Friday, July 18, 2008
Waiting for a Superhero
I see that the economy is going down the toilet, the situation in the Middle East is beyond bleak, South Bend is having a crime spree, and Starbucks may close a few of its stores here. In these troubled times the urge to turn to superheroes is a pretty understandable human reaction. Last week I had two superhero experiences and they both warmed my heart and made me feel that we shouldn’t give up...yet.
The first was an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in sweet New York City entitled “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy.” In this extravagant and silly costume fantasia we are treated to what happens when ordinary folk, say Clark Kent, put on some new clothing. They become gods, silly! High fashion has long understood the human desire to dress up, and the power and allure that go with that new outfit are made clear here. So we get to see Tobey Maguire’s “Spider-Man 3” costume and the Iron Man outfit that Robert Downey Jr. wore in the great movie this summer, and next to them are a series of outfits by the world’s most famous designers that copy, play with, or simply sample the outfits of our comic book heroes. Somehow the patriotic leotard favored by Superman led one designer to have Coca-Cola cans in his models’ hair. Don’t ask, just work it girl! Altogether, the results are mesmerizing and a bit predictable. I say predictable simply because our entire economy is based on the idea that if you buy something you will become a different person, so these designers are just applying their artistry to this logic. I can report, though, that seeing the Catwoman suit that Michelle Pfeiffer wore in the Batman movie is proof, if any was needed, that the U.S. is and will always be the greatest country in the world. How she got into that suit, how she managed to act in that suit, and how Batman was able to concentrate on anything other than that suit....now, these are mysteries for the ages and ones that haters of freedom will never be able to defeat. Take that, Osama!
My other superhero experience was also great fun, and best of all you can see it in good ol’ Elkhart. A former student of mine, Allen Stewart, has created a Hall of Heroes Museum at his home. It’s part shrine, part educational, and all craziness--I mean the guy installed a Batpole that goes into his Batcave and that I tried out with nervous abandon. It took five years to design and almost two years to build the museum, all because he wants everyone to share in his love of superheroes. Here you can look at and read every single superhero comic book from the 1950s to the present. He also has lots of classic ones, including Captain America punching out Hitler, Superman helping Santa down the chimney, and the first Spiderman comic book which is worth at least $50,000. That’s right, $50,000. You can also see the bat phone that Commissioner Gordon used when Gotham was under assault, Wonder Woman’s invisible plane along with her trusty tiara, and a life-sized version of Spiderman. The whole thing is just amazing.
Now there was one thing that Allen and I couldn’t agree on, and that involves Batman. One of the longest and most vicious debates in American history revolves around this simple question: is Batman a superhero? I say he’s not. He can’t fly or become invisible or change shapes or become green and really huge or throw lightning around. He’s just an ordinary guy, and a bachelor at that. Allen believes, in no uncertain terms, that I am crazy wrong. He went on to say, and I quote, “Batman is a superhero because all the other superheroes and villains are scared of him because he’ll find a way to beat them.” Well, we couldn’t agree on this all-important issue, but I hope you’ll go to Allen’s Hall of Heroes museum and decide for yourself. And maybe, if we’re lucky, one of these superheroes will come and save us from the mess we’re in these days.
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A random selection from more than 300 Michiana Chronicles -- refresh the browser to see another set:
Joe Chaney -- More essays by Joe
Louise Collins -- More essays by Louise
April Lidinsky -- More essays by April
Jonathan Nashel -- Waiting for a Superhero / More essays by Jonathan
Jeff Nixa -- More essays by Jeff
Ken Smith -- More essays by Ken
Jeanette Saddler Taylor -- More essays by Jeanette
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About the series
Michiana Chronicles is a series of radio essays by Jonathan Nashel, Louise Collins, Joe Chaney, Jeanette Saddler Taylor, Jeff Nixa, April Lidinsky, and Ken Smith.
Michiana is the region of north-central Indiana and southern Michigan roughly centered on South Bend, Indiana.
Michiana Chronicles airs on Fridays at 7:35 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on WVPE (88.1 FM), the home of public radio in Elkhart / South Bend, Indiana.
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