Anyone who truly knows me, such as my wife, kids, my sisters, my clergyman and my primary care physician, would know that I have an intense fascination with Superheros. From the time that I was a mere tyke, I wanted to be a Superhero. To fly, to be invisible, to be elastic, to have incredible strength, to be able to shape shift or read minds, it really didn’t matter as long as it was Superhero worthy. Superheros are the coolest; they are mighty, courageous, ethical, altruistic and well … Super. Granted they can also be conflicted, misunderstood, dark and moody, but with super human powers comes a little typical human strife. Being a Superhero carries with it a certain amount of stress. The release of the new movie, Marvel’s The Avengers, proves that I am not alone in my Superhero adulation. The assemblage of a super group of Superheros that includes; Captain America, Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye, and the sultry Black Widow is a Superhero geek’s dream comes true I was ripe with anticipation as I stood in line with my fellow suburban Superhero wannabes waiting for the midnight screening of this cinematic masterpiece.
“I wish I was incredibly strong and supersonic fast that way I could keep up with my kids and all their activities. However, chocolate is my kryptonite.” Karin O., Danville
I was seven years old when I was first introduced to the wonder of comic books and the concept of a Superhero. I spent hours each day, when I wasn’t watching TV or up to no good, absorbing the mythical adventures of Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, Human Flame and Thing who made up Marvel Comics the Fantastic Four. These people were average everyday scientists who were exposed to cosmic rays during a routine mission to outer space. That could happen to anyone. Well, any scientist flying in outer space, but it gave me hope. Little did I know that the Fantastic Four would be my gateway drug to a lifetime of Superhero addiction.
Marvel Comics started in 1939 as Timely Publications, and by the early 1950s had generally become known as Atlas Comics. Marvel’s modern incarnation dates from 1961, the year that the company launched Fantastic Four and other Superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and others. Marvel counts among its characters such well-known properties as Spider-Man, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Avengers, Fantastic Four, Wolverine, Thor and Captain America. Most of Marvel’s fictional characters operate in a single reality known as the Marvel Universe with locations that mirror real-life cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. In 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Worldwide’s parent company, for a super sum of $4.24 billion.
“I would like the ability to fly. I know that’s cliché, but I travel so much for work if I could fly I would be able to make it home for every one of my daughters school and sports events.” Mike B., 44 years old, Danville
Superman is likely the first Superhero that comes to most people’s minds whenever anyone is sitting around a dining room table discussing Superhero’s during a dinner party. Superman was unveiled in June of 1938, through Action Comics first edition. Superman escaped the destruction of his home planet, Krypton, landing on earth with his unusual attributes that included unbelievable strength, flight, x-ray vision, a large lung capacity and extraordinary hearing and eyesight. He was also bulletproof. I remember watching black and white episodes of Superman every Saturday morning on Channel 44, but because he was from outer space, I couldn’t relate. I needed hope that I could one day be a Superhero through some stroke of good fortune like radioactive exposure.
It was Peter Parker, a teenager dealing with family tragedy, who inspired this teenager to spend an entire weekend looking for a glowing spider in my attic and garage. You see, Peter was bitten by a radioactive spider that transformed him into Spiderman. Imagine having that strength, that agility, not to mention being able to shoot spider webs to catch bad guys and swing from skyscrapers. How super cool would that be? Plus, Peter had a smokin’ hot girlfriend (Mary Jane Watson), which gave a pimple faced comic book nerd like me, er…, I mean my good friend Micky, eternal hope of a better life.
As I grew older and found my way to the YMCA weight room, the Incredible Hulk became my new Superhero idol. Hulk was cast as the emotional and impulsive alter ego of the withdrawn and reserved physicist Dr. Bruce Banner. The Hulk appears shortly after Banner is accidentally exposed to the blast of a test detonation of a gamma bomb he invented. Subsequently, Banner would involuntarily transform into the Hulk, depicted as a giant, raging, green humanoid monster, leading to extreme complications in Banner’s life. As a community college freshman/paperboy, I could certainly relate. I would often fly into an uncontrollable rage if my bike broke down or I was unexpectedly splashed by a car driving through a mud puddle while delivering my papers.
“I would’ve liked to be able to read minds. That sure would’ve helped when I was dating.” Bob B., 65 years old, Livermore
The American military has Captain America to thank for its recruiting effort during the 1940’s. Captain American was the alter ego of Steve Rogers, a frail young man who was enhanced to the peak of human perfection by an experimental serum in order to aid the United States war effort. Captain America wears a costume that bears an American flag motif and is armed with an indestructible shield. His creation was often depicted fighting the Axis powers of World War II and Captain America was Timely Comics’ most popular character during the wartime period. What adolescent boy wouldn’t want to wear that patriotic costume and use that multipurpose shield as a weapon for the honor of his country? I know I did, even though technically we weren’t actually “at war” with anyone from 1980-1990. However, I would’ve totally enlisted after 9/11 had I not been too old.
“I wouldn’t mind being invisible. I could fade out when my kids are driving me nuts and also check-up on them when they don’t know I’m around.” Jeff M., 45 years old, Danville
It’s obvious that everyone wants to know who my favorite Superhero is and I’m happy to reveal this information. It’s not Mr. Incredible from the Pixar movie, The Incredibles, although I do appreciate his super strength and commitment to family. It’s not Batman or Green Hornet because they aren’t actually Superhero’s. They are simply super rich guys with some really cool toys, but not Superhero’s in the true sense of the word. My favorite Superhero is Thor. Thor is based on the God Thor of Norse mythology. The mighty Thor possesses “God Like” strength along with a hammer that he uses as a weapon, shield and telekinetic best friend. His flowing blond locks and body builder physic give him the impression of invincibility, much like a professional wrestler, and yet he has chosen to protect earth from her foes, namely his half-brother, Loki. don’t have a half-brother, but I do have two step-sisters that are mighty troublesome. Truthfully, I have always admired Thor’s strength of character, his morality and his sense of honor. I could totally see myself doing that … if I had long rock star hair, a juiced up bod and a radical ball-busting sledgehammer.
“I need the ability to clone myself so that I can be at all of my kids events and still work a typical 9 to 5 day. ” Zack H., 44 years old, Danville.
For those of you new to the whole Superhero worship thing, here are a few Superhero movies worthy of consideration to get you up to speed. The aforementioned The Incredibles, Sky High, Blade, Kick Ass, Zoom, Hellboy, Daredevil, Darkman, The Punisher, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl, Underdog and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to name just a few of my favorites. On television, I would recommend such shows as Heroes, The Greatest America Hero, The Flash and Power Rangers. As for comic books, you can’t go wrong with Aquaman, Wonder Woman (for chicks), Green Lantern or The Justice League.
As an adult, a husband and father living life in a suburban mecca known as Danville, I have come to realize that a Suburban Superhero is a dad who coaches youth sports, volunteers at school events and sets a good example for his kids. The notion of a Superhero subculture is idealistic, but in reality, we can all be suburban Superheros if we commit to the ideals of high integrity instilled by the Legion of Honor. Fly to your kid’s soccer games, lift up your friend’s spirits when they’re feeling down, stand up to evil bosses and protect the weak and oppressed by volunteering your time. Suburban Superheros can save the world, one small gesture at a time.
“My Superhero power would be to freeze time. First, so I could get more accomplished in a day and second, so my kids wouldn’t grow up so fast.” Jenny L., 39 years old, Danville
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