Superheroes are a Form of Modern Mythology

While there are many differing interpretations of the term ‘mythology’, whether superheroes are a form of modern mythology or not depends on the version of mythology we are analyzing. This essay will examine the functions and cultural influences of mythology and argue against the view that superheroes are a form of modern mythology. While superheroes share similar characteristics with mythology with respect to our classical understanding of the latter, these similarities are largely superficial. Superheroes, to a large extent, do not conform to the same rudimental functions of mythology and they also possess dissimilar cultural influences, hence it is not useful to understand superheroes using myth or mythology as a reference point.

While it is true that superheroes and mythology share several notable characteristics, they are typically over-generalized and make a weak argument in classifying superheroes as a form of modern mythology. Similar to mythology, superhero stories function as a form of entertainment and as a means to address issues on values and morality.

Get quality help now

Bella Hamilton

Verified writer

Proficient in: Myths

5 (234)

“ Very organized ,I enjoyed and Loved every bit of our professional interaction ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

Moreover, it is easy to think of superheroes as a form of mythology since several popular superheroes today originate from mythological characters. Marvel’s Thor, the son of Odin, originates from Norse mythology, and the recently popularized Aquaman, shares a storyline deeply entrenched in the story of Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea. However, to think of superheroes as a form of modern mythology due to these parallels alone would be overly superficial. While superhero stories and myths both serve as entertainment and a moral teacher at times, these qualities are not unique to the superhero genre; many stories that encompass such qualities do exist beyond the mythological and superhero genres.

Besides, the fact that some superheroes today such as Thor and Aquaman had originated from mythology simply suggests that they were fashioned from the same mythological genre; it does not make Thor and Aquaman myths. Unlike mythological characters, people generally do not believe that the superheroes on screen or in the comics exist or existed. The same element of truth tied to mythological stories of old are no longer present in most superhero stories today. In our modern world, any story that is not backed by legitimate scientific evidence would usually be classified as fiction. This is evident in the classification of the Marvel and DC as a ‘fictional’ universe. In fact, other popular superheroes today such as Spiderman, Iron Man and Captain America had origins that were derived from science fiction, not myth.

Also, superheroes stories today have different motivations and cultural influences compared to myths and thus cannot be classified as a form of modern mythology. Ancient mythological stories functioned as explanations to “why the world works the way it does.” Superheroes, however, do not serve such a function. Since the birth of superheroes in the 1930s, creators were arguably more motivated by profit than by serving to explain nature. This motivation is evident in that most superhero characters were developed to resonate with an audience in order to boost sales. In a History Channel documentary entitled ‘Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked’, it describes how the creation of Robin as Batman’s sidekick was motivated by the theory that “young readers would identify with young heroes”. Batman sales would indeed double after the introduction of Robin, ushering in the creation of “an avalanche of sidekicks”. People could also relate to the X-Men in a broader sense as it was a story of people who were hated because they were different, which helped gain popularity among the readers. Primarily, myths were created to explain the world while superheroes were created for profit. Furthermore, in making superheroes relatable to audiences, the humanization of superhero characters further emphasized how they were not intrinsically mythological – Spiderman with adolescent problems and Tony Stark with his alcoholism are just but a few examples. This humanistic facet contrasts with ancient mythology in which characters possessed divinity that superceded humans. If anything, the superheroes that we know today are not myths but a testament to how they are not myths – that with all their superhuman abilities, they are at the core, just as human as we are. Perhaps it is this appeal to mass culture that distinguishes superheroes from myths in that superheroes requires this popular appeal for the superhero business to thrive, while myths do not. As Stan Lee succinctly pointed out, “whatever was the trend at the moment, that’s what we did”.

In final analysis, while it is easy to draw parallels between superheroes and mythology due to superficial similarities, these similarities are trivial in determining the extent to which superheroes can be thought of as a form of modern mythology. It is by examining the functions, motivations and cultural influences of superheroes that we will come to realize that superheroes do not conform to the mythological genre but rather, form a genre of their own.

Bibliography

1. Professor Ian Gordon – Mythology (Online Lecture) Randy Duncan and Matthew J. Smith - “Icons of the American Comic Book – From Captain America to Wonder Woman” (2013)
2. Cara Leigh Sailors - “The Function of Mythology in Ancient Greek Society” (2017)
3. Steve Kroopnick and James Grant Goldin – “Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked” (2003)
4. Nat Segaloff - “Stan Lee: ComiX-Man!” (1995)