A Concept

When I was a kid, we had this concept. I don't think it really exists anymore. Basically, it's the idea of the perfect man.

Now, I know what you're thinking. Girls sitting around doing their make-up, talking about the perfect man. Or gay dudes, doing likewise. Whatever. That's not what I'm talking about.

Back when I was growing up, I think every young boy had this image of the perfect man in the back of his mind. Just the sum of all the things a man ought to be. The perfect man is honest. He's good-looking. He can protect and provide for the people he cares about. He can probably fly.

Yep, I'm talking about superheroes. This was back before I knew about such things as anti-heroes. The Punisher? Spawn? Never heard of 'em. Superman was one of my big ones. He had that dashing smile that could win a crowd over in an instant. He always saved the day, no matter what. No matter how fast he flew his hair was always perfect. He always did the right thing. Always. He was never questioned, because it was unthinkable that Superman could do wrong. It just wasn't even in the realm of possibility. I think that's why he was my concept of perfection. He was incapable of doing wrong.

He wasn't the only one, of course. There were plenty. Green Lantern, sure. And that's all the Green Lanterns. Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, Hal Jordan, all of them. The Flash? Definitely. It goes on and on.

Since then, the lines have blurred. Today's heroes, no matter what far-flung corner of the universe they come from, are human. They make mistakes. They have emotional turmoil. Above all, they can be wrong. I think that makes my life a little harder. There are cracks in that pillar of righteousness Superman built when I was a kid. I mean, really, he had more of an influence on my childhood than religion ever did. God was the guy in charge that I had to work not to piss off, and Jesus was his henchman. Forget What Would Jesus Do. My sense of right and wrong came from the Capes.

Obviously, I've grown up since then. The cross hanging around my neck 24/7 is a testament to that. That doesn't mean my heroes are gone from my life, though. They're still the image of what I need to be, because they never stop trying. They're always trying. They don't give up. I think that's the foundation of the perfect man.