Beginning in 1949, DC Comics editor Jack Schiff launched a series of one-page “Superman Public Service Announcements” that ran in Action Comics, Superman, and other titles for nearly two decades. These pages were produced in cooperation with organizations such as the National Social Welfare Assembly and the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and they aimed to teach young readers lessons about fairness, citizenship, and respect for others. The strip titled “Superman’s Code for Buddies” (first appearing in Action Comics #142, March 1950) was timed to coincide with Brotherhood Week, a nationwide campaign that encouraged tolerance across Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish communities. In the story, a boy named Sam Levy is excluded by his peers because of his last name, only for Superman to step in and remind the children that true friendship is based on character, not background.

This PSA reflects the atmosphere of postwar America, when mass media was increasingly harnessed to combat prejudice and promote social cohesion. Having emerged from World War II with Superman as a patriotic icon, DC used the character’s authority to model good citizenship for young readers. By placing a superhero at the center of these lessons, the comics sought to normalize inclusivity at a time when the country was confronting anti-Semitism, racial tension, and the challenges of pluralism. Far from being mere entertainment, these pages reveal how comic books were enlisted as tools of social education, shaping attitudes in subtle but lasting ways.

This is a far cry from today. When the most recent Superman film (directed by James Gunn, released July?2025) made a similar plea for tolerance—emphasizing Superman’s immigrant origins and basic human kindness—it drew a sharp backlash from conservative commentators. Fox News figures like Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, and others wrote it off as “woke,” while former Superman actor Dean Cain criticized the film for leaning too heavily into progressive themes.