I also had a problem with the likening of Clark to a vigilante. Clark differs from a vigilante in that he sometimes goes above the law not because he holds a disdain for the ineptitude of "the system", but because he has abilities that he can't share with them that allow him to act quicker and rectify a situation in ways that "the system" can't. His actions don't stem from frustration and anger...they come from altruism, love and the secret he can't share.
Plus, in the comics, Superman actually enters into an agreement with the Metropolis police. He's licensed to catch criminals like a cop. He has the *mentality* of a cop (says the girl in school to be a cop).
One thing that got me about the use of the term vigilante is the common usage of it in the comics in reference to some of the superheros. Batman is a vigilante in some areas. But Superman has always, always been above vigilanteism. I think part of it was to point out the difference between vigilantes and what Clark does, and I think it did so nicely. The point everyone got was that, as you said, Clark does what he does out of a desire to help, not out of anger or hatred. He's the ultimate Boy Scout.
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Plus, in the comics, Superman actually enters into an agreement with the Metropolis police. He's licensed to catch criminals like a cop. He has the *mentality* of a cop (says the girl in school to be a cop).
One thing that got me about the use of the term vigilante is the common usage of it in the comics in reference to some of the superheros. Batman is a vigilante in some areas. But Superman has always, always been above vigilanteism. I think part of it was to point out the difference between vigilantes and what Clark does, and I think it did so nicely. The point everyone got was that, as you said, Clark does what he does out of a desire to help, not out of anger or hatred. He's the ultimate Boy Scout.