SUP E RH E RO E S
Washington Green proudly presents the fourth instalment to Superheroes; a portfolio of iconic comic book covers, masterminded by the legendary Stan Lee. Comic book narratives tell us of two very distinct and differing channels of heroism: team efforts and solo super figures. This collection both balances and juxtaposes this dynamic, showcasing the power of individuals who stand alone against evil, and those who draw strength from fighting shoulder to shoulder with their comrades in arms. In the pantheon of comic book lore, the consummate lone wolf – pun intended – is Wolverine. Logan to those few whom are invited into his confidence and trust, Wolverine plays a pivotal role in the elite X-Men and now, for the first time in this Superheroes series, is portrayed as the leading character on his own cover, as if to highlight his fated path of solitude. Wolverine’s self-imposed isolation is symptomatic of his great fear that the beast in him will one day take over, and he will cause irreparable damage to people for whom he cares more than he would like to admit. His sense of self is horribly degraded; he sees himself as a monster, and fights against the realisation that he is destined to be a heroic force for good. It is a bittersweet irony for Wolverine that his power to regenerate and heal his body does not quite extend to the emotional wounds he carries with him. Outwardly tough and indestructible, his inner turmoil serves to humanise him, and make him easier to relate to for the viewer or reader. As a viewer or reader, one views Wolverine quite differently. Everybody loves a bad boy, especially one with an unerring sense of right and wrong, a tortured soul whose innate goodness and honour keep him just out of the reach of dark forces. Those following his adventures find themselves willing him to stay on the right path, to make the right decisions and to learn to love himself just a little. Continuing along the road of standalone heroes in this collection of work, we can take Spider-Man as a comparable character to that of Wolverine. A young man, bestowed with powers not at his request or design, struggles to walk the line between humdrum and heroism, simultaneously drawing from and yet resenting his abilities. They dictate his difference from those around him, mark him indelibly as something ‘other’ and will govern every future life choice he makes. Adding to this considerable burden is the guilt over the death of his father figure, Uncle Ben; a death he could have prevented. This tragedy prompted Peter Parker to utilise
his alter ego to serve and protect – much like Wolverine, here we see another hero whose life choices have been influenced by tragedy. Spider-Man evokes the same response in his readers and viewers as Wolverine; we sit silently willing them to succeed. As mentioned previously, an audience wants to see Wolverine battle his inner demons and emerge victorious, positively willing him on to do so at every twist and turn. Similarly, we cannot help but be on the side of Spider-Man, as he is seemingly out-manned, out-gunned and out-manoeuvred more often than not. Our sense of justice for the underdog prevails, and no outcome other than Spider-Man winning the fight and saving the day will placate our own sense of fair play. Happily, neither of these complex characters let us down too often, in their own self-sufficient and independent ways. They are both able to make their way in the world keeping their abilities hidden. Spider-Man is only revealed when Peter Parker chooses, and Wolverine’s claws are only unsheathed in moments of violence. Should they so choose, they could both live a life removed from the repercussions of their powers and yet they opt not to, both acutely aware that, in the words of Peter Parker’s beloved Uncle Ben; “With great power comes great responsibility”. These are two men that teetered dangerously close to the dark side, but chose a different path, a better path, that would allow them to help those in need, do the right thing and atone for the sins of which they both respectively believe themselves to be guilty. Each victory against evil, each moment of self-sacrifice soothes their guilty consciences and, as they might deem, takes them one step closer to deliverance. And yet, both Wolverine and Spiderman have found solace and solidarity from being part of a consolidated unit during their Marvel histories. So what makes these two inherent loners seek the company of others? What traits unite them as men, and as superheroes? Thus we see the beauty in the balance of cover artwork portrayed in this collection. For every strong individual, there is a team. For every power there is another ability to complement it. Whilst strength can indeed be found in numbers, it is there also that we find friendship, comfort, support and protection. As Aristotle identified, ‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts’. It is with this mind-set that one must view both these individual images, and the collection as a whole, and celebrate both the standalone superhero exploits, as well as the times when even these seemingly omnipotent beings need a little help, giving us, their firm fans, the courage to admit likewise.
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker