Article Analysis of We’re the Good Guys, Right? by Daniel Immerwahr (Essay Sample)

The article by Daniel Immerwahr entitled, “We’re the Good Guys, Right?” discusses the Marvel Universe and its popular superheroes. Published on April 26, 2018 - a day after the release of the third installment of the Avengers Movies, Avengers: Infinity War. The article delves into the core values of these well-known heroes. Immerwahr begins with a brief timeline of how these heroes rose to massive fame within a decade and how these comic book superheroes came to be. The cultural and historical relevance of these comic book heroes were also shown in the text. Immerwahr finishes the text with an analysis of how these marvel heroes define the line between the good and the bad. The article is filled with keen observations, quippy remarks, and an analysis of these heroes - it makes you think of them in a different light.

As a self-proclaimed Marvel fan, I looked forward to reading this article when I saw it in the course guide, and in all honesty, I was not disappointed. I truly enjoyed reading this thought-provoking article. The article starts out telling an inspiring story of how the underdogs became massive hits to the public in a short period. From Marvel declaring bankruptcy in 1996 to now being worth $5 Billion, it’s astounding how fast they were able to rise to fame after being left with the film rights to their unpopular heroes such as Thor, Iron Man, Captain America among others. These heroes eventually became the key to Marvel’s success. 

The article follows the history of comic book superheroes. Immerwahr talks about the creation of heroes such as Superman and Batman which both originated from the writers’ desires to be accepted or to feel protected. Heroes such as Aquaman, The Flash, and Green Lantern among others are just some of the heroes who followed after the two prominent figures, Superman and Batman, and were cast in the exact same mold of being “ultra-men, pure of heart, and distinguished only by their varying forms of superiority” as said by Immerwahr. Similarly, the hero - Captain America, written by two Jews, also desired to create a figure of inspiration to look to during the Nazi threat. Although after the war, Captain America’s initial fame plummeted. (It is important to note that the heroes we see on screen are quite different from the heroes in the comics, it’s safe to assume that the two versions probably exist in different universes - so no, Cap is NOT secretly a nazi from Hydra in the Marvel Movies, okay?)

Captain America was replaced with new unconventional heroes - such as the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, and the X-Men. In the early life of Marvel Studios, they received many criticisms for the heroes they released for technically not being “heroes'' but this is where Marvel creates their edge against their competitors. Compared to other studios that create picture-perfect heroes with little to no flaws. They create heroes that are flawed, easy to relate to, and - in the sense, human. A few years later, Marvel released their first movie: Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr. which became a massive success. This led to the creation of the Avengers. The author talks more about the values that these heroes uphold throughout the films shown. He shows that the battle between good and bad isn’t black and white. 

What I liked about this article is the author’s observation that these heroes are fighting themselves. The villains in the Marvel movies seem eerily similar to the heroes as if they are mirrors of each other. They have similar goals, similar values, and often-times similar powers. I think that’s why many people see themselves in these heroes. The hardest battles to fight are the battles with ourselves. Seeing a hero fight with someone who could be another version of themselves is empowering. What’s good about the Marvel movies is that they show the internal battle of these heroes to be “good”. Iron Man could have had control over the world with his weapons and ignored the people that his machines affected. Cap could have been a weaponized super soldier to avenge Bucky. Black Widow could have continued to be a spy. They all could have been villains but they didn’t, because they chose not to. 

Immerwahr ends the article that sums up the entirety of the Marvel Philosophy with a quote from Hank Pym: “You can’t destroy power,” he advises. “All you can do is make sure that it’s in the right hands.” The closing statement to the article is indeed powerful and is relevant to us in today’s world. As elections near, debates on who is “good” or who is “bad” flood news articles and social media feeds. But just like in the article, the lines between good and bad are often blurred. There’s no perfect person or perfect candidate - there’s just a “better” option. It may seem disheartening at times, to think that our country’s fate is in the hands of what many people call the “lesser evil”, but I do think it is better than nothing at all. After all, as shown in the Marvel movies, it’s better to have vigilante heroes than to have none at all. 

The article was overall a good read. It was thought-provoking and quite funny if you understood the references. The article was also cohesive and the thoughts were organized properly. The read was inspiring and eye-opening, I am truly pleased with how the author illustrated the issues found in the Marvel movies that are also prevalent in real life. It provided a fresh take on the Marvel movies and a relevant discussion which makes me want to rewatch the entirety of the Marvel movies all over again. I don’t know which target audience would appreciate the mirror between marvel issues and real-world problems as much as I did, but if I do find them this would definitely be my first recommendation!