Hope for the future

By CHRISTOPHER FORTIER

What would the world be like without Superman?

Now I know the Last Son of Krypton is just a fictional character, but seriously. What would the world be like without him?

I can tell you this. The world would be a much worse place.

For someone like myself, who grew up invisible to most of the world, comic books were my escape, and at 34, they still are on occasion. Sure, my world has changed, but a character like Superman helped get me through some of those rough times in my life, and still does.

What’s so special about Superman, anyway?

Aside from his virtually uncountable abilities, in the face of it all, Kal-El, Superman, Clark Kent, or whatever you want to call him, is the measuring stick for which all other superheroes are measured.

He’s been around since 1938, and his place in our minds and hearts as just as relevant all these years later. His look has remained (Somewhat) constant over the years (Let’s choose to forget the 1990s “Electric Superman’) and his fight against evil is still ongoing.

Look at the symbol on his chest. That “S” is one of the most recognizable logos in the known world. It is more recognizable than some corporate logos. His story has been told and retold countless times over the last 70-plus years, but those of us who know the story, still sit there in awe and amazement whenever we see it.

Look at the television show, Smallville.

In its 10th season, the show has amassed over 200 episodes, and a following of loyal fans, which will be sad to see it leave the air in May, as the series nears its end.

We all know how the story ends, but the fact is, we watch it, because it tells a tale we all can relate to. A story of a protector, sent to us from a dying world, which despite all of his abilities, manages to protect us from harm, rather than dominate us with his clear superiority.

And why? Because of the way he was raised. His adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent made Clark a decent and upstanding man.

That is a story we can all believe in.

Despite the world in which we live in, that has no protector, and is filled with civil unrest, poverty, a collapsing economy and disease, we can all look to that red and yellow symbol, and see hope for a better tomorrow.

After all, the symbol is Kryptonian for “Hope.”