Culture
Why Does Disney Insist On Redeeming Their Villains?
We’ve come a long way from the days of Superman. Now, characters don’t even have to be good in order to get their story told.
By Mia C. Gonzalez3 min read
Not too long ago, the heroes of the stories we told looked like Superman — the famous comic book character who was the embodiment of morality, strength, and virtue. Of course, Superman was what the world needed when he first came on the scene in 1938. We were recovering from the Great Depression and on the brink of World War II, a time of unprecedented evil and chaos. By the end of the war, we had a crystal clear understanding of the line between good and evil, and Superman perfectly illustrated the desire to pursue goodness.