When we consider superheroes, ourthoughts surely shoot to Superman,Spiderman, the X-Men, Batman, TheHulk or Ironman. These are but a fewof the superheroes who gained (orgrew in) fame following the films thatmade millions of US dollars. Thereality is that superheroes have longbeen part of popular culture in theform of comics.However, we’re not aiming toconsider the renewed interest andrevival in the quest and pursuit ofsuperheroes in this trend report.What could have led to our culture’sdeep craving for superheroes? Whatdoes that tell us about the culture inwhich we live? This report won’t becomplete if we don’t look and thinkabout the possible applications forthe church. Why should we be awareof this trend of the superhero?We need to start by explaining howthis trend report will define the termsuperhero. The definition of DannyFingeroth, Superman on the Couch:What Superheroes Really Tell UsAbout Ourselves and Our Society,

helps us with this. He started bylooking at the definition of a hero: “Ahero is someone who rises above hisor her fears and limitations to achievesomething extraordinary ... a heroembodies what we believe is best inourselves.” Within this definition,however, any person can be a hero:a doctor who saves someone’s life, afirefighter running into a burningbuilding to save someone, or evenyou overcoming a hindrance in yourlife. He goes further and says thatsuperheroes “are individuals withfantastic powers ... as well as peoplewho fight their battles with advancedtechnology ... or people who are justplain brave / crazy / lucky,” [http://www.amazon.com/Superman-Couch-Superheroes-Ourselves-Society/dp/0826415407 & http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v2_2/reviews/fleming.shtml].

INTRODUCTION

If we look at the comic bookworld, we see it’s dominatedby Marvel Comics (in 2013they owned a 33.50% sharein the comic book world)and DC Comics (in 2013they owned a 30.33% sharein comic book world) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Comics].Marvel Comics was foundedby Martin Goodman.Initially, Timely Comicsstarted producing comicsunder the banner of TimelyPublications in 1939. Thename would eventuallychange to Marvel Comics.The first modern comicbooks under the MarvelComics name was science-fiction collection Journeyinto Mystery #69 and theteen-humor title PatsyWalker #95 (both datedJune 1961). Then, in thewake of DC Comics’success in the re-establishment ofsuperheroes in the late1950s and early 1960s,

especially with The Flash,Green Lantern, and othermembers of the team of theJustice League of America,Marvell Comics stayedclose on their heels.DC Comics was started bythe entrepreneur MalcolmWheeler-Nicholson’sNational Allied Publicationthat published his debut inFebruary 1935, New Fun:The Big Comic Magazine#1. This title later developedinto Adventure Comics.Today DC Comics, Inc. isone of the largest and mostsuccessful companies in themarket for American comicbooks and related media.It’s the publisher of DCEntertainment, a companyof Warner BrosEntertainment, which itselfis owned by Time Warner.

THEHISTORY

OFTHECO

MIC

TRENDSFLOODING ON THE SUPERSCREENJust in the past few years, we’veseen an incredible wave ofsuperhero movies and stories onthe big screen. And 2015 is fastbecoming one of the greatest yearsfor cinema in recent history — we’llsee the Batman-Superman movie,The Avengers: Age of Ultron, StarWars: Episode VII, Ant-Man,Jurassic World, the HungerGames: Mockingjay Part 2,Minions, the Fantastic Four reboot,the new James Bond movie, theTerminator reboot, Mission:Impossible 5, Kung Fu Panda 3,Pixar’s Inside Out, Mad Max: FuryRoad, and Tomorrowland, tomention just a few of the highestprofile entries [http://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2013/11/30/top-5-most-likely-villain-team-ups-for-the-man-of-steel-sequel/]. Warner Broshas also finally confirmed whatcomic fans have long suspected:they’re producing a Justice Leaguemovie. This film will bring togetherthe worlds of the various

superheroes throughout the DCUniverse [http://www.relevantmagazine.com/slices/justice-league-movie-definitely-happening-after-batman-vs-superman#UMV85u2uHSXSiCgw.99].Then we’re not even mentioningthe stream of superhero moviesthat saw the screen over the pastfew years.

BUT NOT JUST FOR THE BIGSCREENIt’s not only on the big screen thatthis trend is claiming to be king ofthe hill. Marvel’s Agents ofS.H.I.E.L.D. has debuted on theABC–network in September 2013.Netflix announced that they aregoing to buy four new live-actionTV series from the comic bookcompany Marvel, and they’ll bringthis to life on the small screen[http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-24864631].

HOW WOULD YOU LOOK AS ASUPERHERO?We want to look further than what’s on showin the theaters and on TV. Marvel createdthe opportunity for anyone to create theirown superhero online. You can personalizeit 100% by using your own name andchoosing your clothes, etc. You can alsoshare it with your online friends [http://marvel.com/games/play/31/create_your_own_superhero]. This mightalso be why Marvel Comics announced atthe end of 2013 that they’ll be creating anew superhero as part of a new series ofcomic books. It might not sound likegroundbreaking news, but this new superhero is a 16-year-old high school studentfrom New Jersey named Kamala Khan that“suddenly gets powers that give her theopportunity to be just like her idol, CaptainMarvel, [and challenges] the very core of herconservative values.” In other words, MarvelComics is introducing the brand’s firstMuslim title character, Ms. Marvel [http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/11/05/marvel-muslim-superhero-ms-marvel/].

CAN SUPERHEROES BE FAT?I believe that a few of us (if not all) arebattling to get or keep that extra kilogram orcentimeter off the waist. Have we everconsidered why superheroes don’t look like

they have an ounce of fat on their bodies?Could it be their super–powers that makethem look so skinny and good? It’s not onlyus who are wondering about this. Thecompany Pure Blue grappled with thisquestion in the process of building a websitefor Desirable Body, an online store for bodyand health products. The website they cameup with is SuperSized Heroes, “thatencourages you to feed your favoriteMarvel/DC characters french fries. And asthose deep-fried starch sticks rain downfrom the sky, the heroes’ suits get tighter,and tighter.” In this way you make yourfavorite superhero fat [http://www.fastcodesign.com/3022296/batman-and-spiderman-if-they-were-fat].

DOES SUPERHEROES HAVE JOBS?This question is answered byserviced.co.uk. They show what the perfectjob is for each superhero. Batman is a labtechnician, Superman is an internationalcourier service, The Hulk is a demolitionexpert, Spiderman is a construction workerand Wolverine is a lumberman [http://www.serviced.co.uk/blog/infographic/superhero-day-jobs].

DO SUPERHEROES HELP PEOPLETODAY?

In October 2011, Stratford Caldecott wasdiagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.His daughter, Sophie, then wrote a blog postto say that he had only a few weeks to live,and that he’s a huge comic book fan whowas too ill to go and watch Captain America2 in the theaters. Since the movie wouldn’tbe released on DVD in time, Sophie askedMarvel to make and send her an advancerelease of the film. Marvel did exactly that,but also went a step further and had thesuperheroes (Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man),Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans(Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk),Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Samuel L.Jackson (Nick Fury), and even TomHiddleston (Loki)) send supportingmessages for Stratform on Twitter [http://www.relevantmagazine.com/slices/avengers-are-all-assembling-help-support-dying-man#gA0Ag4uAKTUc8Vsw.99].Batkid also helped the people of SanFrancisco by ending a wave of crime on 15November 2013. However, each incident ofcrime was staged: an attempt by thecompany Make-a-Wish to give five-year-oldMiles Scott — who is recovering fromleukemia — a memorable day during whichhe helps his favorite superhero [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/15/batkid-san-francisco-charity-make-wish].

SO EACH SUPERHERO ALSO HAS APASTA San Francisco-based artist, Khoa Ho, hascreated an illustrated series of silhouettesentitled “Superheroes — Past / Present”,that protray the highlight of the past andpresent of each of the famous comic booksuperheroes. His motivation behind thisseries is: “Everyone has a memory, a past.It’s the driving force behind all of our actionsfor our present, our future.” In this way he’sdiminishing the line between the lives ofsuperheroes and us normal folks [http://laughingsquid.com/illustrated-silhouettes-of-superheroes-highlight-their-past-present/].

DOES SOUTH AFRICA HAVESUPERHEROES?To promote their month of superheromovies in October 2013, M–Net Movieslaunched a special digital campaign. Whatwas this ‘abnormal campaign’? A superheroinvasion of Jozi, Cape Town and Durban!First, @mnetmovies asked people how asuperhero could boost and improve theirday. There were some interesting requests,ranging from Batman cooling down cyclists,to The Hulk helping people find parking inLong Street. There was also a request fromless–privileged children to meet some oftheir superheroes. And thus the streets ofSouth Africa came alive with superheroesmaking a difference in the daily lives of

normal folks [http://www.getaway.co.za/travel-news/m-net-movies-showcase-superheroes-digital-campaign/].

A PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN COMICSTRIPWe also have our very own South Africanartist, lecturer and comic book expert: RayWhitcher. In an interview on South Africancomics he says the following: “Over the lastfive years, the SA comic scene has justgone pow. We’re starting to realise thatcomics aren’t just silly things for kids. I thinkit’s because of cinematic exposure — nowall the biggest earning films are comic bookfilms like The Avengers and so on, and theTV series like Agents of SHIELD and so on

— we’re starting to get very exposedto comic book characters. Andbecause of this exposure, so manypeople are going ‘oh, so comics areactually cool’. If you look in fashion,any average Pick’nPay or Mr Pricewill sell superhero shirts now.” [http://southafricancomicbooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/sowetos-super-man-mighty-man-and-mid.html]. He alsoinforms us that South Africa currentlyhas 10 artists working oninternational labels.

SOUTH AFRICAN SUPERHEROESIN POPULAR CULTUREIt doesn’t stop with comic bookwriters or marketing campaigns.Superhero fever even prevails in theAfrikaans music market. Of course,we’re referring to the Eden song,Super Hero [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp1EoreSLh8].

IMPLIKASIES VIR PLAASLIKE GEMEENTESIMPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL CONGREGATIONS

Through all that we see in and around our culture, it’s clear thathumanity is preoccupied with the idea of the superhero —someone with supernatural abilities who can save us from ourfears and crises.The dream of a human messiah who will save us has always beenintegrally woven into our spiritual and emotional DNA. It’s like wecan’t get rid of the need and yearning for someone who’s just likeus, but also better than us.A superhero.We project this need for heroes onto every aspect of ourexistence. There are signs of what it means to live like asuperhero visible in our relationship with ourselves, withothers, and then of course with God.

THE SUPERHERO IS YOU

The narrative for each buddingsuperhero normally includesthe following phases:The recognition of aninconsequential existence.1. A crisis moment.2. The development of a

supernatural power.3. The misunderstanding and consequential misuse of this power.4. A better understanding of his own power and influence,accompanied by a mentor figure.5. The ultimate application of his powers for the sake of promotinggood, at the expense of the bad.Even though these phases only represent a metaphor for normalhuman development, the parallels are obvious. We’re all faced withour created purpose or reason for existence at one time or another.It’s when we realize that it’s not apparent that we start doubting ourreason for being here and the purpose of our lives.It’s normally personal trauma and crisis that forces us to thinkfurther than our own needs, and that takes us into a larger

perspective. Here we realize for the first time that weactually have to give our lives to others.Through this new purpose we then find

meaningful employment for our uniquetalents and gifts, and the

inferiority complex dropsaway and eventually

disappears.

Possible applications:

Create opportunities where believers can process emotional painand hurt in order to grow healthier.Allow people to identify their own unique talents and intereststhrough credible tests such as StrenghtsFinder, the Enneagramand Myers-Briggs.Regularly tell the stories of ordinary people who overcomeimpossible challenges, and walk out stronger on the other side.

SOMEONE ELSE AS MY SUPERHERO

The idea that we can look up to other figures in our lives — thosewho help us be better, stronger, smarter and wiser — is inherent ineach of us. These heroes usually have two characteristics:They’re human like us.They have “supernatural” powers that we don’t have.The first aspect helps us identify with their weakness, while thesecond aspect enables them to do things we can only dream of.There’s a dark and a light side to such “looking up” to oursuperheroes. Of course it’s good if our heroes inspire andencourage us to be the best versions of ourselves. But it becomesa dark affair when we start idolizing our heroes and becomedependent on their intervention without recognizing and acceptingour own responsibility.We need to carefully choose our superheroes, and even then, theymust be honored in moderation. When we realize that we’re thehero in someone else’s life, we need to play the role of hero with

great caution. The responsibility becomes much greater whenwe’re trusted with lots of influence and power [http://en.m.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stan_Lee].

Possible applications:

Create a culture where older people can act as advisors andmentors for young people.Ensure that the wisdom of those with much experience does notget lost in the faith–community.If necessary, catalyze a formal network where people can learnfrom heroes about a variety of topics.

JESUS AS THE PERFECT SUPERHERO

Our built–in need for a superhero gets fulfilled in Jesus.He qualifies as the perfect Superhero according to bothrequirements, and further, he’s filled with love and care for thosewho honor Him and those who don’t!We confess that we trust God and that we must hold on tight withboth hands. We have very good reason to do this: Jesus, the Sonof God, is our great High Priest who went all the way to GodHimself. He will represent our case before God. He’s not someonewho knows nothing about us and therefore don’t sympathize withour weaknesses. No, he’s walked the same path as us andexperienced the same temptations that we have. But he didn’tfalter once. We don’t have to worry or wonder if we may approachGod. We approach Him, because He’ll treat us well. When we

need it, God will give us more than wedeserve, and embrace us in his love(Hebrews 4:14-16 MSG).Jesus isn’t only our Superhero, He’s also ourbest example of how to be a meaningfulsuperhero in the lives of others.In short, just as all the Old Testamentprophecies and stories refer to the coming ofthe Messiah, so the modern narratives ofsuperheroes remind us of our first love forour Creator.

Possible applications:

Help broken and hurting believers identifywith the human aspect of Jesus’ existence.Help more mature believers identify with thesupernatural provision and power of Jesus.As a faith community, investigate what itwould mean to act as spiritual superheroes,according to Jesus’ example, in thecommunity.