The characters themselves are symbols of certain parts of out humanity. I do not mean that all characters are one-dimensional and only represent one part of us, but usually a given character has a particular quality that they showcase, and are therefore symbols of that quality. If we simplify that by one level, their individual symbol is just an extension of whatever the character him/herself symbolizes. I hope that makes sense. Let's look at some examples and play a little game. As you see the symbols, what is the first thing that comes to your mind that the symbol represents? See if it agrees with my interpretation.
I started off with an easy one. The Punisher is an interesting character, as he represents both good and evil aspects of humanity. The Punisher represents our limits as reasonable human beings, and reminds us of what good people can become if pushed too far. He also represents the side of humanity that makes our blood boil whenever we hear about a particularly heinous crime. I think all of us (at one time or another) have had that thought where we wish that someone would just shoot that rapist or child molester we hear about on the news. The Punisher is a literal representation of this part of us, and his grave symbol reminds us of that darker side of humanity that is even present in good people.
I'M BATMAN!!! That statement is simultaneously hardcore and hilarious like no other statement I know. To me, Batman symbolizes fear. This whole concept is basically what makes Batman tick, and is incredibly well-fleshed-out in Batman Begins (Best Batman movie IMO). Obviously, Bruce is terrified of bats, but imputes that fear on the criminals of Gotham and uses that to his advantage against the "cowardly and superstitious lot." Batman and his symbol remind us all of the crippling power of fear. Not much more to say about that, honestly.
I'm going to try not to get too carried away with this one, since it is not the focus of this entry (surprisingly). Spidey represents the one word found in every issue of his books (okay maybe not): Responsibility. But before all the Spider-haters gawk at how lame this is, let me defend my guy. Peter hates beings Spider-man. He's given it up multiple times, but always comes back for one reason: he has to. He has been given a great gift that many others (including THIS guy) would die for, but he realizes that his incredible abilities can be used to help others in countless ways. Not doing so would be...well...irresponsible. I'm not doing this concept any justice with my poor writing skills, but I hope I'm getting my point across. If it's not obvious to you how this relates to humanity, you have a problem. This concept punches me in the figurative face, and aligns deeply with my faith. I have been given way too much in my young life. I have been given a loving and supporting family, health that has allowed me to make more than enough money to support myself, and intellectual abilities that have allowed me to pursue my dreams. Sometimes I wonder why I was given such things when some people can only dream about them. But then I think of Luke 12:48, which says "...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required...". Sound familiar? Yep, "With Great Power comes Great Responsibility" came straight from the Bible! Spidey realizes that his gifts are meant to be used for the benefit of the people who were not blessed with such gifts, and his embodiment of this concept inspires me to do the same with my own gifts. In recent adaptations (aka ASM 2 movie), Spider-man is apparently a symbol of hope, but I think that misses the mark, and actually is stealing the thunder of another character (see below).
Every time I see this logo, John Williams' Superman theme immediately starts playing inside my melon (that's my head, by the way...). This is THE (pronounced THEE) superhero symbol, and pretty much my inspiration for this blog entry. The Man of Steel represents the potential of humanity, the very symbol of us being the best we can be. Sadly, I think that this symbol has been incredibly tainted in modern times, no thanks to people like Muhammad Ali, who famously referenced himself by saying (on a plane) "Superman don't need no seat belt." This is exactly the kind of thing that Superman would NEVER say. I don't think I have ever even seen or read Superman referring to the fact that he is, indeed a "super man". Much like Spider-man, his upbringing and personal sense of justice motivate him not only to use his gifts to help others, but to be an example for others as well. Superman knows that he cannot save everyone or fix all of humanity's problems himself, but by showing everyone how to be upright, honest, and good, he shows us that by improving ourselves as individuals, we can improve humanity as a hole. I don't really see that in popular culture. I see people using Superman to describe how awesome they are at whatever they do (usually running into people, professionally). The symbol now seems to represent individual superiority, whether that be in strength, speed, or something else unimportant in the whole scheme of things. Superman has become a symbol of pride, and if Superman were with us in this universe, he would be devastated about this. That beloved and iconic symbol above this text should represent Clark's immeasurably amazing intangible qualities, not his immeasurably amazing physical qualities. What can be done about this unfortunate paradigm is beyond me.
Do you agree with my interpretations of the symbolism of these characters? Feel free to discuss in the comments section!
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