Ronn wrote: > At 10:27 PM 4/20/02, Jim wrote: >>Page 4: Recriminations from people on street, how could superheroes >>let this happen? > >This, of course, is always the problem with such stories. >Superheroes are regularly depicted as stopping far worse fictional >disasters, so how could they have let this one happen?
>Frex, why couldn't Superman (wrong universe, I know) get there in >time after the first plane hit to catch the others and set them >down safely (as he has been depicted doing many times when he saved >a plane from crashing after its engines had failed) or held the >building up until all the victims were safely out (as he has been >depicted doing many times with a building damaged by an >earthquake)? And why couldn't he fly over Afghanistan scanning the >caves with his super-vision until he located Osama bin Laden >and the others behind the plot, then gathered up them up and >brought them to justice? Etc., etc. > Good points, Ronn. I can point you to a couple of issues taht involve Superman that at least give some thought to that. An issue of Hitman, #38 I think, involves Supes bumping into and talking to the titular character about his failure to save an astronaut, and they get into a long talk about even Superman can't save everybody. The most recent issue of Green Lantern (Yes, I like superheroes. Given DB's philosophy on the little guy being the ones that truly matter, that may not a common position here. Sue me. :-) ) has Supes talking to the recently "suped-up" GL about how people have to do things for themselves, as a result of certaing steps GL had taken to "help" the people of the world, like literally rearranging the climate of the planet to turn desert into arable land and such. Another good story that you might enjoy that muses on a heroes' responsibilities, as well as having a great story and *excellent* Alex Ross art, is "Kingdom Come." In it, the cities where the Flash and Batman call home have no crime, but only because of either constant vigilance or draconian measures. Very interesting, if you like superhero stuff. Anyway, your point is a good one, Ronn, but any story in a fantasy universe requires a certain suspension of disbelief. I thought JMS's story was a good one. It clearly points out that regular people are the true heroes. That the ones who risk their lives every day without any "powers" beyond human courage and determination are the ones that really matter, even in a fantasy world. Besides, even superheroes have to sleep on occassion. :-) Jim ------------------------------------------------
