The past years have seen a proliferation of many Marvel heroes in the big screen: X-Men, Spiderman, The Hulk, Daredevil, The Punisher, and most recently Electra. It seems that Hollywood has been riding the bandwagon of comic book to mvie production. One can also observe that these films came out after/ along side many action based movies : Braveheart, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Troy and Alexander.
Not only has it raked so much profit for the silver screen , but Hollywood has helped bring in to the full visual the action figures many once young boys now turned grown ups admired. It is very fortunate indeed for the younger generation to see these heroes on screen while their older kuyas cannot help but appreciate the effort producers have done to animate these figments of our childhood imaginations and aspirations.
What is it indeed with this penchant for comic book characters and their sagas? Why do some (if not most) teen agers collect and religiously spend their cash on comic books? why are boys hooked into reading these fantastic tales of action and power infested unique individuals? What is so interesting about these characters that perhaps their artists and story writer spin one story after another and perpetuate their plots and actions?
One of the reasons perhaps is what most psychologists coin as "hero worship". Many, if not all, acknowledge the fact that some would unconsciously seek a role model. We all need to look up to someone whom we seek to emulate. In a world filled with confusion, instability and a variety of influences people seek models in whom resides qualities and traits we wish to possess. This illusory attempt to connect with what we think as admirable traits is a natural human proclivity.
Our readings of Peter Parker's adolescent angst, Electra Nachos' attempt to redeem her past, Batman's quest to fill in the parent vacuum in him, and every plot line revealed in every comic book is somehow a way of mirroring our deepest desires to become whole and fully functioning beings. The superhuman abilities or nearly perfected skills these heroes possess are projections of wishes to transcend our weaknesses as humans.
Aside from psychological roots, part of the human penchant for colorful comic books is a love for fascinating stories. The colorful and fancy costumes speak to the textually bored reader. The visual imagery adds light to the reader who is nearly impossible to encourage to read text based pages.
Comic books became part of our culture. They have helped popularized urban myths of heroism and the exciting engagement of kids to reading. While there is also a wide window of opportunity for self enrichment through literacy for readers in the traditionally based mediums, comic books are the simple kid's tool for cuddling quietly in one's room, an escapr from the harsh realities of a child's life, or simply a reason to engage the mind and iimagination with a worthwhile activity.
There is an episode in the first season of Smallville in which a boy seeks to find solace in reading comic books from his otherwise oppressive and abusive step parents. The boy (Ryan) accidentally met the Kents and befriended them. He looked up to Clark as an older brother and the Kents as like a new family. There is a part in the story where Ryan gives up his comic books to Clark because he said he already has a role model for a hero: Clark (who is of course Superman). Ryan's liking for comics speaks of some boys attempt to look for older heroes in their lives. So it is safe to say, that comic books are boys business: the art, the penchant, the action packed hero-saves-the-girl plot redundant as it may seem is a voice of longing. It is a voice that says " I want to do that thing, I want to help, I want to be involved for something that will help others."
We are grateful that Hollywood has allowed this wonderful ink to screen translation of comic book characters. So far, we can no longer bash that industry for simply producing movies that offer only swearings and sex and meaningless violence. Someday perhaps Justice will really be for all, for kids and adults alike.
