Newmann: The super dilemma
Sometimes, and especially in times of crisis, we have to draw on the power of superheroes to come to the rescue. The caveat is … do we have any reliable superheroes?
The first hero to come to mind is, of course, Superman. Or, as he is also known, the Man of Steel. In his everyday life (when not out fighting bad guys or saving the rest of the world), he’s Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the Daily Planet. What a diverse guy! Along with a great motto: “Truth, justice and the American way.”
But there are some issues that may challenge Superman’s superpowers. Even though he’s the Man of Steel, he also may have to double as the Man of Samarium. Samarium, a rare earth metal vital to the production of fighter jets, missiles and other military hardware, is found only in China — and is currently difficult to obtain due to tariff disputes. Maybe Superman can figure out how to fly a few handfuls back to the U.S.
Meanwhile, he’ll also be engaged in his civilian role as a journalist trying to keep up with the ultra-rapid pace of current events. Seems like he’ll have his work cut out for him in his super role, while at the same time keeping up with his day job. All of these distractions may make it hard for him to come to the rescue of anyone anytime soon.
Then there’s Batman, the Caped Crusader. He generally seems to be on the side of right versus might, even though, as his alter ego Bruce Wayne, he’s an aristocratic member of the billionaire club. But what’s with his Batmobile? Is it an American-made vehicle? Or an overseas import? There’s also the question of his mask. Is Batman a legit superhero? Or a clandestine member of ICE? We want to think that he has the best intentions. But there are certainly questions lurking in the background.
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What about the Green Hornet? He seems like a pretty stand-up hero (though most of us have an aversion to any hornets). He could be a viable candidate for any potential rescue from evildoers. And his faithful sidekick, Kato, seems like a good egg. But there’s a question mark: Is Kato a legal alien? Better hope so. If not, the Green Hornet’s reputation could be in tatters. And Kato could end up in El Salvador.
If we go to the distaff side of our superheroes, Wonder Woman could be a popular choice for coming to the rescue in a timely manner. Not much extraneous baggage … and who could fault someone who was a founding member of the Justice League of America? But for all of her bona fides, does she — or the Justice League she founded — have any real standing with the courts? Or even with Judge Judy?
Spider-Man is another potential savior from evil. Seems like a dutiful young guy. And smart, too. He invented a fluid web, launched by web shooters on his wrists, that can give him unlimited traction up walls and can also tangle up bad guys. But his inventive skills might come unstuck by skeptics who seem to put their strange theories ahead of valid research.
Finally, at the other end of the spectrum, there’s The Incredible Hulk. Originally named Bruce Banner, he was a rather unbalanced science guy. He invented the gamma bomb and was then accidentally exposed to its rays. The exposure turned him, when angered, into a grey (and later green)-skinned night-time monster with prodigious feats of evil strength. He’s vengeful, ill-tempered and the antithesis of the superheroes. Not exactly the guy you want in times of real crisis.
But if all the superheroes get bogged down in their own dramas … well, you just never know who might step into the void.
Tom Newmann splits his time between Edwards and Queenstown, New Zealand. He has been going winter-to-winter since 1986. He was also a journalist in Missoula, Montana, at the Missoulian for quite a few years. Email him at tsnnz12@gmail.com.
