My daughter is crazy about Spiderman. I have no idea where this came from. Suddenly, she responds to everything Superhero. She wants Spiderman sheets, Spiderman shirts, Spiderman novelties of any kind. I even spent the weekend making her Spiderman flannel pajamas, listening to her quietly singing the Spiderman theme song. No, I am not kidding.
AND she is in a friendly competition with her best friend who is crazy about Batman! I’ve known Alex since she was three, and never was there a Superhero reference between them. Now, it’s all they talk about.
This is all very illogical and out of the blue to me. What has happened? Is it the slew of Superhero movies that have come out that drives this? They both know all the movies and their chronological order, the stars and who was best, their favorite bad guys. They keep themselves entertained by imagining what their superpowers would be if they had some.
Thinking back critically, I remember how much my daughter and I enjoyed pre-Superhero entertainment. Teen Titans, and animated show with teen superheroes, was fun and very well written. Winx Club is about teen fairies keeping their world safe, and we never missed an episode. Totally Spies was another favorite – sort of like Charlie’s Angels in High School; not quite Superheroes, but a step above the ordinary for sure.
My guess is the girls have been primed for the recent Hollywood output of great Superhero movies from these early experiences, hence the current obsession with the heavy-hitters.
I guess it is a positive thing for them to immerse themselves in characters upholding mankind’s standards of what is right and noble. Holy Hollywood, Batman, we’re helping teach them what’s right and wrong!
Caroline Poppendeck, Librarian
Head of Youth Services
Steele Memorial Library