As a fan of comic books I find parallels in certain story arcs with fatherhood. It can be stories from Superman to the Avengers. While I was re-reading the original Secret Wars series one of the covers to me embodies what it takes to be a good dad. It was the one with the Hulk holding up a cave from crushing his fellow superheroes. That cover got me thinking about certain comic book covers that embody fatherhood. There are plenty out there, but here are a few. Let me know in the comment section which ones that embody fatherhood or parenting to you.
Secret Wars #4 Cover That Embodies Fatherhood
The Secret Wars series has some iconic covers. One of course is the one with Spider-Man wearing the black suit. For me, the one with the Hulk is just as iconic. What draws me to this one is how it can be connected to parenting. At times it can feel as a parent like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. When I was kid reading this series I just saw the Hulk saving his friends. Now as a dad, I see more in that image. I see someone trying to do whatever they can to save others. Just like the Hulk, a loving parent will move mountains to make sure their family is safe.
Action Comis #217
This is the first of two comic book covers from Superman. With everything that Superman stands for, you know he has all the qualities you look for in a great dad. This cover harkens to the famous scene in Field of Dreams where a son asks his dad to play catch. In this case throwing a boulder back and forth instead of baseball seems right.
She-Hulk #4
My kids and I really enjoyed the She-Hulk series on Disney+. While I was doing research for this article I came across this cover. I have not read this comic, but the cover speaks volumes to me about the dangers that dads can do about not being able to see their kids for who they are and as well as their potential. As parents, we can sometimes stunt our kids’ growth by not letting them solve their own problems. We can lose sight of their strengths. This cover is a reminder to make sure you look at all different angles as a parent to make sure you are letting your child grow and learn at their own pace.
Action Comics #391
We all have been let down by our kids. They have done something wrong or even lied to us. It hurts. I wouldn’t go so far as to take away their own identity or in this case their superpowers. It does teach us parents the lesson of walking that line of disciplining your kids. You don’t want to be too soft or too harsh when it comes to disciplining your kids. If you go too far in either direction it can be harmful for both you and your child.