Unlike middle-class do-gooders Superman and Spiderman, new-age superheroes don't have day jobs, and are wastrels who exploit women and flaunt their manhood with high-powered guns. Child psychologists are anxious. Sowmya Rajaram does some superhero style sleuthing to find out if we have reason to worry
Unlike middle-class do-gooders Superman and Spiderman, new-age superheroes don't have day jobs, and are wastrels who exploit women and flaunt their manhood with high-powered guns. Child psychologists are anxious.u00a0Sowmya Rajaramu00a0does some superhero style sleuthing to find out if we have reason to worry
And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He is weak, he is unsure of himself, he is a coward." That's Bill, in a dialogue from Quentin Tarantino's 2004 film, Kill Bill 2.
Bang on. And yet, the very same mild-mannered journalist Clark Kent turns into the fabled man of steel, Superman, when evil stares him in the face. He bashes the baddies, rescues hot women, and saves America and mother Earth from sin, over and over. 
That, psychologists in the UK believe, is good, positive reinforcement for kids getting their fill of superhero movies. Unlike the playboyish, cocky personality of millionaire Tony Stark, the real man behind alter ego Iron Man. Did the superhero just fall from grace?
Delhi-based comic book writer and blogger Vijayendra Mohanty, doesn't think so. "If you've followed Iron Man's story, you'll know that he was actually a weapons manufacturer who converted and changed into someone who uses the same technology to do good for mankind. That's a statement that you can change, and do good regardless of who you are and where you come from. Isn't that a positive message?"
Super bad for kids?
But psychologists in the UK have their argument ready. They say modern depictions of superheroes like Iron Man are ruled by selfish goals. They are men who participate in non-stop violence and exploit women. That Tony Stark is aggressive, sarcastic, and forges his masculine identity via guns and bling, unlike heroes of the past who seemed more real because of their vulnerabilities, doesn't help. Neither does the fact that unlike student-pizza delivery boy peter Parker (Spiderman) and journalist Clark Kent (Superman), Iron Man doesn't have a day job; unless you want to tom-tom about his weapon manufacturing conglomerate.
"I would be concerned,"u00a0 is Mumbai-based is consultant psychiatrist Anjali Chhabria's response. "Almost everything you see on television and read in the papers is about people who are rich, famous, and have made it big. How they got there, is not important. The role models are people who have had multiple run-ins with the law, and popular TV shows are about voyeurism and negativity. That's not a great message." Add violent, cocky superheroes to that, and it's a potent mix.
Children are smarter than that
Predictably, comic book lovers don't nod to psycho speak. "I've been reading comic books and watching superhero movies since I was a kid. And I've grown up fine. It's a tiny percentage that will actually be influenced negatively by what they see in the movies. They are smarter than that. They know it's not real," says Valmik Babbar, self-confessed comic book nerd and owner of Avenger Toys in Bandra (W).u00a0
His logic doesn't sound too off the mark. After all, kids are a smart lot -- picking up contd from pg 9
everything from operating a new gadget to the rules of a new sport a whole lot faster than we did. That's probably why Shalini Shewaramani, mother of eight year-old Hriday, isn't too worried. "I would worry if he was being influenced to turn violent. But he sees these movies differently. He sees superheroes as people who are helping others. That's heartening."
Turn to Hriday, and he is ready with his own answer. "I love Spiderman and Iron Man. Spiderman saves people by flying, and Iron Man does it with super gadgets. Spiderman also shoots webs from his hand and fights the evil guys." Super.
Parents need to explain
But for every Hriday, there's someone less fortunate who believed he shared the same powers that Shaktiman did, and jumped to death. Chhabria says the responsibility is with the parents alone. "How parents explain the events on screen and in comic books, is just as important. Watchingu00a0 a show is part of being exposed to reality, which is violent. What's crucial is how it's discussed at home."
Mohanty agrees. "Superheroes have evolved with time. Superman in the early comics could afford to be all white because the times needed a hero like that to up the morale of Americans post the World War. Today, real life is violent, and real people are grey. Modern popular culture reflects that. New superheroes are exposing kids to today's grey reality, preparing them for what they will face. That's a good thing," he says.
Superheroes haven't degraded
That doesn't allay the worries of Sharon Lamb, professor at the University of Massachusetts. Quoted in UK daily The Telegraph after surveying 674 boys aged between four to 18, she said that today's media offered boys only two options to forget their identities -- superheroes and slackers. Superheroes like Superman, who was a reporter by day, she feels, fought for social justice. But the new breed is self-indulgent.
Twelve year-old Agni Murthy, a class eight student from Mumbai, we think, has the last word on the subject. "I love Batman. He's a superhero who actually built his own super powers to help people, unlike Superman, who was born with them. Iron Man too actually constructed his armour and gadgets. Unlike Superman, who is invincible, Batman isn't. He has his fears, and isn't able to beat up every single bad guy, which makes me believe him. You fear for him, so I like him even more."
You can't argue with that.
Superheroes have a religion
The 99 is a comic book series centred on superheroes from the Islamic world. Created by Kuwait-born Dr Naif Al-Mutawa, founder and CEO of Teshkeel Media Group, the 99 are ordinary people from across the world who come into possession of one of the 99 magical Noor Stones (Stones of Light), only to find themselves empowered with superhero characteristics. The 99 series is an attempt to promote values such as cooperation and unity throughout the Islamic world. Not religious, the concept of 99 is based on the 99 attributes of Allah and aims to communicate Islamic virtues, which are universal in nature. pic/afp photo
Desi heroes
On film
Krrish was India's first big superhero film (2006). Played by Hrithik Roshan, Krrish is born with the ability to scale long distances, and run like the wind. Shot in Mumbai and Singapore, the film grossed Rs 1,500 million worldwide.
On TV
shaktiman played by Mukesh Khanna, was first telecast on Doordarshan in 1997. His alter-egou00a0 Pandit Gangadhar Vidyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri, is a photographer for Aaj Ki Awaaz newspaper. Shaktiman's super strength, and ability to fly made him a huge hit with kids.
In books
Doga, an antihero in Raj Comics, created by Tarun Kumar Wahi and Sanjay Gupta in 1992, is an orphan who had to fight evil and protect his loved ones under the guise of a dog mask. In 2008, Anurag Kashyap announced his intention to make a movie based on this character.
The Handbook
Know your superheroes
Superman
Real name: Clark Kent
Last played by: Brandon Routh in Superman Returns (2006)
Powers/ gadgets: In his first incarnation, Superman had super strength, could run extremely fast and jump as much as an eighth of a mile into the air. Today, he is nearly omnipotent and can fly, survive in a vacuum and lift entire mountains. He has heat, X-ray and telescopic vision. Superman's breath can knock over vehicles and freeze objects.
Comic published by: DC Comics
Iron Man
Real name: Tony Stark
Last played by: Robert Downey Junior in Iron Man 2 (2010)
Powers/ gadgets: He uses Jet boots to propel himself up to 100 feet in the air, Repulsor rays that are built into the palms of his gloves to melt holes through metals, and a Cybernetic helmet to control the devices within his armour.
Comic published by: Marvel Comics
Batman
Real name: Bruce Wayne
Last played by: Christian Bale in The Dark Knight (2008)
Powers/ gadgets: Batman never takes up firearms because that's how his parents were murdered. He uses a bulletproof and fire-resistant suit, bulletproof graphite cowl with an earphone able to hear up to 4,920 feet, sonic sounders (high frequency devices which irritate bats, thus attracting them for distraction), ninja spiked boots for scaling buildings, and the Batmobile with a 1500hp jet turbine engine that makes it go from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds.
Comic published by: DC Comics
Spiderman
Real name: Peter Parker
Last played by: Tobey Maguire in Spiderman 3 (2007)
Powers/ gadgets: He has four main powers -- Spider-Strength, Spider-Speed, Spider-Grip, and Spider-Sense that enable to him to fight and outwit villains.
Comic published by: Marvel Comics
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