Modern superheros are individuals or small groups who enforce the status quo by attacking those who threaten it. Superheros and supervillains are both very individualist ideas, leaning into a great man theory esque narrative of individuals shaping history.
Superhero stories rarely take place in utopia: these are flawed societies with social ills, but rather than taking those on through systemic change they go after individuals they have judged to be evil, rather than a symptom of said flawed society.
This is not to say superhero stories are always reactionary. Many grapple with this tension and actively criticize the idea of a society relying on superheros to keep the peace and the ethics of vigilante justice.
There are also historic portrayals of superheros as liberators, which would not be reactionary, although modern comic universes (say after the avengers movies started), these portrayals become excessively scarce.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.