Superman's Creation After The Great Depression

“A hero can be anyone.” (The Dark Knight Rises) Just like the Batman says in the movie a hero can be anyone, but it’s the world we live in that makes the hero. In 1929 the great stock market crash caused fear in millions of Americans, and it also caused over nine thousand banks to fail. There is much debate as to whether or not the stock market crash was the sole cause of the Great Depression, but there is agreement on the fact that it sparked the depression. After this great stock market crash people in the United States of America felt the aftermath for years to come. The Great Depression lasted for almost ten years, it was one of the worst decades that the United States has ever faced as a country. There are little remnants of hope from

Superman’s creation during the Great Depression is a prime example of this statement. The United States had been in drastic need of a prominent or fictional character to guide them out of this Great Depression. Many were looking to death, and crimes, all because of how lost and hopeless they felt. Out of these ashes, and the misery, and the pain that the United States were feeling, Superman was born. Superman was a creation that was a response to what the United States needed at the time. During the Great Depression it seemed as though nobody knew what to do, and it seemed as though there was no hope for the fallen nation at the time. Superman looked like the answer to what the people needed. This god like figure was created because humanity or rather the United States needed an important figure to look to for guidance in what seemed like an endless life of torture and depression. “Superman became a symbol for Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's strong belief in America and Franklin Delano Roosevelt's (FDR's) New Deal.” (Pribitktin) Superman was the figure that America needed and was created because nobody else could claim such a role, it needed to be a fictional character. The reason why it needed to be a fictional character was because a happy ending to the Great Depression seemed fictional. Superman was born into this world to fit the needs of what the United States needed; he was a symbol of

People began to become fans of Batman because of these well made films that resembled the Batman. The film that I find making the most impact on fans of superheroes was the film, The Dark Knight filmed and produced by Christopher Nolan. This film really connected with the people of America, because the movie was very action packed. Many individuals wouldn’t ever place their hands on a comic book, or watch an animated television series about the Batman and because of that people wouldn’t ever give Batman a chance. (Nolan) With this film the director of it gave the audience a taste of realistic crime and crime fighting. Batman had to face an unstoppable force known as the Joker, it was because Batman was able to face such an unstoppable villain being just a human being this film really connected with most individuals. People could relate to Batman because he didn’t have any super powers, and it could help you imagine what it would be like to be in his position. “This is what happens when an unstoppable force...meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible, aren't you? Huh? You won't kill me... out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness.” (Nolan) This is the joker giving his last dialogue before Batman foils his plans and takes him down. The Batman is