I watched The Avengers: Infinity War , and came away with the thought that the Marvel Universe is disintegrating. But there are another 20 movies in its oversized pipeline, and it is possible that the more interesting character, the villain, might be the focus.
What next? The question has been exercising fans around the world. There are two ways to go. The Great Integration that brings together the Marvel World, the DC World, the Harry Potter World, the world of Stand Up Comics and other parallel worlds.
This will feature Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Batman, Superman, Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Five Find Outers and a Dog and the Secret Seven. Harry Potter too, Scooby Doo and Seinfeld.
I suspect we are running out of original superheroes who do original things. Ironman is fine, since Robert Downey Jr. is his civilian avatar, but even he is repeating himself. Thor and his hammer can do just so much to keep us interested. The Hulk struggled to get to his full size recently (happens with age, I am told).
The superheroes have made a Wildean deal with the creators. Their human selves might age, but their superhero versions never do. Like in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray , where the portrait grows old while the person is eternally young.
Frankly, what we need are new superheroes. Perhaps, not saving the planet or the universe (anybody can do that), but focusing on the local. Think globally, but save locally. Why should you not save Bengaluru or Whitefield, why only distant galaxies and life as we don’t know it?
Here’s a tentative list of superheroes, both useful and useless:
Voterman: Ensures that only governments that actually work for the people get elected. Throws a ballot-proof vest over those aiming to vote for politicians who are in it only for the power and the money, and renders them incapable of voting.
Asphaltman: Rolls down from street to street, filling potholes, ensuring roads are in top condition always.
Varthurman (sometimes known as Bellandurman): Forces industrial and other waste thrown into rivers back into the factories and houses of those who pollute them. May the Froth Be with You is his catchphrase.
Anagraman: Speaks only in anagrams, and says ‘Ill topor, toss’ or even ‘Still, or stoop’ when he means ‘Stop, or I’ll shoot’. Known to confuse and conquer.
Gardenerman: Identified by his green fingers and permanent smell of manure. No one can use a telephone booth after he has been inside one. This upsets Superman. Knows how to deal with rakes, though.
Refrigeratorman: Cool, but not as popular as the others for his habit of releasing CFC into the atmosphere and thereby choking the very people he is trying to save.
Crossdresserman: In a reversal of standard practice, goes into a telephone booth to change into his wife’s clothing.
Quotationwoman: Stops villains in their tracks by quoting from Shakespeare. Reduces sweaty criminals to tears by asking, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
Suresh Menon is Contributing Editor, The Hindu
