Superheroes In A Post-9/11 Society

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But the latest trend has created a list of epic superhero movies, most notably Spider-Man 1 & 2, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Hellboy 1 & 2, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Iron Man 1 & 2, The Incredible Hulk, Watchmen and Kick-Ass. There have been failures (Daredevil, Elektra, Catwoman, Spider-Man 3, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Green Lantern) but these seem to have occurred when studio pressures have compromised the potential integrity of the films.

Marvel has done a phenomenal job of building toward The Avengers, which is to be released next summer. Fans have gobbled up the Easter eggs put at the end of each movie in an attempt to build a subplot that will tie into The Avengers film. Most recently, Thor and Captain America have hit screens, setting the final pegs in the board for next summer. And fans leaked copies of The Dark Knight Rises teaser trailer days before it was meant to air.

The excitement around these movies is palpable. Even Columbia pictures went back to the beginning with its Spider-Man franchise, choosing to reboot the series after only nine years. The Amazing Spider-Man comes out next summer, as does the next installment in the Ghost Rider series. I’ll reserve comment at this point. Lastly, Zach Snyder’s Superman reboot, Man of Steel, is set to come out in the summer of 2013, having been pushed back six months from its projected release

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date of December 2012. In addition to these movies, several superhero films are currently in production, but the timeline for each is sketchy.

I spoke with a sociology professor at the University of Maine to discuss societal trends. Societal trends and cultural changes work hand in hand, but the need for entertainment seems to be essential to this process. It gets people interested and motivated in social movements. Additionally, movements can pull from other movements collaboratively, so when the shift occurred from realism to fantasy, the superhero genre found the niche it had been waiting for. These movements also gain strength from opposition, so as people have been trying to make a case for the end of the superhero genre, they have actually strengthened the need for more and more superhero movies. Watchmen was a shift in that direction – an attempt to show the more human aspect of the superhero. While it wasn’t executed properly, it helped to push people towards Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ story, and it exposed people to the more intellectual aspect of comics. As Rorschach would say, however, the end is near. Or may be. Maintaining the status quo is difficult, so things can’t keep trending this way. At some point, the bubble might burst.

But people need heroes. They need to know that someone is out there fighting for them. They need an ideal – a person to whom they can turn for guidance or inspiration. This is the role of the superhero. He exists in a world of fantasy, and while a comic is never devoted to Superman sitting down to figure out his monetary woes, his struggle can still be as difficult. People don’t want to see Superman struggling with money. Or trying to save enough money for heat and food. They want to see him kick ass. They want to watch him deal with his own problems (which usually involve aliens, destruction and getting thrown through buildings). He doesn’t have to worry about the debt ceiling, or airport screening, or terrorism, or war, or famine, or death for that matter. He’s eternal. As is every superhero. In a world of finality, people like to know that there are some constants. Superheroes fill this void. They provide the entertainment – and the safety – that seems to be lacking in our world. So while the ride may be ending soon, I encourage people to enjoy it while it lasts. Because while this blaze may eventually diminish to embers, the fire it ignited will continue to burn in our hearts and minds for years to come.

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Brian knows he can’t change the world, but he can change your mind. Just follow him on Twitter @Oaser

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