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May 7-14, 2008

Flawed superheroes dominate summer movie season

Warm-up Question:

Who, if anyone, do you admire or consider a hero, and why?

 

Superheroes have turned almost Shakespearean for this summer’s movie season, exhibiting tragic flaws that threaten to destroy them just as surely as any cartoon villain. From The Hulk to Batman, superheroes have never been more "human."

Typically, superheroes are expected to be, well, super. Morally upright, brave, and strong, superheroes are people many look up to and admire. But this summer, it won’t be that simple and straightforward.

"If you can have a good guy who's got hang-ups and flaws and failings, he's more interesting because he not only has to defeat the villain, but he has to defeat and conquer his own flaws and inabilities," says Stan Lee, creator of Marvel Comics heroes such as Spiderman, Iron Man, and the Fantastic Four, among many others. "It rounds him out and makes the character empathetic."

This summer’s Iron Man is arrogant, a heavy drinker, and a womanizer. The Hulk is full of fear and emotionally withdrawn. And others, lesser well known, also attempt to change the paradigm of the traditional superhero. In "Hancock," due out in July, Will Smith plays a confused, downtrodden, alcoholic superhero meant to counterbalance the perfection of Superman.

"Superman is conventionally and traditionally a Boy Scout, and that's often what makes him very difficult to relate with," says producer Akiva Goldsman. "We identify more with people who are broken, people who are damaged. Those are the heroes who stick with us, the ones who are imperfect despite all their gifts, because everyone feels imperfect."

In spite of or because of their flaws, though, says Goldsman, "The world is often troubling and we often look for heroes to save the day. If only."

 

Discussion Questions

  1. Who is your favorite superhero? What do you like about him or her?
  2. What are some qualities or character traits you look for in a superhero?
  3. If you could be a superhero, what super powers would you want to have? How would you use them?
  4. Do you think that flaws make superheroes easier to relate to? Why or why not?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, May 11, 2008.
(Text links are to oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year A at Lectionary Readings.)

Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21
John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection
Jesus -- the ultimate superhero! He walks through walls, he comes back from the dead, and he even gives out superpowers to his followers in the form of the Holy Spirit.

That seems kind of sacrilegious (or just wrong) to say about Jesus, doesn’t it? Jesus is far greater than any superhero could dream of being, even if that superhero had no tragic flaw. And yet, superheroes were created to have an almost Christ like quality. In The Gospel According to the World’s Greatest Superhero, author Stephen Skelton chronicles how Superman was actually modeled on the person of Jesus. And at some point, don’t most superheroes sacrifice themselves to save others and do good things to help the weak and oppressed, as Jesus did on a much grander scale?

No, Jesus is definitely not just a superhero. He is not flawed either. Although superheroes might be able to save the world or even the universe, they cannot save people from their own flaws (sins). Only Jesus can do that, which puts him in a category all his own.

In the movies, people look to superheroes for salvation from dangers and villains. In real life, people look for salvation too. It may not seem like it on the surface, but deep down people know that their own human powers are not sufficient. Superheroes appeal to people as symbols of saving power, but they are imaginary, unreal, and increasingly flawed so that they will be more "relatable"; someone we can see a little bit of ourselves in.

Jesus is the real thing though.

And if you think he can’t relate to your pains and your sufferings, then just read any one of the Gospels all the way through. He grieves when friends die. He is rejected. He is lied to and betrayed. He is hungry. He is tempted. He is misunderstood. He is abused, beaten, and killed. He went through all of the things we go through in life. He can relate, because he was fully human like you and me. And still, he is our savior -- the real deal -- the only one who can save us. What more do we need?

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you see Jesus as being able to relate to our lives, or as being above it all? What experiences or scriptures have led you to think that way?
  2. What do you think it means that Jesus was fully human and fully divine?
  3. Have you ever felt the power of the Holy Spirit? Describe what that was like.
  4. How is your life different as a result of knowing Jesus? What actions of sacrifice, justice, and good are you driven to do?

Activity Suggestions
As a group, plan to see one of the superhero movies coming out this summer (Iron Man is now playing), or rent one and watch it together (any of the Spiderman movies, The Matrix, Batman Begins, Fantastic Four, The Hulk, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Daredevil, or Superman Returns would all work well). You can search for movies at the Internet Movie Database http://www.imdb.com/.

  • Afterward, discuss the main superhero’s characteristics, actions, and how you felt about the movie and its hero.
  • What do you think Jesus would have done in a similar situation faced with the flaws and dark aspects of humanness and society? What would you do?

Closing Prayer
Lord God, we thank you for sending your perfect son, Jesus, to save us from our sins and to be everything that we cannot be as humans in this life. We ask for your guidance in sharing the good news about Jesus with others who may be searching for the peace that we have in him. Amen
 

Contributed by Jennifer Krausz
Bethlehem, PA

Permission to reproduce for local use. Copyright © 2008 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. ELCA Youth Ministry. 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2447. To offer your comments or responses to Faith Lens, e-mail:  rod.boriack@elca.org.

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