Sociologists often use language to understand culture.  Language is particularly effective in understanding cultural diffusion and cross - cultural tendencies norms.  It is part of what is referred to as ‘cultural relativity.’  Language affects culture, and vice-versa.  For example, cultures that tend to name their sons ‘Jesus’ tend to be more Christian.  According to the father of linguistics Benjamin Lee Whorf, 'Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about.

If this theory was applied to comics, then a comic figure that is mentioned in other uses would be a popular social icon.  There is only one figure in comics which is used in multiple languages and contexts; the son of Krypton himself, Superman.

The term Superman is now a catch phrase for any male performing an seemingly incredible feat of strength or heroism, especially where woman are concerned.  (Think Eminem and “I Can’t Be Your Superman.”) And not just in English.  Superman as a term has the same context whether in Spanish "Superhombre", Chinese "Chao Ren" , or my favorite "Su-Pa-Man" (Japanese.)

You can thank over seventy years of comic book serials, movies, animated TV shows, action figures etc. for bringing this term from part of Nietzsche's philosophy to become forever more associated with the “Man of Steel.”  Part of the allure of Superman as a term is it matches Nietzsche’s philosophical concept in so many ways, both physically and mentally.  Superman is inhumanly strong, fast, bullet proof; with a character that is completely flawless and unselfish.  He is the personification of the ideal that Nietzsche himself admits that no man is able to reach. 

This is for this reason that the character is completely outdated in the 21st century. He is such an icon that any changes in his attributes and he would not be Superman.  It would take an amazing writer to be able to change Superman without truly changing him.  

Enter Mark Waid.  A former Superman writer himself, including the amazing mini-series “Kingdom Come.  A former self professed “Superman addict.”  He manages to do the impossible with his new series “Irredeemable” from Boom! Studios. (Which he also serves as editor-in-chief)  

The “Superman” archetype character in “Irredeemable” has gone from the perfect hero to the Devil himself.  Killing his sidekick, former teammates, and destroying the city he vowed to protect himself.  And that is just in the first five pages.  Yet the character, named the Plutonian, is still very much Superman in powers and character.  The only difference between Superman and the Plutonian is that the Plutonian is subject to the same moral temptations as the rest of us.

In the ten issues to date, the reader is treated to a delightfully poisoned tale.  One not told by “Plutonian himself, but by his former teammates.  The reader gets a backseat ticket to their search for the answer to the question of what could turn the greatest hero on Earth to the greatest villain ever. And how can he possibly be killed? - All while trying to avoid being killed themselves.

“Irredeemable” is an idea that had been kicking around in my head for a long, long time. You saw flashes of it in “Kingdom Come” and in “Empire”—but the first was about the ethical price of heroism and the second was about a world where heroism just flat-out didn’t exist. “Irredeemable” is, in a way, the most complex chapter on the cost of superheroics—a pulp adventure tale of horror about how the lessons we learn about right and wrong as children can become warped and twisted when challenged by the realities of the adult world. “Irredeemable” is the ‘story of a man who was the greatest and most beloved superhero of all time...and how he became the world’s greatest super villain.” Mark Waid, CBR Interview.

The most amazing aspect of “Irredeemable,” is the amount of insight Waid gives into the reasoning of actions of an incredible supporting cast whose actions and sometimes inactions help lead to the downfall of the Plutonian.  Waid is attempting to paint a picture of a butterfly effect reminiscent to the Columbine High Documentary.  

By issue ten, the book still has an amazing amount of ground to cover, and each issue is equally engrossing; even to vocal Superman haters like myself.  I am sure other fans will recognize the references to other characters in DC Comic Publishing Superman series, but it is not necessary at all.  The book does not rely on the reader being familiar with the back-story regarding the “Man of Steel.” It relies solely on amazing storytelling.  

Part of the genuine Superman “feeling” the reader gets when reading this book is due to the fact that both veteran illustrators of this book, Peter Krause and Diego Barretto, are former Superman illustrators.  (As well as other Superman spinoffs such as Shazam!)

“Irredeemable” already has a spin-off also written by Mark Waid called “Incorruptible” which is basically the mirror story of the former book.  Where the Plutonian changes from the world's greatest super-hero to the world’s greatest super-villain in “Irredeemable,” in “Incorruptible” Max Damage, notorious super-villain, seeing the carnage inflicted in the world by the Plutonian changes himself into a super-hero named “Max – Damage.” If you are the type who secretly wishes the “bad guy” would win at the end of an action movie, if you enjoy seeing the downfall of something great, or if you generally enjoy an insane amount of chaos check out Mark Waid’s “Irredeemable.”  Issue 10 was just released, and you can get the first two collected volumes from Boom! Publishing.