The Mask We Wear

This generation’s billion dollar superhero movie industry has a grip over the whole world. Statista.com indicates, “total worldwide box office revenue for the marvel cinematic universe and DC extended universe is over 27 billion dollars” (Watson). That is a powerful number in the film industry; however, the real power, in question, is the one that each of us bear and use in each in our daily lives. What if this level of fascination in the super hero idol goes beyond the movie screen, is deeper then the comic book, and leads us to a profound discovery? Today, the piece reveals this discovery and uncovers the mask we wear.

Every person on Earth is driven to become something. It’s in our DNA to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. There is something deep within us that creates a spark and it’s that very something which separates each of us, creating our path, our destiny, our fate. How interesting, or even better, how ironic is it that the stories of our favorite super hero is simply an over exaggerated version of how we see ourselves.

All can agree that what we see on screen is a spectacle; however, we can also agree that this spectacle is just the skin surface. The more terrifying layer is beneath the surface. The graphic novel and subsequent HBO adaption of Watchmen along with the Amazon prime exclusive, The Boys, uncover the ugly truth of what happens when the mask comes off with superheroes. The ugly truth is that, just like the superheroes in these tales, we are all just a human being, in this large world, trying to find our purpose, our place, and our sense of belonging.

The mask that we wear is something we struggle to recognize or even more importantly, to take off, when needed. We struggle to take off the mask due to our fears, our insecurities, our anxiety, our depression, our despair. It’s that mask which we use to hide behind in order to demonstrate to the world that we ‘have it all together’ and essentially become something we really aren’t. Just like every superhero matures into their specific role, so do we, experience the maturation process. The problem is that through the process, we can lose sight of where we started and the mask begins to cover up our true identity.

Just like those idols we read about in the comics and saw transfer to the big screen, we too have battles that we fight every single day. The mask we wear can certainly help us weather the storm during war but the mask we wear can also blind us when our most human moments are needed. The mask we wear prevents us from taking an earnest look at the pieces that made each of us unique and special. For some, the addictions built self discipline while for others the trauma provided strength.

It’s those very experiences that builds the character that we become. Our path has been laid before us and we are destined for greatness. Just like our superheroes battled their villain counterparts, so do we have battles still ahead of us, just don’t allow the mask we wear to blind you from victory.

References

Watson, A. (2019, Mar. 8). Superhero movies – Statistics & Facts, https://www.statista.com/topics/4741/superhero-movies/