Superheroes (are) Complex
Way before I understood the concept of superheroes, and way before I even realised the existence of superheroes comics, my favourite was Batman. I saw him for the first time on television, before I could understand the American accent and English and thought he was super cool. He looked cool, he had a badass car (which I now know, understand and desire as the Batmobile) and he fought people who blatantly looked evil. I used to put on my mum's black dupatta (a shawl), around my shoulders and would swish it around because doing that evidently made me Batman. As a kid, I connected more with what you describe as "stuff for boys". Power Rangers, Legos, Bad Guy Fighting, the full works. I didn't know what I was doing, it was just innate. So it was only a matter of time for Batman to become a permanent fixture in my childhood life.
Then I found books, and I heard or rather, read up on superheroes and the obsession of the characters in the books over their superheroes and I finally understood what "superhero" meant. So when I went to school and people asked who my favourite superhero was, I would proudly announce Sherlock Holmes. You know, now that I have processed the full implications of the term "superhero". Of course it got me blank stares from my peers back then because I had stumbled across Sherlock somehow in the school library and next to no-one knew about him (Back then in the old days children, when Sherlock Holmes didn't have a mobile device. Not the time? Fine.) Sherlock Holmes, to me was my first actual superhero obsession in the sense that I tried to emulate him as much as possible. And did so for the longest time. So long, it's ongoing. Now, I was young and innocent so I had no idea about his drug problems. I thought the injections were because he was ill. But Sherlock to me was Batman 2.0. He was super smart, super observant, stealthy AF if need be and helped people. It was everything I decided I needed to do, and everything I wanted to be.
And then the local channel aired Mulan, a few years after it had been screened in the theatres and I decided I needed to be a fusion of Mulan and Sherlock Holmes. Don't get me wrong, Sherlock Holmes was and is my obsession. But I have a soft spot for Mulan simply because I saw a female kick ass on television for the first time. I had caught glimpses of the Justice League cartoon when I was younger but somehow Mulan meant to me more than Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl. So when I didn't get a reaction after naming Sherlock Holmes as my favourite superhero, I would quickly put in "Mulan is pretty cool too". Which got me "Aren't you already the dark side of the moon?" with a snigger. But I digress.
I'm sure you too would have had a favourite superhero during your childhood. When we were young and making sense of this world, and finding our place in it, superheroes come to us as these independent, powerful people. They fought the bad guys and they didn't have figures of authority telling them to wash up and get ready for bed. They were tough. They did what was right. At least I imagine that was the case most of us were fascinated. If you were just obsessed over the explosions, I hope you were obsessed with those of Batman's and not the Joker's. Studies have shown the power of superheroes on kids, from simple things such as making them eat healthier to more dire matters such as making them feel or be brave during difficult situations. So, sure, as a kid you watched Popeye and saw him get strong from eating spinach, and you made your mum buy it, tried it and spat it out. But why are we obsessed with superheroes despite our age? A kid doesn't know about the possibility of gamma radiations and green bulks of muscle. But we do.
Why do we continue to drown ourselves in these superhero franchises despite the reality or possibility of it all? Despite movies' and comics' attempts to make them relatable with emotions and humour, there is nothing about superheroes that's relatable. Yet, it's a universal topic. Most superheroes and the situations they are in are Americanised. Yet, you could be from Trinidad and this other person could be from Malaysia and you can go "Hey, you like Captain America?" as a conversation starter. We still pick our favourite superheroes! And for me, my favourite superhero is still literally Sherlock Holmes thanks to Robert Downey Jr. I got into Iron Man and Marvel after I watched Sherlock Holmes. And I was raised on DC! (I really mean no shade towards Benedict Cumberbatch, it's just hard for me to stomach a modern-day Sherlock. Old school Sherlock was cool because he knew tattoo dyes that were unique to different countries! Off the top of his head!)
I personally think the reason we turn into 7 year olds and go "WHOAAAAAA" with shiny, starstruck eyes when we(I) see Iron Man take off into the sky is the same reason we went "WHOAAAAAA" when we first saw superheroes as 7 year olds. Power and Morality. Superheroes are all about doing the right thing. Superheroes forsake their families, their love, their lives for the betterment of the world because it's the right thing to do. Superheroes are our modern day mythologies. I believe most of us want to do the right thing. At any given time for anything that we are doing. I believe each and every one of us has an element of good in us. I believe we want to make the world a better place to live in. And that's exactly what's happening in the world of superheroes. From Ant-Man to Wolverine, it's the same. Make the world a better place to be, no matter what it takes. And during the time we are watching a movie, or reading a comic, we feel better about ourselves and the world around us. We don't have to face the politics and the fascism of it yet. Or some of us conveniently forget about it during that time. Because they give us an element of hope. Something to believe in - that bad guys can become good or the world can be a better place. Which is something we need. Increasingly so.
And as much as we need superhero franchises, they need us as well. It's a two way street, almost like religion. It's for this reason that superheroes need to be increasingly diverse. Make someone feel part of your world, and they will embrace you. Black Panther has shown what a superhero who looks like you can do to a child's esteem. And it's barely been a month since it's release. A month! Now imagine the global implications if every kid had someone to relate to. Children of all races, Boys, Girls, Queer children. I cannot wait for the day I can have the option to buy my daughter a badass Indian female superhero. Chances are I would be buying myself one too. For that little bit of superhero complex.
So, who's your favourite superhero?
