Why the world needs superheroes

Photo by Allan Sanders, via flickr 

Victoria Calderin/Contributing Writer

I would venture to say that most, if not all, comic book and/or cartoon fans have been asked to get over their “childish” amusement with heroes at least once. I know that I have certainly experienced odd looks and snide comments from adults and peers about my love for superheroes, cartoons, and fantasy novels. However, after years of enjoying countless tales of what has been deemed “genre fiction,” it has become evident to me that these pieces could quite possibly be the best way to address the complexities of our lives.

Photo by Allan Sanders, via flickr

Yes, the bright colors and the superpowers will forever amuse children who want nothing more than to fly around and be able to lift cars, but for the rest of us, these superheroes offer an expression of how we wish we could deal with personal and global problems. Even the way the more tame comics are written show us that they are not solely childish amusement.

Often comic book writers add surreptitious details, like a change in a hero’s costume or an image or caricature in the background, that are never just simple aesthetic changes. They hold some type of commentary or reflection of the hero’s era. These subtleties would be unnecessary if the primary purpose of these works was only to entertain or if their primary audience were to only be comprised of children. There are little to no kids that would actually understand the significance of these easter eggs.

The same can be said of the figure of the superhero itself. The release of yet another Superman film made me think of exactly what this figure has reflected over the years and what its recent resurgence could mean.

So, without further ado, here is a rundown of how superheroes have reflected us, our fears and our hopes, since their inception.

The first time the notion of the superhero, as we know it now, was popularized was when Action Comics released the issue that has become the “Holy Grail” to comic book nerds everywhere.

Simply titled “Action Comics #1,” this was the first appearance of what is now a household name: Superman. Interestingly enough, this issue was released in 1938, right as the country was coming out of The Great Depression and surpassing the tensions of World War I.

Superman, with his perfectly coiffed hair, incredible posture, and somewhat frustrating invincibility, emerged as a figure of justice and hope that fought villains with honor and proudly touted the colors of the American flag all over his costume. He was a hopeful boy scout who wanted to save humanity during a time when a savior is what most were begging for.

After the success of “Action Comics #1,” the Golden Age of Comic Books began and many more super heroes (Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Arrow, etc.) were born. Many of these heroes followed in Superman’s footsteps when, after World War II began in 1939, they took it upon themselves to figth Nazi’s and aid Allied forces. This pattern of inclusion of real world fears and threats continued throughout the history of the superhero.

The 1940s showed the rise of several female crime fighters, such as the Invisible Scarlett O’Neil, Lady Luck, and Miss Fury. In the 1960s, along with the rise in the civil rights movement, Marvel comics released heroes Black Panther, Falcon, and Luke Cage. More recently, heroes such as Marvel’s Northstar and DC’s Obsidian have been revealed to be gay.

Similarly, superhero films have also adopted themes that reflect more current events.

Newer superhero films, much like the comic books they are based on, have reflected a lot of the worries that we have had after the events of September 11, 2001. They have referenced many major problems such as war in Afghanistan and the sale of arms overseas, which we see in the first installment of “Iron Man.” Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy focused more on domestic affairs, such as the increased concern of government surveillance shown in “The Dark Knight.”

Of course, there are also the eternal moral dilemmas involved

One particular scene in “Man of Steel” shows Superman in handcuffs which are probably as effective for restraining him as wrapping his wrists in bands of silly putty. Nonetheless, he sits there abiding by the law. His adherence to the law has been one of Superman’s more annoying traits and it seems like it is going to be one of the issues that will be addressed in this rendition of Superman, written in part by Christopher Nolan and directed by Zack Snyder.

It seems like the question of when to abide by the law and when to defy it has been going around a lot lately. I for one look forward to how it is tackled in this film. I hope everyone heartily enjoys “Man of Steel” and hopefully more people will realize that these heroes and their stories are a lot more important than we often think.

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