Myths or Fictions: Gods vs. Superheroes

While it’s easy to dismiss the concept of beings with supernatural powers and mythological fictions, superheroes and fictional Gods have various similarities and differences. The most common superhero, of course, is Superman, while the greatest warrior in Iliad is Achilles. These two characters clash with one another in personality, weaknesses, strengths and characteristic.

There are various stories on the history of Superman causing one to believe that he was mischievous insurrectionist. Superman was born on Earth and founded by earthlings, Jonathan and Martha Kent in his starship that crashed in Smallville, Kansas. In another story, Superman was also found in the middle of nowhere, but was sent to an orphanage soon after. The original Superman is quoted to be “half Huckleberry Finn and half Robin Hood” (Tye 31). He had the technique to be straightforward and purpose as pure as gold. However in another comic rewrite, Superman is said to have been “a spineless, unbearable coward!” (Tye 31) by a woman that he is trying to pursue. Superman’s personality and character changes multiple times through the years making the reader think one thing, but if analyzing another comic make them think otherwise. It is believed that his purpose in crime fighting is not the same as most other superheroes tend to be. While Superman does have a personal trauma, he “cannot ritualistically redress this past by fighting criminals in hand-to-hand combat, as Batman and Spider-Man do” (Yockey 26). Superman generally protect great numbers of people, unlike the rest of the superheroes; he saves the whole world from catastrophes. Seeing how Superman’s home planet has been destroyed is unknown, but allows one to understand that the reasoning for his heroic d...

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... and Achilles have several things in contrast with one another rather than in common. The two of them are both, however, ‘super’ in their own ways with their different personalities and strengths. Their weaknesses bring the duo together in an aspect that one would not think about at first notice.

Works Cited

Osborn, Kevin, Dana Burgess, and Inc net Library. “The Complete Idiot's Guide to Classical Mythology”. New York, N.Y.: Alpha Books, 1998. Web. 1st December 2012.

Roman, Luke, and Monica Roman. “Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology”. New York: Facts On File, 2010. Web. 1st December 2012.

Tye. Larry. “Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero”. New York: Random House Digital, Inc., 2012. Web. 1st December 2012.

Yockey, Matt. “Critical Journal of Film & Television”. Velvet Light Trap, Issue 61. 2008. 26-37. Web. 1st December 2012.