People assume superheroes didn't exist before the so called Dawn of the Superhumans a few years back. Is that the case? I suppose that depends on how reliable you consider mythology. Look at Iktomi, a culture hero of the Lakota people. Some stories have him as a giant spider, others as a man, but all credit him with the ability to shapeshift; fluidly, almost beautifully. Look at Hercules, whose legendary strength is the inspiration for not one, but six current day crimefighters.
In honor of the Holiday, let's take a look at some of the best-known superhuman stories worldwide: the old and new testaments. Stories from these pages have been co-opted by all the Abrahamic religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Because of the Catholic church's insistence that miracles must be verified, they serve as the best documented source of superhuman exploits outside the modern fad of superhumans as entertainment.
St. Francis of Assisi proselytized to animals. Speaking with animals is a superpower. St. Lucy's eyes were gouged out. They grew back. Regeneration is a superpower. Healing the wounds of others, curing disease, these are all superpowers. Are all the saints superheroes? Why would anyone argue the fact? Because their power is subsidized by an outside source? If that's the case then any superhero who got his shtick from government tech, ancient magic or alien experimentation is in the same boat.
So then, what's left but to talk about the big guy? Let's leave His superhuman charisma out of the equation. Water to wine? Transmutation. Superpower. Healing the masses, lepers or the insane? Superpower. Calming the storm? Weather manipulation. Superpower. Raising the dead? Creepy, but a superpower nonetheless. Loves and fishes? Multiplication. Superpower. Self-resurrection/Immortality/Astral Projection? Whatever happened three days after His death, it was a superpower. Let's not forget Jesus appearing in several places, mostly in people's homes without using anything so mundane as a door after coming back from the dead. Teleportation? Insubstantiality? Both superpowers.
That's one character from one of the world's major religions. Superheroic feats abound in religious texts. People discounts these figures because religion is no longer en vogue. Today's superhumans though, are endorsed by the mass media which, tragically, lends them increased credibility.
Think about that while you're scarfing your chocolate eggs on a holiday named after an old Norse goddess celebrating the return of the Christian god.
Cheers,
-B.H.
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