Imagine Miles Davis playing at Schoenberg, Ernest Hemingway
reading his work at Royce, or Michelangelo presenting one of his
masterpieces at the Sculpture Garden, and one gets the idea. A
master of his chosen craft ““ in Stan Lee’s case, the
comic book ““ will be present, in the flesh, on our humble
campus Tuesday at noon.
This man is a creative genius, whose staggering output and
ceaseless ingenuity have few equals. I liken him to Homer (the
ancient bard, not the Simpson family patriarch).
Just as “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”
defined Greek storytelling and dramatically influenced all who
followed, Lee’s creations ““ which include Spider-Man,
X-Men and the Incredible Hulk ““ are the standard by which all
other superheroes are measured.
Yet there is a surprising air of indifference surrounding his
appearance. Many Bruins are dismissing his visit, perhaps believing
comic books to be kiddie-fare ““ something perfect for
8-year-olds but eventually outgrown, like training wheels or
enthusiasm for the music of 50 Cent.
But the comics Lee created possess relevance far beyond the
elementary school set.
The world would be a vastly better place if people heeded the
lessons espoused in comics. Don’t believe me? Here are a few
examples of those who could gain so much by becoming better
acquainted with Lee’s masterpieces.
Anyone who plays basketball is familiar with the
“screaming nut.” This is the guy (or gal) who plays
with such intensity that each mistake, poor call or disappointment
inspires shrill lamentations, often followed by a steady stream of
profanity.
The tragedy of the screaming nut lies in his inability to
control his passion, which frequently leads to careless errors
““ and further yelling and cursing ““ on the hardwood. It
is a vicious cycle that leaves him dissatisfied and usually
defeated.
At the Wooden Center last Thursday, I was playing against one of
these boisterous individuals, and all I could think was how the
lesson of the Hulk had been forgotten. While many may remember the
Hulk simply as that green guy who hurls around tanks, his story is
also a testament to the merits of calm composure over unrestrained
anger.
The Hulk’s problems always stem from an inability to
control his emotions ““ “You won’t like me when
I’m angry,” he warns in his 2003 film adaptation. When
he’s calm, life is great. When he gets angry, things get
broken ““ tanks, office buildings, his relationship with his
girlfriend, and so forth.
The screaming nut could learn from the example of the Hulk.
Meditate, don’t agitate. And please stop yelling so much.
In a world that remains tragically divided by issues such as
race and religion, many forget the ultimate silliness of such
divisions. Fortunately, the X-Men act as a potent reminder.
The trials and triumphs of these heroes ““ a collection of
young people whose genetic make-up caused them to develop
extraordinary powers, but at the cost of social acceptance ““
possess enduring social relevance. Created at a time (in the early
’60s) when racism remained a potent force in American
society, these heroes showed the world the foolishness of fearing
those who were different.
Yet more than 40 years after their creation, many still divide
humanity into “us” and “them” ““ from
Kashmir to Northern Ireland to South Africa, many societies
continue, if only informally, to segregate their neighbors based on
arbitrary measures.
For those with such misguided notions, the tales of the X-Men
could serve as compelling anecdotes. It’s OK to be different.
In the case of the X-Men, it’s downright cool.
And of course, there is the one, the only, the amazing
Spider-Man. The Webslinger’s origin presents one of the most
resonant lessons in all of literature. When the young hero fails to
use his powers to stop a criminal who later kills his uncle, he is
taught that timeless maxim: “With great power comes great
responsibility.”
Perhaps someone should send a few Spider-Man comics to the White
House, where unrivaled power is wielded by a president displaying
““ in this columnist’s humble opinion ““ a gross
lack of responsibility. Given his not-exactly-stellar performance
as commander in chief (see: Katrina, budget deficits, the Middle
East, CIA leaks, and so on), I think Mr. Bush could definitely
stand to be reminded of the lesson of Spider-Man ““ power does
not only bestow privilege, but also the duty to exercise such
abilities judiciously.
With three more years in office, George W. can still turn things
around (and perhaps raise those rapidly declining approval rates)
through more sensible leadership. Peace is possible. Budgets can be
balanced. Competent judges can be nominated for the Supreme
Court.
Just start reading Spider-Man, Mr. President, and things will
fall into place.
Kearns is a mild-mannered history student by day, Daily
Bruin columnist by night. E-mail him at
bkearns@media.ucla.edu.