The Superhero Era
It's been quite a while since Superheroes began to show up in our world. We originally started with the Justice Society of America back in the 60's when they were trying to fight for justice of the large crime rates for the time period. Fifty years later, and the Superhero Trend is once again back in "style".
In all reality, it started with Superman. Don't lie to yourself when you say that there were superheroes that made a cultural mark on the world before Superman. There wasn't. The Justice Society were great men and women, however they were a few people, powerless, fighting during a time that a bit crazy to begin with.
Following Superman, there's Wonder Woman, Batman, Green Lantern, the Martian Manhunter. Before these last two decades, did YOU know there was life out in the galaxy besides humans? Did you? Answer honestly, and don't lie to yourself. Did you know there were people that were born with powers, not just front outer space, or an island of all women?
Did you believe there were truly insane people out in the world? I mean the Joker, Two-Face; even Lex Luthor isn't in his right mind. I know that, you know that. He's tried to kill Superman a couple thousand times in two decades. Then again, there are hundreds of other villains that have tried the same thing to both Superman and other heroes.
I may sound a bit dated when I say this, but since I was a little girl the world has changed. There weren't superheroes when I was a kid, there were comic books, fictional heroes. I would dress up as them for Halloween; now kids dress up as Batman, Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Robin. Some even dress up as the bad guys, because they think it's cool.
Kids are growing up in a world that they should feel safe in, with as many heroes as there are. Hundreds, at least two or three in every big city in the nation, not to mention the rest of the world. However, with as many heroes as there are there are just as many villains, more even. They kill for the joke, for the fun, for their own sick thrill.
We're supposed to be afraid, but we think that we know that we're going to be saved. We're going to be fine, because Superman or Batman are going to save us. That's what's going to happen, we're going to be fine because we're going to be saved. That may be the case for me, most of the time, but for many people they haven't been able to get there in time. They lose their lives because they get kidnapped and murdered, and most of these criminals are never brought to justice.
However with heroes and villains, we are in a Superhero Era. It's a new world, every child that is born from this point on is going to know who Superman is, who Batman is, who Wonder Woman is. They are going to have a long time before they have to worry about there not being someone out there to help them, to hear their cry for help. Someone to mourn for those they couldn't save.
They feel each death they couldn't save. They try their best, and sometimes it's not enough, but most of the time it is. I personally believe in the Superhero Era, I hope you do as well.
Lois Lane
Daily Planet