(Why I am aficionado of Superheros)

Superheros have distilled entertainment to generations of comic book lovers and has stood the test of time by dominating the cinema industry. Marvel and DC Comics have developed characters that are relatable and diverse based on the social norms of society and influences of history throughout decades. These characters have a silhouette that are recognizable and have caught the attention and interests of their audience by resonating the "universal themes" of life to younger audiences coming into the world of age as adolescents.

Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko were the creative leading men of the comic book industry in the "Silver Age of Comics" They decided to go against a necessary stamp of acceptance to authorize the approval of comic books when they were working at the Marvel Timely Comics in 1939. (Comic Book Code) Stan Lee was on the bridge of quitting his job as a comic book writer from the strict conditions and the embarrassment of working in the entertainment industry in the 1930's 1940's when war was abrupt in the country. The first superhero that came out of the the "authenticity" of these creative chairmen was "Captain America" He was influenced from the patriotism from World War 2. Even soldiers were reading the Captain America comics. The Fantastic Four were the next characters established with the popularity of the "Human Torch" The Hulk was inspired from the concept of the monster being an empathetic hero like in the movie "Frankenstein" The concept of Spider-Man was inspired of making the character different from the rest of the others, being a teenager not very muscular and having money problems. The very physicality of Spider-Man was based off of Steve Ditko. They spun around names such as Mosquito-Man, Fly Man, until they landed on Spider-Man.

They didn't take a risk to advertise the Comic Characters until they made their own movie production studio Marvel Studios. In 2008 they decided to take a risk and film the first Marvel Movie starring (Robert Downey Jr.) as Iron Man. They didn't think it was going to be a success. Now the franchise has grown immensely and signed partnership with Walt Disney Studios. The casting for the Avengers films were based on the personas from the comics, that why they casted actors that best suit the roles of the characters.

The relationship I hold with superheros is that they represent people that are not ashamed to be their "authentic self" and let stereotypes of how people should act affect them. I can correlate with that experience because it made me comfortable resource of "being ok" to be who you are and not having to appeal to have the pressures of being "forced towards popularity" My aficionado towards superheros were also an escape from reality and way to creatively express myself. Instead of dressing up dressing up as a fairy or a princess like all the little girls I would beg my parents to buy me superhero costumes and action figures. I distinctly remember being the only girl dressing up as "Spider-Man" and "Bat-girl" because I assimulated with the characters and I was really inspired by the cinema. The movies gave such a power message and made you feel good. Everyone is a hero in a way trying to have good values and looking for their path in life and trying to stay away from the bad and having money problems, makes these characters realistic and relatable. It's been a really important aspect in my identity and my childhood, when you're a kid and look up to these heros you really thing you can accomplish anything in life and that shouldn't change as an adult and changing who you are, as long as you are the same person you were growing up you'll be happy for a lifetime.