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FREETHUNK BOOK!The Complete Edition
By Jeff Swenson
160 pages, Jam-Packed
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"JUGS, BEAVERS and EXPLODING BALLS"
by Jeff Swenson
First Cynic Comic Strip
collection now in print.
2004-2005
Buy it now for
below retail.
WHO WANTS TO BE A SUPERHERO? The new Sci-Fi Reality Show
Reviewed by Cartoonist Jeff Swenson
Who says comics have to be superficial depictions of muscles and boobs? Stan Lee's new show has heart.
 Good Ol' Stan Lee |
I originally was going to review Who Wants To Be A Superhero, the new Stan Lee reality show on the Sci-Fi Network for my other site Swensonfunnies.com but as I finished watching it I was struck by how much this "reality show" related to humanism. |
| Be forewarned, if you haven't watched the pilot episode then you may not want to read further because I'm going to discuss the ending. You can download it for free for your Ipod off of the Music Store in Itunes. If you don't have Itunes you can download it at www.Itunes.com . What is a superhero? This show really examines the idealism of the genre. The classic hero as typified by Superman, Spiderman and possibly Batman (but he's kind of screwed in the head, don't ya think?). It goes right to the core--the motivations and the drive of the individual--and honestly doesn't give a damn about how clever the costume or name of the hero is. I realized this show has a lot to say about humanity and humanism in general. Humanism is an effort by, well, humans that don't rely on on appeasing a self-absorbed God to help them out. Humanism in a way, is an attempt to reach towards the superhero idealism. The first episode starts out with the usual auditions. Everyone is trying to show off their "original" superhero ideas and stand in front of Stan Lee (who always appears on a video screen to be bigger than life) and spout all kinds of Superhero creeds and pledges that eventually sound like nonsense . One woman hero even takes off her top for Stan which brings her status into question immediately (would Wonder Woman be so easy?). Eventually good old Stan (and how old is Stan anyways, if anyone is an immortal he has to be) narrows the heroes down to Cellphone Girl (what girl isn't), Iron Enforcer (just reminds me of a Highschool Bully), Fat Momma (cliche but at least she can joke about herself), Monkey Woman (annoying, a prime candidate for experimental drug testing), Major Victory (Cheesy but this is my favorite hero thus far), Creature (flaky), Nitro G (sidekick material), Feedback (may be a fanboy in disguise, not sure yet), Ty'Veculus (at least his hero name is good), Levity (has to announce his gayness which is fine but then why not choose a gay hero name), and Lemuria (all I can say is "bouncy"). |
 Cellphone Girl |
 Iron Enforcer |
 Fat Momma |
 Monkey Woman |
 Major Victory |
 Creature |
 Nitro G |
 Feedback |
 Ty'Veculus |
 Levity |
 Lemuria |
| In their first test, and again this is a spoiler, the heroes gather together for an informal party to meet all of the other chosen few and mingle. But dwelling amongst the musclebound, the purposefully fat, and the flaky is a traitor. A traitor that will record all of their conversations to find out how hero-like they are. Stan Lee abruptly interrupts the party and calls the Superheroes to meet at their secret lair, at which time the traitor is revealed. At this point in the game the first cut is made because the first test was hero integrity. Are these people contestants because they truly understand what it is to be a hero or are they simply self-serving? One of the heroes I have to admit I already dislike and this is Iron Enforcer who wields a big gun and pecs to match. He looks more like a villain to me and his conversation was less than charming considering he talked about using his big superhero gun to kill people--yes, he did say it in a joking manner. Okay, it's not really fair to pick on him when most of us might have joked in the same way, boys will be boys, but if he realized the nature of the contest he was in he would have watched his words. Stan Lee calls him on it and lucky for him he was not eliminated. Instead "Levity" a hero who in his mortal form creates action figures is exposed that his ambition may be more for profit than for truth and justice (become a hero and then you can sell yourself as an action figure). Stan cuts him from the pack and he has to ditch his hero costume in a garbage can. Being that I have nothing against the freemarket and self-promotion I can understand where this guy was coming from but again, like Iron Enforcer, he did not understand the nature of the contest. Heroes have no love of wealth, any money they have is used for the destruction of evil. They are altruistic, almost nauseatingly so. And an action figure, while a tribute, would cause a true hero embarrassment. Humility is a key quality for someone who thinks about others before him or herself. Thus the remaining Super guys and gals enter the cool lair and are wowed by it--something of course that many of them were anticipating, almost drooling for. Which continues to show that that many of the contestants just didn't get it. Even though the entire series is based on a cheezy premise, Stan Lee was looking for heart over the superficial things in life. Which is why the next test was so important and really captured my attention. It was a humanist test if ever there was one. In it's simplicity it was so obvious to the viewer and yet so hard for the contestant. So simple was this test that it was almost a cliche and yet what happened was not surprising. Each hero was given a personal communicator so that Stan could summon them at any time. When called upon they would have to change from their ordinary clothes into their superhero costumes without being noticed--similar to Clark Kent changing into Superman. After they changed they were given directions to an archway to run to as fast as they could in order to have the fastest time. This is all out in the open in a public area with bystanders and traffic. The first to be called on by Stan was "Feedback", a buff guy who fit the Superhero image perfectly. He changed quickly behind a wall without drawing attention and ran as fast as he could to the endpoint. But he blew it big time! He ran right past a small girl crying for her mommy and yelled that she was lost. So focused was he on the task at hand, the winning of a reality show contest, that he raced right past her and didn't stop to help. Fuck the kid, I'm on TV and I'm going to win regardless of my surroundings. The girl was an actress and it was a test. A very important test to see if each Superhero had what it took on the inside to be a real hero. I often poke fun of sensitive, huggy-feely people who constantly talk about how important it is to be beautiful on the inside and that looks don't matter as long as you believe in yourself. Usually this is used to reinforce the lie that the outside or the physical doesn't count or rather the idea that you can be butt-ugly as long as you have inner beauty because inner beauty will make you beautiful on the outside too. It just isn't true. At least not in the way it is often sold. In the real world looks do matter. I don't want to say that looks are all that matters, that's a lie too. It's really a balancing act between exterior beauty and interior beauty in order to be accepted by society. One can cancel the other out whether that's fair or not and unfortunately good looks will usually win out over a good heart. I mean I learned that lesson a long time ago about women choosing "bad boys" or how I like to refer to them: "assholes with good genetics". If you've ever seen one of those 20/20 specials you'll know that attractive people will always do better in our society--better careers, more opportunities for dating and more popularity. I'm not pointing this out to keep the ugly guy down, we all need cartoonists and stand up comics, but let's face it--"ugly" can put you at a disadvantage. And ugliness is associated with evil or in comic world villainy which may say something about society itself. I believe you can overcome any unfair features handed to you by nature by having a strong and enjoyable personality. It won't get you into bed with Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt but it will help you overcome the prejudices that exist because humans evolved to judge the outside first, usually for reasons having to do with mating and asserting power. Back to the hero test--the camera spotlighted those heroes who remembered to be "human" before engaging in the fiction of their imagination and by doing so truly showed their hero side. As could be expected women responded more than men, maybe a motherly instinct as was indicated by Fat Momma, or maybe that women are more sensitive to their surroundings than men. Though it could be a fluke since Monkey Woman and Creature did pass by the crying girl too. As a man I was proud to see Major Victory stop to help the girl, and keep wonderfully in character I might add. He was the exception though and the men looked like pricks compared to most of the women. Seeing the other male heros high on adrenaline rip on by a small girl in distress while pretending to be heroes disgusted me. I can't say I would have passed the test myself until tested so I am passing judgment somewhat unfairly as a viewer in that regard. However, I really can't get over at what a foul taste that scenario left in my mouth. In a time when it feels like the world is just ready to implode from violence and ill will you want to see true heroes. And mostly what I saw were Hollywood wannabes looking for a contract to make them rich. They were more interested in the fame aspect than earning the fame through heroic deeds. The pilot ends there. I won't tell you who gets cut from failing that moral test of finishing the race or helping a little girl. Only one hero had to turn in their costume when several deserved to be asked to leave. I thought it would have made a great scenario if Iron Enforcer had been cut (I really don't like that guy) and then came back for revenge as a villain. Isn't that how a lot of villains are born? Out of a thirst for vengeance and unwarranted jealousies? This show is a lot of cheesy, fanboy fun but as a freethinker striving to be a humanist it really said something deep. Even in our activities as freethinkers--debating online, creating blogs and sites, hosting net radio shows, rebutting silly arguments by Ray Comfort, bringing lawsuits regarding the pledge of allegiance and "In God We Trust" on coins, and generally bashing the Government for war and anti-science--I wonder if we miss out on altruism. Of course once I say "altruism" some freethinker out there is questioning if it can exist in a pure form, but you know what I'm getting at. Do we help out others? Do we notice others? What's more important in the end? Becoming a super freethinker or donating time to a charity? I'm not trying to put a guilt trip on anyone because the advancement of science has done more than any charity ever could to help the human race, but on an individual level I think it's good to humble ourselves on occasion and reflect. Have I improved as a moral human being and do I reach for that superhero ideal? Even the little things count. So if you see a lost kid crying for her mommy, put down the Richard Dawkin's book and go see if you can help her. You might be accused of child kidnapping in this paranoid craze we have going on to hunt down child molestors but at least you tried. |