"Men of Iron and Steel"

Here's a fascinating article on politics and superheroes, via Day by Day, if you're interested. An excerpt:

Superheroes are a libertarian fantasy, because they are individual men and women given the power to shape the course of history, and burdened with the moral responsibility to use it wisely. Spider-Man learned this in his hour of grief, after a moment of selfishness cost a good man his life. Superman is a Kansas farm boy who discovered he was a god, and devoted himself to protecting the mortal men and women around him, who he loved and respected with all of his heart. Batman is an extraordinary individual who devoted his talents to the pursuit of justice, freely choosing a path of agony and terror when his wealth and ability offered countless other choices.