Great Responsibility
Heroes are all cut from a similar cloth. What is that cloth made of exactly? Read on for an exploration of the one trait that can be found in every hero.
“With great power comes great responsibility”. As comic fans, we’ve heard these famous words echoed time and time again. But Uncle Ben’s words of wisdom are more than just an iconic turn of phrase; it’s a piece of advice that can be applied to nearly every single heroic character.
Though it may take many forms, responsibility is the thread that ties each and every hero together. Clark Kent, Peter Parker, Tony Stark, Hal Jordan, Bruce Wayne and every other super hero can cite a sense of responsibility as their defining characteristic. Even non-super heroes like Luke Skywalker or real life heroes including police officers, doctors, and firefighters all share the same drive.
Some heroes initially manifest their sense of responsibility in the form of guilt. Both Batman and Spider-Man can trace their origin story to the tragic death of loved ones, deaths that leave guilt weighing heavy on the minds of the future heroes. Feeling responsible for the death and destruction that surrounds them, both Peter Parker and Bruce Wayne eventually take on responsibility for the entirety of their respective cities.
In other cases, a character feels compelled to take up the mantle of a hero out of a sense of duty. Superman feels responsible for the safety of the human race as (depending on continuity) one of a few individuals who has the power to do what needs to be done to protect the Earth. The same can be said for many other heroes who feel obligated to serve the greater good due to various circumstances, including Hal Jordan, Captain America, Iron Man, and a multitude of others.
Of course, there will always be cases of irresponsible heroes recklessly endangering civilians or using their powers haphazardly. But from a storytelling standpoint, these mishap-ridden arcs exist to teach both the reader and the hero about the responsibility that comes with heroics. Some heroes swear an oath, some live by a strict moral code, but all accept the responsibility that comes with their job.
Most other significantly heroic characteristics can be traced back to a sense of responsibility. Quality leadership and courage can spring from responsibility to a team, a cause, or even humanity itself. Heroes choose to make a difference in their world because they feel a responsibility to the world, a responsibility to take what makes them greater than the average man or woman and use that gift for the good of all.
Heroes know that they’re responsible for saving the world, and they’re responsible for living up to the title of hero.