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Living Better Through Comics: Three Life Lessons From Superheroes For Everyday People

Living Better Through Comics: Three Life Lessons From Superheroes For Everyday People

Comic book characters are enjoying renewed popularity. Many made the jump to movies with success, like Batman, Spider-Man and the X-Men, and appealed to audiences who don’t read comics. Good stories can be adapted to many mediums.

Good stories also take us into the characters and their situations. We can relate to them. We can learn from the ways characters fail or succeed in coping with their circumstances. Here are three techniques from comics that can give you a new perspective on your own life.

-Origin stories

Comic book superheroes have origin stories that explain how they came to be superheroes. In early comics, this was often little more than an explanation of how a character got their powers from her. As the medium matured, origin stories increasingly addressed why the heroes chose the lives they lead. Origin stories motivate their heroes; they are always on the minds of the characters. If you read only a few numbers, you will find a reminder or summary of the origin.

Spider-Man is a classic example. Peter Parker, a high school science geek, is bitten by an irradiated spider on a school field trip. He miraculously transforms and gains spider abilities. That’s the how part of the story, the why comes later.

Peter does what any boy would do with a windfall. He tries to earn some money. He has such arrogance that he doesn’t even lift a finger to stop a thief. Shortly after, that same thief kills Peter’s guardian, Uncle Ben. Driven by the memory of his uncle’s care and lessons, and guilt over a tragedy he could have prevented, Peter abandons dreams of a luxurious life and easy money and vows, as Spider-Man, to protect people and oppose crime.

We have also experienced events that shaped our worldview and our approach to life. Like the Peter Parker story, it’s a mix of things that help and hurt. We don’t always have a choice about what happens to us, but we do have a choice about how to respond to them. We can be like heroes and use our origins to motivate us to do our best.

-Reconnection

Sometimes a character’s story can become so confused through years of variations, different writers’ and editors’ points of view, or misconceived from the start, that it has to be fixed for the story to continue. The fixed past is called “backward continuity” and the rewrite is informally called “retconning”.

Spider-Man provides an example. Originally created in the Atomic Age, his powers come from the bite of a radioactive spider. When the story was retold in recent movies, the spider was genetically modified. The comics publisher DC has repeatedly reconfigured its entire universe of characters and settings.

Of course, real people can’t just rewrite the events of their lives to make them more convenient. However, just like our origin story, we can make choices about how we view and respond to our experiences.

We cannot erase painful events, but we can forgive those who have hurt us and apologize to those we have hurt. Failures and losses can sometimes be recast as victories when we consider the lessons we’ve learned and the best decisions we’ve made since then. We can actively recall our joyful experiences and, less often, choose painful memories.

Retconning can be difficult and we will likely need the help of our friends, family and possibly professionals. This leads to the final lesson.

-Support cast

Superheroes can seem distant. They are powerful and seem to overcome obstacles single-handedly. However, most have great supporting casts.

Superman is one of the most powerful comic book characters, with near invulnerability and strengths and abilities to defeat all enemies. He too is alone, as the sole survivor of a lost race and a destroyed planet. In contrast, Superman learned his values ​​from the Kents, his adoptive parents, and still looks to them for advice and support. He eventually married Lois Lane and she keeps him grounded. He is a member of the Justice League, where he not only works alongside other superheroes, but also has trusted confidants.

Batman is introduced as the ultimate loner. He is a vigilante who spends his nights fighting Gotham City’s worst criminals. His determination, obsession and extraordinary discipline keep people at bay. Even so, his trusted family servant, Alfred, heals his wounds. He is Robin’s guardian, who fights alongside him. Batman has brought several heroes under his dark wings: Batgirl, Catwoman, Nightwing (the original Robin), Oracle (the original Batgirl), and others. With Superman, he is a member of the Justice League. He is a supporter of the Outsiders. On the surface, he is a lonely character, but behind the scenes, he is very connected with many associates and a few trusted friends.

We also cannot function without relationships. We need help and guidance and to be helpers and mentors to others. The most satisfying things in life, both personally and professionally, often come from our relationships with others.

None of these tips will give you superpowers. However, if your goal is to live as a happier, more fulfilled everyday person, you may find value in these tips from comic book superheroes.

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