superherostudentproject-blog

[superherostudentproject-blog]

Understanding Superheroes; Abilities, Weaponry, and Beyond.

          Superheroes and comic book characters alike have appealed to a wide range of audience members throughout time, and will most likely continue to do so. Characters like Batman, Aqua Man, Cat Woman, Wonder Woman, or Supergirl all come from very distinct backgrounds, hold a vibrancy of unique abilities, and some even are literally out of this world. Quite possibly what distinguishes one superhero from the next, is how they defend themselves and fight for justice in the rage of fury. Thor has his hammer, Captain America has an indestructible shield, while Wonder Woman wears a complete battle armor ensemble. So how do these weapons and abilities tie into what makes a superhero, a superhero?

           The first printed superhero comic book with a distinct costume and superhuman abilities was Action Comics #1, released in 1938; staring Superman himself. It arguably was the faint beginning of major franchises like DC and Marvel, and still to this day is the most valuable comic book in existence. ( An estimated $3.2 million at its peak) Since then, audiences have seen these characters have deal with deep seeded personal issues, politics, social issues, even times of war and terror. The ideas behind creating Superman originated during the Great Depression, when people sought after a new world, one to give hope and bring optimism. Soon after came a darker, but still determined Batman, and eventually sidekicks like Robin or Toro. After Wonder Woman joined the game, writers chose to represent current political reflections of groups like the Axis Powers and the Allies by creating different universes. Not everyone within the general public supported the age of Superheroes however, as it defied authority, in addition to highlighting provocative romance and bloody violence. Some advocated for superheroes to work alongside the police and detectives, as a way to truly represent unity. By the mid 50’s and early 60’s, powerful clans like the Justice League and Fantastic Four introduced a newer, more specialized set of guardians like Iron Man, Aquaman, Captain America, Spiderman, and Black Widow.

          By the time we had reached the late 80’s and early 90’s, writers with audience members alike felt it crucial to expand on character development as it may relate to the reader. We learn that Iron Man was once an alcoholic, Spiderman may have been molested as a child, Hulk was viciously abused as a youngster, and Batman’s parents were murdered point blank in front of him. Eventually as we all know, the superhero franchises went on to make billion dollar films with A-list talent, in addition to selling out on everything from trading cards to board games, t-shirts, dolls, Halloween costumes, even auctioning for props used in the films.

          With the immense and almost overwhelming amount of characters being developed on such a consistent basis, how can we distinguish good from evil, a hoax hero from a warrior? How does weaponry, sexuality, or appearance play into a role?

          For the last several decades the demigoddess Wonder Woman has been the face of feminism, furthermore representing appreciation of culture, strength of character, and dignity. Not to mention, her armor tells a story of its own.  Her royal tiara not only represents a physical symbol of her royalty and heritage, but its jagged edges are used as a throwing weapon with a boomerang effect frequently. Her Lasso of Truth not only has a pretty cool glow to it, it still was designed as an apparatus for pulling truths from villains in times of crisis. Her magical sword doesn’t have as much of a strong history as the rest of the ensemble, except that if needed, the sword could take down Superman and allegedly break through the smallest of atoms. The Sandals of Hermes give her abilities to fly, increase in speed and in strength. Her entity is a direct reflect reflection of the type of warrior she is.

          A common factor in deciphering men and women in comic books, is seduction. Rogue from X Men for example, harnesses the ability to absorb power over her enemy by a simple touch. She gains exclusive access to an archive of thoughts, emotions, and memories, in addition to being able to strip ones abilities if touched long enough. While a hero like Storm who also makes an appearance in X Men, holds a direct line to mother nature herself. Storm controls the elements; wind, fire, earth, sea, and sky.  Scarlet Witch who too is connected to the franchise, has the ability to manipulate reality in a number of ways, most notably with a single stare.

          On the opposite side of this superhero spectrum, we find heroes like Superman, Spider-Man, and Iron Man. Juxtapose to feminine ideals of holding integrity and pride, even celebrating sisterhood, more male dominated heroes are seen as protectors or providers. Superman was meant to represent the American Way in his farm boy roots, he cuts down on the war on crime, and without him, the world would basically fall apart. Masculinity is the driving force behind each of these men. Notice that more often than not, the majority of male figures grapple more so with each other than against the enemy. Batman vs. Superman for example is initially built upon misunderstanding, but ultimately becomes territorial. In the DC world more male figures hold strengths through physicality’s and less through weaponry, as seen in a Marvel World. While Batman and Spider-Man may hold sophisticated gadgets as accessories, characters like Iron Man and Captain America strictly rely on their suits to give them power in battle.

          Going a bit more in depth, perhaps the initial attraction to Captain America was his unique relatability to the audiences of the time. In the midst of war, Steve Rogers decides to enroll in the army by doing his part to give back to our great nation. When turned away for his frail figure, he joins an experimental program designed to make him the next super-soldier. Though the experiments increased his overall muscle mass, his star spangled shield makes him stand out from the rest. His arsenal is comprised of everything from assault rifles, to pistols, firearms, and bombs. And why not? He is Captain America. He’s normal just like everyone else but with his impressive gadgets, anyone could be the next guardian of our galaxy.  Once again, reinforcing principles of masculinity and power through physical actions, less through spoken word and emotion.

          If there is only a single concept both male and female superheroes share, it is calling to fight for a better world despite their original circumstances. Superheroes resonate with their audiences in a much deeper capacity then we may fully be able to comprehend; they ultimately represent the people we one day hope to be. 

Written By: Ashley Burton

Sources:

May, Cindi. "The Problem with Female Superheroes." Scientific American.       SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, A DIVISION OF NATURE AMERICA, 18 June 2015. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.

Moore, Rose. "Wonder Woman's 12 Most Powerful Weapons." Screen Rant. Screen Rant, 11 Nov. 2016. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.

Casalena, Emily. "15 Most Powerful Female Superheroes Of All Time." Screen Rant. Screen Rant, 21 Nov. 2016. Web. 05 Apr. 2017.

Parrish, Robin, and Skywalker Says. "10 Awesome Superhero Weapons." Forever Geek. Splashpress Media, 12 Oct. 2011. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.Rosenberg, Robin. "The Psychology Behind Superhero Origin Stories." Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution, 01 Feb. 2013. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.

"Superheroes 101: A History." Review. Web log post. Hellblazer. Comic Vine, 25 Apr. 2012. Web. 03 Apr. 2017.

Contributor, George Marston Newsarama. "10 BEST FEMALE Superheroes Of All Time." NewsaRama. Purch, 01 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.

Newquist, Vadim. "Mindhut Ranks: The All Time Greatest Super Hero Weapons!" The Mindhut. SparkNotes, 12 Nov. 2014. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.