In the thick of the buzzing jungle of DC Comics' vast world pops out a character named Everyman – a shape-shifter with as many faces as a politician in an election year. Who, you ask, could spark as much controversy and raise eyebrows more than adding a new character to the DC universe? Created by the storyteller master, Jimmy Palmiotti, and the milestone thinker, Justin Gray, Everyman walked into the comic world back in 2006 as part of the '52' storyline. This storyline took place, not in the dark, brooding alleys of Gotham nor in the shining city of Metropolis, but in a world out of sync, marking a year without Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman. Sounds like chaos, doesn’t it?
Now, let's pick apart this conservative all-star piece by piece. First, let's talk about his powers. Everyman's skills revolve around impersonation, but not in the cheap Halloween kind of way. Charles Edmond, the man behind the Everyman persona, can consume a piece of someone's DNA and transform into that person at will. Of course, this has a time limit and a distance restriction, but it taps into something every conservative will appreciate—the idea that you can change temporarily, but your true self always remains core to your identity. Personal responsibility, anyone?
And how does he fit into the larger DC Comics world, you might ask? Well, Everyman has his origin story interwoven with a shady character known as Lex Luthor—who else? Because where there's a plot to overthrow moral order, change power dynamics, or cause a shift in the world cosmic scale, Lex is usually prowling around the shadows. Lex, in this instance, is doling out superpowers like party favors in the hopes of engineering his 'Everyman' project—hence the namesake. It's a grand attempt to level the playing field by giving extraordinary abilities to ordinary people, a classic 'on paper' concept that, in execution, frays into chaos. You can almost hear the pantheon of ultra-liberal dreamers gasping at this capitalist venture, daring to wrest control from the esteemed and privileged super-being cartel.
Everyman's tale is grim and tragic, which aligns perfectly with themes that resonate with the conservative outlook on the lessons of life. Imagine designing a character destined to betray, deceive, and eventually succumb to his flaws. It doesn't get more relatable than a fall from grace, right? His life, marked by betrayal of former allies and inevitable downfall, echoes the sentiments of personal responsibility shouldered by individuals every day. Nothing is free; every power has its price, its temptation, and subsequently, its consequence.
The 2006 storyline of '52' was monumental as it set the stage for a twelve-month comic event. It played out in a weekly series that spelled intrigue for readers, leaving them at the edge of their metaphorical seats every week. Everyman’s not just a bystander or a backdrop character. He’s a reminder of the betrayal and madness that unregulated moral relativism can spiral into—a stark contrast to traditional values that emphasize integrity, discipline, and respect for boundaries.
Now, let us marinate on the delicious irony of superhero mimicry—a stark reminder of the pitfalls of collectivism. At his core, Charles Evans (Everyman's real identity) exemplifies the notion of a convoluted utopia stalling at the precipice of dystopia. When given gifts of power, he falls into temptation, much like many who receive handouts without earning them—an allegorical nod to the debilitating impacts of liberal welfare states. The comparison here could not be more scorching hot.
And what’s better than a character who is abandoned by both worlds—human and superhuman alike? Why, it’s a prime example of why selective moral judgments will force individuals to the fringes of society. In the grand narrative of heroism and ideals, Everyman spiraled. Broken by the very powers granted to him by Luthor, Charles Evans dies at the hands of Infinity, Inc., leaving a trail of shattered illusions behind him. His prowess squandered, misused due to reliance on the superficial and unsustainable masks of deceit during his lifetime.
In the realm of DC Comics, Everyman stands as a testimony to what happens when innate human greed overtakes discipline, just as inviting as a moral parable found within the Holy Bible. Whether misused powers or abandoned wholesomeness, the course of the story keeps the message clear—success from handouts without earning is merely fiction, much like Everyman.
In tracking the narrative soap opera of Everyman, the political undercurrents within his story offer more than just ink on paper or frames within a comic book. They paint a picture of challenge, stating a position that will have different camps clambering for identity. But, for those who hold onto the rigid clarity of conservative values, they’ll find Everyman’s storyline a cautionary tale embedded deep within the graphic majesty of DC Comics. Perhaps it's time to reckon with the deeper biases in play and derive valuable lessons beyond the fiction, a message that surely echoes within our current political climate.