I loved the proto-Justice League episode of "Smallville" where they all got codenames and "Impulse" and Clark didn't get to pick theirs so Clark ended up as "Boy Scout." Nice callback.

"Man of Tomorrow" is probably my favorite, not because Superman represents some kind of World's Fair sci-fi future world, but because Superman represents the best that humanity can aspire to be. Not the super powers but the morals and ideals and heroic actions-Superman leads the way to a world of tomorrow where humanity doesn't need him anymore, because we've followed his example to get there.

Theno

To try and make Supes some sort of alien-in-denial (as he was for most of his post-Crisis career, alas, to the point of thinking of himself as a earth native during Invasion!) is IMNSHO a mis-step that impoverishes both the character and the concept. Superman is a far greater icon when he is above such silly chauvinism and manages to see the greater picture, to aim for the greater good as opposed to the immediate confort of being mistaken for a “native”.

Incidentally, for that very same reason he is a better character when he ditches the quasi-american colors, as during his Jurgens-penned “Last Son of Krypton” phase.

That is strictly your opinion that he is a better character when he ditches his ties to America. I'd personally disagree.

No matter how people try to shoehorn the Superman image into their own internationalist, globalist view of the world, that's simply not the intent of his creators and it's not a bulk of the character's history. It's simply wishful thinking on behalf of some comic fans who really like Superman but are uncomfortable with patriotism because they find it crude, jingoistic and naive. So they create this mythology in their head saying that Superman was always intended to be internationalist, that he is big enough to see "the big picture" whatever that means, etc.,etc. Simply not true, and it's revisionism at its worst. Superman is an American icon and has always thought of himself as American, even while embracing his alien roots. There are just too many instances of the phrase "Truth, Justice and the American Way" along with pictures of Superman with flags, American eagles, meeting with US presidents, etc. to just sweep under the table as incidental.

If the distinctly pro-American, patriotic history of the character bothers you, feel free to ignore them. Or try to get a new character created that is as internationalist as they come and swears no allegiance to a particular country and rally behind that character. But to try to revise a character into something he was never intended to be and claim in the face of all evidence that he was actually always intended to be that way is just ridiculous to me.

I think Lex Luthor called him that, and perhaps Batman during the period when the two of them were barely on speaking terms.

I actually agree for the most part. However, none of it changes the fact that he is definitely an alien from another world. He is a wasted opportunity for seeing the world as a single entity. J'onn, the Martian Manhunter, actually fulfilled that niche in a couple of ocasions - but oh, what marvelous stories couldn't we have with Clark as the naturally stateless person that he was sort of born to be

Then again, although I like Clark as the real identity, I grew up during the 1970s, a golden age of the Kryptonian heritage. Kal-El is a rich identity and a rather enjoyable one.

So then it's wrong of, say, real immigrants to the US to think of themselves as American? Considering that he was 'born' in the US*, raised by Americans, and spent much of his childhood thinking of himself as one, I'd say he'd be more inclined to think of himself that way, as an American, and definitely as an adopted son of Earth. At most, he be Kryptonian-American, or Kryptonian-Terran...? I don't see anything wrong with that portrayal. But then again, I tend to favor the viewpoint that Clark is the real identity, and Superman the alter ego (as opposed to say, Batman).

*Not sure if this was retconned back to his pre-Crisis origins...

I always thought it was a counter to Captain Marvel being "The Big Red Cheese".