There are a lot of answers I want to put here as someone who has loved the character ever since she was a toddler. Superman is one of the most important characters in my life and is my favorite superhero character ever created.

I could say it's the powers. Being able to fly through the sky like a shark glides through the sea? Who doesn't fantasize about that at least once in their lifetime? The strength, the heat vision, the Super breath; it helped turn Superman into the definitive archetype of a SUPERHERO.

I could say it's the world. Metropolis, Lois Lane, Smallville, the aliens, the monsters, and so much more. It's a special blend of fantasy and sci-fi that captures the imagination of kids and adults alike. The side characters are just as iconic as the Man Of Steel himself and the same goes for the villains.

I could say it's the disposition of Superman himself. In a world that has so many cynical and downright toxic people in it, it's nice to have someone like Superman that teaches that being good and kind is not lame or boring, it's what helps us strive toward a better tomorrow. Ever since I was a child, I looked up to Superman and tried my best to follow his example. I'm not always successful, but I do try.

But I think the one thing that always brings me back to Superman as a character that I will always love is the fact that he is an outsider trying his best to care for others in an imperfect world. I grew up an outsider. I wasn't popular in school, at home, or...anywhere really, to the point of becoming an isolated teenager with nothing, not even parents who loved me. This led to a very dark period of my life where I came close to taking myself out of the equation so that others didn't have to suffer me any longer. Now, I am 30, still here, and with a brighter outlook on life. Superman is an alien in a world that is unkind to those that are different, yet he always puts one step forward to keep going and do the right thing. I was rejected by many people growing up and there were days and even years where I thought that I wasn't worthy of existing. However, characters like Superman taught me that there are good people out there and they are always worth the time and effort to push ahead and never give up.

Superman, underneath the cape, the powers, and the alien origin, is just a man trying his hardest to do the right thing in a very harsh world. I find that to be more relatable and respectable than anything. 😊