Heroes

For most of an entire summer vacation, I was brave Green Lantern. Green outfit, big green ring. I dutifully memorized and faithfully invoked the ring's secret oath every day, recharging its consequential power over uncool evil doers and such. Many innocent lives were saved around the apartments, my neighbors were safe and grateful. 

But, I also had a close second DC Comics hero, favorite for a reason. Batman, unique among his mighty colleagues, had no superpowers! Along with his partner Robin, the Caped Crusader won his Gotham City missions without any magic, metaphysics, or otherworld tricks. And, as every DC diehard knows, Green Lantern and Batman just didn't really get along, although they did team up together many times.

So, what did Batman have? Six major attributes taken to the very highest  levels of accomplishment: 

- Martial arts expertise.

- Gadgets and high-tech. 

- Stealth and surveillance.

- Strategic thinking.

- Superior intellect.

- Athleticism and agility.

Winning against bad actors and characters out of nightmares without the benefit of a myriad of superpowers, that's the hardest, Batman believed. Who'd argue? 

Liked all the DC Comics crew, and somehow never bought a single Marvel or Spiderman comic book. At eight, you pick heroes carefully, "Never go with the crowd, just make up your own mind about everything." Some older kid told me once - he sure wasn't wrong.