Superman Fan & Collectors Convention of Hawaii

by Keona Tang

Welcome to yet another uncanny installment of the Orb, fellow citizens of Earth-Prime! This time, I thought I'd share some of my comic reading history with you, and reveal some of the reasons why I love comics as an artform and who my favorite characters are. Hope you enjoy it!

My personal comics journey started in 1988, when I was seven years old. The first issue I ever read was a Spider-Man reprint written by Stan Lee and drawn by John Romita, Sr. The Kingpin was the villain of the piece, and he definitely gave ol' Web Head a battle he'd not soon forget. Of course, Spidey prevailed in the end, but he sure didn't have it easy.

Anyway, I remember being fascinated with the book as soon as I opened it up. Romita's artwork was dynamic and energetic, the dialogue funny and fast-paced (I've always loved Spidey's sarcastic wit), and the characters well-designed, especially the Kingpin himself. Who would have thought that this seemingly overweight man was in reality built like a tank? He barely even felt the punches and kicks that Spidey threw at him! That was a fantastic misdirection on the part of Lee and Romita, and it showed just how original and creative the two of them were. Man, I really loved that issue! Unfortunately, I lost that issue somewhere, but I'll always remember it as the catalyst for my love of comicbooks.

Over time, I've seen many changes occur in the comics industry, some good, others not so much. However, there is one aspect of superheroes that hasn't really been altered. I'm talking about their moral code. Because I started to read comics at a young age, I feel like I've learned a lot about ethics and morality simply by reading the adventures of Spidey, the X-Men, Batman, and Superman. Of course, the first lesson I ever learned was the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." However, there was another phrase which has influenced my life as much as that commandment had. I'm talking about that famous mantra taken from Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance and origin of the amazing Spider-Man.

Spider-Man: Power and Responsibility

"With great power comes great responsibility." It's a lesson that most of us have to learn throughout our lives, and the most important one Peter Parker would learn in his life. When he first gained his powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider, Parker selfishly sought to use his newfound abilities to pursue fame and fortune as a wrestler. One night, after a match, he neglected to stop a thief who'd just robbed the wrestling promoter. Later, it's discovered that the same robber ended up killing Peter's uncle, Ben Parker. Had he used his power in the service of others, Peter may have prevented the murder. Instead, pride, greed, and a sense of apathy led him to step aside and allowed the criminal's escape. Ultimately, this resulted in the untimely death of his beloved father figure, but the tragedy also led to the birth of Spider-Man. Had it not happened, Peter probably would have simply thrown his life away and gone down a very self-destructive road in his life.

The point is this: In our lives, whatever "powers" (i.e., gifts or talents) we have should be put to use for the common good of all. I have no doubt that the world would be a far better place if everyone stepped up to that challenge. Truly an inspired piece of writing on Lee's part (I've often wondered if Stan had ever thought about the profound impact such a simple phrase would have on so many people), and an important lesson for us all, particularly those of us in positions of influence.

Batman: Self-Control and Sacrifice

Another character born of tragedy, the Batman, also had a huge impact on my life. His origin story is truly one of the saddest in all of comics: As they were leaving a movie theater, Bruce Wayne's parents, Thomas and Martha, were both robbed and shot to death in front of him. At the tender age of eight years old, his childhood had been violently shattered by forces beyond his control. However, young Bruce was not about to drown in self-pity. Instead, he traveled the world, training both his body and mind, and became a master martial artist and detective. After making his costume and procuring the high-tech gadgets he needed, he became Batman, the Dark Knight of Gotham City and scourge of criminals near and far.

Now, some who have deconstructed the character would say that it's madness for one man to wage a war on crime outside of the law. In real life, this would indeed be the case. But in comicbooks, one man really can make a difference. I personally disagree with that assessment. To me, Batman is not insane. Obsessive, yes. Violent, certainly. However, notice that he never kills the criminals he fights, and he never uses guns. The reason for this is not because the creators want to make a political statement about gun control or the death penalty using the character. Rather, Batman's refusal to kill or use guns is a self-imposed restriction that he upholds because he doesn't want other children to grow up without a father or mother, as he had. It also shows just how controlled he is when he fights crime. He could easily lose it and simply kill the people he hunts down. But that is not what he does. This ethical boundary is what separates him from the villains he fights, and it reveals an important truth about the character: In spite of his gruff demeanor, grim personality, and never-ending search for justice, Batman is one of the most compassionate characters in all of comics.

The X-Men: Hopes and Dreams

The X-Men were my favorite characters in all of comics as I grew up, and they were built around one of the richest metaphors in all of comics. Everyone in the world faces some sort of illogical, uncompromising hatred, whether it be based on their skin color, religion, social status, or even their hobbies (think of how comic book readers were seen in the 1950s, or how video game players are viewed today). The X-Men were created as a response to that kind of blind hatred. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby co-created a team of five mutants (the number of characters in the X-Men universe has since grown exponentially) who were ostracized by society simply because they were born with different abilities than the majority of humanity. Their mentor, Professor Charles Xavier, founded a school where they could learn to control their abilities and use them in the service of mankind, in order to show the world that mutants, while certainly different and maybe even more powerful in some ways, aren't all that bad.

Naturally, where there's good there's also evil, and many mutants began to use their gifts in destructive ways, in order to control their human "oppressors." The X-Men would always mobilize and fight against those "evil mutants" in service of a world which hates and fears them. They receive no credit for what they do, and are generally considered as much of a threat to civilization as those with whom the fight. Life isn't easy for them, but they still soldier on, remaining hopeful and steadfast in their mentor's dream for peace. It's a very relevant story in today's world, where war, hatred, and terrorism seem to be all you hear about on the news, and peace seems to be a far-off dream. The main lessons I take from the X-Men are to always remain hopeful no matter how bleak the circumstances may seem, and to always be fair and just toward the people you meet in your life. Perhaps if everyone did that, world peace wouldn't be just a dream.

Superman: Truth, Justice, and the American Way

Finally, I wanted to write a bit about Superman, the original superhero. To me, Superman encapsulates all of the qualities I've just described in the other characters. He is the ultimate superhero, and the greatest archetype the genre has to offer, because he represents all of our best qualities. I say this not because I'm a hardcore Superman fan (I've honestly never liked the character as much as Batman or Wolverine); I just think it's the truth. He suffered tragedy when, as an infant, his home planet of Krypton exploded, killing his parents and (nearly) all of his people; he has great mercy and compassion towards the people of his adopted homeworld Earth; he fights the never-ending battle for justice against those who prey on the innocent; he never kills, even though he could do so easily because of his incredible strength; and finally, he's an eternal optimist who has unfailing hope and faith in humanity, despite all the suffering and violence he's witnessed. That, I believe, is Superman's greatest strength. It is also why Superman will always remain the definitive comic book icon, even after seventy years have passed since his creation.

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All of this brings me to my main point: I believe that comicbooks are about more than garishly-costumed heroes and villains beating each other into submission. I've always thought that the characters themselves were more important than the fight scene of the month (as terrific as those were). If you look deeper, there are many important values and lessons contained within those stories. With the proper guidance, perhaps comics can even inspire you and help you live a better life. I know I certainly learned a lot from them. That is why I'll always love the medium, and I will always be indebted to Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Chris Claremont, Scott Lobdell, Chuck Dixon, and many others for their awe-inspiring work over the decades. Even with all the fantastic settings, colorful costumes, doomsday devices, and nefarious villains, there are still many universal truths hidden within a comicbook. All you have to do is look for them.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next month!

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