I found a good article about the merits of fantasy stories -- specifically, the Lord of the Rings, but generally all fairy tales. And since Superman is a modern fantasy, I thought it was semi-applicable.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/10/1070732283654.html

Okay, maybe I'm just posting this as a (thoroughly non-productive) way of getting back at my parents for all those times they told me to stop reading that silly stuff...

PJ