I was listening to my favorite wake-up podcast this morning, and the topic of why so many modern writers seem more interested in the villains than the heroes. One theory given is that they see the villain as the “outsider”, much like themselves, ostracized from society and the rules of morality. Of course they also kill people, destroy property, and steal things so I guess there’s another connection there, but during the discussion it was brought up that the superheroes of the DC and Marvel universes are themselves outsiders. Heck, Batman once created a team literally called The Outsiders.
The difference of course is that superheroes are heroes. They don’t kill the people they don’t like, they help everybody in need and believe in the sanctity of human life. They don’t destroy other people’s stuff or steal what doesn’t belong to them (granted I don’t know how you steal something everyone agrees you own) because they don’t covet their neighbor’s stuff (to paraphrase the 10 Commandments), at best maybe wanting one of their own. Superheroes don’t believe in treating other people like garbage because they do maintain not so much the world’s morality, as that seems to be getting harder to find in a world demanding blood because you don’t fawn over the same TV show they do, as their own, and it’s one that seeks to make the world a better place for everybody, not just those of the collective.
I know something about being an outsider, which some of you out there won’t believe of a straight white male, because that’s because you only look at the surface. I was bullied. Nobody in my family discusses storytelling the way I do and even when I share the politics of a particular family member I don’t know how to get my opinion across while talking like I can while writing. Then there’s my temper. I would love to be Clark Kent/Superman, but if I’m honest with myself I’m more Bruce Banner/Hulk, depending on what they’ve got Bruce and Hulk doing now. I’m shy. I’m socially awkward. I don’t have the highest self-esteem. At nightclubs it was the women looking for a one-night stand and me the one looking for something past a post-breakfast shower. I know something about being an outsider even among my peers and loved ones, and let me tell you: if somehow you don’t think superheroes are outsiders simply because they help people, let’s check out my favorite superheroes and let me show you they’re not within our societal norm…and it’s a good thing, too.
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Superheroes Are Outsiders, Too
I was listening to my favorite wake-up podcast this morning, and the topic of why so many modern writers seem more interested in the villains than the heroes. One theory given is that they see the villain as the “outsider”, much like themselves, ostracized from society and the rules of morality. Of course they also kill people, destroy property, and steal things so I guess there’s another connection there, but during the discussion it was brought up that the superheroes of the DC and Marvel universes are themselves outsiders. Heck, Batman once created a team literally called The Outsiders.
The difference of course is that superheroes are heroes. They don’t kill the people they don’t like, they help everybody in need and believe in the sanctity of human life. They don’t destroy other people’s stuff or steal what doesn’t belong to them (granted I don’t know how you steal something everyone agrees you own) because they don’t covet their neighbor’s stuff (to paraphrase the 10 Commandments), at best maybe wanting one of their own. Superheroes don’t believe in treating other people like garbage because they do maintain not so much the world’s morality, as that seems to be getting harder to find in a world demanding blood because you don’t fawn over the same TV show they do, as their own, and it’s one that seeks to make the world a better place for everybody, not just those of the collective.
I know something about being an outsider, which some of you out there won’t believe of a straight white male, because that’s because you only look at the surface. I was bullied. Nobody in my family discusses storytelling the way I do and even when I share the politics of a particular family member I don’t know how to get my opinion across while talking like I can while writing. Then there’s my temper. I would love to be Clark Kent/Superman, but if I’m honest with myself I’m more Bruce Banner/Hulk, depending on what they’ve got Bruce and Hulk doing now. I’m shy. I’m socially awkward. I don’t have the highest self-esteem. At nightclubs it was the women looking for a one-night stand and me the one looking for something past a post-breakfast shower. I know something about being an outsider even among my peers and loved ones, and let me tell you: if somehow you don’t think superheroes are outsiders simply because they help people, let’s check out my favorite superheroes and let me show you they’re not within our societal norm…and it’s a good thing, too.
Continue reading →
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Posted by ShadowWing Tronix on August 13, 2024 in DC Spotlight, Marvel Spotlight and tagged commentary, superheroes.
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