One of the many great ironies of American culture is that a society which lauds capitalism is also home to the fantasy of the selfless SuperHero: entities ranging from an ordinary but wealthy human (Batman) to an extraordinary but poor Extra-Terrestrial (Superman), who spend their days saving us mere mortals, for no obvious recompense.
Well bollocks to all that! Meet “Super Corporate Heroes”—superheroes who are more in line with the actual American Way. These superheroes are employed by a Fortune 500 company, charge for their services—“if you wanna get rescued, you gotta pay insurance”—and live lifestyles ranging from opulent to the top billers, to just above the breadline for the only slightly super amongst them.
Of course they have their own Super Villian—the Invisible Hand (“the world’s oldest and most mysterious super villain… It takes a few lifetimes to be a great capitalist”)—and many other challenges besides. This new eBook cartoon series is brilliantly conceived and drawn, and casts a welcome satiric light on our current economic predicament.
I highly recommend the series, and I’m happily forking out the 99 cents per digital issue (you can also buy a print copy for $3.99). If you want to sample before you buy, here’s the free preview.
It’s a brilliant sendup of capitalism, fantasy, and everything else we’ve come to love and loathe about modern society. Face it—we all need a laugh right now, and unlike the not-so-superheroes handling bailouts and austerity plans, these SuperHeroes actually deliver.
For a price
If your insurance is up to date
Oh, and if they aren’t distracted by a hangover, their own nagging bills, or some damn paternity suit.
Hey, I’m sort of trying to be one… Saving the world from Neoclassical economics ‘n’ all that… Maybe I should sign up? I wonder what the superannuation scheme is… And fringe benefits—how about a jaccuzi allowance?