History ComicBook / WhatsSoFunnyAboutTruthJusticeAndTheAmericanWay

To understand what drives this story, we must learn its context. Back in 1999, a comic called ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'' was getting quite good sales and critical appreciation. The series was however noted for the unabashed hyper-violence and psychopathic behavior of its protagonists. Around this point, the comic's publisher, Creator/WildStorm, was being bought by Creator/DCComics. Thus, ''The Authority'' was running in direct competition with DC's Big Blue Boy Scout. As UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks chugged on, one question was on everyone's minds: in an era when the Authority and its incredible violence was popular, was there room for a NiceGuy like Superman and his ThouShaltNotKill rules or should Superman adapt to the times?

* MightMakesRight: Essentially The Elite's entire philosophy.

* LivingShip: The Elite's base is a spaceship called ''Bunny'', which is a sentient being captured by the team to work for them as transport and accomodation.

To understand what drives this story, we must learn its context. Back in 1999, a comic called ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'' was getting quite good sales and critical appreciation. The series was however noted for the unabashed hyper-violence and psychopathic behavior of its protagonists. Aroud this point, the comic's publisher, Creator/WildStorm, was being bought by Creator/DCComics. Thus, ''The Authority'' was running in direct competition with DC's Big Blue Boy Scout. As UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks chugged on, one question was on everyone's minds: in an era when the Authority and its incredible violence was popular, was there room for a NiceGuy like Superman and his ThouShaltNotKill rules or should Superman adapt to the times?

* SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids: This is Black's big motivation, claiming the time for things like {{Cardboard Prison}}s and JokerImmunity is at an end and that killing villains is the only solution.

** Once Superman stops holding back, The Elite don't stand anything that even remotely resembles a chance against him, which [[BewareTheSuperman makes Supes come off as legitamitely scary]]. [[spoiler:Though really, it's Superman invoking this; he wants to show the Elite and the world what would happen if someone like Superman really stopped holding back and/or stopped being TheParagon, to prove a point. Superman's actually holding back the whole time, and only acting like he's snapped.]]

** Once Superman stops holding back, The Elite don't stand anything that even remotely resembles a chance against him.

* CurbStompBattle: Once Superman stops holding back, The Elite don't stand anything that even remotely resembles a chance against him.

The story is considered one of the quintessential Superman stories, showcasing the reason why a character like Superman is still needed when it's quite easy to lose yourself in simplistic violence when nothing is there to check your power. The Elite and its members would appear in other titles for a few years: a new Elite forming known as the ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueElite'' that lasted for about a year, Manchester Black would become a somewhat important Superman foe through the early 2000s and make a return in ''ComicBook/DCRebirth''. The storyline would inspire an AnimatedAdaptation, ''WesternAnimation/SupermanVsTheElite'', while a storyline in ''Series/Supergirl2015'' would involve the Elite.

* TakeThat: The story essentially serves as a middle finger toward ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'' and [[BlackAndGreyMorality unscrupulous anti-heroes who have their questionable actions excused by their opponents being worse than they are]] in general. The Elite are killers just like The Authority who resort to lethal force without hesitation. Manchester Black at one point even gives a ThisIsReality speech to Superman that is very similar to a TakeThat from ''The Authority'' given towards mainstream superheroes. In the end, Superman proves that his way works when he scares the crap out of the Elite by pretending to kill most of them and de-power Manchester Black to demonstrate why ideal heroes shouldn't be fear-mongering control freaks who won't hesitate to kill their enemies.

* TakeThat: The story essentially serves as a middle finger toward ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'' and unscrupulous anti-heroes who have their questionable actions excused by their opponents being worse than they are in general. The Elite are killers just like The Authority who resort to lethal force without hesitation. Manchester Black at one point even gives a ThisIsReality speech to Superman that is very similar to a TakeThat from ''The Authority'' given towards mainstream superheroes. In the end, Superman proves that his way works when he scares the crap out of the Elite by pretending to kill most of them and de-power Manchester Black to demonstrate why ideal heroes shouldn't be fear-mongering control freaks who won't hesitate to kill their enemies.

To understand what drives this story, we must learn its context. Back in 1999, a comic called ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'' was getting quite good sales and critical appreciation. The series was however noted for the unabashed hyper-violence and psychopathic behavior of its protagonists. Aroud this point, the comic's publisher, Creator/WildStorm, was being bought by Creator/DCComics. Thus, ''The Authority'' was running in direct competition with DC's Big Blue Boy Scout. As UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks chugged on, one question was on everyone's minds: In an era when The Authority and its incredible violence was popular, was there room for a NiceGuy like Superman and his ThouShaltNotKill rules or should Superman adapt to the times?

The story starts with Superman rushing to Tripoli as the news reports a terrorist attack is occurring. However, when he gets there, the scene is absolute carnage: the entire city in flames and the attacker, a gigantic cybernetic gorilla is torn apart and lying dead in the wreckage. The cause of this was The Elite, a group of four metahumans who believe the best way to deal with anyone and anything threatening them is by all-out murder. As the story goes on and The Elite keep dealing with criminals in a consistently bloodthirsty way, people like reporter [[ComicBook/TheCreeper Jack Ryder]] celebrate them and the casual citizen finds their quick and simple methodology the best thing around while regarding Superman as "lame" [[note]]This was also a complaint that was popping up about Superman as a character in RealLife for a few years before the original publication of this story[[/note]], the Man of Steel must decide if his ways are no longer worth fighting for or if there is another way...

* TakeThat: The story essentially serves as a middle finger toward ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'' and unscrupulous anti-heroes who have their questionable actions excused by their opponents being worse than they are in general. The Elite are killers just like The Authority who resort to lethal force without hesitation. Manchester Black at one point even gives a ThisIsReality speech to Superman that is very similar to a TakeThat from ''The Authority'' given towards mainstream superheroes.

* {{Expy}}: The Elite is this towards The Authority, with Manchester Black being an expy of Jenny Sparks, The Hat an expy of The Doctor, Menagerie an expy of The Engineer and Swift and Coldcast a minor expy of Apollo and Midnighter.

* TakeThat: Towards ''ComicBook/TheAuthority''. The Elite are killers just like The Authority who resort to lethal force without hesitation. Manchester Black at one point even gives a ThisIsReality speech to Superman that is very similar to a TakeThat from ''The Authority'' given towards mainstream superheroes.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: For Supes, a great measure, natch. He remembers to liberate the Elite's ship from their control.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: The Hat has blue hair and Manchester Black has purple hair.

To understand what drives this story, we must learn its context. Back in 1999, the [[Creator/WildStorm WildStorm]] title ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'' was getting quite good sales and critical appreciation. The series was however noted for the unabashed hyper-violence and psychopathic behavior of its protagonists. Aroud this point, the comicbook's publisher, [[Creator/WildStorm WildStorm Productions]], was being bought by Creator/DCComics. Thus, ''The Authority'' was running in direct competition with DC's Big Blue Boy Scout. As UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks chugged on, one question was on everyone's minds: In an era when The Authority and its incredible violence was popular, was there room for a NiceGuy like Superman and his ThouShaltNotKill rules or should Superman adapt to the times?

To understand what drives this story, we must learn its context. Back in 1998, the [[Creator/WildStorm WildStorm]] title ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'' was getting quite good sales and critical appreciation. The series was however noted for the unabashed hyper-violence and psychopathic behavior of its protagonists. At this point, the comicbook's publisher, [[Creator/WildStorm WildStorm Productions]], had been bought by Creator/DCComics. Thus, ''The Authority'' was running in direct competition with DC's Big Blue Boy Scout. As UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks chugged on, one question was on everyone's minds: In an era when The Authority and its incredible violence was popular, was there room for a NiceGuy like Superman and his ThouShaltNotKill rules or should Superman adapt to the times?

"What's So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?" is a ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' story. Written by [[Creator/ManOfACtionStudios Joe Kelly]] with pencils by Doug Mahnke and Lee Bermejo, it was published in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #775, March, 2001.

Good question!

The story is considered one of the quintessential Superman stories, showcasing the reason why a character like Superman is still needed when it's quite easy to lose yourself in simplistic violence when nothing is there to check your power. The Elite and its members would appear in other titles for a few years: a new Elite forming known as the ComicBook/JusticeLeagueElite that lasted for about a year, Manchester Black would become a somewhat important Superman foe through the early 2000s and make a return in ''ComicBook/DCRebirth''. The storyline would inspire an AnimatedAdaptation, ''WesternAnimation/SupermanVsTheElite'', while a storyline in ''Series/{{Supergirl 2015}}'' would involve the Elite, though not as brutal as the comic or its animated counterpart.

* TakeThat: Towards the ''ComicBook/TheAuthority''. The Elite are killers just like The Authority who resort to lethal force without hesitation. Manchester Black at one point even gives a ThisIsReality speech to Superman that is very similar to a TakeThat from ''The Authority'' given towards mainstream superheroes.

The story starts with Superman rushing to Tripoli as the news reports a terrorist attack is occurring. However, when he gets there, the scene is absolute carnage: the entire city in flames and the attacker, a gigantic cybernetic gorilla is torn apart and lying dead in the wreckage. The cause of this was a group known as The Elite, a group of four metahumans who believe the best way to deal with anyone and anything threatening them is by all-out murder. As the story goes on and The Elite keep dealing with criminals in a consistently bloodthirsty way, people like reporter [[ComicBook/TheCreeper Jack Ryder]] celebrate them and the casual citizen finds their quick and simple methodology the best thing around while regarding Superman as "lame" [[note]]This was also a complaint that was popping up about Superman as a character in RealLife for a few years before the original publication of this story[[/note]], the Man of Steel must decide if his ways are no longer worth fighting for or if there is another way...

The story starts with Superman rushing to Tripoli as news reports of a terrorist attack is occurring. However, when he gets there, the scene is absolute carnage: the entire city in flames and the attacker, a gigantic cybernetic gorilla is torn apart and lying dead in the wreckage. The cause of this was a group known as The Elite, a group of four metahumans who believe the best way to deal with anyone and anything threatening them is by all-out murder. As the story goes on and The Elite keep dealing with criminals in a consistently bloodthirsty way, people like reporter [[ComicBook/TheCreeper Jack Ryder]] celebrate them and the casual citizen finds their quick and simple methodology the best thing around while regarding Superman as "lame" [[note]]This was also a complaint that was popping up about Superman as a character in RealLife for a few years before the original publication of this story[[/note]], the Man of Steel must decide if his ways are no longer worth fighting for or if there is another way...

''What's So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?'' is a ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' story. Written by [[Creator/ManOfACtionStudios Joe Kelly]] with pencils by Doug Mahnke and Lee Bermejo, it was published in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #775, March, 2001.

The story starts with Superman rushing to Tripoli as news reports of a terrorist attack is occurring. However, when he gets there, the scene is absolute carnage: the entire city in flames and the attacker, a gigantic cybernetic gorilla is torn apart and lying dead in the wreckage. The cause of this was a group known as The Elite, a group of four metahumans who believe the best way to deal with anyone and anything threatening them is by all-out murder. As the story goes on and The Elite keep dealing with criminals in a consistently bloodthirsty way, people like reporter [[ComicBook/TheCreeper Jack Ryder]] celebrate them and the casual citizen finds their quick and simple methodology the best thing around while regarding Superman as "lame" [[note]]This was also [[BoringInvincibleHero a complaint that was popping up about Superman as a character]] in RealLife for a few years before the original publication of this story[[/note]], the Man of Steel must decide if his ways are no longer worth fighting for or if there is another way...

The story starts with Superman rushing to Tripoli as news reports of a terrorist attack is occurring. However, when he gets there, the scene is absolute carnage: the entire city in flames and the attacker, a gigantic cybernetic gorilla is torn apart and lying dead in the wreckage. The cause of this was a group known as The Elite, a group of four metahumans who believe the best way to deal with anyone and anything threatening them is by all-out murder. As the story goes on and The Elite keep dealing with criminals in a consistently bloodthirsty way, people like reporter [[ComicBook/TheCreeper Jack Ryder]] celebrate them and the casual citizen finds their quick and simple methodology the best thing around while regarding Superman as "lame" [[note]]This was also a complaint that was popping up about Superman as a character in RealLife for a few years before the original publication of this story[[/note]], the Man of Steel must decide if his ways are no longer worth fighting for or if there is another way...

* DisproportionateRetribution: The Elite happily do this, claiming that this will stop people from attacking them. Superman attacks Hat when Black tells him to make the streets eat up a couple of Film/MenInBlack {{expies}} and rain acid on their families