GUEST POST: SUPERHEROES ARE FOR ADULTS TOO by J.T. BOCK @jtbockcom

Today I have the pleasure of hosting J.T Block author of Time Trap (Ultra 

Security series) on Totally Addicted to Reading. 

Superheroes Are for Adults Too

When I tell people that I write superhero-themed romance, many will respond, “Oh, you must write YA (Young Adult) books.”

“No,” I reply. “I write superhero stories with adult characters in adult situations that have suspense, action, romance, and … have you seen the recent Marvel and DC films?”

About half of them say that they haven’t watched those movies and have never read a comic book. Even if they enjoy thrillers and action flicks, they still consider superhero movies to be for kids.

But superhero stories are much more than fanciful tales. They employ archetypes found in ancient Greek plays. They include themes of forgiveness, the hero’s journey, and redemption. 

And let’s not forget the theme of love.

Lois Lane and Clark Kent (Superman) are one of the most iconic romantic pairings in literature. A dogged reporter, Lois is a model for the strong female lead. Although she doesn’t have Superman’s physical strength, her drive and intelligence aid Superman and help win his heart.

Superheroes like Wonder Woman (Diana Prince) were created to inspire readers, particularly girls and young women. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 in 1941 and was created by American psychologist and inventor of the polygraph, William Moulton Marston, and is why Wonder Woman’s lasso allows her extract the truth from whomever she wraps it around. Marston was motivated by feminists of his day including his wife Elizabeth and their cohabitant and lover, Olive Byrne, to develop this superhero. (Bracelets worn by Byrne gave Marston the idea for Wonder Woman’s bracers.) A comic book publisher read an article Marston had written about the potential of the comic book medium. According to Wikipedia, the publisher tapped Marston to become an educational consultant for two comic book companies, which would merge to form DC Comics:
At that time, Marston wanted to create his own new superhero; Marston’s wife Elizabeth suggested to him that it should be a female:[23] … he struck upon an idea for a new kind of superhero, one who would triumph not with fists or firepower, but with love. “Fine,” said Elizabeth. “But make her a woman.”

Decades later, activist and journalist Gloria Steinman would put Wonder Woman on the first issue of Ms. magazine, making her an icon for the feminist movement.

In the Marvel universe, Tony Stark overcomes his demons to become a hero and find love with his loyal assistant Pepper Potts in the Iron Man franchise. Star-Lord from the Guardians of the Galaxy series struggles with the death of his mom from cancer when he was a child. After she dies, a young Star-Lord is snatched from Earth by space pirates and trained to be a thief. Over the two films, his character learns the value of sacrifice and his new family to save the universe as he grows closer to and falls for Gamora, a female alien who fights by his side.

Black Panther’s story is layered with themes of colonialism, African diaspora, the power of tradition, familial bonds, and betrayal—to name a few. The title character enjoys close relationships with the strong female leads and kick-butt heroines in their own right: Shuri, his sister and tech genius; Okoye, leader of Wakanda’s female special forces; and Nakia, the woman he pines for and who works as an undercover spy for Wakanda. 

These films and stories feature adult characters making adult decisions not only in their own lives but in life or death situations that affect the world. 

Superhero stories are powerful. They are our modern-day myths. They inspire and show us that we can overcome our problems to become heroes in our own lives. They give us permission to dream.

And dreaming is not just for children.

BIO