Superheroes In Greek Mythology

Comic books may have many influences but it has become very clear that Greek mythology is one of the more obvious ones. To some people comparing mythological figures and comic book heroes would be a far stretch, but with a closer look I believe that the two worlds might actually have some resemblance. The purpose of this paper is to examine the similarities between superheroes and mythological figures. I hope to look further into these connections to provide evidence of classic mythological influence in modern American comic books.
Many aspects of superheroes can be compared to that of classic mythological figures. One topic worth looking into would be how superheroes are physically portrayed in comparison to mythological heroes. Offspring of Zeus, such as Perseus and Heracles are often portrayed in sculpture with perfect bodies. In regards to physical stature, the easiest comparison would be Heracles to Superman. Both …show more content…
Superman, just like many other heroes, finds his purpose in protecting the city of Metropolis and all of the innocent people including his love interest Lois Lane. More specifically, the concept of damsel in distress seemed to be a reoccurring theme in the Superman comics. Because of the obvious romantic connection between Lois Lane and Superman, she is often sought out by villains in order to gain the attention of Superman. Although Lois Lane may be the most famous damsel in distress she certain isn’t the first one ever thought of. In fact, Andromeda is said to be the original damsel in distress. According to Greek mythology, in order to save the kingdom of Ethiopia, Andromeda must be chained to a rock in sacrifice to a sea monster. But Perseus flew in on a Pegasus, slayed the beast, and won Andromeda’s heart. In both examples, the hero is compelled to defeat the monster or villain in attempts to protect the woman caller and attain her