21st May, 2008

KRIS BATHER

In comics, death is a supporting character. Both Marvel and DC have characters that share that name, but I'm not referring to a fictional creation. Rather I'm talking about the cold, hard reality of drawing your last breath. Death has been there since the beginning of the medium, when millions died, unknowingly giving birth to the first superhero.

BATMAN'S HERITAGE: Batman stands at the grave of his alter-ago, Bruce Wayne's, parents. Like many comic heroes, his superhero identity was forged out of tragedy. "Pop culture has always given us heroes who are birthed from tragedy, usually at the death of those closest to them - their parents. Heroes as diverse as James Bond, Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter all share one trait - they're orphans."

The entire planet of Krypton was destroyed due to its highly unstable core. Only the scientist Jor-El could foresee this but could not convince his world's leaders to believe him. (Maybe he should've used Proverbs 16:18; “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”) Jor-El could do nothing, so he and his wife Lara chose to at least give their only son a chance at life. They put him in an experimental capsule and shot him at earth, a planet with similar properties to Krypton. Kal-El landed in Smallville, was raised by the Kents and eventually grew to become Superman.

It is the world's most well known superhero origin, and a template for the multitudes that followed. Many of Superman's contemporaries share death and destruction in their birth, though on not such a massive scale. Peter Parker's Uncle Ben had to die, so the irresponsible teen could wake up and put his new arachnid powers to good use as Spider-Man. Young Bruce Wayne's beloved parents had to die at his feet at the hands of a thief so that Batman could be born. As a boy Matt Murdock's father died after refusing to throw a boxing match, cementing the need for justice he seeks both as a lawyer and as the blind hero Daredevil.

Pop culture has always given us heroes who are birthed from tragedy, usually at the death of those closest to them - their parents. Heroes as diverse as James Bond, Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter all share one trait - they're orphans. Tragedy is the catalyst that propels them to their greater destiny. It opens their eyes to the reality of evil and the need for it to be destroyed. By robbing them of the safety of what they've known, heroes are released into the world, armed with a selfless big picture view. Perhaps for the first time, they are able to identify with the downtrodden and defenceless.

Death that brings life is a resonant theme of story telling in today's world, whether it be comics, novels or films. In our heart of hearts we know that true heroism is sacrificial. That's why we award medals to courageous firefighters and soldiers. You can not be a hero and also be selfish. That is the difference between heroes and villains. The good guys are willing to risk it all for others, where as the bad guys are only motivated by pride and selfishness. The only well-being they care about is their own. Good is selfless, whereas evil is selfish. And that's exactly what sin is. Sin deceives us into believing that our short term pleasure is far more fulfilling than any loving act of selflessness that brings eternal reward.

Jesus often spoke about this to His disciples and, towards the end of His earthly ministry, He focused on His coming death and why it was necessary for the benefit of the world.

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” - John 12:24

The disciples eventually became heroes themselves. Ordinary, scared men who were scratching their heads at what their master meant were transformed into powerful missionaries after Jesus' brutal death. Their eyes were opened as they were witness to the single greatest act of heroism ever seen. Newly motivated and filled by the Holy Spirit, they brought Christianity to the world and all twelve eventually laid down their own lives for their faith. Heroes don't back down simply because what is right may be not be popular. This is why Superman and co will always have an audience. Whether we know it or not, in their bold sense of right and wrong and willingness to risk all for the common man, we see a mirror of the greatest Hero of them all.