It has been some time since I read Iron John. I ought to re-read it before I finish this essay, but I'm impatient.
You see we went to see Green Lantern and we had to decide if he was a better hero than Spiderman. I can't say for sure, but I have some feelings on the subject. Since we've been inundated with comic book movies, we sooner or later have to choose. Courtney brought up the subject, and Chris had the best answer.
From the movie perspective, the original Spiderman set the standard. But the greater standard is the videogame drama. In that regard, the greatest hero is probably going to have to be Shepherd from the Mass Effect universe. To go into all the reasons why is an essay in itself. Suffice it to say that Halo's Master Chief lacks an heroic arc. He's just the ultimate soldier - he has no weakness to overcome, he's all duty and capability and humble arrogance, a human wrecking ball out exterminating bad guys.
Green Lantern is a more likeable Thor. Thor has got this ridiculous Puritan streak. We Americans don't like our gods ravenous. Hal Jordan, the human Green Lantern has a fear to overcome, it being fear itself, but the movie didn't do justice to that narrative. I kinda like the ledgend of having the universe split up into 3600 sections, each to be protected by some kinda alien freak allied with the Corps, and of course I dig the idea of the triumph of Will over Fear. I think it was a very appropriate lesson for the younglings. But.
Batman is a better hero than both Green Lantern and Superman because he puts himself more at risk. Spiderman only has to deal with his apathy and small mindedness, but he learned that lesson the hard way in episode one. Keeping a friendship and a girlfriend in episode two was just too cheesy, but it did make for a very good movie. Oh yeah and Harry Potter.. You know, he's still just a kid and as much as anyone can find him admirable does he really scale? I mean from a British author, you'd think he'd compare favorably to Churchill, but you have to say he's still just a kid - what world does Voldemort actually threaten?
So that dimension came into things. Batman doesn't venture beyond Gotham and after all what is the real purpose of being Clark Kent? Maybe he actually has a thing for Jimmy Olsen. Silver Surfer on the other hand, now he has to deal with very large enemies on a planetary scale.
In the end, Chris and I had to agree that it was Xavier, the head of the X-Men who deserved the honor. He rescued kids, trained them to use their powers for good against a world that doesn't appreciate them, that in fact hates them. In addition he must keep them from the temptations of Magneto. Yep. I think Chris gets it.
All that said, we pretty much agreed that it would be the most fun to be Ironman.
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