Superhero Spirituality: 7 Life Lessons from Great Comic Book Teachers

By Paul Asay

Forget what Tina Turner sang: We do need another hero. Several, actually, judging from this summer's roster of potential blockbusters. Beginning with "Iron Man" (released May 2), Hollywood will unleash four heroic comic-book icons between now and July 19--not including "Speed Racer" (which first roared to existence in Japanese manga) and "Hancock" (a superhero in need of a good PR man).

Sure, these superhero flicks make for good popcorn fare. But lately, our on-screen champions have peddled more than cool costumes and CGI wizardry. They form a crucible for how the rest of us grapple with adversity, morality, and faith.

Here's a rundown of Beliefnet's Super Seven--and what they teach us.

Batman: We Can Make a Difference

Batman doesn't look much like he did in his "zap!" "pow!" days of the 1960s. This "Dark Knight" (opens July 19) skulks about Gotham City like a goth gone wild--a troubled soul, nursing enough angst to fill a bat cave. But despite his problems (and the fact that he can't even fly), Batman manages to crawl out of bed every day and fight for what's right.
"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me," Batman says in 2005's "Batman Begins." Even fractured people can make a difference.

Hellboy: We Can Be Redeemed

He's a literal demon, summoned by Nazis and bearing the Fist of Doom. And this is supposed to be the good guy?
Actually, yes. Hellboy rejects his infernal lineage (his adopted human "father" was Catholic) and is now a paranormal investigator working for the U.S. government. Think of X-Files meets Rambo with a nice dollop of brimstone.

The Hulk: We Can Sacrifice for the Greater Good

It's the big green guy that gets the press. But when it comes to "The Incredible Hulk" (opens June 13), the real hero is Bruce Banner, alter ego to this not-so-jolly-green giant.
Banner becomes the Hulk when he gets really angry and, while Banner would like to be rid of him, sometimes the green dude can come in handy--like when the world is threatened by a powerful bad guy (as it will be in the upcoming film). Will Banner sacrifice his own happiness and allow the Hulk some face time? It'll be a pretty boring movie if he doesn't.

The lesson here? We make our own destiny, no matter what kind of baggage we're saddled with. And hey, if a demon can be redeemed, that leaves hope for the rest of us.

Iron Man: We Can Champion Justice

Tony Stark's sinner-to-saint story could've come right out of the corner evangelical church: Amoral, womanizing businessman has near-death experience, sees the error of his ways, and decides to dedicate his life to better things. He even has a new power source--right near his heart. Only Stark, instead of teaching Sunday school, builds a nifty, nigh-indestructible suit and becomes a flashy champion of justice. "I shouldn't be alive," Stark says in the latest movie, "unless it's for a reason."

Spider-Man: We Can Accept Responsibility

Peter Parker could earn loads of money with his peculiar talents. He could've been a mixed martial artist or Cirque du Soleil performer or (dare we say it?) Webmaster. Instead, he's made superheroing his unpaid hobby.
From the very beginning, Parker's motto has been "With great power comes great responsibility." That seems to echo Luke 12:48, but whether that biblical allusion is intended, there's no question that slinging webs isn't Spider-Man's job--it's his calling.

Superman: We Can Embrace Faith

His red cape, blue tights, and sunny, uncompromising personality seem a little out of step with today's troubled superheroes. He doesn't even seem like he's from this world.
Oh, yeah. He's not.
Superman has been understood as a stand-in for Jesus for a long time, and the 2006 movie "Superman Returns" plays up the parallels. When we learn Lois Lane wrote a piece titled, "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman," we understand that she's really questioning the need for faith in our cynical world. As it turns out, her world needs Superman after all.

X-Men: We Can Overcome Prejudice

These mutants tackle more real-life issues than a full season of Oprah. Their super-powerful abilities cut both ways, and many "normal" folks fear and loathe these freaks of nature, allowing storylines that explore racism, anti-Semitism, teen alienation, and--most recently--the rights of gays and lesbians.
But despite the prejudice they encounter, Professor Xavier's hardy band of do-gooders continues to do good, working together to conquer their enemies when they could be on the couch like the rest of us, munching Cheetos.

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