[Superhero, Isekai, 2 Sides of the Same Coin] [Fantasy] [Superhero] [Fun-Sized Fridays]
Welcome to Fun-sized Friday, where we have a fun-sized story on Friday. This week the dice roll is:
(Intro Vid, then Images)
Six for fantasy, and three for Superhero and Isekai. For those new, Hello, I am J. J. Bartel, Author, Botanist, Historian, and Gamer. I try to cultivate greatness in books, and short stories, with a heavy focus on plant human relationships. Why should you and I be concerned with the fantasy of superheroes and Isekai? My thesis is that they are both sides of the coin that can change your life. Drop a quarter for a comic, and a yen for a manga, cause we are about to go on a fantastical hero’s journey.
If terms are defined, the problem is revealed. In many superhero comics, you have someone living their former life. That life could be anything from pain to privilege. A drastic change occurs, so they can never return to their former life. They might be forced to live an entirely new life but often live a double life. Their hero activities are an active choice, and it is a typical story trope that the superhero life interferes with civilian life and vice versa. As issues continue, we, the readers, usually discover something internal about the person, their courage, sense of justice, tenacity, and empathy, that shows they are heroes no matter what. Parodies usually twist one or more of these critical components, like celebrating their ruthlessness or brutality. In some comics, the superpowers are not mutations or magics but firearms. I wanted to describe superhero comics correctly because it’s much the same with Isekai.
In an Isekai, the main character is displaced by summoning or death and reincarnated into a different world. A god or some divine power from earth or the new world usually allows the transfer. If the main character is summoned to a new world, there is usually a chance that they can return to their old lives, while dead characters have to stay in the new world. In many Isekai, getting reincarnated by getting run over by a truck is so common that “Truck-Kun” is one of Isekai’s biggest tropes. The memes are hilarious despite the origins. Like superheroes, the reincarnated person has a mental component that draws the reader to experience the new world with them. This second life is a second opportunity. Those that were cowardly or weak vow to be strong in the second life, or those betrayed vow to take revenge. There are many parodies, with some becoming so popular that the parodies have parodies.
In comparing the two, and as someone who has read at least 50 series of each, my botanical brain can’t help but notice that they are branches from the same tree trunk.
The Western superhero is the optimist approach. Those main characters have the moral and/or mental capacity to be heroes, and getting mutations, magic, or even firearms only increases their capacity to save the day. If a superhero comic goes long enough, there will be a “powers lost” arc. The person, for a while, will have no extraordinary abilities like their civilian life before. The character and reader will find that they will often be heroes with or without the super suit.
The Isekai is a more pessimist take that people must lose their current life, often through death, to change meaningfully. Even if you have a second chance, a common trope is a divine power guiding the soul that determines your next life. Some stories have people become younger versions of themselves with superpowers, which makes a nice power fantasy. Some second lives suck, with some stories forcing human souls into monsters, demons, villains, villainesses, and even trees. The tree one, for me, is a guilty pleasure.
In a sentence: they are the heads and tails of a hero’s story, with the reincarnated ones acting BECAUSE of their fate, while superheroes act REGARDLESS of their fate.
It does matter to everyone. As a botanist, I can tell you that plants have preferences. You will need soil with an acidic ph to grow blueberries or citrus. Tropical hardwood trees like Mahogany will not tolerate freezing temperatures, while birches need the cold for their life cycle. There are many things in this world that you can’t control. To grow a plant or a person, one has to cater to their needs and limits. If someone is more outgoing in their personality, sticking them in a cubical for hours might not work. Someone that is more analytical than emotional usually won’t find fulfillment in making art. If someone wanted to cultivate greatness in themselves, like you, it would help to know who you are. All humans benefit from breathing better, eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep, and having meaningful connections with others. You can’t stop breathing, sleeping, eating without dying. Basic human things will force you to live in a certain way. A successful life means considering the mandatory aspects of life and working with them, like a reincarnated individual accepting their new lot in life to move forward.
Yet, as a historian, I know many ways to make civilization. The Incans, the Han, the English, and the Ethiopians are all in different parts of the world, yet they all managed to create their civilization. They did not need the same climate, language, religion, or law code. They didn’t even have the same plants. These people decided to make the best choices that they could and make things work from there. Despite all the differences, families could be made. Children could grow up and lead fulfilling lives. These differences matter not just culturally but also individually. Everyone needs exercise, yet, do you get your exercise needs fulfilled through martial arts? Dancing? Baseball? Basketball? Everyone needs food, but what to eat? Ethnic food of your heritage? Exotic to you? Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Carnivore? Sure, things happen to you, but making choices matter. If individuals make the most of their situation, they can change it. If a group strives to make good choices despite their situation, they could build an entire civilization. Regardless of the land, individuals rising to lead the people are heroes.
Whether in the garden or the story of our own lives, there are things we can and can not control. Learning to adapt to the things we can’t and make the most of the things we can is what it takes. A wise man like myself once said, “Everyone has two lives. The second one starts when they realize they only have one mortal life.” After that metaphysical reincarnation, what stops someone from becoming a hero?
What an incredibly rich writing—your words, so skillfully put together offer a wealth of insightful perspectives! I look forward to reading your articles because you give me the opportunity to think and look at things in a way that I would not otherwise. It is a pleasure to read your writings! They are so well done and thought thru and while I’m learning and thinking, you make the whole process delightful!!!