There was a quote, can’t remember if it was Moore or Ellis—they were saying superheroes get remixed to suit each new era, exactly like what happens with myths/legends like King Arthur and Robin Hood. People took it to be “These are the foundational stories of modern culture”.

Well and I think Grant Morrison's SUPERGODS did a lot of that work, too, although I'm genuinely charmed by Morrison's attempt to pull Greek heroes into his Superman stories.