Spiderman, Batman and Jesus?

I must admit that I have not been a huge connoisseur of comic books or superhero stories.  More recently, however, I have begun to really enjoy the epic stories of superhero tales.  Movies like the latest Dark Knight series, Spiderman, Iron Man, and the like, have really been good.  And by good I mean more than just entertaining.  They have been thought provoking, asking questions about evil and our attempts to combat it. 

Certainly, I am not expert on superhero stories, but my most recent outing to the theaters to see the new Spiderman movie has caused me to reflect on these types of stories and make a few observations.  For those of you more informed in superhero lore, I'd love to hear your opinion about the observations I am here making.    

Observation #1:
There is a danger in unbridled hope in science and technology to fix humanity.  The power of science and technology to improve humanity and make our lives better and stronger is matched only by its ability to enslave us or turn us into something worse than we were before.   

In the most recent Spiderman movie, and I suppose in Spiderman stories generally, there is a great tension between science and technology’s ability to aid and restore humanity and its ability to be used as a weapon.  What is clear is that science and technology cannot save us.      

Observation #2:
Most of our superheros are regular people who have been the victim of some crime or social ailment which places them as a person of disadvantage or on the fringes of society.  They then rise from the ashes to become something of a savior for the world/city/society.  We seem to need our heroes and saviors to be one of us, to come not from a place of power and privilege, but from a place of humility and solidarity with those who suffer.

And yet, this solidarity with humanity is combined with the understanding that humanity is unable, and our efforts are insufficient for salvation.  Humanity needs someone who is deeply connected to us, but who is endowed with powers far beyond that of normal humans (be it from genetic mutations, alien lineage, or superior technology). 

Observation #3:
There is usually a segment of the population, normally the powers that be, that see this new hero or savior as a threat to the established order.  Rescue and salvation in superhero stories often come from unlikely and unexpected sources.  The hero's means are often seen as outside the normal scope of accepted salvation. 

At the same time, these heroes also seem to function as a scapegoat on which society’s ills can be placed.  They are then cast out into the wilderness of exile loaded with the shame and guilt of the city.

Observation #4:
Hope, even in the darkest days and moments, always exists.  Ultimately, evil never wins the day, but evil is also never fully defeated.  There is always another nefarious plot on the horizon. 

Observation #5:
There is usually an element of longing for a hero to reemerge after a long absence. Namely, in the most current Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises, Commissioner Gordon waits on the roof by the Bat-Signal hoping for Batman to return. It’s almost as if Gordon is saying, along with the Psalmist, “How long, O Batman?  Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1).  The difference, in this longing for a second coming, is that Batman, or any other superhero, cannot fully and finally defeat evil.  There will always be an unfulfilled longing for complete salvation.  Our longing as Christians is fueled by the hope that Jesus Christ has and will finally and fully defeat all that is evil in the world.   

These are a few brief observations.  At some points, I’ve probably read too much into these stories, at others probably not enough.  What do you think?  Are there elements in the Christian Story which are mirrored in our superhero stories?  Why do you think we like these stories so much?  I’d love to hear what you think!