Humanly Heroic

Sometime ago I received an invitation from Diogenes of Quasi Fictional Views to contribute a guest post about the Fine Art of Blogging. You can read my post if you click here. Lots of different "why-do-I-blog" perspectives on that site. Thanks again, Dio.

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Heroism. Heroes. Just what is it about them that so titillates the imagination and enthralls one's inner senses? Both ancient legends and modern-day pop culture are imbued with heroes and heroines. Why this fascination with creatures who, whether they like it or not, are gifted with powers that the rest of us can only dream of -- if at all?

And yet, haven't we all thought, however fleetingly, about having a superpower somehow? I think the first time I thought about it was after reading Marcel Aymé's Walker-Through-Walls when I was a kid. Then a few months ago I took one of those Internet quizzes (Which X-Men Character Are You?) and it came up with Jean Grey for me. I would've preferred to be Wolverine, but I was okay with Jean. Never mind that she killed the man she loved and that she was in turn killed by a man who loved her. She was the Most. Powerful. Mutant. Ever.

And she looked terrific in scarlet.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ernest Becker said something to the effect that we all need heroism in our lives -- or to be heroes ourselves -- one way or another. To be larger than life at a certain point (or points) in our lives, to become "larger than life," to leave a significant and lasting impact on others. But from what I understand, it isn't so much the need to have others think highly of us but the need to satisfy ourselves that we somehow had a role in making other people's lives better, that we were a "saving" force in their lives somehow. But what the heck do I know.

What I do know is that I am desperately, hilariously, utterly in like with this nondescript-looking guy. But oh, how he rocks. And he has me rocking with laughter.


He knows that he can manipulate time and space, and he makes it seem like it's no big deal. He mentions his power in a matter-of-fact way; the same way I would say I have black hair or that I'm five feet, eight inches tall. Nothing to brag about or be ashamed of -- it's just a statement of fact.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am Lizza and I am a new Heroes addict. I've only seen up to episode 6, so please, not a word, not a damn word about what happens next.

Unless you want me to telepathically dissolve your private parts in acid. Whaaat? I can at least pretend to have that superpower, can't I? Among others. Tee hee.