Hero vs Superhero 10/21/08

Hero versus Superhero
By: Maria Reylan M. Garcia

It was in 1938 that some farm boy named Clark Kent knew that he could
lift himself from the ground thus landing him on cover feature of
Action Comics. It was in 1962 that a certain Peter Parker was bitten
by a radioactive spider almost instantly he became the front liner of
Marvel Comics' issue number 15. A few years went on, and the world was
hooked on how telephone booths can become instant dressing rooms for a
man who wore his briefs over his pants. Just after enough endorsement
from the press, and the world was trapped in a human spider's web,
bedazzled at how a newspaper photographer roamed around the city
jumping from building to building. Superman and Spiderman, these are
two of the most loved superheroes, which have captivated the hearts of
enthusiastic comic book collectors and average citizens alike.

Since the birth of flowing capes and neon colored underwear, everyone
can't seem to get enough of superheroes. I personally had that stage
in my delirium trodden childhood when I started looking up the sky for
a bird, or for a plane, or for well, Superman. I could not resist
admiring those spider-like reflexes and outstanding x-ray vision, and
for every triumph each superhero had against their archenemies, I
became one with the roaring crowd who showered them with praises. Mary
Jane and Louise are amongst the luckiest women on earth after they
proved that the iron hearts of these men of steel are actually
malleable. The growing obsession for superheroes had become evident
with the dozen remakes on the big screen and a ten-year old's fantasy
called action figures.

But then, what exactly is a superhero? Encarta Dictionary defines a
superhero to be a fictional character, who has superhuman powers and
uses them to fight crime or evil. Fictional, I stared at that word for
a couple of moments and realized how it became a detour for my
damsel-in-distress days. Superheroes have taken over the heroes we
once knew, those heroes who have, to the greatest extent, died for his
country's independence or a simple woman who endured nine months and
half a day of labor for her most awaited first baby boy. Nowadays,
most children would rather spend hours reading a multi-colored comic
book than watch a documentary on the trials and tribulations of our
national hero. Some would opt to view the latest franchise of an
action-packed superhero movie then spend a night chit-chatting with
the less known hero who brought him to life.

I may sound negative with comic book exposure but frankly, as
idealistic as I am, I also enjoy reading comic books as it would
broaden one's imagination to heights that have never been reached.
But, I am growing concerned at how some fellow youth would ignore the
real heroes they should treasure. Even before 1938 when Clark Kent
realized he was from a glowing planet called Krypton, was the
historical 1896 Revolution of the thousands of Filipinos called the
KKK who initiated our sovereignty from the Spanish rule. Yet, their
significance is just limited in the history textbooks that some
students would barely dare to open. Just a year after 1962, when Peter
Parker started to climb walls, gave birth to the two most special
persons in my life, my parents. Yet, often times I disregard their
value and worth all because I have forgotten that I owe my life to
them, that they are my heroes.

It would be nice to have some super human flying back and forth saving
one person at a time, the law enforcers would have an easier job at
that, but since nobody has yet discovered a planet called Krypton or
mutated a radioactive spider that could alter DNAs, let us just be
grateful of the not so super heroes we have who are just lurking
between the pages of our history textbooks and tucking us all to bed
with warm good night kisses. I also realized that if indeed Spiderman,
Superman, Darna, Captain Barbell or any of the superheroes do exist,
they can't possibly be our own personal superheroes because they
belong to the world. You could just imagine if you'll ask Superman to
help you with cooking lunch; he'll just use his laser vision to heat
up your mixed vegetables and right after that he'll be off to assist
your spinster neighbor whose cat got stuck on a tree branch.

Our freedom fighters, revolutionary heroes, idealists, although they
can't swoop over by our side to assist us in times of need, they will
always be available to be a concrete and feasible influence. Our
parents, friends and significant others, there won't be any reason in
the world why they wouldn't set us on their first priority; they will
be always there to help us solve trigonometry problems, share some
pieces of advice on emotional breakups, or stay awake with us when we
couldn't sleep. No red or blue capes, no neon colored underwear, no
x-ray vision or spider-like reflexes, just the full heart to care.

It's a bird
No, it's a plane.
No, it's…

Who's your hero?