One caveat. While there are a few great examples of this in superhero shows and movies, an honorable mention goes to Supergirl episode “Human for a Day”, all these acts will be specifically from comic book issues themselves. So let’s get this started, and in no particular order.
(Needed an iconic moment for an iconic icon!)
However, in a side story of Green Lantern #137 we were gifted with an amazing scene that confirmed to any LGBT youth at the time that you were ok just the way you were. Terry Berg, Kyle Rayner’s personal assistant comes out to the hero. Rayner, who just so happens to be my favorite Lantern, doesn’t miss a beat and makes sure to tell the kid that he’s fine just the way he is. That was so powerful to many LGBT youth who were struggling with their identity at the time, to hear a hero confirm that they were good and that there was nothing wrong with them
(Terry however doesn’t look very excited.)
Well, yes. Even Wade can surprise us.
In Deadpool #20 we meet Danielle, a troubled teenage about to commit suicide when our favorite wisecracking merc steps in. A whirlwind of events soon transpire for this troubled teen as he takes her out to see Hamilton, after beating up some murderous slumlords for tickets, letting her help him with some pro-bono work, take down two revenge porn peddlers, and other fun antics!
However the night has to end sometime and we realize this was all leading to Wade taking Danielle to an emergency mental health clinic who he’d been texting all night. Wade knows, out of anyone, he’s not equipped to help someone in her state so he does one of the most heroic thing he can, and helps her get herself signed in.
(I had to show both pages. Wade earned this.)
That’s why I’m picking n issue that shows Wondy from someone else’s eyes. Wonder Woman #170 came during the Phil Jimenez run and dealt with Lois Lane spending a day with the Amazon Ambassador.
The two deal with Diana’s insane schedule, from talking with then president Luthor, to feeding starving orphans in Africa, all while Lois is trying to do two things. One, ask a personal question about her time with Clark, and two, dig in deep and discover who the princess of Themyscira truly is.
In the end she settles on one poetic passage, after deeply looking into the Ambassador’s eyes. “Wonder Woman is a mirror of human truth. She reflects the contradictions of the world, of the person staring at her and takes them onto herself and gives you truth, love, and respect in return.” A beautiful description of one of comic’s greatest heroines.
(Ah the lasso of truth. Sooo many jokes about it over the years! But I'll play nice for this post!)
Still, every so often, no matter how kind Peter is, you can find something he does that makes you a bit misty eyed.
In Amazing Spider-Man #248, Spidey meets Tim Harrison, the kid hates to be called Timmy, an avid web-head fan of 9. He collects everything and anything Spider-Man from newspaper clippings to films and magazines. Of course he’s awestruck when the friendly neighborhood arachnid pops in to say hello after hearing all about him.
Peter shows the kid everything from his web-shooters to his web skills while Tim shows him his collection. Regaling the boy with the story of how he became his heroic alter ego, the nine year old gently asks Spidey who he really is, promising to never tell anyone who the hero's secret identity as long as he’ll live.
(Foreshadowing…)
After a few moments of hesitation, Peter agrees, and much to Tim’s delight, he finds out the photographer of all those clippings was in fact, Spider-Man all along.
Cute huh? Well the ending is almost a gut punch. The last scene we’re left on is Spider-Man swinging off from a ledge, indicating Tim is living at a cancer clinic, diagnosed with leukemia. I’m not crying, YOU’RE crying!
All Star Superman is a celebration of the Man of Steel. Written by Grant Morrison and with art by Frank Quitely this maxi series took the very best of Superman’s storied history and distilled it into my favorite story the character has ever appear in. And in one scene, showed just how human this hero is.
In All Star Superman #10 we are just shown this page.
(No sassy comment here, this is just awesome, in the original meaning of the word.)
In just five panels, you get the full story. In four word balloons, everything is explained and you’re just so awestruck at the power that all you can this is yes, THIS is Superman in his purest, most compassionate form.
(Have to end on Supergirl facing down a gunman with no power, and winning with just her words. Still so epic!)
