Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Not so super anymore

What if everyone was fast as a bullet
and super strong?
(source)
 Been thinking a lot about superheroes lately, mostly by chance, partly because my mini zombie likes to refer to herself as "Lego Batman" these days. Anyhoo, I've always found that even when I was younger and much heavier into comic books, I always preferred the tragic do-gooder or the "anti-hero" to your traditional man of might or caped crusader. I guess it felt more real to me. More genuine.

Add to this that I've been thinking about the future. About daydreams. About getting older. And just a little bit about what superpower I'd like to have.

All of this led up to a pretty fantastic conversation with a good friend, and the talk got me to wondering. What happens if you wake up one day and realize you're not so super anymore?

I know this isn't really a new concept. Several stories have been made, particularly dealing with aging or retired heroes (R.E.D. and The Incredibles). But what if your power simply became obsolete?
One day we will all be able to teleport.
I'm sure of it!
Like what my friend and I discussed. What if your power was teleportation? It may not be so impossible to imagine a future where our minis will be "beaming" from place to place just like our Star Trek compatriots. But say this technological advancement is discovered? What happens to teleportation man? He's suddenly out of a job, with a useless skill that no one cares about.

The same can be said for someone who can turn invisible. Possibly one who can bend metal with their mind. All sorts of things. Heck, don't some super heroes exist already who really possessed no powers at all? Remember Bruce Wayne? Just sheer will and loads of money.

So I write this to all of you to politely remind you: If given the chance to choose a super power one day, choose wisely. Go big! You don't want to get the chance of a lifetime only to have science catch up to you five years down the road.

Braaaaiiiiiinnn Food: What super power would you ask for?