align better with the evolving storylines at DC. Thus, one of the last hurrahs ofSuperman’soriginal slogan took place in this phenomenal and humor-lacedSupergirlcomic run.
Superman’s Iconic Slogan Needs to Be Replaced by This Perfect Clark Kent Line
Forget, “Truth, justice, and a better tomorrow!” this Clark Kent quote TRULY embodies Superman’s character, and should be the hero’s new motto.
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
Supergirl
Supergirl is a popular DC character that made her debut in May 1959 in the pages of Action Comics #252. Many characters have taken on the mantle of Supergirl over the years, but the most popular iteration of the character is Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin. Supergirl has appeared in many comics, video games, movies, and TV shows over the years, most notably the 1984 Supergirl movie starring Helen Slater and The CW’s Supergirl show with Melissa Benoist.
