Superheroes Taking Over Television

Art+credits+to+Erika+Woo%21

Art credits to Erika Woo!

Kathie Guo '16, Public Relations

Superhero movies like Superman, Batman, and The Avengers have been popular for decades, but recently, more and more superheroes have taken over the television screens. Most of these shows, like Arrow and The Flash, are from either the DC Universe or, like Daredevil and Supergirl, the Marvel Cinematic Universe – the two leading superhero media companies. But why have these shows become so numerous and, at the same time, so popular?

Whether it’s Oliver Queen battling Damien Darhk in Arrow, Kara Zor-El encountering new enemies in Supergirl, or Agent Peggy Carter investigating Howard Stark’s secret vault in Agent Carter, each episode of a superhero T.V. show is filled with action and an engaging plot that draws the audience in.

Kimberly Castillo ’16 comments, “I think that superhero shows are so popular because they appeal to everyone. There’s a perfect amount of action with a hint of romance. It’s also something that’s appealing to all ages because it’s mature enough that adults watch it but not too mature that it scares kids.”

Furthermore, both Marvel and DC Comics have been publishing comics since the 1930s, drawing in a large and loyal fan base. Like superhero films, almost all superhero television shows are based off of comics, and readers rejoice when their beloved comic books and their characters come to life on the screen.

Many superhero shows also build off of the popularity of other superheroes or superhero movies: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter are spin-offs of the Marvel films such as The Avengers. Supergirl, although it first appeared as a comic, centers on the cousin of the well-known Superman. Gotham focuses on James Gordon, a figure crucial to the development and growth of Bruce Wayne (Batman).

Lianna Shimoun ‘16 comments, “I love Gotham because Batman is my favorite superhero and The Dark Knight is my favorite movie. It’s so cool to be able to see an interpretation of what the characters of Batman were like before he actually existed. In Gotham, you get to understand the history of the villains and how they became who they are.”

The ability to elaborate more on character and plot development stems from the form of a television show itself; while movies are around three hours long, just one season of a T.V. show can add up to 20 hours, allowing a television show to go more in-depth.

In the end, superhero T.V. shows are popular for the same reason that superhero films are popular – fans love, empathize with, and root for the characters.

“You have characters that are basically our version of Greek mythological heroes, like people who can run faster than the speed of sound or ‘leap tall buildings in a single bound.’ But on the other hand, they’re human beings. They have problems and demons like we do. Tony Stark is an alcoholic, for instance. Yet everyday…they  go out to fight deranged, psychotic murderers just because it’s the right thing to do. That’s why I think people are so attracted to superhero shows: we’d like to see ourselves in their shoes,” Owen McKenna ’17 explains.

When watching these shows, viewers of any age see role models as selfless as Oliver Queen, as honorable as Jim Gordan, as caring as Barry Allen, and as cunning as Peggy Carter. Superheroes have always been an important part of our culture and entertainment, so it’s no wonder that they have permeated the television world.