Why I Love Superheroes by Muhammad Raza

 Why I Love Superheroes

by Muhammad Raza

The concept of superheroes is silly: if someone told you to imagine masked men and women in halloween costumes fighting crime, you would laugh and think that they were crazy. Despite this, it seems that almost everyone in the world knows of at least one or two superheroes, and that so many want to be like them. Sure, the appeal of powers such as superhuman strength, flight, super speed, and the ability to shoot fire is understandable, but some of these powers are also silly and are not necessarily always associated with superheroes. Why is it that superheroes are so popular then? While there are definitely a plethora of reasons to explain their fame, the reason why I personally like them is not because of how much they can lift or how fast they are, but because of the lessons they teach.

My favorite superhero is Spiderman. Yea, I like the way he can dodge bullets, swing from building to building, and knock out bad guys with a single punch, but the main reason I follow him these days is because he inspires me to be better. Spiderman is a hero who faces constant hardships, heart-breaks, financial troubles, and more, yet he continues to get up and fight everyday because he knows his inaction can lead to harm reaching others. Spiderman gets back up and fights even when his body is broken, even when there is no hope, even when the world is against him, and this makes me want to continue working hard as well. Like us, he makes mistakes (grave mistakes, at times), but he continues to persevere and push because he knows he can still help and improve himself. Furthermore, almost all superheroes possess inspiring virtues that make us want to improve and be like them: Superman can enslave the Earth with a fraction of his power, but chooses to be a beacon of hope; Batman lost his parents at a young age and actively uses his resources to ensure that no child has to suffer the same fate; Captain America embodies the ideals of courage and accountability, often in the face of death and destruction. These examples illustrate that superheros are not mere figments of imagination conjured for our entertainment, but are figures that teach us important lessons and encourage us to strive for what is right. I speak the truth when I say that some superheroes have actually inspired me to become a better person and embody better values, which is why I love them and think that they deserve praise world-wide.