Superheroes

Posted in Random Thoughts and tagged with , on 10/15/2009 01:58 pm by Megan

So a friend recently blogged that superheroes are bad examples for boys because they teach them that they can’t have weaknesses or be emotional. And I had to respond here since she closed comments ;)

I think she missed the point, or has been reading comics from the 40s. The whole point of superheroes is that they DO have weaknesses. Superman’s “one great weakness” is Kryptonite, of course, but also his love for humans: his adoptive parents, Lois Lane, etc. Superman has been known to put love over the greater good. Same goes for Spiderman. I just don’t see that as a bad example. Batman is super despite being completely dysfunctional.

Most comic book heroes are extremely emotional: despair, great love, anger – superheroes show a range of emotions. Tears are regularly drawn on their faces.

Superheroes show boys they can be strong AND have flaws, even fatal ones.

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