AudioShocker

How old is the superhero?

Inspired by Incredible Hercules #113

Many would simply answer: 1938. But I don’t think it’s that simple. I’ll agree that Superman is the first proper hero to be known by the exact term “superhero,” but the notion of a people’s champion with extraordinary abilities is a key component in global culture.

Hercules, for example. This son of Zeus has been the talk of action lovers for thousands of years. He’s still popular today. The Incredible Hulk comic book recently decided to shed its title character. The Green Goliath was replaced with history’s most famous hard-luck superhuman, Herc. It certainly helps that the Incredible Hercules is a damn good comic too.

And then there’s Anansi. He’s an African spider hero of unknown age that potentially dates back thousands of years as well. He tends to exist primarily as a powered spider as opposed to a spider-powered human. But that certainly doesn’t stop his trickster nature from being an obvious influence on Spider-Man.

Many religions feature deities that hold abilities extremely similar to the modern superhero. Hinduism is plentiful with powerful icons that more likely than not have influenced the development of many different comic book heroes. Next Wednesday’s She-Hulk #25 features the reintroduction Man-Elephant and writer Peter David takes special care to weave in a reference to Ganesha.

I wonder if there is an ancient story that influenced these classic heroes... perhaps a single superhero source. That would be awesome. My guess is that there is no single source of all superhuman stories, however. As long as there’s imagination, there’s a new superhero ready to be the best.