Before The Marvel Cinematic Universe
From Shovit Chettri on Unsplash
Preceding the MCU were Superman (1978), Spider-Man (2002), and Fantastic Four (2005).Those films set standards that the MCU built on. Superman was my Dad’s favorite, Spider-Man was my brother’s, and Fantastic Four was mine.
Many Superheroes are orphans, and a chosen family of superheroes can feature different abilities. The film’s 1960s-inspired aesthetic and emphasis on familial bonds evoke the warmth of classic sci-fi like Star Trek and Lost in Space.
Superpowers
The last son of Krypton, Kal-El, transforms into Superman as he learns he has extraordinary powers. While he is eager to use his powers, his adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, teach Clark not to use his powers because they don’t want him to be different or taken from them, as people fear the power he possesses.
Clark’s biological parents also had concerns about being different.
“He will defy their gravity”
Jor-El “He will look like one of them”
“He won’t be one of them”
Jor-El “No, his dense molecular structure will make him strong”
“He’ll be odd, different”
Jor-El “He’ll be fast”
“He’ll be Isolated, Alone”
Inciting incidents of death in comics are when a hero becomes a superhero.
Uncle Ben’s words to Peter Parker define his responsibility to others. Jonathan Kent’s heart attack, on the other hand, teaches Clark that he can’t save everyone with all his powers.
Origins of trauma can be a magnetic connection for reaching an audience. If there’s no struggle, what gives the characters meaning or purpose?“
From Erik Mclean on Unsplash
When you find your family or family of origin, it is natural to care about others and feel accepted.
“Is a bird showing off when it flies?” This is the final question Clark got to ask before Jonathan’s heart attack. And his clarification that different abilities and their uses aren’t inherently wrong.
He and Martha are worried about losing him to people who won’t understand him.A natural response to the amount of time and care that goes into an individual. Everyone’s a little different, regardless of societal convention.
Family Foundation
Unlike Spider-Man or Superman, Fantastic Four (2005) is designed to be comedic. Chris Evans played both Johnny Storm and Captain America. The characters are very different. Johnny is arrogant and self-centered. Cap is humble and gained his superpowers through a pure heart.