Why do we love superheroes

Last week my friend asked me an interesting question: Why do people like superheroes? She knew that I was writing my own superhero novel and thought I maybe knew something about this genre. That question caught me off guard. I'm not sure, if I found the right answer, but at least I learned why I was into superheroes. 

The next five years are booked full of superhero blockbusters. Disney Marvel's Avengers has reached its peak with Endgame. Though there will be more Marvel movies, there's nothing that people are too hyped up about.

In turn, DC seems To be rising with this years Wonder Woman 1984 and next years The Batman. Not to forget last years hit Joker, even though that wasn’t a superhero flick.

Movies and comics aren't the only form of entertainment, where supers rule. Videogames have seen some real gems with Batman: Arkham series and PS4's Spider-Man. The mainstream superheroes aren't that huge on novels, though there are exceptions. Instead there's a steady stream of independent superhero novels.

These YA stories include such gems as "Omni" series from Tom Reynolds and "Omega" saga from Darius Brash. They might not enjoy decades of cult following or filling toy stores. Still these newer characters and their worlds have a growing fanbase.

There are other recent examples as well. Still, the question is: Why do people like superheroes?

What if...? 

Today there are just as many superheroes and their variations as there are writers, if not more. 

Sure, writers like them, but so do readers. So why do we love them so much? I think this questions is the best answer:

What would I do if I was a dictator? Or a millionaire? Or had super powers? 

Basically superhero story is a power fantasy and there's nothing wrong with that. We all fantasize about saving our loved ones or a schoolbus full of children, if we just had the power. 

We also fantasize about what we would do to that old school bully or the nasty English teacher, who made us stand In the corner for no reason.

We have both sides. Stories give us the wisdom to choose, either by inspiring us to chose the right, even when it's hard. They can also warn us, what happens when we give in to our temptations of revenge and domination. 

Superheroes don't only give us fantasies about what we could do, although they do that too. They also give us guidelines about what we should and that might be even more important. No matter what our interests are, how we see the world, where we stand in politics and religion, one thing is certain. We need heroes. We always have and always will.

That’s why Superheroes should stand for the traditional values, such as justice and liberty. "Truth, Justice and The American Way" maybe cheezy way to put it, but it does have truth in it. As a great man once said: "With great power comes great responsibility". Sure, his nephew said it ten more times in three movies, but it's as True now as it was then.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!

-Alex