If you thought April 22 was the day your Galaxy S23 would finally get One UI 7, well… it’s probably not happening. That date came from a quiet update on Telus’s support page. Now it’s just gone—scrubbed from the site without a word and this doesn’t look good for all those out there who wanted to see their phones get the latest UI in their hands.
Image Source: Samsung
This isn’t the first time Samsung’s software updates have played the disappearing act.
Originally, the company was expected to roll out One UI 7—based on Android 15—to the Galaxy S23 lineup sometime this month. That includes the S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, and S23 FE.Telus listing April 22 briefly added credibility to that timeline. But here we are again: back in limbo.
What’s the holdup this time? The S24 series had its update pulled recently because of a bug that broke the phone unlock process. That mostly hit Exynos-powered devices, and yeah—it was bad enough for Samsung to pause everything. You can bet they don’t want to risk another mess with the S23.
And to be fair, the S23 only joined the beta in March. So maybe it was a little optimistic to think the stable version would drop this soon.
So what now?
There’s still a shot we’ll see the update roll out to the main S23 models—S23, S23+, and Ultra—before the end of April. But if you’ve got an S23 FE, brace for May. That’s the window Samsung seems to be aiming for with FE variants.
Honestly?If they need more time to get it right, take the time. No one wants another buggy release. In the meantime, check your update settings once in a while. Then try to forget about it. That way, when it finally does show up, it’ll feel like a nice surprise.
Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.Follow Gizchina.com on Google News for news and updates in the technology sector.
The Electricity Consumer Protection Advocacy Centre (ECPAC), on Friday, refuted recent claims by Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who asserted that approximately 150 million Nigerians now enjoy adequate electricity access.
Adelabu made the statement during the 2025 Ministerial Sectoral Update Conference held in Abuja on Thursday, crediting Nigeria’s progress to the “Mission 300” initiative. It was a collaborative program by the World Bank and African Development Bank aimed at delivering electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
But ECPAC is not convinced. The group’s Executive Director, Chief Princewill Okorie, described the minister’s claim as “a lie to Nigerians,” citing inconsistencies and lack of consumer-based data to support the assertion.
“What is the source of that data?” Okorie asked pointedly. “It is not just about quoting figures. What validates that data? As I speak, I don’t have electricity in my house. It came at midnight and was gone in three hours. This kind of deception is exhausting for Nigerians.”
Okorie further criticized the ministry’s alleged detachment from public realities. “Where did the minister carry out the research that gave him such a figure? Has he engaged civil society organisations since he assumed office? We’ve long advocated for a dedicated consumer protection unit within the ministry to bridge this gap between data and lived experience.”
While the minister claims significant progress, official data paints a more modest picture.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Q2 2024 report, Nigeria had just 12.99 million registered electricity customers, up from 12.33 million in Q1. Additionally, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reported that only 6.15 million customers had been metered as of September 30, 2024, leaving about 53.85% of registered users unmetered and therefore vulnerable to estimated billing.
The figures further show a gradual increase in electricity customers from 10.37 million in 2020 to 12.99 million in Q2 2024, a positive trend but one that does not correlate with the minister’s sweeping statement that nearly 150 million people have adequate access to power.
“The data being touted by the Minister does not reflect the daily struggles of millions of Nigerians. Having an electricity account does not mean having electricity,” Okorie emphasized.
The presidency has dismissed as false and mischievous reports claiming that Vice President Kashim Shettima was denied access to the Presidential Villa by armed military personnel.
Stanley Nkwocha, the vice president’s spokesperson, described the reports as part of a growing campaign of disinformation aimed at sowing confusion within the presidency.
“In recent times, there has been deliberate and well-planned orchestration of falsehood against the vice president’s person and office in many multidimensional forms. These mischievous and totally fabricated reports are all in a bid to cause confusion and insinuate total clashes in the presidency. These reports seek to mislead the public into believing there’s discord at the highest levels of government,” said Nkwocha.
“The latest in this string of disinformation is a report claiming that the vice president has been refused entry to the villa. This is a feeble attempt to traduce the person and office of His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON. For the record, nothing of the sort ever happened.” Nkwocha described the story published by some blogs as “the wildest expression of wishful thinking”.
He added, “It is a story so far removed from reality that it can only be entertained by those unfamiliar with the inner workings of the Nigerian government.”
The alleged reports came after the presidency disowned campaign posters of President Bola Tinubu in parts of the country.
According to Nkwocha, the false narratives represent “a desperate attempt to undermine the President and his Deputy’s fidelity to the rule of law and our constitution”, adding, “Let it be known that those pushing these falsehoods do so in vain.”
The presidential aide stressed that the unity and cooperation between the president and his vice president remain unshaken.
“It is understandable, though regrettable, that the mischief-makers continue to underestimate the strength of the bond and goodwill between the president and the vice president. However, their questionable sources or habitual reliance on misinformation have once again led them astray. These fairy tales they publish serve no purpose beyond mischief and distraction,” he said.
Reaffirming Shettima’s focus and loyalty to Tinubu, Nkwocha said his principal “does not have the luxury of time for distractions, particularly those born of the imagination of individuals intent on creating smoke where there is no fire. He’s not and will never partake in their media circus. It is a futile pursuit, even by the standards of the morally indifferent.”
Nkwocha extended appreciation to citizens who have continued to stand against fake news and support the administration.
Quoting him, “We commend Nigerians across all divides who continue to express goodwill towards this administration and who have taken it upon themselves to fight the spread of fake news. Your trust and support are deeply appreciated. The covenant between this government and the citizens of Nigeria was made possible through a legitimate and constitutional process. No amount of falsehood or manufactured tension can shake the foundation of that democratic mandate. Not under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“We encourage the public to disregard such malicious publications and the media to continue seeking information from credible sources and to approach sensational claims with the caution they deserve. This we owe ourselves collectively as a nation.”
Shettima Not Blocked From Entering Villa – Presidency is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
3 to 5 years of proven experience in structural engineering
Proficiency in Autodesk Revit, Robot Structural Analysis, and AutoCAD.
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Must have a valid driver’s license and own reliable transport.
Ability to start immediately or as soon as possible.
Based in Johannesburg or Pretoria
Prepare and review structural drawings and models using Revit, Robot Structural Analysis, and AutoCAD.
Conduct site inspections, attend meetings, and liaise with clients, contractors, and stakeholders.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams on commercial and building projects.
Assist in the design and detailing of concrete and steel structures.
Valid drivers license & own vehicle
A former Harvard Medical School morgue manager accused of stealing and selling human organs and other parts of cadavers donated to the school for medical research and education has agreed to plead guilty.
Cedric Lodge, 57, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, was indicted in June 2023 and accused of stealing and selling heads, brains, skin and bones from cadavers that were donated to the university as part of a “nationwide network” between 2018 and 2023, prosecutors said.
Lodge and his wife, Denise, allegedly sold the body parts to buyers in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and shipped them via the postal service to clients who, in one instance, intended to tan skin into leather.
Denise Lodge (left in black)
Cedric Lodge, who managed Harvard’s morgue for more than two decades before his 2023 arrest, has agreed to plead guilty to transporting stolen goods across state lines, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine, according to a plea agreement filed on Wednesday, April 16, in federal court in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Remaining charges of conspiracy and transport of stolen goods are due to be dropped.
A hearing on his plea change has not been scheduled, although his trial was initially scheduled for May.
The expected plea change comes almost a year after Denise Lodge, 64, who was accused of shipping stolen human body parts to buyers, pleaded guilty on the count of aiding and abetting interstate transport of stolen goods in April last year.
Lodge worked at Harvard University for approximately 28 years before being fired in May 2023.
As well as taking body parts to his home, Lodge had also allowed potential buyers into the school’s morgue to hand-pick what human remains they wanted, prosecutors said.
The cadavers are intended for educational, teaching, or research purposes and are donated to the medical school through the Anatomical Gifts Program.
Alongside the Lodges, four other defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in Pennsylvania on charges of conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods.
One of those charged was Katrina Maclean, 44, from Salem, Massachusetts, who owns a store called Kat’s Creepy Creations in Peabody.
According to court documents, Maclean shipped human skin she purchased from Lodge to another defendant and “engaged his services to tan the skin to create leather.”
Another facing federal charges is Joshua Taylor of West Lawn Berks County. He sent Denise Lodge $1,000 via PayPal with a memo that read “head number 7,” prosecutors said. Another $200 transaction from Taylor to Lodge allegedly read “braiiiiiins.”
After the allegations emerged, family members who donated their loved ones’ bodies to medical research spoke of their horror and shared concerns about what may have happened to their remains.
“We were just disgusted,” Paula Peltonovich, whose father’s remains were donated to the school, told the Boston Globe in June 2023. “Sick, like we were going to throw up.”
Sarah Hill, whose aunt Christine Eppich had her remains gifted via the Anatomical Gifts Program, also told Boston 25 News that she felt “sick” over the ordeal in June 2023.
In Beaks, darts work just like the different baits available in Fisch. They not only help you stabilize your gun through stat buffs, but also have a chance of giving you a mutation. So, if you are looking for rare bird mutations or just want to secure your catch faster, then you need better darts; the gun alone is not sufficient. In this guide, we have listed all available Beaks darts, along with their stats, steps to obtain them, price, and passive effects. With that said, let’s begin!
Full List of Beaks Darts
The Shop in Beaks currently holds above 18 darts for your taking. The table below details the stat boosts and passives offered by each dart. Study it to figure out which boosts best complement your Beaks guns the best. Check out the complete list of Beaks darts here:
Dart image
Dart name
Stats
Passive
Default Dart
Speed: +0% Damage: +0% Distance: +0%
This is the default dart. Darts are used to tranquilize the birds & Capture them!
Iron Dart
Speed: +0% Damage: +50% Distance: +25%
Greater impact with longer range.
Steel Dart
Speed: +50% Damage: +0% Distance: +25%
High-speed darts with extended range.
Archaic Dart
Speed: -10% Damage: -10% Distance: -10%
Triggers mutations: 0.9x damage, 0.9x speed, and 0.9x distance. 5% chance of Timeworm mutation and 10% Rusty mutation.
Crystal Dart
Speed: -10% Damage: -10% Distance: +0%
Triggers mutations: 0.9x damage, 0.9x speed, and 1x distance. 10% chance of Green Crystal mutation.
Delicious Dart
Speed: -10% Damage: -10% Distance: -10%
Triggers mutations: 0.9x damage, 0.9x speed, and 0.9x distance. 10% chance of Cherry mutation.
Hardrock Dart
Speed: -10% Damage: -10% Distance: +20%
Triggers mutations: 0.9x damage, 0.9x speed, and 1.2x distance. 10% chance of Stone mutation.
Clown Dart
Speed: -20% Damage: -20% Distance: +0%
Triggers mutations: 0.8x damage, 0.8x speed, and 1x distance. 15% chance of a clown or confetti mutation.
Striped Dart
Speed: -10% Damage: -10% Distance: -10%
Triggers mutations: 0.9x damage, 0.9x speed, and 0.9x distance. 10% chance of striped mutation.
Two Faced Dart
Speed: -20% Damage: +25% Distance: +25%
Triggers mutations: 1.25x damage, 0.8x speed, and 1.25x distance. 10% chance of a two-toned mutation and 5% B&W mutation.
Golden Dart
Speed: -10% Damage: -20% Distance: -15%
5% chance to turn the hit bird into a Golden version.
Mythical Dart
Speed: -30% Damage: -20% Distance: -20%
5% chance to turn the hit bird into a Mythical version.
Claws Dart
Speed: +25% Damage: +0% Distance: +0%
1x damage, 1.25x speed, and no distance boost.
Longshot Dart
Speed: -25% Damage: -10% Distance: +50%
Triggers mutations: 0.9x damage, 0.75x speed, and 1.5x distance.
B&W Dart
Speed: +0% Damage: +0% Distance: +0%
Triggers mutations: 1x damage, 1x speed, and 1x distance. 15% chance of Black and White mutation.
Lush Dart
Speed: -20% Damage: +25% Distance: +25%
Triggers mutations: 1.25x damage, 0.8x speed, and 1.25x distance. 5% chance of a leafy mutation and 10% mossy mutation.
Sinister Dart
Speed: -10% Damage: -10% Distance: +0%
Triggers mutations: 0.9x damage, 0.9x speed, and 1x distance. 10% chance of Shadow mutation. (unique to Sinister)
Smoke Dart
Speed: +25% Damage: +25% Distance: +25%
Triggers mutations: 1.25x damage, 1.25x speed, and 1.25x distance.
What is the Best Dart to Use Early in Beaks?
If you check the stats of all the darts in Beaks, some are actually good for mutations. This is because the mutated birds sell for a lot more money in the game. However, if you are not that good with aim, opt for a balanced dart.
I suggest you use the Smoke dart, Two Faced dart, or the Lush dart. Although the Smoke dart doesn’t give any special mutation, the Lush dart or Two Faced darts not only give a good stat boost, but they also give you rare mutations.
That ends the list of every dart available in Beaks that you can use to catch birds easily. Which dart are you planning to pair with your gun? Do tell us in the comments below.
Ishan Adhikary
A gaming nerd who cover all thing video games. Spending time looking through the games and gaming industry was always a dream. Thanks to Beebom, I live it. Once I am done gaming, I write. Once I am done writing, I game.
Bearish sentiments persisted in the equities market, wiping off N208 billion from the market capitalisation on the Nigerian Xchange Group (NGX) in the just concluded trading week.
Ripples Nigeria reports that investors recorded a loss of N440 billion the previous week.
In the just-ended trading week, the equities market opened for four days, gaining in two and losing in two of the trading sessions while incurring a loss of N208 billion in the process.
The market capitalisation decreased to N65,499 trillion from N65,707 trillion in the previous week.
Similarly, the All-Share Index (ASI) depreciated by 0.32% to close the week at 104,233.81 from 104,563.34 points recorded the previous week.
The Nigerian equities market began the week on Monday, April 14, 2025, on a bearish note as investors lost N21.19 billion at the end of the trading session.
The market closed with a profit on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, as investors gained N19.11 billion.
The equities market closed on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, with a loss as investors lost N444.99 billion.
The losing trend was reversed on Thursday, April 17, 2025, as investors gained N240.00 billion at the end of the trading session.
Meanwhile, a total turnover of 1.525 billion shares worth N43.00 billion in 51,156 deals was traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 2.094 billion shares valued at N52.967 billion that exchanged hands last week in 64,612 deals.
The Financial Services (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.122 billion shares valued at N24.015 billion traded in 28,818 deals; thus contributing 73.56% and 55.84% to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.
The ICT industry followed with 101.252 million shares worth N 4.819 billion in 2,541 deals.
In third place was the services Industry, with a turnover of 99.776 million shares worth N1.230 billion in 3,063 deals.
Trading in the top three equities, namely Access Holdings Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Universal Insurance Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 448.105 million shares worth N6.730 billion in 6,481 deals, contributing 29.39% and 15.65% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
Thirty-one (31) equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than twenty-seven (27) equities in the previous week. Forty-four (44) equities depreciated in price, lower than fifty-six (56) in the previous week, while seventy-two (72) equities remained unchanged, higher than sixty-four (64) recorded in the previous week.
Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc recorded the biggest share price increase in percentage gaining 46.17% followed by Nigerian Brew Plc which increased its share price by 13.13% in the process.
Associated Bus Company Plc also increased its share price by 12.70%.
On the flip side, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc recorded the biggest decline in share prices by percentage, shedding 13.24% followed by Zenith Bank Plc, which shed 11.91% of its share prices.
Daar Communications Plc also knocked off 11.11% of its share prices.
While public education funding continues to shrink across Nigeria, one man has quietly become a powerhouse of academic support. Chief James Ume, Publisher of THE WHISTLER newspaper and Chairman of the Unubiko Foundation, has poured over N1.5bn into scholarships, infrastructure, and community projects across Abia State and beyond.
On Friday, Ume supervised the distribution of scholarship bursaries worth over N170m to 170 tertiary students as part of the Foundation’s 2024/2025 programme. Each recipient will receive an annual stipend exceeding N200,000 throughout their academic journey. The scholarships benefit both Abia natives and students from other states attending institutions across Nigeria.
Beyond financial support, Ume’s previous interventions include rebuilding schools, providing scholarships, empowering youths with digital skills, and fostering grassroots partnerships, all aimed at transforming education from the ground up and nurturing Nigeria’s next generation of leaders and professionals.
In recent years, the Unubiko Foundation has funded over 200 scholarships in Arochukwu LGA alone, covered WAEC fees for nearly 200 struggling secondary school students, donated 100 laptops for digital skills training, and invested N250m to transform the once-neglected Ovukwu-Abam Secondary School into a modern learning facility.
Chief Ume’s generosity didn’t stop at education. He also rebuilt a customary court for an Abia community at a cost of N150m.
During COVID-19, Ume stepped up when his community needed him most. He distributed protective equipment throughout Abam communities in Arochukwu LGA and to the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia. The Nigerian Union of Journalists also benefited from his generosity with book donations worth over N6m to its national secretariat and councils in Abia and Abuja.
In December 2023, Ume handed over the rebuilt Onyerubi Comprehensive Secondary School in Ndi Oji Abam, a project that came alongside a N300m scholarship programme for Abia students. Three months later, in March 2024, he launched another N300m scholarship fund at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria in Atan Abam to further expand access to higher education.
Perhaps his boldest move came in December 2024 with a N500m donation to Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic in Aba. Student leaders and academics hailed the contribution for breathing new life into essential infrastructure and improving learning conditions for thousands of students.
Ume’s vision extends beyond classrooms into healthcare, rural electrification, clean water access, and digital literacy.
His foundation has constructed 44 boreholes across 27 villages, donated transformers, distributed COVID-19 relief supplies, and covered medical expenses for vulnerable citizens.
Ume has received numerous honours, including Philanthropist of the Year 2024 from The Reporters Magazine, the Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Award 2023 from HEDA Resource Centre, Humanitarian Service Icon Award 2022 from The Sun Publishing Company, Africa’s Patriotic and Philanthropic Personality of the Year 2024 from the All-Africa Students Union, and an Honourary Doctorate in Philanthropy and Human Investment 2024 from Weldios University of Management and Technology in Benin Republic.
At the recent scholarship ceremony, Ume reaffirmed his commitment to expanding institutional partnerships and broadening both scholarship and infrastructure support:
“It’s not enough to give; we must build futures, restore dignity, and equip young people with the tools to lead. We are committed to raising a generation of leaders and professionals who will transform Nigeria,” he said.
He shared how his mother’s dedication to education shaped his values: “She was an educationist. No matter how tough things were, she made sure that everyone around her children had access to basic education. She sacrificed everything she had.”
The name “Unubiko” carries special meaning, drawn from a phrase his mother would use during difficult times: “She would gather us in the room and say, ‘Unubiko, don’t tell anybody you’ve not eaten.’ We’d go to school, and by the time we came back, she’d have something for us.”
Although Chief Ume began his scholarship efforts informally in 2007, the Foundation was officially registered in 2024 to expand its reach and ensure long-term sustainability. The current scholarship programme is deliberately inclusive, with 60 per cent of scholarships allocated to girls and 40 per cent to boys.
The Foundation also runs specialised education programmes for women, including a N50m intervention in Idime Abam and another in Atan Abam to support high-achieving girls all the way through PhD studies.
Inside Chief James Ume’s N1.5bn Humanitarian Efforts In Abia is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
By DEEPA BHARATH of The Associated Press and BOB SMIETANA of Religion News Service
Superman was born Kryptonian, raised Methodist and sketched into existence by two Jewish teens in 1930s Cleveland. Faith and morality are his DNA.
There are no overt religious references in Superman comics. But over eight decades, he’s been viewed as a divine entity, a savior figure — his sacrifice Christ-like, his will to lead as strong as Moses parting the Red Sea, and his compassion akin to a bodhisattva, an enlightened being who guides Buddhists on the spiritual path.
While scholars, comic book writers and fans alike are struck by the religious undertones in Superman comics, they say what separates Superman from the ever-growing pack of superheroes is his singular ability to bring hope in a hopeless world.
David Corenswet, star of the upcoming film “Superman,” is pictured on a video screen discussing the role alongside fellow cast members and filmmakers during the Warner Bros. Pictures presentation at CinemaCon on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Rachel Brosnahan, from left, Nicholas Hoult, and David Corenswet, cast members of the upcoming film “Superman,” appear onstage during the Warner Bros. Pictures presentation at CinemaCon on Monday, April 1, 2025, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
CinemaCon attendees wait for entry underneath advertisements for the upcoming film “Superman” before the Warner Bros. Pictures presentation at CinemaCon on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
James Gunn, left, writer, director, and producer of the upcoming film “Superman,” and Rachel Brosnahan, cast member of the upcoming film “Superman,” appear onstage during the Warner Bros. Pictures presentation at CinemaCon on Monday, April 1, 2025, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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David Corenswet, star of the upcoming film “Superman,” is pictured on a video screen discussing the role alongside fellow cast members and filmmakers during the Warner Bros. Pictures presentation at CinemaCon on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ sparks conversation
As fans celebrate Superman Day on Friday, marking the 87th anniversary of the original superhero’s birth, they are also eagerly anticipating James Gunn’s film “Superman” set for release on July 11. This version starring David Corenswet, the first Jewish actor to play Superman in a major film, promises a return to a version of a vulnerable Man of Steel who is rooted in values espoused by most faiths — goodness, compassion and hope.
The film has sparked a conversation about the place of Superman in the world and his personal code of ethics after several recent depictions of superheroes as anti-heroes. Corenswet said in a recent interview to Fandango that what captivates him about Superman is how he chooses to see good in people and not dwell on the negative.
“Why think about all the terrible things when we can focus on the good things we did today?” he said.
In the same interview, Gunn said his Superman will reinforce the character’s core value of preserving life at any cost.
“He believes that the sanctity of life is of the utmost importance,” Gunn said, noting the contrast with Superman’s archnemesis Lex Luthor, who values scientific advancement over life.
FILE – Superman fans Michael Byrnes, left, Frances Tirado, center, and Amy Byrnes pose for a photo on their way to Comic Con, Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, file)
FILE – Philadelphia Eagle cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (34) wearing Superman cleats during warm-ups prior to the NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, file)
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FILE – Superman fans Michael Byrnes, left, Frances Tirado, center, and Amy Byrnes pose for a photo on their way to Comic Con, Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, file)
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Symbol of hope and positive masculinity
It was precisely this benevolent, hopeful version of Superman that inspired Robert Revington, who teaches at the Vancouver School of Theology at the University of British Columbia, to go skydiving in a Superman costume on his 28th birthday. And yet Revington, a Christian, balks at Christ-like portrayals of his favorite superhero.
“I like Superman and I like Jesus,” he said. “I don’t necessarily want to conflate the two. To me, the best depiction of Superman is as a symbol of hope.”
Revington also sees Superman’s relevance today as “an example of positive masculinity.”
“He’s this version of strong, but compassionate masculinity, which several prominent figures don’t necessarily embody,” he said.
Revington and many others’ beloved iteration of Superman appeared in “All-Star Superman,” a 12-issue series published by DC Comics between 2005 and 2008. The superhero saves a young person who is about to take their own life with the endearing message: “You are stronger than you think you are.”
Grant Morrison, who wrote those comics, has said his view of Superman was shaped by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola’s “Oration On The Dignity of Man,” which argues that humans ought to be more virtuous than angels.
Superman speaks to our better angels
Humans, Morrison said in a 2008 interview, become what they imitate, which is why he made Superman an inspirational character.
“We live in the stories we tell ourselves,” he told Newsarama, a comic book website, and can choose to be “the astronaut or the gangster. The superhero or the super villain. The angel or the devil. It’s entirely up to us.”
As a result, said Matthew Brake, founder and editor of Pop Culture and Theology, Superman “is an idea that can inspire us to be our best selves.”
Superman’s character is also shaped by his upbringing as a Kansas farm boy, raised by kindly parents — Jonathan and Martha Kent. They are portrayed as Methodists in the comics.
Superheroes, in recent decades, have received less-than-flattering treatment. In “The Boys,” a comic book turned Amazon Prime series, the Superman-like character, Homelander, is a government-sponsored hero whose smiling exterior conceals the heart of a sadist.
“Invincible,” a comic turned television series from Robert Kirkman, author of the “Walking Dead,” features Omni-man, a Superman-like character who turns out to be an alien invader bent on conquest. The main character, Invincible, is Omni-man’s son, and must choose between protecting the Earth or taking his father’s side.
“Dune,” the famed sci-fi book adapted into blockbuster movies, warns of superheroes’ frailty
“Heroes are painful, superheroes are a catastrophe,” Dune’s author Frank Herbert once wrote. “The mistakes of superheroes involve too many of us in disaster.”
Comic book writer Gene Yang poses for a portrait Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Comic book writer Gene Yang poses for a portrait Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Comic book writer Gene Yang poses for a portrait Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Comic book writer Gene Yang poses for a portrait Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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A relatable superhero
But Superman has cemented his place in pop culture not just as a beacon of hope, but also as a character relatable to many, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Gene Luen Yang, who has written several Superman comics, is best known for his 2020 graphic novel “Superman Smashes the Klan,” a story about a Chinese American family moving to Metropolis in 1946 and facing discrimination from the Klan. The story follows the Lee family as they confront the white supremacist group with Superman’s help.
Yang sees his own experience as a Chinese American mirrored in Superman’s story.
“The idea that you have to hide who you are or that you’re caught in between cultures,” he said. “Superman has two names — Kal-El, his Kryptonian name and Clark Kent, his American name. I had a Chinese name at home and an American name in school. So even though I’m a practicing Catholic, I was more drawn to his Jewish roots because that’s where I could relate more.”
Yang sees Superman as the original superhero who inspired almost religious fervor in the geekdom, featuring cosplayers who reenact scenes as a Christian might reenact biblical episodes around Christmas or Easter. A trip to a comic convention is like a pilgrimage where followers collect original art and “all kinds of relics.”
Stories in pop culture also draw from older storytelling traditions, often rooted in religions.
“In some ways, you can think of religions as communities that are built around stories that last centuries,” Yang said. “The idea of self-sacrifice, the idea that you do good deeds without the desire to gain recognition. That’s the whole point of secret identities.”
While his Catholic faith is an important facet of his life, Yang said he never forced religion into his Superman comics.
“I write more about my life and my lived experience of faith, with the doubts and the ragged edges,” he said.
Characters like Superman, while not themselves religious, provide a portal to the sacred through the profane, said A. David Lewis, a Boston-based graphic novelist and comic book writer.
“I love that people take something from popular culture and find some level of spirituality or find a greater connection to some divine source through it,” he said. “But I would never say Superman is just of the Jewish or Christian people. Like some of the best narratives out there, Superman gives us access to something transcendent.”
Superman’s strong Jewish roots
Samantha Baskind, professor of art history at Cleveland State University, is Jewish; she sees numerous parallels between Superman’s story and the history of Jews. Superman’s solitary flight from Krypton in a little spacecraft is reminiscent of how Moses’ mother placed him in a papyrus basket and left him on the Nile, seeing it has his best chance of survival.
Some also compare Superman’s backstory to the Kindertransport, she said, referring to a rescue program that transported nearly 10,000 children, mostly Jewish, from Nazi-controlled territories to Great Britain in 1938 and 1939.
In Superman’s Kryptonian name, Kal-El, chosen by his original Jewish creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the “El” in Hebrew connotes God. In DC Comics, Superman also frequents the “Bottle City of Kandor,” a Kryptonian city shrunk down and placed in a bottle, representing a fragmented piece of Krypton’s history. Baskind said to her it is reminiscent of how diaspora Jews visit Israel.
“There’s also the thinking that Siegel and Shuster created Superman because they were these two, skinny, young Jewish men who couldn’t go out and fight Hitler, but Superman fought Nazis on the cover of their comic books,” she said. In some early editions, Superman held Hitler by his Nazi uniform as he begged for mercy.
Appeal to the religiously unaffiliated
Despite the religious undertones, Superman’s appeal to those growing religiously unaffiliated remains strong, said Dan Clanton, professor of religious studies at Doane University in Nebraska. He says it’s because Superman’s story “truly encapsulates American civil religion.”
“This idea that there are practices and beliefs that provide all, regardless of religious identity, with a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves,” he said.
Neal Bailey, a contributor for over a decade to Superman Homepage and an atheist, believes Superman at his best is a “philosophical pragmatist” solving the most complex problems with the least amount of harm.
“He actually goes beyond religion to see our commonalities,” he said. “Superman wouldn’t care about people’s religious beliefs. He would care more about whether they are living up to their human potential.”
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
