Reconsidering the Superhero

    Besides the awesome art style or nifty premise a story might have, it needs to have substance to really draw me in. The Authority and V for Vendetta are my best examples, although I've heard a lot about Watchmen being even better. I become fully involved with a story when its characters thoughts or the conflict in question challenges my thinking. I already know the characters are having it tough, now I want the story to go out of its way to make my life a crisis. Make me work for that sweet and satisfying end! Or better yet, leave it ambiguous so that I can figure out how it may have ended!

    For me a shallow attempt at a hero story is the classic brooding Mary Sue-type character that is barely worth spitting at who suddenly obtains superhuman or alien abilities, then he becomes a symbol for hope and freedom and the human will to persevere. I've had enough of that!  Far too many characters have virtually the same origin stories and it wears on me quickly. Alan Moore's characters tend to be more down-to-earth in their behavior and personality. They have introspective thoughts and character flaws, which makes them much more accessible. Sure his stories are grittier, but that's the idea! It's a big bad universe, and in a world where there should be batshit carnage, why not make it appear so?

   Something else that bothers me are resurrection and reboots. Actually, as far as comics be concerned, I'm not sure there's a difference between the two. I like a story to move forward, regardless of events that occur. I find it very enjoyable and clever when writers manage to pull a character through even though he/she should be utterly spent. Because of this outlook, reboots are a lazy excuse for a lack of creativity. Either that or money is more important than quality storytelling.

   Since I find myself leaning more toward anti-heroes as more relatable characters, I've comes to classify characters as one of two archetypes: Soldiers and Superheroes. Judge Dredd, Batman, Black Widow and V being soldiers, and characters such as Martian Manhunter, Superman, Hulk and Thor being superheroes. Within these two concepts you typically have either technology or magic. Most often their separate, even if they're both present in a given continuity, but occasionally they can blend. I prefer technology, since machinery and guns are one of my personal aesthetics, and it usually has a practical explanation that I can research and accept. Now I'm not saying that superheroes don't have plausible explanations for their abilities, but as far as I know, there are far fewer. I like the common men stuck knee-deep in the trenches with no way out. I want to see them find their way out or die trying!