In every civilization around the world, you can find heroes who respect to some aspect of cultural heritage or values of that area. For instance, you can't be Persian and not know Rostam, this gigantic war hero who lives about 500 years and wins many battles for his country.
His history is not exactly what you might call glamorous as at one point to save Persia he almost unknowingly kills his own son. I'd say almost because there is this huge argument between the two groups one claiming he didn't and the other saying he knew in his heart but made the sacrifice in order to protect his country.
Leaving those two to the on devices I recently came to some claims picturing Rostam as a DC or Marvel superhero.
So cultural differences being really colorful in here let me dive into this using another fictional character whose actually been turning quite a few number of heads recently including mine and not with a shamed face. If you're thinking of Sandman series you're absolutely right.
So, is Lord Morpheus/Sandman/ Dream of the Endless a superhero? Personally, I believe they are about 5 shared common characteristics between all those people and when I'm done recounting them I'll leave it with you to decide whether Sandman is a superhero or Rostam is one for that matter.
It seems to me that all canon established superheroes, Superman for example, wear a costume to hide their real identity and on such a checklist Lord Morpheus's helm checks out because it hides his face but does Rostam's horned helm work like that or is it more of an introductory factor for him?
Number two, superheroes have civilian identities that their customs hide. Talking about identity and aliases Lord Morpheus has a few, Sandman and Dream of the Endless to name some but are they introduced to hide him in plane broad daylight?
As for Rostam, he has many titles which are they are actually ways of concealing his real name but that runs according to other mythological believes not a matter of civilian identity.
Thirdly, they all have superpowers maybe they are more like being a –pardon my French- f-u-c-k-ing loaded guy, like Batman but they are super anyway and, on that spectrum, it seems they both pass.
Fourth, they appear to fight crimes. That's a very fascinating failure for both characters under question in my opinion because, you guys those superheroes are urban heroes not cultural ones.
And finally, they have to face super-villains. Well, Rostam battles quite impressive number of those from wizards and warlords to demons and kings but the problem Morpheus has with his siblings is of another nature, being more personal rather than socially oriented.
What do you think? Are they superheroes or just heroes of such depth in context that they cannot be restricted?
#superhero
#rostam
#sandman
Superman vs Sandman