Not at all. Superhero stories are fantasies for boys and adolescent males who feel weak. They want to pretend they can have justice - or revenge - for the pain inflicted on them. They want to feel safe by having power to protect themselves and others. These are fantasies for most, particularly those living a working class life.

Superhero comics must be understood through the lens of American masculinity if one is to make sense of the phenomenon. Batman and Spider-Man imprint on us boys and most of us have a hard time ever really getting over it.