3 Most Iconic Superheroes In The Eyes Of 3 College Students
Ingrained deep in the roots of the 21st century, Americans have always been obsessed with the caped crusaders we know and love. Inherent in our culture, people have grown up around these figures by watching them on television shows, reading comics, and watching movies. Maybe we are so obsessed with superheroes is that we all low key want to be one or just wished they actually existed.
1. Spider-Man
One of the most iconic superheroes is the one and only friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Fans are obsessed with Spider-Man because he is just like everyone else. He is one of the more humble superheroes, and a lot of people like this aspect about him. From the beginning, fans loved Peter Parker because he too struggled with everyday life things like paying rent and being bullied at school. He also has an opposite ego out of almost every other superhero out there because he is so generous and always willing to help out in any situation. Although there have been several remakes of Marvel's Spider-Man, every director makes sure Spider-Man never looses the connection to the audience. Unlike most superheroes, Peter Parker was not born with his powers. He was just a normal teenage boy when the most extraordinary thing happened to him. Peter Parker has a lot of personal problems and has suffered a lot of losses but he always keeps things lighthearted with his funny remarks throughout the comic books and movies! Marvel describes him as "puny"! Spider-Man never fails to lift someone up with his wisecracks although most of the villains don't really appreciate it. Another aspect most people like about Spider-Man is that he is from Queens New York. Being from New York can also add to the realism of his character because he interacts with real people every day. All in all Spiderman has been around for 54 years and he is one of the most beloved superheroes out there.
2. Thor
Tracing the invention of language back to the earliest of our human ancestors, we can almost always find stories of heroes told in the most ancient of human cultures. The god Thor, a well-known hero in the Marvel dynasty, has roots that can be traced all the way back to the era of the mighty and powerful Viking warriors. Thor was the son of Oden the king of all gods, and was Oden’s most successful and powerful offspring. Viking soldiers saw Thor as the ideal warrior to model themselves after. Thor was a brave, ruthless warrior whose skill on the battlefield was unmatched. Universally heroes take on the persona, values and characteristics which are considered to be the most ideal in the eyes of the culture that devises their story. In the case of Thor, the Vikings brutal way of life and the value they placed on honor and courage in their society, led Thor to take on and display these values in a way that no human ever possibly could. The example set by Thor was to be the model on which Viking warriors fought, lived and died. The idea of death was even welcomed by Viking warriors because of the religious concept that eternal life could only be obtained through an honorable death on the field of battle.
The character Thor in modern day cinema played by Chris Hemsworth casts the god of thunder in an almost completely different light than the brutal warrior worshipped by the Vikings over 500 years ago. In Marvels rendition of the Norse Mythology god, Thor is an all-powerful god who has: a gentle trusting heart, a good sense of humor, and a teenage boy crush on Natalie Portman. Regardless of the stark contrast between the two different personas, the pair share an incredible amount of respect and popularity within their respective places in time. While people of today do not worship fictional superheroes, they do greatly value the morals and characteristics embodied by these characters.
3. Superman
Superman’s story is so appealing because he is relatable and adaptable. Superman has been and continues to be one of the most popular American heroes. Superman’s life begins with him being sent as an unborn child to Earth from the planet Krypton. An infant Superman is discovered by Jonathan and Martha Kent. They take Superman in as their own son and give him the name Clark Kent. The Kents raise Clark in a small town in Kansas. As Clark grows older he develops super-human abilities. Clark decides that he will use these super-human abilities for good. “Superman first appeared in Action Comics in 1938. During World War II Superman changed his slogan by adding “the American way” to the end of his famous line, “fighting for truth and justice.” In the 1950s Superman became an icon for American patriotism. In the 1970s, Christopher Reeve portrayed Superman as being more human-like. When Richard Donner made his Superman film in 1978, Superman depicted self-sacrifice” (Harris). Although Superman has been adaptable to the times, he has remained to keep his appealing values and American popularity. The most recent Superhero film, Man of Steel, is another example of how the classic tale of Superman was modified to today’s culture while the appealing values of Superman were left intact. The traditional story of superman is kept similar for the most part. In this film viewers see the humanizing internal struggles Superman is faced with and manages to overcome. While this film has a darker style and (trendy) apocalyptic scenes, Superman stays true to his purpose of protecting humanity. Superman over time remains an example of showing perseverance when faced with obstacles. Because the comic-book character, Superman, has been adaptable while retaining his good values and qualities, he is the best superhero.
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