On Saturday I went on a holy pilgrimage to New York Comic-Con – the ultimate East Coast nerd gathering. Comic-Con is a convention where comic book publishers, video game companies, anime and manga makers, and local collectible stores gather to sell colorful character themed crap to people paying at least $45 for admission. It is also a chance for geeks, nerds, and fans to gather and exchange in conversation over who would win in a battle – Spiderman or Batman (the answer is Batman).
It is now widely recognized that a great many superhero characters were created by Jews. While I definitely did not see as many hasidim at Comic-Con as I do at The New York Auto Show (and always around the Mercedes-Benzs) there were Jews there honoring their comic-book mishbucha. Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America, The Fantastic Four, The Spirit, and the X-Men were all created by Jews. Stan Lee created at least half of the most awesome comic book characters ever (Spider-Man, Captain America, The Fantastic Four, and The X-Men from the aforelisted) but none of them actually practice Judaism. Shame, because I’d like to see them all in shul; Batman with his utility tallas sitting next to Superman with a yamulke over his spit curl.
One issue in the nature of super hero characters is that they tend to not have discerning characteristics aside from their powers. Some are black, some are women, very few are gay or lesbian. Even fewer believe in anything but Christmas and catching bad guys. This isn’t a bad thing; in fact, it’s the reason why so many people like comic books. They’re easy to read and fairly non-controversial but at the same time they can make you think. There’s also a play between readers feeling like they “own” a certain character (New Yorkers and Spider-Man) and the universality of the character.
Let’s say Superman was really The Mensch, an almighty alien man sent to Earth from the planet Ferklempt-on. Would anyone want to read that? Could anyone beside a Jew relate to the character?
By creating these superheroes, Stan Lee, Will Eisner and their peers created lovable characters that can do anything, including save the world countless times and improve the lives of millions daily. These characters are examples for how humanity could be. They exercise what the Torah teaches us about treating other people and being good citizens. These characters are not Jewish but in a way, they’re Jew-ish.
Geoff Edelstein grew up in the cozy Connecticut hills where people thought that brisket was the name of his dog. Periodically his parents would bring them to New York City, where they grew up. There he learned of the wonders of Judaism. Back then, he was a big Jew in a small pond. Now, he’s a little Jew in a big pond. By day he is an English major, by night he is the Managing Editor of The Acorn, Drew University’s student newspaper. Nevertheless, people still think he has a dog named Brisket. His column, Seriously Stereotyped, appears here on alternating Mondays.
