I went to visit my parents a couple of weeks ago and while I was there I took my dad to see Iron Man 2. After the film, we started talking about the superhero genre and superheros more generally. My dad argued that Batman is the best superhero, largely on the basis of the last two Batman films, The Dark Knight and Batman Beyond. For him the equation was simple: Good movie = good superhero.
I on the other hand argued on behalf of Spider-Man. Yes the film adaptations of Spider-Man were considered by many to be less than ideal, but, I insisted (and I maintain) there is more to a superhero than the quality of films made using the character.
Superheros need to be judged on more than films, costumes, gimmicks, commercial appeal or gadgetry alone. I argue that the measure of of what makes a good superhero is whether it is someone with whom the audience can identify, someone who experiences the full complexity of human life. Though it could be argued that this would disqualify Spider-Man from contention as he is technically a mutant, I contend that despite his abnormality, he is the most human, most relatable of all contemporary superheros.
Spider-Man is an accidental superhero – he wasn’t born with these abilities, they were thrust upon him. But while there are many accidental superheros, Spider-Man had the added challenge of trying to understand these changes at the most turbulent time in anyone’s development – adolescence. Without the maturity to reign in and harness his powers from the beginning, those who read and watched his journey were able to see his struggle, the inner tension between doing the easy thing and doing the right thing. Knowing that “With great power comes great responsibility” is one thing, but acting upon it is something entirely different.
My favorite thing about him is the sense that anyone in the world could become a successful Spider-Man (or woman) if faced with the same challenge. Batman wouldn’t be Batman without Bruce Wayne and his family fortune and Ironman wouldn’t exist without Stark Industries, but with Spider-Man it is different.
Peter Parker is Spider-Man because he has to be, and with it comes enormous personal sacrifice and compromise. Peter Parker does not get to live a life of luxury, spending most of his life just trying to keep his head above water. Spider-Man isn’t revered by the police – there is no Spidey-Signal. There isn’t much for Peter Parker to gain by being a superhero though there is everything to lose. This doesn’t mean Peter Parker, or Spider-Man, is perfect – he screws up royally, but he learns from these mistakes and allows them to change him for the better. This is what makes Spider-Man my favorite superhero and, in my humble opinion the best superhero of contemporary times. Who’s your pick?
