“No one is above the law…and now this principle will be the driving force of my presidency.” – Lex Luther

On Tuesday, September 29, 2009, DC Universe released “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies,” a title that immediately got my attention. Overall I recommend the movie to anyone who is a fan of cartoons of either character, especially if you like the Justice League Unlimited series. The basic premise is that Lex Luther is elected President of the United States and he reaches out to his former adversaries, the superheroes of the world, to unite under his authority for the good of our country. Superman and Batman refuse his invitation and continue to fight crime on their own. Meanwhile, in space, a giant meteor made of kryptonite approaches the planet and threatens to kill most of the population.
(continue reading…)

Many of the laws of our society are drafted with our mortality in mind, some are even written because we’re mortal. The interplay between death and the law has been studied by scholars and philosophers for centuries, gaining increasing attention with advances in medical science. The certainty of death is one constant not present in the lives of many superheroes. Was Dostoyevsky right, can there be no virtue without immortality, or do these invincible beings create an unnecessary complication in our lives and laws?
(continue reading…)

“America has constantly drawn strength and spirit from wave after wave of immigrants…” and no immigrants provide this country with more strength or spirit than transplanted superheroes. Whether they come from another country, another planet, or even another plane of existence, the immigration laws of the United States create a series of formidable legal challenges imposing to even the most powerful beings.
(continue reading…)

Every superhero needs a place to retreat and think about a case, lick their wounds after a fight, or even occassionally bring a date¹. Depending on the hero’s means and persona, that place can take many forms: a one-bedroom apartment, a mansion, a cave, a whole building, a satellite, or a base on the moon². From time to time these sanctums are infiltrated so many crime fighters put measures in place to prevent, and even repel, trespassers. What duty do the owners of these hideouts owe to would-be intruders? For that matter, what right do they have to build these hidden fortresses without permits and without paying taxes?
(continue reading…)

The Batmobile, Ghostrider’s flaming Harley Davidson, and even Wonder Woman’s invisible jet, no crime-fighting gadget is more identifiable or awesome than the superhero vehicle. (Ok, maybe not the jet.) While maintaining a secret identity prevents these heroes from listing their vehicles on an insurance policy, what other regulations are these turbo-charged transports violating as they careen through our streets and fly over our homes?
(continue reading…)