For centuries, human beings have idolized heroes whose powers are relevant to the time and culture of their following. For example, the Greeks worshiped mythic heros such as Hercules and Achilles as they overcame limitations to prove themselves to the gods. Comic books are the American version of mythology and commentary for modern society. Superheroes represent the fears and ambitions of a certain era and allow readers to identify with their struggles. In the 1930’s, Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the sons of two Jewish immigrants. As it is widely known, Superman was a foreigner whose home was destroyed and he uses his abilities to right the wrongs of the world. The story of Superman portrayed the challenges that were beginning to unfold for Jews in Europe. As the war progressed, comic books depicted Superman as a patriotic hero who continually defeated Nazi supervillains. In 1940, Look Magazine published a sequence entitled “What If Superman Ended the War?” In which Superman captured both Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin and flew them to Switzerland where both dictators were put on trial in front of the League of Nations for war crimes against their own people.…show more content… The ideology behind superheroes has been explored by many, including John Darowski, who wrote his graduate thesis, “Batman as American Mythology,” on the subject. Darowski believes superheroes provide security and optimism when woeful situations arise. “Society projects those fears and anxieties onto the villain, and the audience enjoys a cathartic experience of seeing the hero overcome those challenges and leaves the story with a feeling that individual and the world’s troubles can be overcome.” During World War II, Superman was a symbol of justice and American patriotism. The Superman comic books offered an escape for its readers to fantasize about punishing the real life
