Why the world needs superheroes

Superheroes were born in the United States in the late 1930s as a four-colour rebuttal to the misery of the Depression and the rise of fascism in Europe. Today, superheroes are no longer confined to America, or even the comic book page. From Marvel movies to convention cosplay, superheroes have never enjoyed greater visibility. Earlier this year, for instance, parts of Sydney were shut down as the Make-a-Wish Foundation and NSW police worked together to help nine-year-old Domenic Pace become Iron Boy. After rescuing a "kidnapped" reporter and facing down baddies on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, Pace was awarded a Commissioner's Award for Gallantry before a cheering crowd. In anticipation of the upcoming Superhero Identities Symposium in Melbourne, we interviewed 100 fans and celebrities to better understand why the world needs superheroes. We wanted to find out what these icons mean to people, as the genre reaches heights of popularity not seen since its origins on the comic book page.