Superheroes have changed over the decades
Prathima Rorigues
Issue date: 5/14/04 Section: Ed-Op
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Superheroes have been around for decades and have gradually become icons of diverse cultures throughout the world. They take you through incredible journeys into magical worlds of good and evil, dispatching a thousand monsters along the way, and emerge unscathed in all their glory. Superheroes have powers that are almost god-like. They could have qualities that humans don't have like the ability to fly or make webs, or they could have highly enhanced human qualities like fast reflexes or extra-sensitive hearing. Their main job is beating up the bad guys, helping society get rid of its miscreants and romancing glamorous women on the side. Heroes have undergone many changes during the years and have evolved tremendously as times have changed. In the 1930s, the age of "pulps," comics saw the advent of the masked and cloaked heroes and heroines, conniving evil men, weird sciences and lost civilizations. The covers of these comics were vividly graphic with scantily clad women being molested by the forces of evil. The contents were not rich in prose and had shades of racism and sexism - factors that contributed to their demise. By the end of the Second World War, "The Shadow" became boring and predictable, and "The Spider" got entangled in his own web. Superman and Captain America, new entries to the comic market, offered more realism to a hungry, young audience and pulp was on its way home.
The typical superhero is a refection of our times. In the early 20th century, he was modeled as being from the upper class, arrogant and wealthy. His female counterpart was a docile creature merely created to add a dash of glamour, and also to portray his woman wooing abilities. Batman, for example, was a rich industrialist who operated in Gotham City (modeled after New York City). In later years, Marvel created Spiderman, who had a simple daytime job as a photographer and was sidelined in the office all day. At night, he broke free and threw bad guys around as if in protest of the irony that life was throwing at him. People were able to identify with these heroes; they were normal people, had normal jobs and this appealed to the masses.
The typical superhero is a refection of our times. In the early 20th century, he was modeled as being from the upper class, arrogant and wealthy. His female counterpart was a docile creature merely created to add a dash of glamour, and also to portray his woman wooing abilities. Batman, for example, was a rich industrialist who operated in Gotham City (modeled after New York City). In later years, Marvel created Spiderman, who had a simple daytime job as a photographer and was sidelined in the office all day. At night, he broke free and threw bad guys around as if in protest of the irony that life was throwing at him. People were able to identify with these heroes; they were normal people, had normal jobs and this appealed to the masses.
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