Villains
Alfred Pennyworth: Some men aren't looking for anything logical. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn. The Dark Knight (2008)
Why would I start this off with a quote from a non-superhero about a villain? Well, it’s because this quote explains why we need superheroes. This memorable line is uttered by Batman’s butler/mentor/friend Alfred. Batman is sitting in his penthouse and is feeling dejected. He has lost the woman he loves. He has failed to keep Harvey Dent, the Savior of Gotham, from getting horribly disfigured. All his wealth, genius, and gadgets were not enough to keep him from falling short. In his mind, he is fighting a hopeless battle against arguably the most demented, psychotic, and evil villain in the history of comics. His normal strategies have utterly failed him. What is he to do against such reckless hate?
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why Batman needs Alfred. It is also why the world needs Batman. Some men cannot be negotiated with or threatened. Some men cannot be frightened by a cowl or beaten into submission. There are some people that are only satisfied when the world is burning and when people are suffering. When the world is faced with an individual who is completely defined by a lust for chaos and evil that cannot be undermined, the only person who can truly stand up to this is the mirror opposite. Batman can never do enough to cure Joker. Joker observes that him and Batman are an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. When faced with pure evil, the world needs someone who is uncompromisingly good. What’s interesting is that Joker recognizes all of this. He is never having more fun then when he is in a moral chess match against Bats. There is evil in this world and we need someone strong enough to withstand that filth on our behalf. By essentially playing Joker to a moral stalemate, the Joker’s power is neutralized and his negative effect on the world can be stopped (usually by Batman sending him to a prison).
There is a key point here, though that I do not want you all to miss. Batman is a superhero who can stand up to someone as horrible as the Joker. But Batman is just a man. Anyone can be Batman.
The Joker is the perfect example of one kind of villain. Chaos, evil, and suffering are his only true loves. World domination is not what he wants. He wants worldwide madness. As he so hauntingly states, “All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That is how far the world is from where I am. One. Bad. Day.” He doesn’t picture himself as being a monster, he’s “just ahead of the curve.”
Loki: Kneel before me. I said, KNEEL! Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity, that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, for identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel.
German Old Man: [slowly rises to his feet] Not to men like you.
Loki: There are no men like me.
German Old Man: There are always men like you.
The Avengers (2012)
Loki provides an example of the other popular villain type. Loki views the world as being beneath him. Humans are meant to be ruled by a god and he fits the description. It is purely logical o him that he should be the king over the earth. When he says “there are no men like me” he really means that as a statement of fact. Humans should be thanking him for ruling over them. To him they are unintelligent insects that would greatly benefit from the order that his rule would provide.
But what this brilliant elder shows, is that Loki has made a horrible mistake. We are meant to assume that this weak, old man is a survivor of the Holocaust. Loki is talking about how humans are meant to be ruled. They are too weak to stand up on their own. This man effectively gives him the middle finger. Think about what this man is saying. “I’ve been forced to kneel before. Someone tried to rule me once. I’ve been beaten. I’ve been tortured. I’ve been starved. I’ve been branded. You really think that kneeling is simpler? Screw that. I’ll stand.” This character provides one of the most heroic displays in the whole film, and he does it without a hammer or a suit of metal, or super strength.
We can stand up against oppression and tyrants. We can stand up against chaos and evil. This world is fallen and depraved and people will have to face personal Lokis and Jokers.
I started with a section on villains to show why we need heroes. What is exciting is that we have it in us to be those heroes.
Spider-Man
Peter Parker: Whatever life holds in store for me, I will never forget these words: "With great power comes great responsibility." This is my gift, my curse. Who am I? I'm Spider-man. Spider-Man (2002)
This is one of the most well known quotes in comics. Why is that? What makes Spider-Man’s credo so popular? Well, it’s because this isn’t just Spider-Man’s credo. It is from his comics and his movies, but it goes deeper than that. This is the cornerstone of every superhero’s mission in life.
But it goes even deeper than that. This should be the mission statement of every person. Whatever a person’s skills, gifts, or talents may be, they have a fundamental obligation to their fellow humans to use those gifts for the betterment of the world around them. It is our responsibility to fight, think, build, and teach for our neighbors, friends, and family.
We may not have healing factors, the ability to fly, or a radioactive spider bite, but we have enough that sitting around and doing nothing for humanity is simply not an option.
My Alma Mater would use the term “agents of renewal”. But whether you go with agent of renewal, hero, some other phrase, it should all come down to the same thing.
Superman
Jor-El: You will give the people of Earth an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun, Kal. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders. Man of Steel (2013)
People who know me also know that I am not Superman’s biggest fan. I have always been drawn more to characters like Spider-Man who are more relatable. I can connect with someone who struggles to balance all of his responsibilities. The fact that Peter Parker is literally amazing, but also can never quite manage his studies and finances is something that has always been incredibly interesting to me. Superman, on the other hand, is perfection. He is flawless, almost to the point of being boring. You never have to wonder how Superman will make it all work because what could possibly be big enough to hinder Superman?
This is not meant to be an attack on Superman. I simply want to point out that he fills a different role than someone like Spider-Man or Batman.
In the most recent Superman movie, the symbol of Clark as a Christ-figure was a bit heavy-handed. However, the point of that symbolism and the above quote is to pass on a message that can be applicable to our daily lives, regardless of one’s religious views. Superman provides us with an ideal to strive for. We will never be able to fully live up to the perfect example that has been laid in front of us. We will stumble and fall. But through our efforts and through help from a greater power than us, we will still be able to accomplish wonders. What’s important is not when we stumble or fall. What’s important is that we do everything in our power to strive towards the sun. None of this progress is possible without the example and aid of someone much bigger and more powerful than ourselves.
Batman
Lt. James Gordon: Because we have to chase him.
James Gordon Jr.: He didn't do anything wrong.
Lt. James Gordon: Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Dark Knight. The Dark Knight (2008)
The most obvious role that a superhero fulfills is that of saving the world through fighting crime. However, the epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s film, The Dark Knight highlights the less glamorous obligation that can be placed on the shoulders of the hero. Batman is called upon to make a sacrifice. He is forced out of necessity to carry the blame and the hardship for all of the crimes that Harvey Dent committed. Why? Because Batman does what he does for the betterment of Gotham. Yes, Harvey Dent became a villain and usually the defeat of a villain ends with cheers and celebration. However, in this case, the fall of Harvey Dent is a blatant red splotch across the face of the city. It proves that Gotham is just as corrupt and evil as was once thought and that all the progress that Batman and the GCPD have made is meaningless.
It is easy for a superhero to wave to fans as his enemy lays vanquished. That’s not what makes them super. What is difficult is when they are called upon to lay down on a wire for the greater good. Gotham is always Batman’s priority and in this case, that requires him taking the fall. Batman is dark, dangerous, and conflicted. But he is also strong, just, and perseverant. A city as filthy and broken as Gotham requires a hero that can plunge his hand into that filth and do what is necessary to clean it up. And that takes someone who is battle-hardened. Bruce Wayne is a broken man who picked himself up and built himself into something stronger, and that’s what he hopes to help Gotham to do as well. Anyone can be glamorous, but only the true heroes can survive being shunned. It’s difficult to admit that some things are more important than our own reputation or wellbeing. Sometimes, the worst job falls to the best people because they are the ones who can take it.
X-Men
Professor Charles Xavier: Erik, you said yourself we're the better men. This is the time to prove it. There are thousands of men on those ships. Good, honest, innocent men! They're just following orders.
Erik Lehnsherr: I've been at the mercy of men just following orders. Never again.
X-Men: First Class (2011)
If you are unfamiliar with the Milgram experiment, you should really check it out. It happened after World War II and essentially looked at how far people were willing to go if they were given a direct order from an authority figure. The findings are chilling. Erik (Magneto) was a direct victim of those people who were willing to do heinous acts, simply because their supervisor told them to. He was sent to a concentration camp. It is hard to blame Magneto for not trusting humanity. He uses his powers to protect himself and those he cares about from pain and suffering because he knows what it feels like. If the events at Auschwitz could happen because of simple orders, why on earth would he feel comfortable with the world? Are people truly incapable of moral thought and accountability? Humanity is the farthest thing from innocent that Erik can imagine. The excuse that they are just following orders is not only insufficient in absolving these men, it actually condemns them. Are we so morally lazy or bankrupt that we are unable to realize that some orders need to be ignored? This exchange does an excellent job of highlighting the deep scars that have never gone away for Erik. Orders are not what cost Erik his parents, his childhood, and his freedom. That was done by the men who decided to follow those orders. And they are anything but innocent. Frankly, it’s hard to blame Erik for feeling this way. His best friend feels that humanity is something that is valuable and good. It is worth fighting for. Erik finds this to be naïve and optimistic to the point of foolishness.
I think what makes this so powerful is that the reader or viewer finds him or herself agreeing with the villain. And it is precisely that complexity and uncertainty that makes these stories and characters meaningful.
Iron Man
Tony Stark: You can take away my suits, you can take away my home, but there's one thing you can never take away from me: I am Iron Man.
As you watch through his movies, Tony Stark seems like the last person who would do something selfless. He is defined as a genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist who likes girls, toys, and himself. No one can deny that he is cool. But he is not a hero. However, that all starts to change once he sees the real world consequences of his actions. He realizes that he has too much to offer the world. He never loses that swagger and charisma, but it is now a part of a far more complex human being. This change is what defines him. It is not his gorgeous Audis or his glowing chest. It is not his 42 suits or his Malibu home. He is now defined by the fact that he is part of a bigger universe. He sometimes struggles with how to handle what it all means, but he knows that he is not the center of it. The fact that he recognizes that some things are more important than Tony Stark is precisely what makes him Iron Man. And that makes Iron Man truly invincible.
Captain America
Steve Rogers: I don't want to kill anyone. I don't like bullies; I don't care where they're from. Captain America (2011)
“Once, long ago, I asked Bucky what purpose Captain America served outside of combat. It was a foolish question. There’ll always be something to fight for.” This is a quote from a Captain America comic I read recently. And it really highlights the purpose of the character. He was from a time of war and he was meant to help end that chaos. Sure, that war ended, but wars didn’t disappear. This is a fallen world, which means there is always something to fight for. Regardless of the colors they wear, bullies need to be stopped.
The Avengers (2012)
· Iron Man
Tony Stark: You're missing the point! There's no throne, there is no version of this where you come out on top. Maybe your army comes and maybe it's too much for us but it's all on you. Because if we can't protect the Earth, you can be damn well sure we'll avenge it!
There is evil and suffering and it is big and strong. Prevention is a marvelous goal and a worthwhile endeavor, but it is also insufficient. There is simply too much evil to stop it all before it starts. And when evil does inevitably start, the people who fight against it will strike back with a fury. Loki killed a lot of people in this movie. Death and destruction was prominently displayed. But does that mean it is not worth battling back? These guys are not just going to run off and lick their wounds. Loki must be stopped, but he must also pay for his actions. The Avengers give a voice to those who they were unable to save. Fighting against evil will not bring those we have lost back. However, it certainly honors their memory. In other words, it doesn't make sense to stop battling for those we love and what we believe even when we suffer a trauma or a setback.
· Thor
Thor: You think yourself above them?
Loki: Well, yes.
Thor: Then you miss the truth of ruling, brother. A throne would suit you ill.
Thor gets it. I believe it was Dumbledore who pointed out that those best suited to lead are those who have leadership forced upon them. It seems to me that those who want to be a ruler so badly are probably missing the point. It is not about one’s own power or control or about using that power to further personal desires or agendas. Rather, it is about putting one’s self in a position to help those in need. Kind of like a superhero. When we find ourselves in a position of leadership, we have a responsibility to those we lead.
· Captain America
Steve Rogers: You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing.
Talk about the perfect line to describe Cap. He is the antithesis of everything evil in the world. He doesn’t just fight for the Avengers, or America, or a government. In fact, he has gone against all of those in the past. What he fights for is goodness. Whether it is an alien race, Nazis, or just plain bullies, Captain America is an unwavering moral compass who will use every ounce of his strength to make the world a better place. Cap doesn’t go looking for a fight. He goes looking for someone to protect. Why do you think he carries a shield?
· Fury
Nick Fury: There was an idea, Stark knows this, called the Avengers Initiative. The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people to see if they could become something more. To see if they could work together when we needed them to, to fight the battles that we never could. Phil Coulson died, still believing in that idea. In heroes.
Frankly, I just have this quote in here because I love it. I love that we can believe in heroes.
· Hulk
“ Bruce Banner: That’s my secret, Captain. I’m always angry.
Everyone can learn a lesson from the Hulk because everyone has been angry. It is a common misconception that it is wrong to be angry, but that is just ridiculous. That is simply setting yourself up for failure. Anger is a perfectly natural emotion. Having emotions is not something that should be disciplined. The key is to have the skills necessary to recognize and respond to those emotions in a healthy way. The Hulk embodies what anger looks like when it is handled poorly and when it is handled well. When we are able to harness that powerful emotion and use it as motivation and power towards a greater goal, then anger can be one of the best things in the world. Some things are worth getting angry about, as long as that anger does not consume us.
Read this:
A lot of people fear the ferocity of their feelings. The idea that they can keep that massive force in check seems impossible. Bruce Banner shows us that there is always something to be angry about. He also shows us that he doesn’t have to be the bad guy.
The Incredibles (2004)
Mr. Incredible: You mean you killed off real heroes so that you could pretend to be one?
Syndrome: Oh, I'm real. Real enough to defeat you! And I did it without your precious gifts, your oh-so-special powers. I'll give them heroics. I'll give them the most spectacular heroics the world has ever seen! And when I'm old and I've had my fun, I'll sell my inventions so that everyone can have powers. Everyone can be super! And when everyone's super…no one will be.
Gotta have an Incredibles quote. Powers don’t make someone super. It’s what you do with those powers.
Conclusion
Aunt May: Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them, cheer them, scream their names. And years later, they'll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them how to hold on a second longer. I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
In the intro to this post I claimed that we all have it in us to be heroes. A hero comes from selfless acts. The Joker says that all it takes is one bad day to be reduced to insanity. I would argue that all it takes is one showing of support to someone in need to keep them sane. Peter Parker knows firsthand that being a hero and having powers do not mean things are easier. On the contrary, being a hero is one of the hardest things that we can do. To give up something from our own dreams to catch someone else who is falling is the definition of being a hero.
And if comic books have taught me one thing, it’s that the world will always need heroes.
