The comic book industry sprouted in the mid-1900's with narratives of bullet-proof aliens and patriotic super-soldiers enticing mass audiences into a new industry. Now, superheroes have entered an era of transmedia storytelling. DC and Marvel have been relentlessly releasing content through film, television, literature, video games, and form of public engagement imaginable.
With the ever-expanding programming, it's become clear that the superhero industry is nothing short of profitable and popular. What was once considered niche and nerdy has now found its way into pop culture, prominent apparel and global recognition. The creative minds behind these heroes and villains have crafted a diverse world doused with unique characters and personalities allowing for a wide spectrum of audiences to find something they can relate to. In releasing so much content across so many platforms, the companies can also bring in audiences from different entertainment sources.
Superheroes stand as pillars of morality in a world where it seems to be all but absent. Insanity and crime runs rampant across their worlds and perhaps we find congruencies between fact and fiction. It is possible that the mass appeal is forged in the fact that superheroes have evolved, or better yet devolved, into more human-like figures.
The original heroes were crafted to be immovable symbols of American ideals and democracy. In doing so, they were regarded more as infallible deities than people. While it certainly served its purpose of inspiring the American populace during a time of global war, it eventually became dull and outdated. These divine, lion-hearted heroes with super-strength just weren’t very relatable. From this outcry, heroes were instilled with human qualities. They faltered and failed, they got angry and suffered loss. It was this movement that birthed Superman’s kryptonite. This vulnerable element developed a bond between heroes and their audiences.
Despite the looming dread and unlikely circumstances, heroes, vulnerable as they may be, stood up against gods and titans. It was courage and determination that fueled them, not power. It is perhaps because of this that they have constructed such a passionate fan base. They are the embodiment of aspirations. They are, beneath the tights and capes, a limit to which we should strive for. They bear the characteristics of the ideal individual, willing to take on the world with all cards stacked against them. This goal does not appear unattainable. Batman is human and haunted by pain and loss, Spider-Man is a young man living in an apartment with financial difficulties, even the alien Superman struggles with fitting in and being accepted. Despite the prefix, superheroes hold personalities that serve to aspire rather that dream. They promote the potential for concrete realities rather than abstract impossibilities.
