Protecting the Innocent: Great Fathers in Comics!

Here's a post to honour all the Fantastic Fathers and Daring Dads out there.

I remember a PSA when I was a kid stating, "Anybody can make a baby, but it takes a man to be a Dad."  Truer words never spoken.

In comic books, the role of father impacts various superheroes:

Jor-El, Kal-El's Kryptonian father, was a scientist who predicted planet Krypton's doomed fate.  Unable to convince the science counsel of the impending destruction, Jor-El and his wife Lara, in an act of love, placed their infant son in a rocket ship bound for Earth.

Kal-El would be found by Jonathan and Martha Kent, and raised as their own son, accepting the Earth name Clark Kent.  Jonathan (in many incarnations) allowed Clark to develop his abilities and talents, but all the while made sure Clark knew the value of hard work and the importance of humility.  His Kryptonian DNA and the Earth's yellow sun may have given Superman his super-powers,  but it was Ma and Pa Kent who gave him his morality and the essentials to be the hero he is today.

Orphaned as a young boy, Peter Parker lived with his Aunt May and his Uncle Ben.

Uncle Ben was Peter's mentor, and taught Peter the iconic principle that "with great power comes great responsibility."  Spider-Man would use this as his mantra for the rest of his life.

Thomas and Martha Wayne, Gotham City's high-profile philanthropists, loved their son, Bruce.  Thomas was always protective of Bruce, and when he fell down a well as a child, Thomas went in after him.

After their passing, a grief-stricken Bruce would take up the mantle of Batman.  As Bruce Wayne, he is always mindful of their charity and good will, and himself tries to bring fortune to the less fortunate to continue his family's campaign.  As Batman, he never seeks vengeance for their passing, but rather strives to honour their memory by making the world a place his parents would want to live in.

A grown-up himself, Bruce later took in a young Dick Grayson as his ward and eventual adopted son, and later, Tim Drake, as another adopted son.  And years after that, he would have a son of his own, Damian, further extending the Batman family.

Instilling a role of responsibility is what fathers do.  Dads are the original superheroes, protecting us when we're scared.  They educate and mentor us to become their sidekick when we're young, with the hope to eventually fill their role in society when we've grown up.  Our job is to heed their advice, learn from their experience, and aspire to obtain their level of wisdom.

So here's to all the fathers, especially my own.  Much love and a Happy Father's Day!