Heroes

"Heroes"

The events of September 11, 2001 affected thousands of business around the entire globe. From an economical stand point, 9/11 had both negative and positive affects. For example, business involved in the production of the United States flag experience a surge of American patriotism, and sales tripled. Conversely, tourism hit rock bottom, and the Airline industry suffered, resulting in some filing for protection under bankruptcy provisions. Every body was affected; nobody was immune including the comic book industry.

While DC Comics franticly recalled an edition of Superman, featuring aliens destroying buildings, and Warner Brothers pondered the decision to postpone the release of the new movie "Collateral Damage," staring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Marvel Comics president and C.O.O, Mr. Bill Jemas decided to confront the tragedy head on. "We're going to get lots and lots of grief but frankly I think it's worth the grief to preserve that form of speech that we've chosen" (Arnold, 1 of 4), Jemas said while announcing the release of Marvel's special benefit issue "Heroes."

As witnessed on 9/11, New York City is the home of many heroes, Firefighters, Police Officers, Emergency Medical staff, and even everyday citizens. The "Big Apple" is also the home of many fictional heroes, included is Captain America, Spider-Man, Daredevil, Iron Man, and now "Ash," all with a new mission to confront terrorism head on.

Most hardcore Marvel comic book readers have probably heard of Ash, an anonymous firefighter that battles the destructive nature of fire and evil. Ash is not new to Marvel, forced back on active duty Ash found hero status once again shortly after the events of 9/11.

Ash, featured on the cover of "Heroes" is embracing a victim of the attack in front of the World Trade Center with the caption, "American Superheroes help fight the war on terrorism." Although Jemas thought "Heroes" would be met with some opposition it sold more than 100'000 copies in the first two days and 225'000 copies in the first week. The rationality was, "to some extent we are sitting on a powder keg and people could say, Ð''look at all this violence and terrorism,' and we could have run from it, but I think in the long haul a lot of the reason why this form of expression that we do at Marvel is popular is because it resonates to other people who live in the real world" (Arnold, 2 of 4), said Jemas.

Another first was the time it took "Heroes" to be put together, "Heroes was put together in a week and a half, which is almost faster than a speeding bullet in comic book publishing time" (Lew, 3 of 4). The norm is three to six months from conception to birth.

"Heroes" inspired a frenzy of other comic book artist eager to express the stories of 9/11 in graphic media form. Out of it came "9-11: Emergency Relief" a comic book that takes a different approach, a more strict approach to Marvel. "9-11: Emergency Relief" looks at the "alternative comic universe" (Lew, 3 of 4). Also DC Comics, home of the kryptonite ducking Superman merged with publisher