National Superhero Day is observed annually on April 28. This is a day to honor superheroes, both real and fictional.
Batman, Superman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, Hulk and Spiderman are just some of the superheroes whose names we recognize. Even though they are fictional, these superheroes are great role models for our children. They serve and protect while fighting evil.
Our real-life superheroes may not have super powers or wear capes, but they are also great role models who serve and protect while fighting evil. Military personnel, police officers and firefighters are just a few of the heroes who protect us on a daily basis.
Tell us who’s your favorite superhero.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Take your favorite superhero to lunch and say thank you for all they do. Post photos on social media using #NationalSuperheroDay.
HISTORY
National Superhero Day was created in 1995 by Marvel Comics employees.
SUPERHERO FACTS
- Before the X-Men comic books, Wolverine was originally an enemy of the Hulk. In the 1974 issue of The Incredible Hulk #180, the original Wolverine did not have retractable claws but instead he wore gloves with claws attached. He had animal like senses and rage with Spider-man like strength.
- X-Men’s Professor X was modeled after MLK and Magneto was modeled after Malcolm X. –Source
- After the Vietnam War and Watergate Scandal, Captain America became so disillusioned with the US government that he became “The Nomad” –Source
- In a 1981 special, Batman took out the Hulk is an absurdly efficient Batman kind of way. After a mess involving the Joker, the Shaper-of-Worlds, and a fake general, the Hulk began a rampage at Wayne Tech. Batman tossed a knock-out gas grenade at Hulk’s head, and then kicked him in the solar plexus, forcing the Hulk to breath in the gas. Hulk went down quick. –Source
- In the 1997 DC/Marvel special Batman/Captain America, the Red Skull hires the Joker to steal an atomic bomb during World War II. Joker evades Batman, Cap, Bucky, and Robin and delivers it to the Skull, but is horrified when he learns that the Skull is a Nazi (saying “I may be a criminal lunatic but I’m an American criminal lunatic!”). When the Skull threatens to drop the bomb on Washington D.C., the Joker actually fights him in the plane’s cargo bay. When Captain America and Batman take over the plane and bring it over the ocean, the two villains are dropped out with the bomb just before it explodes. Both Captain America and Batman are convinced the two are still alive somehow. –Source
- In the debut of Hulk, Stan Lee chose gray for the Hulk because he wanted a color that did not suggest any particular ethnic group. Colorist Stan Goldberg, however, had problems with the gray coloring, resulting in different shades of grey, and even green, in the issue. After seeing the first published issue, Lee chose to change the skin color to green.-Source
- Iron Man was created by Stan Lee as a challenge to create a hero no one should like and force people to like him. –Source
- Many of Marvel’s notable superheroes and villains are of Irish descent including, Captain America, Beast, Ice man , An incarnation of Ant-Man, Daredevil, Bullseye and Dum Dum Dugan.-Source
- When Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were creating villains for the Marvel Comic Books they turned to the Bible. Out of that inspiration came Galactus (God) and Silver Surfer (Satan). –Source
- In the Marvel Universe the cleanup from major battles is handled by Damage Control, a joint venture of Tony Stark and the Kingpin. They even had their own series in the late 80’s. –Source
- In one of the Marvel’s “What if?” series Hulk and She-Hulk get married “and their lives became much like those on ‘I Love Lucy’.” –Source
- There is an issue called The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe, where he kills every single Marvel superhero and villain, including himself. –Source
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