Help me understand the Super Hero genre

[€uroMeinke]

So everyone's talking about Batman and I have no desire to see it. Same as Superman, Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk, etc. for some reason this genre just doesn't speak to me. So I ask this question in two ways;

1) What is it you like about super heros? What's your personal appeal - the fantasizing about super powers? the tight pants? secret identities?

2) What do you think it is that makes this such a popular genre from a more sociological position. Has 9/11 left us feeling more vulnerable and fearful? Are we more willing to have faith in the unseen?

I know I grew up in the era of sitcoms followed by crime dramas - the first perhaps a bit of escapism from the War in Vietnam and social upheaval of the 60's. The second, a fear of crime.

I have to say though, I did love the Increadibles, and the Bond franchise has always been a favorite (though I never liked it when Bond seemed to have super human powers). What do you think?