Comics Analysis

The myth of the century was a source of knowledge about man and was the inspiration for art. It is no different in the modern world, although the myth is increasingly understood in the sense of falsehood, deformation, than the story pointing to a higher sense. Accountable to the mythology, it is to face the culture.

Today, after the difficult years, finally reached the status of comic art. In this paper I will deal with its very popular part - American tales of the super - heroes. On the one hand on the affected pop - culture, on the other - the mythic structures of these comics. It is worth mentioning that the comic book hero from the beginning was playing certain roles - let's call it ideological. Many of today's known heroes in the first volumes of his adventures fighting the fascists and communists. The world needed a hero, so the heroes rose up over the years, changing its face. Comic stories ceased to be so ideological and naive. Heroes became serious, and louder every historical event was immediately recorded in the pages of their history. These are the characters that brought up several generations of readers. Static figures changed in poignant portraits of people. Portraits of the human condition, and the American people.

It can therefore ask whether overstressing the mythological themes, indeed, doing a comic book is not even a new mythology is artificial. But just to follow news and statistics - movies about super-heroes make a sensation, and death of Captain America was a global event. Death of fiction existing on paper. Despite the fact that some characters now account for almost one hundred years, cannot speak of the momentary euphoria. It is something much more. In this paper I will share preliminary reflections on the relationship of comics with the myths. For the sake of limited space, I will refer mainly to the four examples of heroes, two of the Marvel universe - here Captain America and Spider-Man and two from DC Comics - Batman and Superman.

I should start from the beginning. What is myth? According to Paul Ricoeur is a "story of the events taking place at the dawn of history, a story that serves as the basis for the ritual act of modern humans, which generally establish all forms of action and thought, allowing a man to understand himself in the surrounding world" . According to another definition of myth is passed on orally or written a dramatic story, which refers to the past and joining the human world with the world carries a divine meaning intended, for example religious or social. An important function of myth is its function of binding members of the community. The source of this merger is a time of myth, which is not only a time past, but continually repeated leading to the initiation of the next function that provides certain attitudes and values ​​are not approved or in the community.

What is important is the symbolic aspect of the myth. It is more than it is. The symbol is entering where it should cross the line between what is currently known, available, and determined, and what is uncertain, difficult to access or even completely inaccessible. That is where you need to open or restore a dimension of reality, otherwise almost imperceptible. All the internal logic and structure of the symbol is revealed only when survival is not merely a symbolic substitute experience, but retains, restores and makes present the internal dynamics of the original revelation of holiness, of which it is associated. So if the symbol not only represents, but also opens up the reality of man, which indicates, if one understands that the symbolic character mediates between him and the deepest reality in a way that puts its and its have a creative part in it, you can talk about fullest extent and type of symbolizing .

Another important element is the archetypal image of comic book heroes survive. Jung defines archetypes as permanently demarcated assignment of an archaic, which in form and content includes mythological motifs. They belong to the collective unconscious, which includes the experience of all humanity, regardless of time, race or cultural background. Archetype can never be completely understood, it will be more or less successful attempt to determine this.

Now let focus on the comics.

Comics’ super-heroic based on mythological themes; heroes miraculously gain their powers, are killed to be resurrected, descend into the underworld, confront monsters, including the dragon. All this is housed in archetypal situations against which they must stand.

Even the most fundamental reason is the very character of which is the re-establishment of order, transforming chaos into cosmos. Joseph Campbell says that the characters are not guided by motives of retaliation, which happens to be a common theme in comics; at least in Batman. This is a very old incentive, incentive to great deeds..

Like Gilgamesh, Hercules and Theseus, super heroes fight with everything that destroys the social order, cosmic or historical. Repel invasion of visitors from other planets, participation in world wars in the fight against organized crime ending. For example, Batman or Spider Man can say with Paul Riceour; a man enters the world of ethics of fear, not love. Through the physical order of retribution is absorbed by the ethical order, the evil inherent in suffering is synthetically linked with evil contained in the scrolls. Those who "sinned" must atone. Heroes rarely mete out punishment fully adequate to the conduct of its antagonists (death). Their role and the choice is to stand above; choose life not death.

Dragon motif or another particular monster is combined with the previous theme. This is the essence of the donor or group threatening the order of the universe, which is also an attempt, to either the initiation hero. Not once the dragon is the nemesis of the hero (Batman - Joker, Captain America - The Red Skull), thereby prolonging its function and heroism.

The footsteps of Odysseus, Gilgamesh and even Christ heroes descend into the underworld to the dead would be a reassessment and the upcoming changes. In the comic book Batman: The Dark Knight sanctum faces monster residing Vault, literally tearing themselves from the arms of death. Ritual double story "Last Hunt Kraven", in which Spider-Man beaten and buried alive by the eponymous hunter makes a kind of redefinition and resurrection and his enemy, Kraven wearing a costume Spider wants to overcome their own fear and make the last successful hunt in his life. Joseph Campbell on the existence of "magical, miraculous settlement", emerging between the hunter and the hunted, as if both were involved in a "mystical, timeless cycle of 'death, burial, resurrection.

Jung crypt assigns meaning of fear, anxiety, and rebirth. Underworld, the abyss filled with dangerous Mays are ways that lead to dark secrets. According to the scholar and the world of underground cave imagine a layer of unconsciousness in which there are no divisions for example, something masculine and feminine thing. Viewing individual comics can be seen here a convergence of the Bat-cave is the hiding place and the seat of Batman, which join together the two aspects of the same character as a man-like bat. In turn, the aforementioned "hunt" grave Spider Man makes an overall revival hero at both the heroic and life, every day. His "resurrection" is not only back super hero but also the return of Peter Parker.

Motives are much more an attempt, initiation, hiking, back to other scrolling through life super heroes archetypal situations, leaving an eternal imprint on their fate.

As mentioned earlier, in the early comic book heroes have served their country faithfully, without subjecting it to criticism. For now possible to export the genealogy of their antagonists with communist or fascist sources. Creating heroes served as a kind of propaganda and cheer the hearts of Americans and, later, Europeans. But it is not only a model of patriotism shines heroes. The American dream is fulfilled in the formula "from zero to hero". Peter Parker was the top boy in school, but a poor physical condition and visually impaired. Not very well liked and respected by peers, in love with the beautiful ginger Mary Jane , the boy presented a picture of some kind of a loser in the hit U.S. reality. Until one day Parker had bitten a radioactive spider, turning it into muscular hero Spider Man. A similar example is the fate of skinny student Steve Rogers, who with his love for the fatherland and steadfast character undergoes made by secret experiment and became a symbol of the United States, conqueror of fascism and communism, Captain America.

But the story goes forward, and the heroes tend to be more and more disappointed. Spider Man leads the life of an ordinary mortal, barely keeping pace by paying bills. Its image is used to earn as a reporter Peter Parker takes pictures of Spider Man to have the bread. The life of the hero lead to tragic events, which after all an ordinary man hidden under the hood is not always copes. "Power and Responsibility" is the theme of the Human Spider, well illustrating the role of the hero resting on the shoulders of someone who also has his ordinary life, is a double yoke, and mask savior does not bring any additional profits, becoming the act of individual choice and autotelic. Kraven the hunter descended from an aristocratic Russian family, exiled from their parents by the Bolsheviks, he finds no solace in Western culture. Represents the old world order, who have long bowed to an end. His alienation leads him to suicide. The hated symbol of the social model was Spider-Man, contributing unwittingly and without fault for the death of Kraven.

Some time ago the world of Marvel comic rocked civil war between the heroes. The tragic incident leading to the death of 60 children, makes the U.S. government wants to register all super-heroes, striving to expose them, grant them the full salary and working time. At this point the rebel Captain America, for which the ridiculous is controlled by the authorities of those who are motivated to protect their own borders for years as the state of the world. By such measures, public enemy "number one" is a recent symbol of devotion and fidelity to the nation, Steve Rogers himself. The characters are divided into two factions ; those who want to disclose and register, and those for whom it is an absolute mistake. Hunt leads to internecine fighting super heroes (in the finals leading to the death of Captain America) is now fully happy escape from the myth of democracy and civil liberties.

In Title DC "Kingdome Come" Metropolis city public elect a new lawyer ruthless Magog, thereby rejecting the former, long-term guardian of the city of Superman. The public does not want to inspiring, full of the virtues of heroes demands efficiency. Even if the sign is to be death. This time it is a sad reflection on the incompatibility of new generations of people to the old heroes. Heroes seem to themselves to create their own myths in not mythic reality.

Feature of the comic is not a story about the origins of the world, but a continuation of what has already been told centuries ago. As an example, the Marvel universe. Universe crashes into an infinite number of parallel worlds, which is easy to point to manipulate the course of history by the authors. Our world is made collectively - known gods of Greek or Egyptian myths are the representatives of great races out of this world which are experimenting for the first homo sapiens. Along with this event but we have known from the pages of the Iliad and Odyssey, the Bible and other mythic sources. Historical time takes almost the same which lasted from us. These are all events that have become, and yet such as real is a disaster of Atlantis. The Marvel universe is alive so Zeus, Julius Caesar, Frankenstein, Dracula and Magneto-all within a historical reality.

Action Comics most commonly in modern times. In addition to Captain America or Spider Man also works Norse god Thor and the Greek Ares and the inhabitants of the sunken Atlantis struggle with the Nazis. Heroes are not a novelty in society; it's hard even to speak in their reality, the myth, because there everything is true. The ancient gods and heroes pass under the banners of contemporary groups such as the Avengers. Of course, most of the characters is deposited in the United States. This is an interesting starting point for creating your own mythology that extends not only to America but the entire universe, and not only in modern times but also on past and future.

Marvel heroes often go to extraordinary missions to try to find a powerful artefact, or catch a dangerous villain. In a world in which space technology, magic and divinity are next to each other, nothing is impossible. Thus, the thief may have its origins in the Middle Ages, or escape to antiquity, and the artefact can be replicated in many dimensions. American heroes then through the magic of technology, or arrive at a certain time and then taking part in the historical or legendary events, carry out its mission. It should not surprise anyone that the Iron Man supports the ranks of the Knights of the Round Table and Dr. Doom troops Mordred. Who bring order, not only in space but also in history. Mythology of the United States affected by the past, support the old myths and literally saves the whole space time. Super heroes recruit other heroes along the way, including those known from the pages of classical mythology. The same is true going the other way; towards the future. Nothing is impossible, a story seen from this point, it turns out from the beginnings of civilization, and almost many owe the American heroes. And they are patriots, the main saviour of the world is then America. It is America which is the pride of his defenders, but not only as it turns out the disappointment.

This leads to an infinite combination of new and renewal of old mythology. A multitude of worlds, the free opening of the gates of space-time, advanced technology, magical powers - the result, time is more cyclical than linear, the total time is open, so neither death nor the apocalypse may not be any resort. Eschatology comic is something predictable and is only a name, because there is nothing definitive in the Marvel universe. Anyone can resurrect killed by rituals, cloning, technology or other aspects. On the shoulders rests the fate of super heroes around, literally, the world.

ANALYSIS OF SYMBOLS AND SIGNS ON costumes

"When the judge enters the room and we all are standing up, it did not stand the sight of this particular guy, just the sight of a toga, which he wears, and which represents the function of this person when he starts to act". Similarly, mythologized reality comic book not only the dress features a hero, but also points to its function it has, and places in a particular social space. This section briefly examines a few examples of heroes and comic, drawing attention to the symbols that make up the representation of that character.

In the comics, you can see influences of heroes to identify with certain species of fauna and flora. They take the animal, plant, phenomenon as a patron, wearing the costumes of their symbols. It is related with the myths of primitive peoples and even mythology (Zeus, Thor, Yahweh - lightning, Dionysus - a branch, Helios - the sun, King Arthur - the dragon, etc.). Mythical heroes have their wonderful items (sword of Arthur, Siegfried, Roland, the shield of Achilles), in the comic, they are replaced by powers and costume.

Bruce Wayne was afraid of bats. One night, one of the animals smashed a window in the room and sat in a millionaire private space. Then he had an idea to be a bat. The fear must be one of his arms. Bat symbolizes an escape from the light and reversing the natural order. Bruce actually works the other way around than a normal person; the night is active during the day sleeps. Reverses the order also in social terms is an outsider administration set justice on their own. The bat also symbolizes wisdom (brilliant detective), melancholy (eternal sadness, constant memories of murdered parents), and insanity. In the folklore of bats represent the souls may rest in peace (continuous crusade against crime) in heraldry, the behaviour of blood in dangerous situations (speaks for itself). In determining the dark knight lurking symbolism Black Knight was a symbol of suffering, the weary, penitent, seeking clean, and the glory of the world or the final (of salvation).

Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider and he took the form of a spider. What does he represent? Dexterity (which probably does not surprise anyone), forethought, prudence, luck (the famous "spider senses" Parker), a friend of heroes (Spider-Man has worked with Captain America, X-men, Iron-Man or Daredevil).

Captain America wears the colour of his homeland (including the characteristic "star"), and is the holder of an indestructible shield. Shield symbolizes virtue, chivalry, defence, strength, loyalty and trust. It is a symbol of deity. The star turn is, success, hope, power blue, while the knowledge of past, present and future (Captain America was born in the past, live for now and probably knew the mystery of the future), freedom, man, fire, striving for unattainable perfection and constancy. All features combine in the form of Steve Rogers. It embodies the ideal characteristics of its country, its nature and function that fully.

At the end of the quote directly from the "Dictionary of Symbols," Herder term MASK. It forms an essential part of dress as super heroes and personalities. "Mask-a very old form of often very expressive face veil, was used for frightening enemies, to practice magic and produce spirits and forces controlling animals and humans, usually very strongly emphasizing the stereotypical traits of character. Masks show" spectacle of life. “Today, the mask is often understood as a symbol of self-hiding behind an artificial face. " Nothing more, nothing less. This definition is the reference for determining the role of the mask and its role in the life of a superhero.

BRIEF ANALYSIS OF STRONGLY three titles referring to the myth

"Batman: Arkham Asylum" is a story which I called symbolic because it operates with clear references to the themes of myths, dreams or religion. It is a work that repeatedly read each time introduced to the interpretation of something new. This is not surprising, because its creator; the famous Grant Morrison the occultist and the postmodern. Batman in the title that has to face the madness of both as criminals lurking in the walls of the asylum, as well as from those lurking in him. Internal struggle is intertwined with the events taking place many years earlier, for the founder of the sanctuary, Amadeus Arkham. Their joint boot is set in a dreamy metaphysical space of homes, which is a kind of hero, not only underground, but it seems to refer to the well-known even in the Bible swallowed by a monster-hero is a whale consuming Jonah. "In psychological terms represents the power of life whale trapped in the subconscious. Water is a metaphor for the unconscious, and the creature floating in the water or energy is the life of the unconscious, which was stronger than the conscious part of the personality and must be disarmed, subjugated and subjected to scrutiny ".

Another title is "Wolverine: Origins" that is the story of the genesis of one of the most famous comic book heroes. This comic has a structure similar to the fictional narrative structure of myth by the schema Van Gennura:

• away from home
• obtaining supernatural assistance
• tested in initiation
• mastering the magical forces
• back home
• In this case, the magical power to be understood as a specific mutation by Logan.
• History of Wolverine also fits a pattern of personality transformation in the myth of the hero, by the following effects:
• life experience (sad and difficult childhood)
• suffering (rejection by loved ones, the painful transformation, finding their place on earth)
• purification (acceptance by the animals, the first hunting-recognition of their differences)
• wisdom (the final abandonment of the public-hero consciously chooses where to find a better world after the tragic events)

Myth then appears as a wonderful story of personality.

Following the narrative structure of the album, you can agree with the view of some theorists of myth, that this breakthrough gains importance in the moments of the life of the hero and the development of his critical psychological states. There are also themes "magic function name" familiar with some of the myths.

At the end of "Kingdom Come", a monumental title referring to the polytheistic myths, but above all being a comic exponent of Christian ethics and apocalyptic tale. The short message of the comic will interview two characters part of the album Superman and man, Pastor McKay, which they roll at the end of the story. Angry Man of Steel has already flies to Washington, now begins the work of destruction under the vengeance of his friends if it saves McCay, showing up and talking with a hero. Referred to it by fine words are worth quoting in; Superman: "Who are you ... and why are you here? "McCay:" To bear witness. Listen to me, Clark, of all things that can ... with all of your power ... greatest distinction has always been an instinctive good ... and evil. It is a gift of your humanity. I've never had to ponder their choices. In any case ... during each crisis ... know what to do. But at the moment, in which your Supernature has become more important than your humanity ... the date on which you decide to turn away from the humanity, completely lost this instinct. Find yourself. If you want redemption, Clark ... It will just decision you now make. Take it as a man ... and choose correctly. “Superman the man chooses abandonment rage. Just as Christ overcame the fear in the garden, as Achilles had pity on the suffering of Priam, as the Man of Steel has overcome in the contempt for man. He became a man. He had a major victory that could address such as a human hero and moral. Another important figure in the comic is Captain Marvel, who sacrifices himself to save others. Top talks about Superman: "We will not impose our power of humanity. To deserve your trust ... using the wisdom he showed us a man. I told him to choose between humans and super-human. But only he knew it was a false division and made the only choice that really counts. He chose life ... in the hope that your world and our world can be one of the worlds again. "

And I hope that the world as well as our heroes, whether classical or comics, can be one.