I Learned it from Comic Books

I’ve been reading comic books off and on for a long time and I can honestly tell you that you can learn stuff from just reading comics.  I’m not talking about Maus or Watchmen or Classics Illustrated, but your run-of-the-mill super hero comics. 

1)      The criminal justice system sucks.  How many times has Spiderman fought Electro or Dr. Octopus over the course of his career?   How many times has Batman had to deal with the Joker? Too many times, that’s how many.  No matter how elaborate the jails get, (Arkham, the Raft, the prison in the Negative Zone), villains will find a way to get out.  Doesn’t the death penalty ever come into the conversation with any of these guys?    Which brings me to my next point...

2)      Nobody ever stays dead in the comics.  Superman, Batman, Captain America, even the Captain’s sidekick, Bucky Freakin’ Barnes (a character nobody wanted to see again), has been declared dead at one time or another and brought back to life.  It doesn’t matter.  Comic book creators create their own logic and world.  Normal rational plays no part here.  Superboy punches a wall and Batman’s second Robin comes back to life.  Now, he’s evil and bent on revenge or  something.  Sure.  Why not.  Aristotle’s got nothin’ on this baby.

3)      A super heroine’s breast size is directly proportional to her power and abilities.  Not that I’m complaining.

Power Girl can bench press 200 tons.

4)      Nobody writes Shakespearian-like dialogue better than Stan Lee.  Check out some of his Thor stuff from the sixties.  The Bard would be proud, sir.

5)      Star Trek (“Mirror, Mirror”) and Fringe aside, the “alternate universe” concept is the last resort for the writer who has run out of ideas.  How many different timelines, versions of characters and re-workings do we need (or have to pay to read)?

6)      “With great power, comes great responsibility”.  I don’t know who first said it, Uncle Ben, Socarates, Mr. Whipple, but it is a truism beyond the realm of comic books.  Politicians, take note.

7)      Sorry Mr. Wizard, Science is the great corrupter.  Radiation has done a number on a variety or heroes, (Daredevil, Spiderman, the Hulk) and villains (the Abomination, the Leader) and they are probably the worse for wear because of it.  How about all the inventions that have led to superpowers? 

8)      Comics are a great source of debate and rumination in my household, usually between my son and me.  Who would win in a fight?  Superman or the Hulk?  Who is fastest man in comics?  The Flash or Quicksilver?  How are comics a mirror of what goes on in society today?  Why have comics (consciously or unconsciously reflected the times in which they existed?  That is a subject for another blog.