Our fascination with comic superheroes is time-tested. Why do we continue to relate to them?

Answer 1

for they are our childish desires ... where we want to be just like them... yet impossible to achieve ...

Answer 2

Most people deep down want to be "special". Like wanting to find out that you have ESP or that you might be royalty. If you listen to people talk you'll here them trying to best each other whether it's my dog is better than yours or even "my illness is worse than yours. Everyone seems to be the only one to have certain symptoms or special awareness. We just can't seem to accept the fact that we're all basically the same. Nothing special, just plain old peoples.

Answer 3

I think it is because we are looking for beings that are good and more powerful than we are to protect us from the big bad guys whom we can't fight on our own. Human beings have always liked myths and pantheons of gods and tales of heroes. think of the stories of the Arabian Nights, the tales of miracles, and prophets, and things (the Round Table, also.)

Each super heor has his or her own appeal. Teenagers could relate to Spider man because he was a teenager with problems just like theirs. Everybody who has ever been bullied by some tough guy in a dark alley wants Batman to come andbeat him up and hold them and take them away from it all. Who has not wished to be Superman, a man above all other men? Or Wonder Woman, for the ladies?

Comic book writers (good ones) work with the themes thier audience wants. In World War II, there were a lot of patriotic heroes. In the 70's, Green lantern and Green Arrow tackled the problems of drug abuse and racism. In later days, some writers invented a whole pseudo 'civil rights' theme around supposed mutants (although this was probably intended to represent other segments of society than those who lack civil rights.)

But there's more. As American civilization has fallen away from traditional religion, we are looking for powerful moreal figures who are above us, who will come and rescue us when we need them. When Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane are saying "Where are you, Superman? We need your help!", are they not praying in the most essential sense of the word...? Check out a book called The Gospel According to Superman (I still can't find my copy, so I don't know the author, but you should be able to find it on line.) And what goes for Superman goes for many other heroes as well.

Then there are the anti-heroes; not bad guys but flawed good guys for flawed people, who think that because they themseves are not perfect, there could be no perfect super heroes, either. Hulk, Wolverine and Daredevil are a few examples. People tend to read about heroes they can idientify with.

There are just a few of the reasons.

There are marketing reasons. The big businesses that hold the rights to the characters are not in business to lose money. They know what sells and what will not sell. They license out their most action-packed characters, in the boldest colors, scientifically designed to attract the eyes of kids with money to spend.

Lately, in Marvel's abominable Civil War series, and others, the comic book companies have revealed their own bias, and in some cases, have resorted to borrowing from yesterdays headlines instead of wrting innovative stories. Some readers may agree with this type of political indoctrination under the guise of entertainment, others will not sumbit to brainwashing.

But this demonstrates that the publishers take whatever they can use to get our attention, even to the extent of causing the comic book world to overlap to a symbolic degree with the real world of politics and national security. Depending on the readers, this plan may backfire if the readers demand to have politics-free entertainment. But it is certainly a way of preventing the readers from forgetting about the comic books, even when they are trying to read the newspaper or watch the television news reports. And all that falls under the heading of keeping us 'fascinated'.

Original answer 5 months ago; revised and updated 8 JAN 07, 1800 hrs, GMT.

Answer 4

itas a need beyond childish wish fufillment, that dates back to mythology and legend. its not why we continue to realte to them, but how well our wirters and imaginer's create hero's that realte and inspire us.
as long as people dream, there will always be room in our hearts....for heros. (que movie voice man!)

Answer 5

modern mythology
the ultimate escapism
hero worship

Answer 6

Because they are what we all desire to be whether we realise it or not.

Answer 7

haha