Superheroes have been around for decades and have gradually become icons of diverse cultures throughout the world. They take you through incredible journeys into magical worlds of good and evil, dispatching a thousand monsters along the way, and emerge unscathed in all their glory. Superheroes have powers that are almost god-like. They could have qualities that humans don't have like the ability to fly or make webs, or they could have highly enhanced human qualities like fast reflexes or extra-sensitive hearing. Their main job is beating up the bad guys, helping society get rid of its miscreants and romancing glamorous women on the side. Heroes have undergone many changes during the years and have evolved tremendously as times have changed.
Television has offered more contemporary mythology which in turn has contributed immensely to pop culture. Like Buffy, a former cheerleader who battled vampires of all kinds and sizes. She broke the blonde bimbo, damsel-in-distress cliche, and instead of being rescued by handsome blue-eyed hunks, she took things into her own hands. The show wrapped up last year but was hugely popular and had much to do with the fact that Buffy was portrayed as a teenager much like any other, with boyfriend problems, teenage woes and conflicting thoughts.
Angel, a spin-off from Buffy focused on similar themes but had darker shades. It dealt with issues such as oppression and loneliness in its own dramatic style. The shows contributed to addressing concerns that had crept into the industrialized world such as stress, teenage violence and alcohol and drug abuse.
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