by Ashley Mills

When I was in college, I took a course on World War II and the Cold War.  We studied everything from the dissolution of Soviet and American relations, to the cultural impact these events had on Americans.  The professor called our attention to the Golden Age of Comics, which spans from the Great Depression to the end of World War II.  He noted that the timing wasn’t a coincidence.  Comic books, specifically ones about superheroes, were immensely popular during those turbulent times because they were affordable and regularly featured the triumph of good over evil.  They were a reassuring little light in times of darkness.  He explained that bumps in superhero popularity typically correlate with major events in history.  After a decline, comics surged in popularity again in what is called The Silver Age.  This period covered the Cold War and the Vietnam War, along with the Civil Rights Movement and other domestic turmoil.  The Bronze Age took over during the Cold War but also focused on darker themes, reflecting the struggles that many Americans faced with drugs, alcoholism and the spread of AIDs.

Following this pattern, it is easy to understand why superheroes have almost entirely saturated pop culture today.  Since September 11, 2001, Americans have been forced to come to terms with a new international enemy: one that doesn’t line up in neat rows with matching uniforms, but rather hides behind children and cares little for civilian casualties.  Domestically, the Internet has forced us to confront realities that make us uncomfortable:  from the collection of personal data by the United States government, to domestic violence and the stark differences in the American experience for white people and for black people, for the rich and the poor, for citizens and for immigrants.

As the events in Baltimore unfolded this week, numerous friends on my Facebook news feed wished that Batman would come and save Charm City.  In choosing Batman, my friends picked a superhero with a storyline that fits recent events in Baltimore.  Batman knows how to handle a deeply troubled city.  He could determine the truth behind Freddie Grey’s death.  He could stop the rioters and protect the peaceful protesters.  As Bruce Wayne, he could donate money to build a new CVS so the people who worked there could go back to their jobs.

In this case, Batman is not a character.  He is not a rich white man who happens to beat up bad guys occasionally.  He is an idea.  One that gives us the strength to combat the evils around us.  Life imitates art, as they say.

In the pictures that have come out of Baltimore, I’ve spotted a good amount of superhero-related clothing.  The man in the Punisher t-shirt above was videotaped pushing protesters away from a line of police.  I saw shirts and hats featuring both Marvel and DC Comics characters.  Most of these were worn by the peaceful protesters and folks cleaning up the mess the morning after the riots.  People with a love of comics and superheroes, trying to do some good in this world.

Don’t get me wrong, comic books are certainly not perfect.  There is plenty of room for greater diversity and acceptance among the characters as well as their creators.  But we are making progress.  Kamala Khan is a Pakistani-American Ms. Marvel.  Cyborg is one of the founding members of the Justice League.  There are some fantastic characters out there that have enriched these stories and made them more believable and human.

At some point in their lives, most kids will tie a blanket around their necks and pretend to be a superhero.  They will chatter about fighting evil and protecting the innocent before they fully understand the breadth of these concepts.  We may have grown up, but we still look to superheroes for inspiration.  In watching their struggles and accomplishments, we find the strength to confront the challenges in our lives.

Over the last few weeks, I have been continually reminded of my professor and that history class.  We as a nation are facing great challenges:  to our national identity, our place in the world order, and the promise of our future.  These are difficult questions that will result in great debate and potentially more rioting or even war.   In that light, is it any wonder why we need superheroes?