The allure of any superhero is in their ability to put the interests of the people before themselves - all whilst remaining stylishly kitted out in lurid lycra and in possession of abilities most of us would sell our Grannys teeth for. Forgoing the comfort and safety of a normal existence to battle evil - be it fighting crime, or dispensing a much-needed ass-kicking in the far reaches of the galaxy - theyll do whatever it takes for the betterment of others. That said, the worlds superheroes werent forged from the most solid, morally-upstanding beginnings. But what greater motivation is there for combating a deep, dark secret than masking that pain with heroic bravado? The compulsion to uphold the peace, for those loveable do-gooders in tights, could be considered a form of therapy - a technique for reconciling the demons in their pasts, shaking the skeletons from their closets and letting go of some ugly truths. While they might stand for all that is just and commendable now - there were moments in their pasts theyd rather you didnt know about. Sure, Superman had his troubles adjusting to the tribulations of life on Earth after leaving his home planet, but really, he had it easy, when compared to the likes of...
Gem is a freelance writer, musician and librarian.
Her hobbies include: recreating movie death scenes from LEGO, concocting new types of bird suet cakes, walking on fresh snow and playing the glockenspiel - all at the same time.
