A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…
It was 45 years ago when Star Wars – the first release in what would become an international family of entertainment products – made that line an understood and oft-repeated introduction to a fantasy world far removed from the headlines of 1977, and every era since.
Heroes and villains; old but wise oracles; adventure and conflict; excitement and mystery were all woven into the recipe for multiple sequels and proliferating brand extensions that allowed the alternate universe model one of Hollywood’s most likely economic generators.
In the same era, Marvel was able to make the transition from their genesis in juvenile comic books to the ever-expanding genre of fantasy epics, anchored by the Superheroes birthed to do battle with the forces of evil and keep their audiences on the edge of their seats.
Between 7000 comic books and 23 big-screen extravaganzas – with more, undoubtedly, in the works – the Marvel World has exploded. When you’re circulating among giants, it’s hard to assign dominance. In Spanish, the question would be: “Quién es mas grande?” (Who is the greatest?). The answer would vacillate between “favorite” and “most powerful.” To be powerful raises another set of issues: it would really boil down to the competition between superpowers: those are the essence of what makes the hero class bigger-than-life.
Captain America; Black Panther; Killmonger; Groot; Hawkeye; Black Widow; Winter Soldier: they’re the tip of the superhuman elite featured in Marvel’s library of stories-in-progress. Each are known for bringing different contributions to the conflicts that dwarf the mere mortals dependent on the bigger-than-life saviors who would come out of the ranks to exercise their unique rescues.
Neither Lucas nor Marvel give credit where it is due. The best-selling book of all time – now translated into more languages than either blockbuster franchise will ever achieve – includes in its dramatic display of the Ultimate Epic the involvement of men and women who emerged from the multitudes of their generations to step into history and become known to millions who came later.
Noah. Abraham. Jacob. Job. Esther. David. Samson. Daniel. Ruth. Mary. John. Peter. Paul. The list goes on and on: all were destined for obscurity until a pair of factors came to life in their own journey: they discovered their superpower, and they were invited into a mission that was fraught with danger and loaded with risk, but allowed each to understand their potential for a role that would give them notoriety beyond any option otherwise available to them from their “normal” life.
In the 21st Century, fantasy has pushed faith out of the way in the competition for the imagination of the next generation. The saturation of bigger-than-life characters cast into stories that mirror the realities of conflict and competition – with stakes beyond measure – have drawn formative minds to place themselves in these alternative universes. Who’s your favorite superhero? If you could be a superhero, who would you want to be? If you could have a superpower, which would you choose? Those queries are more likely to draw emotional attention than any other real-life alternative.
We’re made for fantasy; it draws people out of realities’ quagmire to imagine the possibility of a world where the good guys defeat the bad guys, and men and women have abilities that set them into the express lane reserved for heroes… IF they accept their mission and use their powers for good.
What if the Next Gen had as much familiarity with the great heroes of the Bible – and the powers/gifts granted to them that enabled their potential for victory in a game-changing mission/calling – and set their imaginations into those fantastic possibilities?
They need examples; both from the Scriptures, and from the community around them. God has entrusted each of us with superpowers – He calls them “spiritual gifts” – and has a high-risk/high-reward mission for us that invites us into historic and heroic assignments.
Are you living the life God planned for you, that will give you status that the comic books could never fathom?
