If superheroes aren't real, then why do their bodies have to be?

            

Top Image from Movies.ndtv.com
Bottom Image from Nearpictures.com

            For the past eight weeks I have been arguing and defending over sexualized superheroes with similar points listed out in the article “Superhero Body Image Issues” from the Comic Book Compass. In this article, the writer opens up with Huge Jackman’s rigorous preparations for his very iconic role as the Wolverine, but even with his workout and diet, his physique still was not up to his comic book standards. The writer then goes on about how over the years the unobtainable body image has increased in comic books. They give an example by quoting Kyle Gonyea, owner of a comic book store, who talks about how the Hulk has exponentially increased since his adolescent days. The article then continues on how comic books reflect today’s culture. By using Paolo Rivera as a source, the writer introduces a counterargument on how Marvel superheroes are “more of a reflection of the larger culture” and how Rivera isn’t as concerned with idolizing superhero bodies. To argue this counterargument, the writer quotes Andrew Wheeler, a freelance writer, and explains his views on how the unrealistic physique of superheroes ultimately take away the hero’s appeal; However, the most important of this article is spelled out in the last few paragraphs. They expand on Wheeler’s view about how men and women in comic books are portrayed in comics. Women tend to be over sexualized and men often under sexualized. Even though the male superheroes are still idolized, they aren’t sexualized like the female superheroes. Wheeler then uses Arnold Schwarzenegger as an example for this argument. He states that male superheroes aren’t sexualized because in the 80’s men wanted to be Schwarzenegger, but the women didn’t not want to sleep with him. The article ends with a solution- in order to improve the physical depictions of superheroes in comics, then male and female superheroes must be treated similarly.

            Normally I would agree with the article I just summarized, but this week I thought I’d try a new angle. So instead of agreeing with every point made in this article, I am agreeing with one- the counter argument. This article states, “some members of the comic book community find this idealization natural” meaning that parts of the comic book community believe that a superhero with a perfect body is natural for today’s society. Many believe that comic books and superheroes are the source to society’s insecurities; however while designing comics for Marvel, Rivera states he “wasn’t promoting a style of body that wasn’t being promoted everywhere else” which means Rivera was simply reproducing the style of body that was promoted everywhere else. Rivera’s worries do not come from whether or not the superhero looks hot or not, his worries come from the physical diversity of the characters. Rivera believes in giving the superhero different physical traits that match their persona, and if that means making them unrealistic, so what? If superheroes aren't real, then why do their bodies have to be?