What can the Marvel universe teach our 'lost men'?
The Marvel film franchise has dominated the cinema for 15 years. Has anyone wondered why? What is it about these films that we love? At the same time, more young men have opted out of society for they believe it holds them in contempt. We have seen the development of communities such as 'Men Going Their Own Way' (MGTOW), and 'Involuntary Celibates' (Incels). In a culture full of superheroes, why are men not copying what they see on the screen?
I am not a big fan of superhero films. Too simplistic. Too much CGI. I remember watching the first Captain America film when released on video, for parts were filmed in Manchester city centre. 1940s Manhattan was created in the city's Northern Quarter. Years later, I tried to watch Black Panther and one of the Avengers films but turned off before the end. Bored.
A few days ago, I could not find anything to watch on TV so decided to rewatch Captain America. I enjoyed it more than I remembered, so the next evening I watched the first Avengers film. It was while watching the differences between the characters that I suddenly saw the appeal – they were us, different parts of us.
The Captain America character is the child within us all. He sees everything as black and white, good vs evil, right or wrong. He picks the correct path regardless of the personal consequences. He is a protector. He was bullied as a child - he now has the power to stop bullies so feels a sense of duty. He is the simplified version of who we all wish we were. A decent, honourable person who protects the weaker in society.
Iron Man is a different character altogether. He is a grown-up version of Captain America. He understands that life is not black or white – he understands nuance. He has many character flaws and is aware of them. He is narcissistic, selfish, spoilt and untrusting. He sees the dangers in the world and also in the hearts of men. He is a cynic, yet, spends his time and money improving the world for mankind. A rich white boy trying to improve the lives of the less fortunate – a type of social justice warrior? Sometimes we like him, sometimes we do not.
The Hulk is what lies within us all - destruction and rage. It is always brimming below the surface and in need of constant attention to keep it under control. Dr Banner, aka Hulk, is a very intelligent man, yet he cannot always control his rage. The message is clear, this type of fury is not just the purview of the stupid, uneducated or common man, but within us all. I saw this in the 1980s when arrested football hooligans turned out to be solicitors, bankers and school teachers.
The conflict between Thor and Loki is the classic battle of the Gods. Good versus evil. Thor is a kick-arse version of Jesus – sent to earth to save mankind. Loki is the Devil - using tricks and deception to gain the power to rule over the world. Brothers in conflict. They represent the two sides of us, the constant internal battle of light over dark. Loki is the resentment that resides within. Always looking to blame someone for the trials and tribulations of life, never accepting personal responsibility. Victimhood mentality.
We had heroes before Marvel, every generation and culture has them. In my lifetime, I have wanted to be John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Stallone and Schwarzenegger. The highest-earning actor over the last few years has been The Rock – aka Dwayne Johnson. He kicks the arse of the bad guys, never abuses his power and protects the vulnerable. A classic hero.
We prefer characters who are not immortal for this is where we see bravery. Captain America can be hurt and bleeding, yet he stands back up and moves forward towards the enemy. Iron Man pushes a nuclear missile into a wormhole to save others with no expectation of surviving. Luckily, he falls back to earth and is saved by another Avenger. It is the perseverance we admire, the self-sacrifice, the ability to stand back up after being knocked down. Courage.
Rocky Balboa: "It ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward."
There is a message in the Marvel universe for us all, especially for young men struggling to find their path in life. It is around taking on responsibility, looking out for others, and being true to yourself. This all sounds a bit wishy-washy, so let me explain a little better.
The first message is to be aware of the monster that resides within - your own Hulk. This is the part of you that seeks destruction, whether this is name-calling, spreading rumours, bullying, violence or much worse. Read a history book to see the outcome of man's rage. We must control our anger for it leads to a dark place, not only for us but for society. Dr Banner spends his life running away from his anger and is tortured at the hands of loneliness. Be the master of your beast, not its victim.
Life is complicated. Problems are rarely as simple as right or wrong. We need to operate at a higher level so we make more productive choices – this requires education. We need to be more like the brilliant inventor Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, so we can see the detail of the problem. Knowledge is power.
When in doubt, do what you feel is correct. We all have an inbuilt moral compass and need to trust it. Captain America's instinct is to always take the course of action that he feels is correct. He does not think about it, he acts. When in doubt, and let's be honest - we are always in doubt of what to do, we should do what we feel is correct. As opposed to doing nothing - not acting when you should is cowardice. No one wants to be a coward. We make excuses to try to fool ourselves when we know we have chosen unwisely.
These films are modern myths and legends. They are successful for we see ourselves in the characters, or at least, see who we wish we were. We cannot be Captain America, but maybe we can take on part of his essence – and do what is right. We do not have the brilliance of Tony Stark, but we can educate ourselves a little more to improve our lives and society. We will never turn into a green Hulk, but we are all capable of evil so be careful of our choices. We need to be aware of Loki and see the lies that will tempt us, for they lead to resentment.
We need young men to be superheroes. Their first mission should be to save themselves from a life of pain and loneliness. The world is not against them – this is a lie planted by Loki. But the world is unfair and uncompromising. Young men need to be up for a challenge. They should wear the bruises of battle as badges of honour, for it shows that they are stepping forward into adversity.
Act like the person you want to be and you will be one step closer to achieving it. And if in doubt, remember the words of a captain who wore blue tights.
"For as long as I can remember, I just wanted to do what was right." - Captain America