Is Johnny Cloud a Superhero?

Johnny Cloud was my Superman. No wonder … I was a navy brat, the son of a flyer. And with a nine-year-old brain, I had just enough smarts to know that a pilot with over a hundred combat kills, who rams his enemies, and fist fights them on the way down has to have a superpower of some sort.

What sort?

Well, I wasn’t sure, but no mortal is that good or lucky. So, I must ask: Is Johnny Cloud a superhero (one word), or is he a super hero (two words)?  ... just hang with me here, and I'll explain.

While pondering this, I was surprised to find a book (yes, a whole book, and a hardback no less) on this very topic, aptly titled: What is a Superhero? The editors – Robin Rosenberg and Peter Coogan – had PhDs and years of study. They know more than most of us: Rosenberg is a shrink and Coogan is the Director of the Institute of Comics Studies.

The introductory chapter by Coogan puts it succinctly. Three features define who is, and who is not, a superhero. Let’s make a table …

A superhero must:

1. possess a superpower;

2. devote oneself to the mission;

3. wear a costume.

Okay, let’s take a look. First off, the superhero has at least one Super Power – for example, Superman flies (or jumps); plus he can crush rocks with his bare hands; and he has x-ray vision too! His powers stem from his being an alien from the planet Krypton.

Powers can also come from skills training with some high-tech gadgets thrown in – this nudges Batman into the fold. He’s not an alien, but he’s super skilled and has lots of bat-shit.

Next comes The Mission, namely, to fight against evil and protect the vulnerable. The mission reflects a high moral standard to which the superhero is selflessly devoted. Both Superman and Batman are crime-fighters, and they risk their lives, without pause, to capture bad guys like Lex Luther and the Joker.

Finally, we have the Costume. The colorful garb signals a special identity, often defined by a codename. A secret identity is also included. The title Superman represents the codename whereas his shorts, tights, and cape – plus the big S emblazoned on his chest – make up the costume. You can’t miss him when he is dressed for success, but you hardly notice the man when he puts on his Clark Kent blazer and tie. Clark, the gumshoe news reporter, is his secret identity.

Same with Batman, although he’s cooler – you can’t beat those pointy ears! But after the bad guys are licked, he’s just a rich dude, eating steak, sitting alone in a mansion. Bruce Wayne is his secret identity.