National Superhero Day has come round once again, but instead of showcasing everyone's favorite fictional superheroes, some of the biggest publishers and comic book figures are using the occasion to celebrate real-life heroes braving a different kind of threat.
Essential workers are putting their lives on the line in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and tributes on Twitter have been pouring in to show appreciation for their hard work. The Justice League and the Avengers may be defenders of the innocent on the page, but in the real world, they're standing aside to let everyday heroes take the spotlight.
National Superhero Day was created by Marvel back in 1995 as a way for fans to celebrate their favorite characters, but this year they are one of many companies using the day to honor real life warriors instead. To mark the occasion, the company's official Twitter shared a striking image of front-line workers in superhero poses by artist Mike Hawthorne and Edgar Delgado.
The Twitter account for the late Stan Lee also made a contribution, reminding fans of the comic figure's views on everyday people transformed into something greater, and that "Of the many lessons Stan Lee imparted upon us, one of the most powerful was that superheroes come in all different forms - and they don't have to wear capes."
Besides Marvel, other companies across a wide range of industries are paying tribute to healthcare and other essential workers across the globe. A fantastic flipbook animation by Howard Lee (shared by 9gag) also re-imagined frontline caregivers and essential workers as famous superheroes, while DC Comics thanked the heroes of the world through two separate videos on their DC Universe Twitter account. One sending thanks from the heroes themselves, and another from writer Brian Michael Bendis offering personal thanks to the caregivers, after making headlines during the pandemic as one of the main names behind the #Creators4Comics campaign that has been raising money for struggling comic book stores.
The thanks continue, whether offered straight from the Power Rangers themselves, or Sports channel ESPN's touching video tribute to essential workers that leaves viewers with tears in their eyes. National Superhero Day is not the first time that both Marvel and DC have paid tribute to the superstars on the front line. Marvel recently released a powerful piece of art by drawn by Joe Quesada and colored by Richard Isanove featuring a healthcare worker in a Captain America mask. The trend also began with DC Comics, sharing an image of the Justice League with essential employees stating that "The world is filled with heroes." A world full of real-life heroes is exactly what's needed, to offer a glimmer of hope on the other side of the global pandemic.