October 20, 2004

SUPERHEROES

I finally got to see Spiderman 2 tonight. I loved it.
The scene in the subway train was one of the most moving things I've seen in a long time.

To me, there's nothing more American than a superhero, an ordinary man in extraordinary circumstances who struggles to do what's right no matter what the cost. Superman is of course my favorite, but Spiderman is very dear to my heart as well. I'm ignorant as to the origins of the comic book superheroes; maybe some of my comic-knowing readers can help me: are superheroes American in origin?

I will be surprised if they aren't.

Posted by Sarah at October 20, 2004 09:50 PM
Comments

The idea of "superman" comes from the German philosopher Frederich Nietzsche. Read his work "Man and Superman" for details.

Posted by: Bubba Bo Bob Brain at October 21, 2004 05:28 AM

But are you sure that Nietzsche's superman is where Siegel and Shuster got the idea for Superman? I don't know; I haven't read up on it.

Posted by: Sarah at October 21, 2004 06:43 AM

Superman was "an undocumented worker" or an illegal alien... from another planet....

Spiderman was American...

I think most all the bad guys were from somewhere else though....

Posted by: Madfish Willie at October 21, 2004 09:20 AM

i know that wasn't your actual question... just my really lame attempt to be funny....

Posted by: Madfish Willie at October 21, 2004 09:21 AM

Superman was more a childhood refugee than an 'an undocumented worker'. He was sent alone by his parents before their home world was destroyed.

Nietzsche was a crank.

Posted by: John at October 21, 2004 10:21 AM

I think, though I could be mistaken, that the Superhero as we understand it today is an American invention. Some people draw parallels with the Demigods of ancient myth (Hercules, etc.), but the true "superhero" is American. (While Nietzche may have inspired Superman's name, he wasn't thinking of a superhero when he wrote.)

Posted by: Robin Sizemore at October 22, 2004 04:24 AM