I’m not that much of an active Marvel Comics reader (in fact I’m starting to get back into it), but I do know it’s characters ranging from Absorbing Man-to-Zzzax. Judging from those characters, there are two special characters that stand out from the bunch. They don’t stand out by costume, story-arcs, or powers; they stand out by who they are behind the masks. These characters were heroes even when they faced the most difficult obstacles in their lives. Whenever an obstacle came in the way of their goals, they didn't go down without a fight. These two characters are pretty popular to the average comic book reader. These characters are Captain America and Daredevil, two different types of characters, two unique types of characters.
You readers are probably wondering why I didn't choose the popular hero known as Spider-Man. Before Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider, what did he do that the average valedictorian didn't do? Matthew Murdock risked his life in order to save someone else’s and paid the life-scarring price for it. When his father died, Matthew didn't say “I can’t fight these guys blind, I’ll die trying,” he bit the bullet and decided to act. Steve Rogers was bullied throughout his life due to his frail size which many youngsters can relate to. Steve Rogers even attempted to enlist into the war, with many people doubting him and telling him to give up. Even his best friend told him to turn back. But Steve ignored them and set out to do what he thought was right. What if these two characters had let their drawbacks get the best of them? Would there even be a Daredevil to watch over the streets of Hell’s Kitchen? Would we even have the Captain America that we all know and love, or would we have an arrogant oppressor as our Captain America? Would America have even won World War II in the Marvel Universe?
You’re also probably wondering why I didn’t chose Superman. The thing is Superman is barely a relatable character to the average comic book reader. Sure, he’s relatable for people that are different from the bandwagon, but still, he’s practically a God, he could probably destroy a planet if he wanted to. The point is that both characters were limited at some point in their lives and by overcoming those limitations, they became the hero they are today.
These heroes are also relatable. There are many blind people out there who most likely can’t read comics, but can hear and visualize them. Most people have the belief that the blind people are limited and cannot perform the actions of people who are not blind. No one ever expected a blind person to become a vigilante, working alongside the world’s greatest heroes. This type of belief also applies to the people who want to enlist in the army, but aren't in good shape. Some people think that being a leader depends on what you look like and who’s muscular or stronger in a physical format. Steve Rogers already had the personality of Captain America before he took the super-soldier serum. Steve Roger’s attitude towards his goal is why he was chosen to be the super-soldier. This character is very relatable to the people who are walked on every day in society for standing for the real good and what they believe in. The story of Captain America can turn the most harassed student in school, into the leader of the football team. Even though it’s fictional, Captain America’s origin proves that faith is rewarded indeed.
In the early stages of their origins, Captain America and Daredevil were both inspiring underdogs. These types of characters inspire comic book readers to go out and do something good. These characters anticipate the readers for next month to see their issue. These characters leave their mark on comic book readers by showing them that no matter how hard the push is, you’ll always pull through.