Modern Epic

By Wilson

It has been common practice for educational institutions to have scholars to read the classics and epics that have been written over the eras. These stories, such as Icarus, are first shared by words then by written word teach, spreading the morals, the history and the dreams of society. The Iliad and Odyssey are read in part if not in whole in high school. People hand down their morals while entertaining each other. At times these stories are written in song with melodies that run from Gregorian chants to nursery rhymes. Societal customs and belief systems are passed from the old to the young. They caution us and guide humans through their lives. In a way, they are as close to an instruction manual to life.

Not all religious and non-religious people think of the text that guides their religion as an epic, but they have characteristics of epic.

According to Wikipedia epics have seven main characteristics:

“The hero is outstanding. They might be important, and historically or legendarily significant.
The setting is large. It covers many nations, or the known world.
The action is made of deeds of great velour or requiring superhuman courage.
Supernatural forces—gods, angels, demons—insert themselves in the action.
It is written in a very special style
The poet tries to remain objective.
Epic poems are believed to be supernatural and real by the hero and the villain”

If you add up the characteristics, you have the modern-day epic; a comic book.

Bill Maher was taken up a stance on comic books that shows a lack of tack towards people that read comic, making distasteful comments on the death of Stan Lee saying, ““deep, deep mourning for a man who inspired millions to, I don’t know, watch a movie, I guess” — was “no way an attack on Mr. Lee but took the occasion of his death to express my dismay at people who think comic books are literature and superhero movies are great cinema and who in general are stuck in an everlasting childhood.”

He goes on to say, “Bragging that you’re all about the Marvel universe is like boasting that your mother still pins your mittens to your sleeve,”

Maher would not tell people not to read epics in school. Why would you not continue as an adult? In a world that has a deficiency in morals and courage, we need to teach them in any way we can. Schools have had to start teaching social emotional lessons instead to reading and math. Why? They don’t have the social emotional development they should have that they learn from there elders and in the morals taught in epics.

I have adult children that read comics and are into the Marvel universe and I don’t pin their mittens in their sleeve and ever had to. Unlike Mr. Maher, my children knew how to care for their mittens and to put them, by themselves, into their pockets. They knew to be responsible for themselves. Their moral compasses are working, they are both politically aware and are accountable for there own lives.

They also chose on their own not to watch Bill Maher’s T.V. show.

R.I.P. Stan Lee

Images & Data @Wikipedia