Written by: Rtr. Renish Perera

“It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.” – Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, dropped this wisdom bomb in Batman Begins (2015), and it hit me harder than the time my mom unleashed her mighty slap back in grade 5 for catching me watching “Top 10 Most Beautiful Hollywood Actresses” on YouTube when I was supposed to be studying! The essence? It’s not about who you are, where you’re from, or what you do—wait, that’s a Backstreet Boys song. No, it’s about spreading positivity like confetti, no matter who you are—Batman, Pigman, or even Spiderman. Your actions speak louder than the mask or cape you hide behind. We are all born in blood and bones, but it’s our choices and deeds that sculpt the heroes within us.

In my opinion, the superhero world is way more exciting than the 07th chapter of the Health Science book in grade 07. Superman, aka Clark Kent, was the world’s first superhero, brought to life by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster back in 1903. Think of him as the first drop in the ocean that eventually became the superhero industry. Fast forward to today, and Marvel & DC are the big fish, ruling the seas with heroes like Batman, Superman, Flash & Arrow from DC, and Ironman, Captain America & Hulk from Marvel. But honestly, Wonder Woman still steals the show for me and I’m still wondering why? Just like the battle between me and my brother over the last slice of pizza, new players have entered the game, shaking things up for Marvel and DC. The Boys Universe, with characters like Homelander, The Deep, A-Train, and Starlight, is the latest to challenge the big two. Some folks dismiss them as Marvel & DC from Alibaba express, but for me, The Boys brought a fresh, bold twist to the superhero industry —like the joy you get when your mom decides to get KFC rather than food at home.

Every little thing will shape your life, like the first high school heartbreak you had (I didn’t have any). Anyway, remember those childhood days when life was as simple as tying your dad’s undergarment around your face and calling yourself Batman? I sure do! There I was, the Dark Knight of the living room, freshly inspired by the Batman cartoon on Sirasa TV. And who could forget my brief yet illustrious career as The Flash, zooming past my mom in a daring candy heist at midnight? I even had a stint as Aquaman, defeating my three-year-old cousin in an epic pool battle at a hotel. Clearly, I was a superhero prodigy in the making. It’s funny how these small, silly moments shaped my mindset. I learned the power of never giving up from Tony Stark when he built his first Iron Man suit in that dingy terrorist dungeon. Peter Parker taught me the importance of cherishing loved ones, especially after Uncle Ben’s tragic death. And Batman? He showed me how to spread positivity and do the right thing, even when no one knows who’s behind the mask, except himself & Alfred. Honestly, Gen Z could pick up a thing or two from these fictional heroes. Sure, they might not be real, but the values they represent; such as perseverance, kindness and integrity are very real. Life is like an ice cream, after all; each flavor brings a new taste and joy & sometimes, a little bit of superhero flair is all you need to make it even sweeter.

Think about it, every coin has two sides. Which are heads and tails. Remember how you felt seeing your ex on the street? Once an angel who seemed to fall from the sky but now they’ve turned into something like a sidekick to the Devil? Like that, Superheroes have their arch nemeses too – the Supervillains. That’s the essence of supervillains. Take Darkseid, Mr. Penguin, Zoom, Two-Face, Deadshot and the iconic Joker & Harley Quinn from DC & Taskmaster, Galactus, Doctor Doom, Green Goblin & the mighty conqueror Thanos from Marvel are the exclusive examples for the Supervillains. They aren’t just dark reflections; they were sometimes heroes who took a wrong turn. Remember; “Villains are not born, but they are created by society.” Think of Homelander from The Boys, a hero gone rogue. The big lesson here is simple as it is. Even if society throws curveballs or you’re stuck in a toxic relationship, you’ve got to keep doing the right thing. Just like a villain is shaped by their surroundings, you get to choose your path. If a relationship is dragging you down, don’t stick around. Hit the reset button and forge ahead. Remember, life’s like watching American Pie in Grade 6, you know it’s probably not the best choice, but hey, curiosity gets the best of us. Just make sure you’re choosing to be the hero of your own story, not a supervillain!

In the end, it’s not about who you are or where you come from. What truly matters is the vibe and positive impact you bring to your world, just like Batman brings to Gotham. Strive to be a Superman, not a Homelander, because after all, why be a burden and make things miserable when you could be a beacon of hope? As Clark Kent wisely puts it, “With great power comes great responsibility.” With that I’m signing off because have to catch the latest Justice League episode. Which is does pineapple really belong on pizza?

Graphic Design by : Rtr. Sandali Mendis