Holding Out for a Hero:
An Analytical Point of View
Who is your hero? Everyone has or had a hero at some point in time in their life that represented an image larger than life itself. The larger than life image may have often been represented by a semi-physical super-human being known as a hero. Heroes often appear invincible and above the law and often times nothing short of being labeled vigilantes. The implications of heroes, right from the pages of comic books, roaming the dark streets at night can excite the imaginations of today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders all within a short few pages. Whether the imaginations are openly shared or held within secrecy there is always the lingering possibility of the unknown living, breathing, and existing amongst us during the day and transforming in the blink of an eye from the inside of a phone booth at the first sign of trouble.
Author Mike Dubose makes an interesting correlation between recent political leaders known for their above the law mentalities and original story lines taken from everyday comic book characters. Within his article, Holding Out for a Hero: Reaganism, Comic Book Vigilantes, and Captain America, he directly correlates Ronald Reagan, Oliver North, and the Watergate scandal to comic book characters such as Batman, Superman, and Captain America. Mr. Dubose not only correlates the real life human politicians to comic book characters but how their political history is satirically represented within the comic book story lines.
The article accomplishes making several political statements while appealing to a broad audience through the animated imaginations of multiple generations. Mr. Dubose focuses upon the satirical references between politicians and heroes but emphasizes the political statements through a strong vein of irony. By identifying the irony it almost appears the author is attacking the antagonist politicians of the 1980’s all the while really approving of their represented statute as republicans.
The 1980 political world produced numerous political scandals such as the Iran Contra affair, also highlighted within the author’s article, making such characters as Colonel Oliver North forever popular. Col. North was finally portrayed as the villain hero who did what it took to get things done once he waged war with the congressional persecution boards. The most interesting aspect of the article is the fact that the author places republicans on a pedestal equivalent to that of a hero’s statute. The author again accomplishes this somewhat far reaching correlation by emphasizing the public reaction to the scandalous 1980’s politics as a sense of vigilantism. Vigilantism can be defined numerous ways but effectively describes an action taken that appears above the law or with severed connections to authority. Vigilantism further defines a vigilante’s character as one that is capable of ensuring safety with freedom with a willingness to get things done while others’ or the public looks the other direction. Vigilantes are often classified as those individuals willing to take the law into their own hands to finalize justice that could not be equally distributed due to law limitations, technicalities, or so called criminal rights.
The author, Mr. Dubose, incorporates a crafty style with an ongoing perspective appeal throughout the entire article. Without even realizing it the reader is encapsulated into the mythological ideas about heroes working above the law for the greater good. The perspective appeal thus greatly ties the 1980’s style of politics to vigilantism through multiple political scandals and the lack of justice waged once they were extensively investigated and prosecuted. Holding Out for a Hero reinforces a legacy that has always existed within civilization; we all have heroes and are always looking for one when one is needed whether he or she resides in the white house or flashes by our face in a bright red cape on the pages of a comic book doesn’t seem to matter.
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9 comments:
I feel the author did a great job when writing this article because he took a lot of ideas that are often demonstrated as boring and displayed how they can be viewed at an interesting and entertaining level. Mike, you also did a excellant job at summarizing this article with your own style and added information.
I also thought the author did a good job of making a coalation between heros, vigilantes and government officials.
I really never looked at heros this way. They really do take the law in their own hands. I have always just viewed the final result. I am wrong and the aricle has shed light on that fo rme.
Mike, you did a great job of analizing this article.
Good job at explaining the article!I have never thought of comparing politicians and government officials to comic book heros. The article was very interesting and did a good job getting me to understand how they are similar.
Great job, Mike! I loved to hear how it was brought into perspective that those that are heroes can be viewed another way. I have found that doing the right thing sometimes makes you stand out like a sore thumb and look like a troublemaker to those that don't want to stand up for anything. Good job at broadening our scope of perception between heroes, vigilantes and yes, officials!
I liked this article and your summary a lot. It's true that when you first think of a superhero, you think of someone like Superman or Batman. You don't often think of the President first! But there are a lot of normal, every day people that is a hero to someone out there. I enjoyed this. Thanks.
Mike,
‘Larger than Life’ can definitely describe a famous person such as an actor, professional ball player or the President. To many of us, we see these people on the television, read about them in magazines and newspapers, and rarely see them in person. Perhaps that is what makes heroes so mystic; we mostly see them from a distance. Many times I’ve watched a TV show or movie and applauded the actions of the hero even not realizing they were portraying a vigilante who views themselves above the law. This was a good article and you did a very nice job with the summary. I agree with Donna, I use to see final results and not take notice of how the hero accomplished the tasks. I now have a different perspective, thanks.
Kim
This was a great analysis Mike. I enjoy comic books and I also enjoy politics. It did appear the author "put republicans on a pedestal". This article made me think of the fine line between being a hero and a bad guy.
Never thought about Heroes in this way before, like most I think of Superman or Batman as heroes, however, there are many heroes that are everyday people. Many actors have joined the military and served their country, while giving up fame and fortune to do it, they are heroes. And I agree with Donna I never really looked at what the Hero did to get the result, but only in the result itself. Great analysis, Mike.
Great job mike, I have to say i love compic books and politics and never put the two together. even though you pointed out memebers of the republican party in your analysis as the writerdid, George W. Bush and those who agree with his policies came straight to mind.
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