Why do people love superheroes

1. Why do people
love
superheroes?

2. Superheroes reflect a point in time
• There’s no umbrella reason why the world loves
superheroes, especially when not all superheroes are
created equal. Some are funny, flawed, and complex—
with moments of self-righteousness or self-doubt—
while others are strong, fiery, and fearless.
• Personality traits aside, superheroes tend to reflect the
society and culture of the day. Modern day Batman is
not the same character figure as the early comic book
Batman, who didn’t hesitate to kill villains on his nightly
patrol. Today’s mainstream heroes and heroines rarely
kill robbers or super villains.
• Superheroes are very visible role models, and their
behavour is influenced by collective social values in the
real world. Superheroes also provide a reflection of
current affairs and real issues that speak to people in
different societies.

3. Our superheroes reflect ourselves
• Most people remember the difficult moments that affect
our future behavour, and superhero origin stories thrive
off dark and difficult beginnings. As Hugh Jackman
reprises his role as Wolverine in the newest X-Men
installment, The Wolverine, you have to consider why his
character continues to be so enthralling five movies later.
• This is a guy who has endured tremendous cruelty and
loss in his lifetime, and even in a group like the X-Men,
never truly feels like he belongs. He’s a lone wolf and a
survivor, and for those who have ever struggled to belong
or attempted to move past a great tragedy can empathize
with a character like him.

4. Superheroes are a symbol of hope
• Superheroes have long symbolized hope in chaotic
and disastrous situations. Part of the beauty in
being a superhero comes from the ability to change
a typically uncontrollable situation into one in
which they are in the driver’s seat. We admire and
envy superheroes for having the opportunity to
control the uncontrollable, which is not always the
reality for people who can’t fly or automatically
heal within moments after an injury. Superheroes
move against the grain during dire situations, and
you can’t help but admire their ability to instill a
sliver of hope.

5. They come with a lot of baggage
• They all have something. Superman struggles with his
identity as a half-human, half-Kryptonian, Rogue has
intimacy and multiple personality problems, and Hulk
has serious anger management issues. Most beloved
superheroes go through relatable challenges like social
acceptance and discrimination (cue X-Men), identity
crisis, and a multitude of ethical dilemmas surrounding
the choices they make
• But not all superheroes are the same. Magneto from X-
Men is a good example of an anti-hero and someone
whose life path led him to view the world as cruel and
unkind to those who are different. It’s that complexity
that makes his character so intriguing, and it’s one of
the reasons I keep coming back to watch X-Men even
after the third movie was released.

6. What’s not to love?
• Superheroes inspire, elevate,
and may even guide our
moral compass from time to
time.