Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Our Love Affair With Superheroes

When I was 12 years old, I fell in love with Christopher Reeve and Superman.  Those dreamy blue eyes and nerdy lock of hair curling on his forehead made me crush hard (to be honest, I've never completely gotten over that crush).  And what's not to like about Superman?  I mean, he can fly faster than a speeding bullet, leap tall buildings with a single bound, etc., etc.  But he's also Clark Kent, the geeky, mild-mannered reporter with glasses who's charmingly klutzy.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who's a fan of one superhero or another.  Our collection of graphic novels (a more respectable rendition of comic books) keeps growing and being used on a regular basis.  Of course, we have Superman graphic novels, but we also have Batman, Aquaman, Iron Man, Captain America, Captain Canuck, Spiderman, Green Lantern...you name it, we probably have it.  And naturally, we have TV shows and movies which are popular and get checked out often.  Just look at all the hubbub the new Wonder Woman movie has been generating in the cinemas.

So, what is it about superheroes that captures the imagination of so many?  Granted, they're all good looking and incredibly muscular, but I think it goes beyond appearances.  In a world that's riddled with problems and tragedies, it's nice to imagine that people with superhuman strength can swoop in and save the day quickly.  It's also comforting to see that all superheroes have a secret identity as everyday, ordinary people who look just like us and deal with normal issues just like us.  Clark Kent loves Lois Lane, but he wants to be loved for himself because Superman is what he can do rather than who he truly is.

Centuries ago, the Greeks and Romans had gods who were capable of extraordinary feats while at the same time exhibiting human shortcomings such as jealousy and hate.  Today, superheroes have taken the place of ancient gods, inspiring us to possibly become our own superheroes and try to make our imperfect world just a little better in our own human way.  And for the record, I actually prefer Clark Kent to Superman because of his vulnerabilities rather than in spite of them.

Wishing you superhero daydreams from the perch.


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