What use are superheroes...

I came to superheros and comic books relatively late. As a child of poverty with a voracious reading appetite, it was hard to justify spending three dollars on a book I would finish in minutes. As an adult, I’ve since discovered a love for graphic novels such as Maus, American Splendor, or The Sandman, and through these I’ve gained an introduction to traditional comics and superheroes. And though I’ve come to appreciate how these superheroes can be used as symbols of representation and inclusion, I’ve always felt somewhat removed from these stories and characters, they aren’t meant for me, so I’ve tend to view them as an outside observer.

Because of this perspective, I’m fascinated by the fact that at the core of the superhero lies a singular trait. Each of these heroes are built around their ability and capacity for violence. Even a noble superhero, such as Superman, is considered “super” because he has a near limitless capacity for violence. He can punish evil, physically, with no subsequent threat of injury to himself. He is considered noble for his ability to restrain his physical power, doling out just enough violence to subdue the bad guys, and yet he still largely solves problems by being able to punch them very very hard. Even superheroes who are known for their intelligence also largely follow this pattern. Tony Stark is a man of near infinite intelligence and resources who builds a flying iron suit so he can shoot lasers and punch people really hard. Batman is the world's greatest detective, a super genius who uses his hyper wealth to dress up as a bat and punch people with bat themed gadgets. Bruce Banner, an actual scientist by profession, turns into a rage monster who punches everything in sight. Gender equality in the comic book world often means that the female superheros are able to punch just as hard as the men.

And this is fine. It’s part of the entertainment. Comic books are about action; they are exciting, fun, and there is value in that. In their world the problems are all ones that can be solved by punching the bad guy, or the super villain, or in some cases each other. But what would their world look like if they were faced with a problem that couldn’t be punched?

This is our world today. We are facing a threat that can’t be fought with violence; it can’t be fought by superman flying off to save the day. This isn’t a place for a superhero. It’s only us, saving ourselves, armed with patience, knowledge, and compassion.
      
--Chris-Alan