The truth behind the masked man

When I was a kid, everyone played the superhero at some point. 

Wonder Woman was my go-to girl. A former Amazon who flew a plane and could stop bullets with her wristbands?  What’s not to like? 

It didn’t hurt that Lynda Carter was beautiful with a fully-developed bosom either.

Over the years, we outgrow those childish fantasies.  Well, mostly. But recently, an ad for The Flash posed the question: what does it take to be a hero?

For my seven-year-old self, the answer would be obvious: strength of spirit, courage, belief in a greater good, super-strength and a cool outfit. But for the adult me, the real question is: who would want to be a hero?

Sure, you get fame and admiration around the world. But you also get a nemesis. And if you thought your boss was bad, wait till you meet the supervillain who is actively trying to kill you. 

Speaking of employment, try arranging your work schedule around “saving the world” on a daily basis. 

It can be a bit tricky to say the least.  It’s a lot of pressure to fit it all in amid a 40-hour work week.

And a personal life? Secrecy is the name of the game and loved ones get annoyed when you don’t tell them absolutely everything. 
Alternatively, who wants to hear that you’re the world’s greatest hero on a first date? It’s a lot for someone else to live up to. 

It’s also hard for them to complain you’ve cancelled dinner plans – yet again – because you had to catch a burning bus full of school children or stop a nuclear disaster. 

But eventually they will complain, because those excuses will get old.

The costumes are still pretty cool but they bring their own set of headaches. 

Do you go soft leather, rubber breastplate or the always reliable spandex?  (Just a note, spandex is not particularly forgiving after the holidays.) To cape or not to cape?  And have you ever tried to get a superhero costume laundered?  One trip to the drycleaner and your secret identity is history.

There’s also practically no room for mistakes when you’re a hero. 

The movies love to show The Hulk stopping a truck by punching a hole into the pavement. But in real life, it’s your taxes that pays to have that road patched.

And nobody likes yet another construction detour on the way to work. 

Couldn’t he have done something less damaging to public property in order to save the day?

And when you fly into the middle of a situation it’s hard to know who the bad guys are.  What if the hero saves the wrong person? 
No, to err might be human, but it’s certainly not heroic. 

And with cameras everywhere, the world is watching your every move. You can’t have a bad day.  Or go to the bathroom. 

It’s no wonder “the reluctant hero” is becoming more popular.

So while The Flash may sound like fun, I’ll stick with being the Girl Next Door.