Even Superheroes Have Limitations

by Ben Yoskovitz

I’m a huge comic book fan. And although I don’t use my allowance on comics anymore (what with a mortgage, young child, new house and other assorted fun stuff) I’m still in love with comics.

The essence of the comic is the superhero. Really, it’s about lots of different characters, their funky powers and how they band together to smack around endlessly optimistic and egomaniacal bad guys. Bad guys are endlessly optimistic because they think they can always win, but they never really do. Anyway…

Superheroes are cool. They’ve got amazing powers. They always show up at the right time. They always seem to win. And even when they’re beaten down they prevail. Damn you superheroes.

I want to be a superhero. And in our own ways, each of us can be.

But even superheroes have limitations

And that’s what makes them even more interesting. Almost all superheroes have a human element of frailty or weakness. For some it’s an Achilles heel (like kryptonite for Superman) but for others it’s a personality behavioural issue that they’re always dealing with. They’re human. (Even if they’re not all human, they possess positive and negative human qualities.)

It’s great that our superheroes always win; there’s a motivating and engaging excitement about that. But what really draws me to comics is the way superheroes’ frailties are examined, because it’s at that point that I can truly relate.

We all want to be superheroes

But it’s critical to recognize our own limitations and be able to handle them. Know your strengths and recognize your weaknesses. Spreading yourself too thin is so easy nowadays, the world is ripe with opportunity, but the result of doing that is rarely pleasant.

Strive for superhero status every day, but don’t forget that you have limitations; limitations you want to always push against, but limitations you also need to respect for your own sanity, health and good fortune.

Photos by Cinencuentro and ChenJYu.

April 20th, 2007
More in Personal Development
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  • My limitations are showing up big today, Batman. Thanks for the reminder to take it easy in the spreading thin stuff. Blogs, phone calls, contracts, workshops, shows - zoinks!

    Happy weekend! See you in May!
  • Thanks for the comment Christine. I guess superheroes don't generate a lot of discussion, but I still love that second picture.
  • Love the analogy! Never have been a comic book reader but I get the point. Love the post.
  • hey! I see me in that last group photo!! :D

    Nice post! I love super heroes too... especially the ladies (costumes). ;)
  • Love this post, Ben. What's more interesting is that I often tell my clients that a blog is just a website with special powers. Sort of like how Aquaman could talk to the fish.
  • Calvin - you're in that picture too? Where?

    A blog = website with special powers - I like the analogy Dawud.

    Aquaman was cool, although talking to fish wouldn't be tops on my super power list.
  • Hmm... as a long-time superhero (and Jedi) wanna-be, I totally hear you in this one. I think the parts of us that feel weak and lame long for the confidence and power in superheros.

    But it's more than that, too. It's the desire to live fully, to be all that we are and more. To undergo a miraculous transformation like Peter Parker; to stand up for what we believe in like Kal-El/Clark Kent; to find a purpose like The Punisher (well, you know what I mean).

    And since we're on the superhero topic, if you happened to see the movie, "Kill Bill 2", you'll remember the great conversation between Bill and The Bride about being who we are, and not hiding our powers behind empty facades.

    Okay, so I'm inspired!
  • Ben, real good post. You get me thinking about the balance between going for the ideals and dreams and at the same time giving some kindness to the foibles. One of my recent clamoring foibles is spreading too thin and drifting too far out of my heart center.

    Thanks,

    Stuart Baker
    www.consciouscooperation.com
  • Stuart - thanks for the comment.

    Spreading myself too thin is a big problem. I've recently pulled back on a few projects and re-arranged things to be able to focus on Standout Jobs and this blog, versus all the other things I was doing. I enjoyed them all but they weren't sustainable.

    Knowing your limits and always re-aligning with your goals is critical.
  • I was referencing a Chris Rock skit where he refers to how Hilary Clinton didn't take good enough care of her husband when he was President (if you know what I mean):

    "People think Hilary's a hero. Hilary aint no hero. Aquaman's a hero. He could talk to the fishes. What the *%#@ can Hilary do."

    Chris' delivery will play much better than the comment text here.

    And Adam, you should have known this one.
  • Dawud -- *chuckle* -- that went "whoosh" right over my head. Although now that you mention the reference I have a vague recollection of it. Or maybe not...it is 6am, I'm a bit hazy.
  • "But even superheroes have limitations" -- didn't they just discover Kryptonite somewhere in Serbia ? :)
  • Did they? Who knows, but if they did I guess I won't go there...don't want to be weakened after all!
  • I still buy comics. I love the X-men and Wolverine. I am a 40 year old kid. lol. ;)
  • Good job CHESSNOID. Glad to hear it. I'm waiting for my kids to be old enough to buy comics so I have an excuse to get back into it.
  • If you can figure out what the next hulk 181 is, you can buy a bunch and hang on to them and fund your kids college funds. lol. :)
  • CHESSNOID - Wouldn't that be something! I still have my old collection, mostly Avengers comics. I've got #2 Avengers in good condition. So that might pay for a couple beers that my kids will drink at university... *chuckle*
  • I love the Avengers. The Vision was my favorite character when I was young because he could go through walls. Thor was awesome with his Mjolnir. I hear rumors that they are making a movie on him with that wrestler triple H possibly starring in it. Anyways, I put some of my comics on my site. Totally nerdish I know, but other nerds appreciate that stuff.

    http://www.totalnoid.com/?page_id=106
  • Lots of great characters amongst the Avengers, that's why they were so entertaining. Thor, Black Panther, Black Knight, Hercules, etc. List goes on and on...*chuckle*

    Now I want to go out and buy comic books...
  • When I was a kid I believed that superheroes really existed and hated just the idea that they don't. hehe!! Now I feel that I thought that way because I myself wanted to be like them and thought thats possible ;)
  • Cathy -- Superheroes DON'T exist? Uh oh... *smile*

    I still believe...
  • I like the content of your blog and i found it quite interesting on superheroes have limitations. I must appreciate the way you had portrait everything is commendable.And i also like the content of your blog it is amazing and i also agree with you on that our heroes never let us down they always achieve victory. Thank you
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