Monday, March 14, 2011

Manic Monday--How Dare You Suggest Our Hero Might Have Jewish Origins!!

A curious reader asks:


Yes, the names Daniel and Samuel have absolutely NOTHING to do with "the Semitic religion of the Hebrews." Really. Just as Kal-El's creators and origins have no relation at all with Judaism. None whatsoever.

As to the "comparing him to God," the letter and answer were obviously written well before Superman Returns, which probably blew poor James Johnson's mind if he was still around to see it...

From Superboy #140 (1967)
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2 comments:

  1. SiskoidMarch 14, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    In fact, "El" means "of/by/from God" or something like it. Daniel, my brother's name, means Protected by God, while my own, Michel, means Comes from God (it's an archangel's name).

    Kal-El must mean "Not at all relevant to God, nosireebob"

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  2. snellMarch 14, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    Yeah, Daniel and Samuel and Elizabeth are about the worst examples they could have used--unless, of course, Mort Weisinger was being deliberately ironic in his answer.

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