Superheroes with years
Superheroes with years,
Ever wonder where all your favourite superheroes came from? The story goes way back, and it's cool to see how these characters shaped our world.
What Makes a Superhero?
Google tells us a superhero is "a fictional character with superhuman powers, like Superman." But back in the day, creators just called them "costumed characters" or even "mystery men." The word superhero didn't really stick until later.
The Real First Superhero
Most people think Superman was first. But here's the thing - he wasn't. The Phantom beat him to it in 1936. You know, "the ghost who walks", aka Kit Walker from the made-up country of Bangalla.
The Phantom's story starts way back in 1526. A guy named Christopher Walker survived a pirate attack and swore his family would always fight crime. Pretty cool origin story, right?
Superman and the Big Names
Superman showed up in 1938. Everyone knows his deal: a baby from the dying planet Krypton lands in Smallville. Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel created him to fight for "truth, justice, and the American way."
Then came Batman in 1939. Kid loses his parents in an alley, grows up to become the Dark Knight. Simple but powerful.
The Early Heroes Nobody Talks About
Here are some you might not know:
The Comet (1940) - A scientist who found super-light gas. First superhero to die on duty.
Jay Garrick (1940) - The original Flash. Got powers by breathing weird vapour during a smoke break.
Shazam/Captain Marvel (1940) - A kid named Billy Batson who could turn into an adult superhero.
Female Heroes Join the Fight
1940 was big for female heroes, too. Fantomah protected jungles and animals - her face turned into a blue skull when using powers. Woman in Red was actually a policewoman named Peggy Allen fighting crime in secret.
Wonder Woman came later, encouraging women to stand up for themselves.
The War Years and Beyond
World War II changed comics. Captain America showed up in 1941 to fight the Nazis. Steve Rogers took that super soldier serum and never looked back.
Other heroes from this era:
Aquaman (1941) - Half-human, half-Atlantean king of the seas
Supergirl - Superman's cousin from Krypton
The Modern Era
The 1960s brought us some legends:
The Hulk (1962) - Bruce Banner saves a kid, gets hit by gamma radiation, becomes green and angry
Spider-Man (1962) - Peter Parker gets bitten by a radioactive spider, learns "with great power comes great responsibility"
Iron Man (1963) - A genius billionaire in a metal suit
The Newer Faces
Later heroes added different flavours:
Swamp Thing (1971) -A plant creature protecting nature
Wolverine (1971) - Canadian mutant with metal claws
Deadpool (1991) - The "merc with a mouth" who started bad but turned good
Hellboy (1993) - Paranormal agent fighting weird stuff
Why This All Matters
These characters didn't just entertain us. They gave us hope during tough times. They showed us what it means to do the right thing, even when it's hard.
From the Phantom's 1936 debut to today's heroes, each one reflects what people needed at that time. Whether it was fighting real wars, standing up for others, or just being brave when life gets scary.
Next time you watch a superhero movie or read a comic, remember - you're part of a story that's been going strong for almost 90 years. And it's not stopping anytime soon.
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