Superheroes and the Biblical Worldview

[E.J. Apostrophe]

Hi Friends,

I have been thinking and discouraged at the lack of solid and intelligent Christian speculative fiction regarding superhero fiction. I have been struggling though...I was thinking can I actually make a superhero fiction story that is tangible and then I was thinking...wait a minute, the super hero fiction realm is a realm where the reader temporarily suspends belief in order to be launched into a fantastic world.

The only superhero in the secular world that I know of that struggled with the issue of faith is Marvel's Nightcrawler.

So what about you?

Do you think superheroes (even supervillains) can struggle with the issue of faith?

[choosybeggar]

Totally. But I'll let this turn into a little more of a discussion before I give my thoughts, to get a little better idea of what you're asking.

[myrthman]

Hi, EJ! Welcome to the Anomaly! I really like your handle and your avatar!

I read a few issues of a comic called "Archangels" a few years back. It dealt with angels and demons manifesting in the physical realm (with superheroic muscles and various powers) to fight for souls for their respective kingdoms. I lost interest after the second book, but I can't remember why. Other than that, I haven't found any comics or fiction featuring superheroes written from a Christian worldview. If anyone knows of any, I'd appreciate a few recommendations.

I think the genre is one in which the Christian voice would do very well and is much needed. Good vs. evil is an obvious theme, but I also like your thoughts about the characters themselves struggling with faith. I think that needs to be done because readers often identify with the protagonist; comics and superfiction would be great vehicles for such discussions.

I have a cast of superhero/villain characters that I'm working into a story. One is randomly given a different power; he has to figure out different situations with whatever power he has at the moment, kind of like Christians going through life with different and varying talents. Another is a blind ninja who really does have to rely on faith rather than sight. One villain is a time-traveling mathematician who developed a wonderful concept that history (since his "disappearance") has relegated to works of pop art and classroom study; when he finds out, he goes insane and plots various disasters through clever manipulation of time and numbers. Perhaps he can be redeemed... ;-)

Like choosy, I, too, would like to read more of your thoughts on the subject.

[Kristen]

Welcome, EJ! -- I agree with myrthman that seeing superheroes struggle with faith would give a lot of depth not only to the character, but to the genre. I think it would be awesome to see a hero whose weakness wasn't some random thing like Kryptonite, but something internal like a lack of faith or a warped view of God. Because then you can't get past it by asking another person to remove it.

[raregem]

OOooo...you guys are making my mind-wheels turn.

[E.J. Apostrophe]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the great comments.

Although stories like The Tales of A Dim Knight is bridging the gap (yet in a humorous way), I am looking at the subject of Christian Superhero Fiction and wondering why isn't this genre excelling?

The struggle I am currently having is how to give the heroes in my stories their powers. Yet that is off-topic...

Going back to the struggle of faith, I think seeing a hero struggle and wrestle with this issue is something I would like and will explore in my stories (even the villains). Unlike Marvel and DC (which seem to shun the issue of spirituality or have an evolutionary worldview), this is subject that we (if you are writing Christian Superhero Fiction) would be wise to interject and explore.

For example, what if Superman was a Christian, how would he struggle with his powers being so mighty and how he relates to God?

The story branches coming off of that 'what if' question is mind-blowing.

@ Raregem: Glad this subject is making you think!

[metalikhan]

Hey, E.J. -- another hearty welcome to the Anomaly!

Quick comments : Has anyone considered that Samson was, by OT standards, a tragic superhero? Strongest man alive but the operative word is "man". For all his power, he was still vulnerable, still needed God in his life.

As for why Christian superhero fiction isn't excelling as a genre, it may be that few writers/illustrators have taken the plunge into its waters. Assuming the superhero is human, a Christian one would not be so different in kind from "ordinary men", only different in degree. The superpower(s) may be given by God as a specialized gift for specific purposes according to His plan; but the superhero must always guard his heart and thoughts against pride in all its manifestations.

Tuppence thoughts.

[fluke]

Believe it or not, Superman grew up in a Methodist church. He lost faith as his powers developed and he began to find out the people he went to church with were living two lives.

There are others. Dare Devil is a practicing Catholic (especially dealt with in Devil's Child(?)).

Punisher (Catholic) sees his vigilante quest as a God-given quest to protect the innocent when the law has failed. He is a former seminary student (I gotta love him for that).

Shadowcat is a practicing Jew. That's why the cross she held had no effect when they fought Dracula but her Star of David did.

This page has a breakdown of characters and their religion. Many on the list aren't very active in their faith but many still are. However, the writers don't make much of it unless they absolutely have to.

I have worked on a Christian supers story. The problem with it is that the POV character is way too angst ridden for me. (It's a Teen Supers story.) I'm going to have to rework him and that will change several scenes already written. His faith is very important to him. He is struggling with why God let this happen to him because he has lost everything. His family is in hiding and he's hiding separately with a bunch of other seeders (as the supers call themselves).

A couple of scenes that I like (and work) deal with the distinction between human and animal and what is the breath of life?

Parts of it work. Parts don't. That's why it's sitting on the virtual shelf.

But I agree. I want to see good Supers stories written from a Christian worldview.

[waldenwriter]

I think that's an interesting idea, E.J. I've tried the idea myself. My first attempt was a couple comic scripts I wrote in high school. I ended up shredding them and any notes I had relating to them, because I was becoming too worried & obsessed with whether Christians would accept them, since they weren't overtly Christian and also because some Christians are very anti-magic.

My second attempt - which I'm still developing - is a story called "The CYA Files," which is about a group of young people who fight using their natural skills and talents as well as their spiritual gifts. I'm not quite sure how this is going to play out, since most of the spiritual gifts in the Bible don't lend themselves well to combat situations. Also, I had to limit this one girl's healing gift after I heard my pastor say that those who have that gift only manifest it at certain times. I'm also semi-concerned about one character who is from a Muslim background (but is now a Christian). While the violent hatred of Muslims post-9/11 has died down somewhat, it's still a point of tension -- it would be just as tricky as if the character were gay. (Well, for Christians, the gay thing would be worse).

But you're right, there aren't many Christian examples -- I think because of the anti-magic crowd. The only ones I can think of are Bibleman (a takeoff on Batman), the aforementioned "Archangels," and a sci-fi series called "PowerMark" (although that guy's not actually a superhero...he's a trained soldier).

I think the time is ripe for Christian superhero stories, since superhero stories are hot right now -- "Smallville" is starting again, they're reviving "Wonder Woman," and there are superhero movies like "Thor" coming out this year.

So let's get to it!

[E.J. Apostrophe]

Thanks to the beautiful discussion, dearest friends.

I have really made this a matter of prayer with the Lord. I have an idea that I am currently fleshing out (slowly yet surely). Is there fear and trepidation, sure. Yet my hope is to present the story in a way that captures excellence in writing which is sadly missing from some Christian Speculative Fiction.

Lord willing, I want to weave stories that have enduring themes and points to the Savior without being overly preachy.

[firestorm78583]

I, too am working on a superhero story, and am trying to incorporate the characters' Christian walk into the story. Remember, (most) superheroes are human, and deal with human issues. Even the alien or robotic characters have some element in their character that is "human". The writers utilize this to help reders relat to the character. How your character deals with his faith and Christian walk may be similar to what the reader is facing. Your characters help pull the reader back so they can see the issue through the character's eyes. This in turn helps the reader understand how to best deal with their own walk and their own issues.

As far as magic is concerned. I am doing my level best to refrain from using magic in my stories. My heroes gained their abilities through science. Although I do have one sequel story in the works that is almost an homage to D&D.

More later.

Will

[Kessie]

If you can build a character, any character, whose faith is an integral part of their character, then there's no reason to do any preaching. Just be honest about the character. And really, a superhero is no different from any other character with magic powers (or lots of exposure to radioactivity). They just happen to wear more spandex.

On preaching: make sure you read Jeff's writing tips. www.wherethemapends.com/writerstools/writers_tools_pages/tip_of_the_week--71-80.htm

I'm currently in the midst of a series about characters who are more or less superheroes (it's modern fantasy, so modern-day people running around with magic powers). In the story I'm working on now, the hero guy has only known about his powers for a year, and his best friend is also his guardian angel. And she's a hilariously over-the-top Christian, in your face with shirts and jewelry and Bible studies, but she'll also give you lunch money if you don't have any, so most people are willing to put up with her Christianity.

So throwing this angel character into the mix with a kitsune, who are considered to be demons, creates some lovely conflict (seeing as the kitsune is very young and doesn't know she's considered a demon).

[Captain_Riposte]

Solomon Kane was a sort of Elizabethan Batman, a Puritan wandering Europe and Africa fighting evil wherever he saw it with fanatic passion. Faith is often a part of the stories, but their worldview is skewed and should be read with a grain of salt. Despite being a God-fearing character, however, he is revered by a cult following, though Robert E. Howard's other characters Conan and Krull have overshadowed Solomon Kane in their fame. Just be warned that the stories are both dark and violent, often with gruesome detail.

I believe there's room in speculative fiction for faith-based superheroes wielding science or using God-given powers (Samson was one example that was mentioned earlier in the thread, but the prophets are also good examples of individuals who were empowered by God to extraordinary things. Or even "secular" superhero stories promoting positive values. I'm interested to see what you come up with.

Since others have mentioned some of their Christian superhero fiction, I'll go ahead and tell of an idea I've worked on. It's planned as a series of Gothic short stories set in England during the 1690s AD. A handful of characters were gifted by God to fight evil werewolves working for a mysterious cloaked villain. I wrote one story in this setting where their leader, Sir John Blackmore, and his wife, Gwendolin, attend a church while traveling, only for Sir John's sensitive discernment to be troubled and both he and Gwendolyn detect the frozen hearts of the congregation and the wolf from the pulpit. At the end of the service other werewolves stopped them at the door and a confrontation ensued, in which Gwendolyn's power of moisture manipulation are demonstrated. It still needs some work.

[Ranger Varon]

I'm working on superhero stories too. Some actual superheroes, some just proto-superhero archetypes. But I have an entirely different cosmology than Earth that ties in my fantasy worlds and sci-fi worlds, so on doing it in a Christian way is really hard to figure out because the theology isn't sorted out fully yet. No magic. The only one that's even close to magic so far is because he's similar to a warrior-angel/shapeshifter/cosmic warrior type of guy. The rest are either born with their superpowers or gain them scientifically.

No spandex. Ever.

Actually, though, on Marvel theology, I read the Phoenix saga of the X-Men, and it aid she was primal energy in human form, second only to the Creator. So there is a Creator, but this was from the 60s or around there.

[newburydave]

There are several Super hero type stories that were written specifically for Child Evangelism in Europe. I read the autobiography of a man from Finland (I think) who translated one of the most popular into Russian for broadcast in the Soviet Union before the Wall came down.

It was broadcast on the State TV system all across Russia and was one of the most popular Children's shows on Soviet TV for a number of years.

So, yeah. It's not only been done, it's been done a lot with great "Asymmetric Evangelistic" results.

Write on Bro. hit it hard!

SGD
dave