Etymologically , superheroes are heros, in other words, men and women with extraordinary abilities. In this regard, they are the descendants of the heroes of the Illiad and the Odyssey. It therefore seems natural that the first authors and cartoonists of comics drew their inspiration from the mythological repertoire.
The Greek model
Building a myth
The different mythologies, wherever they come from, are imaginary stories that convey the history of a community. By definition, they therefore obey constraints, in particular that of not being able to be modified in its basic structure. These stories, populated by extraordinary characters, make it possible, among other things, to explain the creation of the world. Moreover, these myths were told in front of an audience and this mode of oral dissemination favored a certain evolution over time. Thus, their general structure changed according to the context of the narrative. Let us add that these stories could be conveyed in the form of an epic that creates a feeling of admiration. The comics use these codes. Like the great ancient stories, the adventures of these comics are populated by characters with extraordinary powers. Superman, presented from his creation as an indestructible being, is overpowered and able to fly. Spider-Man is able to climb a skyscraper with his bare hands, while the Silver Surfer can breathe in the vastness of space.
Creates worlds that adapt
As in ancient myths, these characters help explain the birth of the world. The creation stories developed in mythology have their equivalent in comics. Like their ancestors, they are a symbolic illustration of man's perception of his own world. At Marvel, the comic entitled The Eternals, thus reports the story of the "Celestials", a superior alien race that created humanity and many worlds in the universe. This comic will also be entitled to its film adaptation next year, do not miss it! At DC Comics, we find this notion of cosmogony with the "Lanterns", fighters divided into bodies drawing their powers of specific color, the Green Lanterns represent will, red lanterns , anger,… It should also be noted that over time the authors adapt their stories to historical circumstances and evolve their characters to stay in tune with the readers. Originally, Iron Man built his first armor while being a prisoner of a Vietnamese camp, since in 1963, the Vietnam War was raging. In the 2000s, the story of the hero was rewritten to stick to the events of the Gulf War, it is also this version that was chosen for its film adaptation in 2008.
Modern gods
A symbol of hope
When the first superheroes appeared, American society was in crisis. The stock market crash of 1929 profoundly affected society, leading to what we now call the Great Depression. Citizens are looking for landmarks, they are looking for new models. Turning to the European cultures of antiquity, comic book authors imagine examples of virtues comparable to the heroes of yesterday. As soon as he appears, Superman appears as a righter of wrongs who risks his life to save the oppressed. It embodies hope for a safer and fairer world. This is a trait shared by many heroes created in the same period. Thus, Captain America symbolizes America and defends the people against Nazi spies. Wonder Woman, on the other hand, embodies a certain idea of equality between men and women.
To be the equal of the gods
The filiations between the characters of comics and the gods of mythology can be obvious and assumed. The character of Namor, who appeared for the first time in 1939, is thus directly inspired by the Greek god Poseidon. Powerfully muscular, he sports the trident, the main attribute of the god of the seas. In the DC Universe, Aquaman, the equivalent of Namor's character, also carries the weapon of the god Poseidon. For his part, Flash, whose costume is adorned with small wings, is a kind of modern Mercury saving the innocent thanks to his speed. These characters inspired by ancient deities are sometimes brought to fight or rub shoulders with ancient gods and goddesses who make recurring appearances in different universes. Zeus, the father of the gods, made his first appearance at Timely Comics (Marvel) in 1940, in issue 6 of Daring mistery comics. The Greek gods are also present at DC via New Teen Titans magazine n°12. In this book, the gods face the Teen Titans team!
Africa as inspiration
Over time, comic book writers have sought to reach a wider and more varied audience, diversifying their sources of inspiration. This phenomenon appeared in the 1940s with Shazam's nemesis, Black Adam. Indeed, it takes its powers from Egyptian mythology, a source of inspiration then little exploited:
- Shou, for endurance
- Héru, for speed
- Amun, for strength
- Zehuti for wisdom
- Aten, for lightning control
- Mehen, for courage
Marvel also exploits African myths with the character of Black Panther. Imagined in 1966, the mythological aspect of this character lies in the mode of obtaining his powers conferred on him by the panther-goddess Bastet. It is one of the representations of the feline goddess Sekhmet, vengeful goddess symbolizing war and exacerbated violence, but also protection against danger. Through this opening, Marvel illustrated its desire to reach the African-American audience and take into account the diversity of the American population.
Exploiting American myths
The "house of ideas" was also inspired by Native American mythology. The character of Red Wolf, who appears in issue 80 of Avengers in 1970, derives his superhuman senses from the spirit of the wolf Owayodata. This god invented for the occasion, can be compared to the wolf-god worshipped among the Iroquois, Sioux, Lakota or Dakota. This one was supposed to take the souls of fallen warriors to the plains of the Great Spirit. The same goes for the character of the Wendigo, who appeared in issue 162 of Incredible Hulk, which takes its name from a mythical anthropophagus Native American creature. Descended from the legends of the Algonquin tribe, a Wendigo is a man who has undergone a transformation. It is a large creature, covered with thick white fur, with sharp fangs and claws. A description that is respected to the letter in the design of this character.
Thor, an example of adaptation of myth
Son of Stan Lee
Appearing in 1962 in Journey into Mystery No. 83 , the Norse god of Marvel is now well known, especially since its film adaptation in 2011. In the 60s, Atlas comics (successor to Timely comics and future Marvel) experienced a period of crisis. In this context, the company seeks to turn the corner by offering novelty to its readers. This operation is carried out by Stan Lee, among others. It revolutionizes the concept of superheroes by creating more human heroes, confronted with the difficulties of everyday life. This method is intended to facilitate the identification of the reader with the different heroes. It is therefore this desire for renewal that leads Stan Lee to look into Norse mythology.
For as long as I can remember, Norse mythology has always fascinated me. There is something extraordinary in these powerful Vikings with horned helmets and in the stories of Valhalla, Ragnarok and the Ases, fire demons, not to mention the eternal Asgard, home of the gods… It's a rich source of inspiration that Marvel absolutely had to tap into. – Stan Lee
A character true to myths
Written in the13th century by Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson, the Edda, the main available source on Norse mythology, is made up of several stories that tend to intertwine. Marvel manages to order and give a semblance of chronology to these epic stories to which it is relatively faithful. In Sturluson's book, Thor is a warrior, very susceptible, sworn enemy of the people of the ice giants. God of thunder and sky, he has several characteristic attributes, starting with his famous hammer Mjolnnir. A weapon found in romantic paintings of the19th century. Indeed, in the painting Thor fighting the giants, the hero is represented his faithful hammer in hand. Thor's attributes and bellicose character are faithfully repeated in the comics and the publisher remains faithful to the story, until the death of the hero. In Norse mythology, the gods are not immortal and Thor meets a heroic end by confronting the serpent of Midgard. An episode transcribed in Thor n°380.
A hammer that is transmitted
Like most superheroes, Thor has evolved and adapted over the years. When it was created, it was a continuation of the colorful and dynamic heroes created by Marvel. Highlighted by cartoonist Jack Kirby, it is, from its beginnings, very appreciated by readers. As time passed, the authors decided to make the hero evolve to adapt to the context and attract as many readers as possible. Thus, in 2017 the screenwriter Jason Aaron and the artist Daniel Acuña, created a female Thor. A heroine that we will soon have the opportunity to discover in the next cinematic part of the god of thunder, Thor love and thunder. There's a lot to say about this one, but we wouldn't want to unintentionally leak the story of the film to you so we'll keep silent, for now… Thor, Flash or Shazam are all examples of the influence that mythology has on comics. As early as the late 1930s, authors relied extensively on it to create modern stories and heroes. If from a formal point of view, their achievements are particularly innovative, their stories remain impregnated with references directly borrowed from the most famous ancient epics. This is probably why superheroes fascinate so much today. Like the heroes of old, they are timeless.