Incredible Hulk

I grew up on a diet of comics & storybooks.

Literally.Like all children of my age, I would be obsessed with comics.So, whether it was to be the ‘Marvel’lous superheroes(), the ‘Action’ heroes(),DC comics(), comics was my lifeline..

Comics transported me to the world of fantasy. You must have heard the expression Boys with Toys?Well, comics were my only toys.With no other avenue for entertainment and with my hormones yet to kick in & the advent of (in that order) yet to happen, comics was the favourite pastime.Every new comic issue of my favourite superhero would be a delight. With sweaty palms and an excited heart beating away so loud you would fear it would burst,  I recollect holding a new issue as if it were the love of my life.

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I think one thing comics clearly taught me was ‘.

I remember aping, fantasising(yes my fantasies were so innocent then) rescuing trapped, scared civilians.My favourite fantasy was stopping a running train right in its tracks with sheer force of my arms.The train in this case would be my cousin who would try to push me(of course it was a mock push, he was elder to me).
I would push back and if he stopped in his tracks, it would give me that  false sense of strength.Yessir, the train comes to a screeching halt, no brakes.Look ma, no sweat, just hands! I also remember foolishly jumping off from verandahs,trying to imitate , landing on my butt, and ensuring a real sore one for quite some days.A chipped tooth is what I still have as a memento.

I guess even now, I have not been entirely cured of these superhero fantasies.Like displaying foolish bravado in taking on a guy twice my size (Yes not exaggerating, it happened in the local trains,but that’s another story).

So, why do comics & superheroes play such an important role in our lives?I believe it is because as humans, right from childhood, we believe in magic & miracles.Our minds are pre-disposed & very favourably so, towards the magical. We want to believe in mythic figures that fly, that can move mountains, kill the evil. We want to see good triumph over evil. And that is why we need a hero.This hero worshipping then takes different forms & structures, extending to other realms like sports,politics, films. Superheroes become very important markers of pop culture. They embody everything that is fantastic.All the qualities that we aspire or dream about.Strength, courage, brawn, victory. Sacrifice.They become the .

All comics with superheroes borrow extensively from mythology(not possible to cover that in this blog, would be extensive).For example, was all powerful except for a weakness, his heel .Legend has it that as a baby he was dipped in the to make him omnipotent but his heels were esposed and not submerged in the waters..Hence, became powerful all across except for his heel.So enters our collective phraseology, referring to any weak spot that could leave us vulnerable or well, make us…heel.

Also, in Hindu Mythology, Achilles Heel is actually his thigh! He loses the battle with when a blow is strategically placed to his thigh..My point is, they were the first superheroes.Characters such as or .Yes, they didn’t wear capes, or spin webs.But they took on monsters, took on an army of people, were loved by all, and they respected humanity.

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