Comic book superheroes’ anxiety is well documented, and it has been a part of the comic book tradition since the beginning. Angst in literature, on the other hand, predates comic books. Superhero angst is just another manifestation of any hero’s angst throughout the hero’s journey. The causes of angst among comic book superheroes, on the other hand, are numerous.
Aside from plotlines, it’s important to consider who reads comic books. Until the recent emergence of popular graphic novels, the majority of comic book readers were adolescent or preadolescent boys. A conflicted hero with great gifts he can’t reveal to the world is a surefire hit with most teenagers, particularly teenage boys, who make up the majority of comic book readers.
Comic book superheroes’ anguish is similar to that of adolescent boys. Superheroes who must undergo physical transformations, such as Spiderman, or who are born with abilities they must conceal, such as Superman, have alter egos who are constantly in pain. As boys grow older, they are confronted with changing bodies and the feeling that no one truly understands them. Fear of rejection is linked to their desire to be loved, appreciated, and understood.
Though plotlines differ, another source of angst among comic book superheroes is that they are on the path of Joseph Campbell’s “hero’s journey.” Many of them, such as Zorro, Batman, Superman, and Spiderman, are without biological parents. They are still “children of the world,” as Campbell would put it, even if they have loving adoptive parents.
Rather than simply making one’s parents happy, comic book superheroes’ angst may be explained in part their desire to make “the world” happy. They tame their own desires in order to make the world a better place. Instead of simply belonging to themselves, they belong to the world.
Superheroes have a bad track record when it comes to dating. Consider Peter Parker’s relationship with Mary Jane or Clark Kent’s relationship with Lois Lane. The fact that superheroes can’t serve their own needs first causes a lot of anxiety among comic book superheroes. When they do, the outcome is almost always tragic. Other heroes on the hero’s journey, such as Luke Skywalker or Percival, are in the same boat. Superheroes don’t get the girl because their responsibilities prevent them from having a simple relationship, or they don’t get to keep her because of their obligations.
Secret identities cause anxiety among comic book superheroes as well. It’s impossible to tell who you are when you’re a superhero. In fact, most superheroes must hide their true abilities behaving nerdily, as Parker and Kent do, or insensitively, as Bruce Wayne does. Not only does this imply that they lack successful relationships, but it also implies that their true selves are hidden from the rest of the world. No one realizes how extraordinary they are. Only a few close friends and family members may be aware of their true identity, which means they are largely ignored the rest of the world.
It’s difficult to feel compelled to save a world that doesn’t want or like you. One of the best at this is Peter Parker. As Peter, he’s a constant failure, but as Spiderman, he’s a constant success. Few people, however, are aware of Peter’s positive side, and only see him as a nerd who can’t keep appointments. He is impoverished, unloved, and uncared for.
When one considers Parker’s life, it’s easy to understand why comic book superheroes have angst. Who wants a sacred duty when the rest of the world is against it? It’s a constant battle not to exclaim one’s uniqueness and deservingness of praise.
As a result, angst among comic book superheroes stems from a variety of sources. It appeals to readers and encourages them to purchase comic books. Superheroes must remain anonymous, are unable to form relationships, and will never be recognized for their abilities in their “human” form. They sacrifice their own lives to serve humanity, and they must choose between helping the world and satisfying their own desires. Their pasts are usually tragic, and their futures are filled with a laundry list of ways they must save the world. The result is invariably deep emotional turmoil, anxiety, and conflict.