The Price of Being a Superhero
On film, TV, books and comics, we often read and watch superheroes going out of their way from their convenience and privacy to save someone’s life. As avid readers and audience, we enjoy tracking the path they tread every moment, frame by frame, page by page.
But to put ourselves in their shoes, we realize that being in their situation is actually not that fun. Heroes with supernatural powers may have certain few privileges. But when they are in the line of duty, they have no choice but to decide and act fast, and that’s pressure.
Think about Spiderman, for instance. As a teenager, he learned early from his uncle that possessing tremendous power comes with being responsible for using it wisely and for the welfare of others. Like any typical superhero who leads a double life, Spiderman returns to being Peter Parker as a student when off-duty, loaded with academic tasks. He is also laden with domestic responsibilities to help his aunt, who, together with her husband Ben, have reared him.
Let’s mention Ironman, whom many Marvel comic fans know as Tony Stark who runs a billion dollar artillery plant. After surviving a fatal explosion in one of his business trips, his life changed. He decided to use his genius in armament engineering to construct a machine, particularly a high-tech mechanized metal suit, to save people’s lives. It was this suit that had made Tony Stark assume the role of being Ironman. And life since then for the billionaire had never been easy.
And who does not know Batman? Next to Superman, he is the anti-crime crusader whom many children and adults are well familiar with upon seeing his peculiar dark, bat-inspired suit. His DC comic fans know his tragic family story which motivated him early to fight crime. Witnessing his parents die in the hands of a criminal made him want to avenge their death but not by killing criminals. Raised as an orphan by his family’s well trusted and loyal servant, Bruce Wayne grew up undergoing rigorous training to become a competent crime fighter someday. And he conquered his fear which he had eventually used, in turn, to instill fear in criminals — the dark bat icon.
Life then for a superhero is not that glamorous though he or she may sometimes enjoy fame. Like Superman and Supergirl, a superhero has to wisely joggle his or her time between being the people’s defender and protector and being an ordinary but efficient employee. As a hero, he is always on call. Whatever that protagonist might be doing, whether sleeping or enjoying a TV show or having a good time with his family or friends, or even beating a deadline with paperwork, he has to respond at once when he senses an emergency.
And taking a superhero’s role also involves an inward battle. In modern comics today, superheroes have their personal fears, inadequacies, flaws and anxieties to face and overcome.
Besides these, a superhero knows he is bravely risking his life upon going to a battle area facing a dangerous and formidable foe. As observed, there is one top quality any comic superhero possesses — it is being selfless. He puts other people’s welfare first before his. With it comes sacrifice, willing to lay down one’s life to save one or many.
Life for a superhero, however, is not all risks and sacrifices. A life of selfless and competent service, on the other hand, wins the respect and admiration of the people a superhero helps. Sometimes, a hero’s beneficiaries may also return a favor. In one episode of Supergirl, the heroine saves a helicopter from an electric power of a villain by shielding it with her own body. Fallen to the ground, badly injured and weakened, she begs the villain to spare the people’s lives. The merciless foe was about to attack the people with her terrible power but instead was quickly subdued or defeated by firefighters.
Do you know anyone in real life who exemplifies a superhero’s qualities? There are many villains in real life but there are also countless unsung heroes who give their lives to save others and defend a country from those who sow violence and destruction.
Soldiers go to war to vanquish and destroy rebels, terrorists and foreign invaders. Policemen come in full force to combat lawless elements such as druglords, gangs, sinister syndicate mobsters and other menacing criminals. Firemen and search-and-rescue teams dash into calamity zones to snatch people quickly out of danger.
Doctors, nurses and the rest of the medical crew are on the double, treating their patients inflicted with the current deadly disease, covid 19. Donned with personal protective equipment (PPE) and armed with proper tools such as test kits, they take on the invisible enemy as they help stricken victims recover. Though many in their team have succumbed to the sting of the virus, the rest who are still alive stand their ground, sacrificially serving.
These heroes do not have supernatural powers but they have skills and undying passion, tenacity, selflessness, wisdom, fear of GOD and love for humanity. When a situation summons them to help, they respond to that call at once without delay even at the expense of their lives and simple moments of happiness. They may only enjoy a temporary respite, but the honor, admiration and respect due them is their lasting reward. They may also have a sense of fulfillment, achievement and success, knowing they have saved a life or many lives.
But above all, we must always realize that there is only one ultimate, real Superhero who willingly gave His life to save humanity from eternal destruction in fiery and horrific hell as a consequence of sin. His name is Jesus Christ. As Divine, He risked coming down to earth to live as a sinless man. He performed miracles to show His love and power. He healed the sick, fed a multitude, cast out evil spirits, raised dead people and calmed the storm.
He died on the cross in our place so we won’t be condemned. Jesus, however, rose to life again in three days to prove His Divine might. As a result, anyone can be forgiven and live a new life on the condition that he or she place his or her trust in Jesus and abandon the old wretched life. And being reconciled to GOD, anyone may approach Him based on Jesus’ death and resurrection. The ultimate Hero will someday return to save GOD’s children from an imminent global catastrophe, from morally deteriorating world and from endless misery in hell. He will also establish His perpetual superior kingdom on earth to promote justice and uprightness.
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