Supehero = Nerd ?

Our assignment this week was to read an article by Neal Gabler entitled "Inside Every Superhero Lurks a Nerd." It is about the debut of Spider-Man (the first movie) and how it grossed $114 million by appealing to the teenaged masses.

Thinking of superheros makes me reminisce the good old days when I read comics. Actually it wasn't to long ago that I was doing just that, and, in fact, I am no stranger to the comic scene. Yes, that's right my English 101 class, Will still enjoys comic books. Although, I was never quite the fan of the superhero books (I always favored Archie or Richie-Rich or something not so violent). I left that violence to TV and my imagination when I played with my G.I. Joes.

But I digress, this blog is about a movie and not my childhood although it may sneak in without my willing. Spider-Man...sounds creepy to me. If I were a stranger to the comic genius of today, I would think him an evil doer who orders his trained, monstrous spiders to attack cities and take damsels in distress to the tops of building and swat at old 1930's war planes. But then again, who wouldn't after seeing the recent trailers for King Kong.

Lets talk about the most famous superhero (in my opinion). Lets talk about the one superhero who really doesn't need a name, only a letter, and is worldly recognized for it. If you have not picked up on the superhero of whom I am talking, let me share with you a few lines from his introduction....

"Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. (womanly voice) 'Look up in the sky! It's a bird! (manly voice) NO, it's a plane! (everyone together) NO!! It's SUPERMAN!'"

And, so there you have it, a complete character description in two lines of text. Who could ask for more? Who would want more? Who would want that name? Superman? What are you? Cocky?

Why would anyone name themselves "Superman"? Unless they could back it up. But once again, why would anyone want to hide in the dorky "human suit" that is Clark Kent? Does Superman see us as nerds? Is America, or for that matter the entire human race, nerdy?

In my highschool drama class, I began to think in a way that challenged my perception of Superman. Let me know if you agree. If Superman is the real "man," then that makes Clark Kent his alter-ego. Therefore his costume wouldn't be his Superman outfit, no sir, it would be his Clark Kent "suit". And why would he dress like he does? With his brown suit, his top hat and his glasses. Why would he work at a newspaper? (those being notorious for housing geeks and nerds alike) Why would he portray himself as weak and dismal? Because, he sees us as these things. He is only trying to fit in with the rest of the human race. He doesn't want to stick out. He wants to look just as everyone else. And everyone else looks like a nerd.

But, what does this give us? It gives us hope! For if Superman dresses like a nerd, and harbors superpowers, then why couldn't one of us?

So what if we're not faster than a speeding bullet or more powerful than a locomotive. Maybe we could change the world with one idea. Maybe we could save a life with one decision. Maybe, anyone one of us, could make this world one hell of a better place if we just opened our eyes and changed one bad thing about ourselves.

Being a superhero doesn't mean we all have to slap on capes and pretend to fly everywhere we go (besides according to the movie "The Incredible's" capes just get in the way and can be a downfall). Tutoring smaller children after school, during high school, made me a superhero to a couple of kids and a ton of parents and teachers. Who knows, one of those underprivileged kids could grow up and find a cure for God knows what diseases that lurk out there. But what I do know is, that just because we aren't Superman, and just because we don't hide out in the human race, doesn't mean we can't reach out and become a superhero to just one person.

In my humble and modest opinion, everyone needs a superhero. And thats why, even though I know I am a massive nerd, I know that inside this nerdy guy, lurks a superhero. And whether you be a nerd yourself, or the self proclaimed Superman reincarnate, inside you also lurks a superhero. So, let him or her out and be someone's superhero, the world only knows we could use a couple more.

(and for those of you scared that you'll be on your own always know that that is the reason that The Justice League and The X-Men were created, even though you're a superhero someone will always have your back)