While Ohioans brace for a 30% spike in electric bills, grapple with crumbling infrastructure, and continue to see their state gerrymandered into political absurdity, lawmakers in Columbus have taken a bold stand on comic books.
Yes, House Bill 270 proposes making Superman the official superhero of Ohio. Not now, of course. That wouldn’t be nearly theatrical enough. The honor would begin in 2033, when Superman enters the public domain.
You read that right. In a state facing urgent economic and social challenges, bipartisan lawmakers have chosen to spend their time securing the title of “official superhero” for a fictional alien. One Reddit user summed up the sentiment best: “Glad they have time for this fin sht.”**
The bill, introduced by Reps. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland), aim to honor Superman’s Cleveland roots. The character was created in 1933 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who met at Glenville High School. The recent filming of James Gunn’s Superman reboot in Ohio (bolstered by $11 million in state tax credits) offered a timely excuse.
“Ohio is the birthplace of flight, both for airplanes and superheroes,” Mathews said in a hearing, somehow linking Superman’s fictional flight with the Wright brothers’ very real innovation.
Meanwhile, Ohio residents on Reddit aren’t buying it. One commenter mocked the state’s legislative priorities:
“College football and fictional comic book characters. These are the priorities of lawmakers. Meanwhile, electric rates for a large number of residents are set to go up 30%+ on June 1.”
Another user was more blunt:
“This is why we need to elect young adults to office instead of geriatric children.”
Is This Really What Ohio Needs?
Rather than the debate about whether Superman is culturally significant, residents are concerned about priorities. Ohio’s infrastructure woes, public education issues, energy regulation, and healthcare gaps aren’t exactly subtle. And yet, the Statehouse finds time to deliberate over who wears the cape.
“Fuck I hate it here,” wrote one user from Gahanna.
“I love Ohio, but gerrymandering has turned our statehouse into a clown show,” another added.
And perhaps most on the nose: “They must really think we’re stupid.”
Even commenters who appreciated the fun of the idea questioned the timing. As one put it, “At least it’s something fun rather than something boring and depressing for once.” But that’s a pretty low bar for a legislative body meant to govern a state of 11 million people.
Maybe lawmakers think this sort of symbolic gesture generates civic pride. Or maybe, as another commenter suggested, “Superman would be absolutely anti-MAGA and all the bullshit going on in the US.”
But even those who appreciate the symbolic nod are left wondering why now? Why not focus first on rising costs, crumbling roads, teacher shortages, or rampant political dysfunction?
