The Superhero Complex

Superheroes are perhaps one of the most unique, and if I dare say amusing, aspects of our society. Often flawed, they represent an idealized loner who possesses inside themselves the power to change the world for the better. Their characteristics define them well within the range of everyday humans, and yet for them to succeed they must be more than human. Humanity for a superhero is a curse, full of flaws and weaknesses such as egotism and emotions that would restrain them from fulfilling their true purpose.

Don't believe me? Look at our superheroes. They are ideological beings of violence. Not owners of charity, runners of local homeless shelters, or even the proponents of politics. They are physical beings. Ones that through genetic manipulation, alien origin, or monetary prosperity and engineering ingenuity they rid the world of crime through old school intimidation. They exist as an army of one deterrent from crime. Why? Because that obviously always solves the core issues.

We like to see our superheroes as separate from ourselves. Enlightened privileged businessmen who use their influence and power to build themselves up as our greatest staples of society. The everyday man whose genetic accident (or encounter with an obscure alien object) grants them the physical capabilities to ‘defend’ the people. And of course, the alien superhero whose human qualities allow them to fit in perfectly while their physical prowess and superpowers give them the strength to see the job done.

Even though they exist solely on paper and pixel, we admire them for representing everything we should aspire to be: beyond human… Our efforts at showing real people as superheroes (Kick Ass/Watchmen) often fall back on the same basic principal: to succeed and be of use, you must possess abnormal power or technical functionality. I, for one, find that a bit self-indulgent. Superheroes are fun, appreciable, but far from the confines of reality.

Only in certain cases are our superheroes immortal in any sense of the word, and therefore their efforts are always trapped in the confines of their existence. We can assume, only because it is nice to do so, that through their actions they invariably change the world forever, but that would be a tough sell on the brightest days. No, in the end superheroes are merely admirable beings that benefit from their exceedingly non-average qualities. Then again, that's only because we define them as such.