Fighting a New Kind of Bad Guy

Ever since 9/11, the people in the United States have been looking for a hero. Prior to that unprecedented attack on our soil, we enjoyed catching up with our heroes in comic books , on television, and in movies. They were pure fantasy, an enjoyable escape where you could follow the exploits of a character with superhuman powers, amazing cars, and an ever-growing team of sidekicks battle the forces of evil and make the world a better place. 

 After the devastation of 9/11, Americans began to seek out comfort in a myriad of ways as they felt their safety zones shrink. In the comic book industry, we saw the themes shift in response. The supernatural demons gave way to more lifelike villains, and even the heroes themselves began show kinks in their armor. We began to see that even superheroes have their Krypton. And that was okay, because that made them somewhat human and less foreign.

Nowadays, in order to be true heroes, fictional characters need to battle the evils that feel more real to us. Superman was born during the Great Depression and created an image of hope. Here was this caped crusader providing protection wherever it was needed. That hasn’t changed, but he is leaping taller and taller buildings, racing supersonic jets instead of speeding trains, and fighting evil that goes beyond one crazy enemy and his brainless henchmen. And Spiderman has a human side, evidenced in his most recent movies where you learned more about Peter Parker than his webbed alter ego. Even the villains have grown up. Heath Ledger’s Joker is a far cry from Cesar Romero’s cackling cartoon caricature.

Superheroes most often appear in comic books. Superhero stories are the dominant form of American comic books. Superheroes have also been featured in radio serials, novel, TV series, movies, and other media. Most of the superheroes who appear in other media are adapted from comics, but there are exceptions. Superheroes also make an excellent subject matter for toys and games. Action figures of heroes are a significant contributor to most boys’ toy boxes and bedroom floors. There always has to be a bad guy, usually played by an understanding mom, and a sidekick that goes by another name, dad.

Heroes are a positive influence in all our lives. While it is easy to see villains everywhere; often by simply opening the morning paper, heroes are out there too. Everyday heroes like fire, police, and EMS workers. Silent heroes that bring food to those that need it, or patrol the streets at night to help the homeless. These are the everyday superheroes. Next time you see one, imagine them in a bright red cape and blur tights, but don’t tell them you did or you’ll likely be arrested.

Think about it. If we didn’t have evil, we wouldn’t need heroes. And while that sounds like a perfect world, we all need to find a hero now and then. So, why not look in a comic book, graphic novel, or movie? Go and cheer for Indiana Jones in his golden years or the very early ones. Grab the latest Marvel comic and lose yourself in the story. Buy an action figure for a child and share stories about conquering the bad guys. Let good conquer evil. And wrap yourself in the sheer enjoyment of having a hero.