The affordability of heroism
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I love Superman. I love him almost as much as I love myself. And I love him considerably more than I love Batman. But you know why Batman stories take the cake? Because they are so much more than just fistfights.
Superman is generally pictured as the leader of all DC heroes. This is attributed to several things including his smalltown upbringing and his level-headed nature. I couldn’t agree more. It is because of this that I am the Superman fanatic I am. But let’s go over the idea of the ‘leader’ again.
What comes to mind first when one thinks of Superman? Definitely not the level-headed hero. Not the well-raised, humble, farmer’s son either. What can Superman do that no one else can?
He can pound tanks to scrap metal. He can catch nuclear warheads in mid-air and send them hurtling into outer space. He can take hours of machine-gun fire on his chest and then calmly ask you to put down your weapon. He does this all the time. Because he is the only one who can afford to.
I recently re-read The Death of Superman. It is ‘the best selling graphic novel of all time’. It has a fairly uncomplicated plot, good storytelling and slick artwork. At another level, the story is little more than a series of fistfights. Doomsday comes, destroys, JLA intercepts, gets thoroughly beaten up, Doomsday is off rampaging again. Then Superman comes, engages Doomsday, all his powers fail in front of the creature’s brute determination. In the end — and this is key — they come to blows, eventually falling dead after a long battle involving nothing more complicated than mighty punches and titanic kicks. Not much of brainwork involved.
Isaac Asimov, once defining Science Fiction, said it is the type of story in which a problem is solved by proper application of intelligence. I think it is the kind of story most of us like to read. But it is not the kind of story many would like to watch. And it is this kind of story that Superman never finds himself in.
The Death of Superman would make an excellent movie.
And it is not just the man of steel. In Pixar’s The Incredibles, the lead character Mr Incredible has nothing more than brawn to his credit. Even Popeye the sailorman can’t achieve zilch without his spinach powered muscles. The lesser heroes (Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Batman, Frozone) are the ones with more imaginative abilities.
In folk tales and mythology the world over, treachery and diplomacy are accepted problem solving means.
Today, such behaviour would be enough to label a character as ‘dark’ or ‘bad-ass’. But it is the dark characters that actually struggle with the herowork. It doesn’t come easy to them. There can be no growth without struggle.
Superman can’t help being what he is. Nor can Batman or Captain Jack Sparrow. And even if occasionally, it is nice to see a hero who would lie and steal and be a coward if he has to rather than one who would die for truth, justice and the like. At times, the normal beats the superhuman.
Posted on Thursday, August 10th, 2006 at 11:18 am and filed under Myth, comics, books, characters.
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Really well written… The whole point of course, is that the personal conflicts which became standard in Superhero comics from the sixties or so, are important in helping us identify with them, and also it makes their characters more impressive really… Because they are faced with their own problems, with the temptation to misuse their powers quite often (and there are few comics where they actually find an answer to why they do “good”) and yet, they still stay in the line. They follow a moral code which we can accept, even approve, while fighting the impulse to do just the opposite. Which admittedly adds a lot to the story, as opposed to - me good guy. Me find bad guy. Me beat up bad guy. World better place again.
Not that I don’t like Superman. I just always preferred Spiderman. It’s the wisecracks, I’m sure!
dude, awesome post.
@ Gopal, Ravages: Thank you! I still look up to Superman though.
I’m with Gopal on this one. Superman’s not mediocre, but he’s got no shades of gray. Or hang-ups… the guy’s just too straight for comfort.
Being invulnerable takes half the fun out of being superhuman, I guess.
And Batman, a lesser hero?! I resent that
Jimmy, I am talking about the Superman in everybody’s head here. The dark shades are not visible to anyone but the most avid of comic book readers or fans.
Batman is not a lesser hero. But he is too cool to be human.
Hey !
Came here from a link on Suyog’s website. I must say, this was quite an engaging post. Its related to something I’ve loved since I was a kid - comics.
My favourite superhero has to be a tie between Superman and Spiderman. I like Spiderman because he seems to be the only superhero who gets beaten up. Generally, he outwits the bad-guy with his intelligence and his wisecracks are a pleasure to the bored ears. I’ve watched both Spidey films in a theatre and they both been amazing.
Just one thing though. Are all these comics still being printed? I mean, is the Superman/Batman/Spiderman series still alive? Do new comics with new dtories come out regularly? Its unbelievable how it is possible to write an engaging story after so many years of the same characters.
Do visit my blog sometime and leave a comment if you like/dislike the posts.
-PeAcE
–WiTh
—GuNs
Guns: What rock have you been hiding under? They are everywhere. Railway stations, bookshops (but obviously), even the half-rate shops.
You haven’t read Diamond Comics or Raj Comics lately?
Though now that you mentions it, perhaps, Gotham comics should have TV ads.
Keep coming back.
LOL, no probs about the off-topic comment on my blog. BTW, I always check back to read replies to my comments. I’ve bookmarked your blog and so you can be sure I’ll be visiting you again.
I am amazed at what you say. I mean, just HOW can someone write stories day in and day out about the same characters for 50 years or more?? I mean, all the animation series, cartoon strips etc. finished after a certain period. this is just amazing. Maybe I will buy a few comics next time I see them. Thanks for all the info !
You keep visiting my blog too.
-PeAcE
–WiTh
—GuNs