Topic: Superman

The Legacy of Heroes

By David W. Shelton | July 1, 2006 |

A few weeks ago, I wrote of how my childhood was colored in the pages of comic books and how the best heroes I imagined were in those colored panels. I would imagine how those stories would be so cool if they were real.

But like any fantasy, I had to come to a realization that those heroes in colored tights and flashy capes would never materialize. Sure, they’d come close. Comic books have made some really great movies in the last thirty years. Some of the more notable successes of the panel-to-big-screen transfer are Superman: The Movie, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Batman, Batman Begins, and this year’s Superman Returns.

I had the great pleasure of watching Superman Returns with my two best friends from childhood. We were once again those three crazy boys as we watched the opening credits fly past on the screen. It was a chance to be a child again. And we were children in awe of the hero as he saved the day and carried on his legacy. Not to spoil the movie for those who haven’t seen it, we see him save a Boeing 777, a space shuttle, a number of cars and falling signs, and the damsels in distress.

But like most heroes, Superman is alone. The character is remembered for his impact far more than his flashy blue tights. This is a character that is recognized across the world as a symbol for idealism.

But symbols are sometimes overshadowed by real people whose lives are reflected in those they have touched. These people—living, flesh and blood people—are examples of the best that humanity has to offer, warts and all. One such person was a soft-spoken person by the name of Juan Julian Vasquez. «Read the rest of this article»

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