Superheroes in America

      What is a superhero?  When superheroes first popped up in American culture, it was an easy question to answer.  Superman was the perfect example, he had super-strength, could run faster than a locomotive, leap over buildings.  All of these things a normal human could not do, easily earning the title Superhero. Now there are so many different types of superheroes, it is not so cut and dry.  Some of the first superheroes that pop in mind are Superman, Batman, and Captain America, but one of those has nothing “super” about them.  Batman is just a very rich man who is a skilled fighter and has cool gadgets.  Does that mean he is not a superhero?  Batman fights for justice, he breaks through the barriers that stop law enforcement.  Just because he does not have any unnatural abilities does not mean he is not a superhero.  Peter Coogan, co-founder of the Comics Arts Conference, says, “Superpowers need not violate the laws of physics… Nor do superpowers need to be inherent in the body of the superhero.” (4-5).  Batman is not the only superhero without powers that violate the laws of physics, Iron Man is another.  Tony Stark is a human, a rich smart human, who built a suit of armor that can fly.  The suit he wears is amazing and has so many features allowing it to be super, but it is what Tony Stark does with the suit that makes him a hero. 

     Part of the title is about being a hero, which is a bit easier to explain. A hero selflessly helps others.  Anyone can be a hero, a nurse, firefighter, a soldier, or anyone who takes action when needed. Doing one good act does not mean you are a superhero.  Everyone is capable of doing good, of jumping into action when a crisis calls, but you could be a horrible person every other moment of your life.  Along with some extraordinary ability the average person does not have, a superhero should always be living their mission.  “The superheroes mission is to fight evil and protect the innocent; this fight is universal, prosocial, and selfless.  The superhero’s mission must fit in with the existing, professed mores of society, and it must not be intended to benefit or further the superhero.”(4)  Captain America follows his mission, he believes in preserving the American way of life, and will do anything he can to make sure that happens.  Captain is clearly a superhero, he was a human experimented on to create a super human to fight in the war.  He fights for good, has unnatural abilities, and has the costume.  It is not some unnatural ability that makes a superhero, it is a constant drive to help others and do it in a way the average person could not.

Rosenberg, R. S., & Coogan, P. What is a Superhero? New York: Oxford University Press. 2013.