So I forgot to discuss something in yesterday’s podcast about the comic book film Daredevil that I really wanted to touch on, fortunately since Dan and I are now embracing the blogging side of thing I still get the chance to chat about the religious nature of the Daredevil character which I do think bears a little more examination.
My relatively limited exposure to the Daredevil comics has given me the impression that Daredevil’s faith plays a large part in the character as well as the iconology of the series. Indeed the image of Daredevil clinging to a large cross on the top of the church was replicated for the film.
Whilst not Catholic myself I do find this aspect of the character to be quite fascinating and I find myself wondering about the theological leanings of other characters. Particularly when so many would seem to contradict a church view of the universe (Superman is an alien for instance).
To be honest the only other character I can think of who is open around their faith is probably Thor, for obvious reasons I guess.
I’m also not calling for more openly religious characters either, the same way that I’m not calling for more openly gay characters. If a character feels naturally inclined towards a disposition then I say go for it for story sake. Not to check a box and pat yourselves on the back for how fashionable you are.
So I like the Daredevil having this dance with committing to his faith outright (as I believe is implied by the film). He has to work outside of the system which in this case also means the institution of the church.
I did wonder however if Bullseye’s stigmata towards the finale of the film was not a little heavy handed in the imagery? Although the character that they built in the film would certainly be open to the overly dramatic particularly in a church.
So can you guys think of any other religious characters in comic books?
Do you feel faith is undervalued or under represented in the comic book industry?
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The Huntress is catholic, as I think are The Confessor and Alter Boy from Astro City (The Confessor is also a vampire I seem to remember)
There was a very patronising attempt to create Hindu and Muslim heros for Justice League International at one point I remember.
Father Dowling investigates? …ok, perhaps that’s stretching the definition of super hero a little far.
Magneto is Jewish.
Erm…
A lot of Flash stuff focusing around “the speed force” has a very spiritual bent to it also.
I love the topic of faith in sci-fi/fantasy!
I tend to focus on the parallels in story. For instance, Superman is the only son, come down to Earth, to save all its people. And he dies and rises again in the process. This is more of an examination of the faith of the reader (me) and of the substance of stories.
But the examination of the faith of the characters is fascinating. I vaguely recall some Superman story about Ma and Pa having to go to church. Nightcrawler is Catholic, especially in the movie. DC’s Deadman and Spectre tend to have to deal with religion. Gaimain’s Sandman, while not exactly a superhero, certainly existed in a comic book world filled with religious characters from ALL traditions.
The most recurring conversation concerning spirituality that I can recall in any comic is from Hawkman. He started out as a reincarnated Egyptian prince. Later retellings of his origin were more sci-fi centered. Though in the 1980s reboot, Hawkworld, his sci-fi story confronted some serious social issues, which eventually blossomed into issues concerning identity and humanity. Religion is bound to arise when such issues are discussed. And as this series reached its natural end, the powers-that-be determined to keep it running. So a massive overhaul involving the Hawk god descending upon the alien Hawkman and filling him with their essence. So he was then a Hawk-god.
There was a really neat miniseries exploring the tensions between the formerly atheistic Hawkman and his spiritual wife Hawkgirl: Legend of the Hawkman.
Didn’t Promethia by Alan Moore have massive spiritual leanings? although i’m not sure if they ever moved into religion.
Oh – and Preacher is obviously pretty concerned with Christianity, although not particularly positively so.
I know precious little about Hawkman (actually a lot less than I originally suspected apparently) so that’s interesting to learn of.
Over in Marvel land one of the Infinity Gems story lines dealt with all of the faith embracing characters being summoned by a “goddess” who used their faith to brainwash them. I should try and dig that up because that gave an interesting list of characters including the Invisible Woman that held faith.
Tony Stark of course was not amongst them.
I shared a link to this on my Facebook page and one of my friends, Andrew, wrote a comment worth adding here.
Andrew wrote “I would disagree with Daredevil being an openly religious character, but the series definitely interacts with catholic characters and iconography, and the church has clearly influenced (although I feel fairly indirectly) Matt Murdock’s deve…lopment…what with catholic guilt over his father’s death and an absentee mother who became a nun, that’s hard to ignore. But I don’t get an open and clear religious motivation for Daredevil. Interesting theme, though…”
Your friends are obviously more intelligent than you Ian.
Mind you, that’s not exactly difficult…
Thanks Dan, I’m so glad I backed your position on BTILC.
I think when Dan is really mean to someone then it means he actually really likes you…
I feel all warm and fuzzy now.
I disagree somewhat bearing in mind I’m not an avid reader of Daredevil but certainly Kevin Smith’s Guardian Devil is pretty clear on his affiliation and Miller’s Born Again series does more than imply.
I don’t think the Daredevil himself though is religiously motivated, the same way that people of faith don’t often choose their occupation based on their faith (with obvious exceptions). The Daredevil component of Murdock’s life I think is definitely at odds with his beliefs or guilt.
Perhaps the middle ground is simply that “Daredevil” is not openly religious but Matt Murdock can be (depending on the storyline).
It is a really interesting theme!
Thanks Lee, now all I need to do is get Andrew over here to interact directly.
How about Priest … I mean with a title like that how can it not be religiously tied.