Talking all things Superman at his spotlight panel for Emerald City Comic Con, Eisner Award-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis offered a renewed approach to a classic Superman motto: Truth, Justice and the American Way.

Bendis said he’s found new relevance in Superman’s “truth, justice and the American way” adage, which helped inspire him to take on the Man of Steel. “Truth is under siege in our society today,” Bendis continued. “Justice — we see it every day on video, justice is not being handed out to everybody. The American dream, that is also under siege. These things, that seemed cliche just five years ago, are now damn well worth fighting for.”

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A fan asked if Bendis thought Superman or Clark Kent was the true identity. “It’s a very good question,” Bendis said. “What I am fascinated by, out of all he things in the world he could do, he chose to be a reporter. He didn’t have to have any secret identity. I think the reason he chose reporter is, because it’s the one thing he can do to serve justice that he can’t do as Superman. He can reveal truth. That’s Clark’s job.” Bendis said he’s going to strongly explore Clark Kent as an investigative reporter.

Get all the details from Bendis’ ECCC spotlight panel here.