7. Haunted Heroes
The Dark Knight Rises begins with an emotionally stunted Bruce Wayne. The death of Rachel Dawes was also the death of Bruce's vision of a normal life. He had no idea how to move on with his life and buried himself within the walls of his own mansion. He became a recluse and the person who cared most for him, Alfred, could only watch as Bruce wasted years of his life. Iron Man 3 begins with a very anxious Tony Stark. He is suffering from symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder after going through a war and nearly dying in The Avengers. Tony becomes a recluse in his own right, burying himself inside his garage. He tinkers away, building more and more suits while incidentally chipping away at the foundation of his relationship with Pepper Potts. These are great examples of the obsessive nature of each character. They are also fascinating explorations of the effects being a superhero has on one's mental health. These similar situations are approached from their own unique perspectives, but the key effect remains the same. The emotional vulnerability of each character makes him more relatable and easier for the audience to connect with.