November 23rd, 2019
Kid at the party tonight: “Hey, um, Spider-Man. I have a question for you. Can I ask you something?”
Me: “Anything. What’s up, buddy?”
Kid: “I was playing your game at home and I was wondering… What happened to your parents?”
Me: “Oh. Hm… my parents were in a plane crash when I was little. I live with my aunt now.”
Kid: “Oh. I didn’t know. I am so sorry, Spider-Man. That must really suck. I’m sorry.”
Me: (Choking back tears behind the mask) “That’s okay, bud. That means a lot.”
Superheroes teach empathy. Too many adults are mostly concerned with things that don’t matter, like money or material things, to consider important stuff like this. In fact, a lot of adults, even in the creative world, have gone so far as to ridicule and dismiss superhero culture altogether.
But not me.
I’m lucky enough that I get to frequently work and be around people who are inspired every day — to be kind, to be courageous, to fight for what they believe in and to be compassionate towards others.
Don’t listen to those adults who try to make you and what you love less than what it is.
Because those kind of people never ask about Spider-Man’s parents.
The Den 