Erik Lundegaard's 2006 essay "Truth, Justice and (Fill in the Blank)", describes some of the evolution of the Man of Steel's catchphrase:

• 1941-43: "a never-ending battle for truth and justice" in the Max Fleischer cartoons
• 1942-44: "a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way" on the radio series
• 1948: "in the interests of truth, tolerance and justice" in the first live-action Superman film
• 1952-58 "truth, justice and the American way" for the TV series
• 1966: "truth, justice and freedom" in a new TV series
• 1978: "truth, justice and the American way" for the Christopher Reeve movie
• 1993: "truth and justice" during another TV series

... and re the absence of "the American Way" sub-clause in the film "Superman Returns, Lundegaard concludes:

... There's no reason to be upset. Superman is right back where he began: fighting a never-ending battle for truth and justice. That should be enough to occupy any man. Even a Superman.

And as of 2021, the mission statement is: "Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow"!

(cf Heroes (We Could Be) (2018-01-25), ...) - ^z - 2023-06-24