Why do I love Superheroes?

I've been fascinated by superheroes for as long as I can remember, and I owe much of that obsession to my older brother. He was the one with the superhero posters on the walls, action figures lined up on the shelves, and video games stacked by the console—all of which pulled me into that world. 

As I got more into it, I started noticing a pattern that felt oddly personal: many of the heroes I admired had love interests with red hair. Spider-Man had Mary Jane, Wolverine longed for Jean Grey, and Iron Man married Pepper Potts. Even my most recent favorite, Invincible, features Atom Eve—a strong, red-haired heroine standing beside the main character. 

Being a redhead myself, that detail always stood out. Growing up, my hair color sometimes made me feel alone and seeing myself represented in the media I loved was rare. Sure, I had Ariel and Strawberry Shortcake, but I wanted more than cute or whimsical—I wanted depth, story, strength. Characters like Mary Jane and Pepper Potts weren’t just love interests; they were powerful in their own right, capable, loyal, and just as essential as the heroes they supported. 

It’s funny to think that one reason so many early comic book characters had red hair was simply because it was cheaper to print than most other colors. But even if it started as a cost-saving choice, it meant the world to me to have someone to look up to that looked like me. In its own way it made me feel like my hair color gave me super powers when I was young, that maybe I was a mutant that the X-Men were coming to recruit. 

My love for superheroes has only grown stronger since childhood. Now, at twenty-three, I still dive into superhero video games, binge-watch movies, and have even started collecting comic books. My fascination isn’t limited to just the heroes—I’m equally drawn to the villains. I don’t discriminate when it comes to compelling characters with powers. What captivates me most are their origin stories, character arcs, and ultimate goals. Looking back, I realize that superheroes may have been the spark that ignited my passion for storytelling in the first place.