No-Kill Heroes

I've been reading some of the introductory notes for several different college classes teaching about comic books and history. Many of them rotate around the central theme that: throughout time humanity has created heroes that embody the ideals of their time. Gilgamesh, Hercules, Goliath, Samson, Jesus, Pecos Bill, Wild Bill Hitchcock and now the modern day super hero.

On the whole we've moved away from the blood thirsty conqueror type of hero to the 'no-kill' hero. There are a few exceptions to this rule, of course, which are a throw back or a 'nod' to the respect a warrior garners in the male psyche (Conan, Wolverine, Punisher, Deadpool, etc). The no kill hero is like Superman (who in turn is like Jesus), Batman, the Fantastic Four, Spiderman... heroes that are willing to sacrifice everything for a set of principles and always find 'another way' to stop evil without the need to kill.

As a society, what does it say about us that we've created these no-kill supermen? Is it really a fantasy for many of us to solve all our problems without the need for bloodshed? Are we, as a human race, beginning to make a fundamental shift in what we 'wish we could be'?

Or is this just a golden age prelude in American society, heroes produced by a fat and relatively safe citizenry. Do people in Iraq dream of heroes like Superman or the Punisher?

I would argue that since much of the world wants what American have, that they also idolize American super heroes. Obviously not EVERYBODY feels the same way, but I'm thinking the majority of people want a nice safe home, three squares a day and some mind-numbing cable television. If only I could get this long ass question on the Wii's 'Everybody Votes' app.... then I could garner the opinions of those rich enough to own a $500 game system, lol. Or Twitter... I'm sure I'll get a wide and varied world demographic there... .

I think the creation of no-kill super heroes is a positive sign for our future. Go humans go.