Super Santa: an hero we deserve

When you think of superheroes, the image that comes to mind is probably a muscular man in a skin-tight suit with a cape flowing behind them as they soar through the sky. But what if I told you that there was a superhero who didn't quite fit that mold? What if I told you that there was a hero who was a fat old man wearing a blue Santa Claus costume? That's right, I'm talking about Super Santa, the star of Stefano Labbia's graphic novel of the same name!

The story of Super Santa follows the exploits of James Arthur Spades, a young and small American employee with tawny hair and full of freckles on his face. He lives in Boston and nobody notices James despite being intelligent, purposeful, and insightful. Surrounded by average men and women, in the office where he work, he is, for that reason, clearly the totem pole… That is, until one night during a snowstorm, James finds himself in the right place at the right time to become a superhero.

James has just left the office, where he had been working late yet again on his demanding direct superior's speeches and tasks, when he comes across two criminals intent on beating an old-fashioned man in an alley. James is hesitant at first, but he overcomes his fear and throws himself against the two, remedying a series of blows, punches, and kicks. Before he takes a dive, luckily, James is noticed by a local PCSO who quickly comes to the scene and puts the two criminals to flight.

Having ascertained the vital conditions of the two men on the ground, the PCSO throws himself in pursuit of the two criminals, leaving James and the old man alone. James, battered, drags himself up to the man who is barely breathing. The young man tries to give him soothing words, but the elderly man, with a last gesture, grabs the boy’s hand trembling. As soon as he touches James, the union of the two hands begins to sparkle for a few moments, between James's dismay and the old man's relief.

“Do the right thing…” are the elder’s last words before he dies. The ambulance takes away the body of the old man who, however, mysteriously disappears amid the dismay of the medical staff during the journey. James discovers after that meeting that, when he witnesses an injustice or someone in his surroundings is in danger, he can turn into Super Santa.

Super Santa is a muscly old man wearing a blue Santa Claus costume. He fights crime with the gifts of flight, super strength, and invulnerability (even if he feels pain!). With the appearance of the super-bearded blue-dressed hero in the American town, crime is on the rise, devising new ways to steal and commit crime.

At first glance, Super Santa may seem like an unconventional superhero. But in reality, he embodies the spirit of what makes superheroes great. He may not have bulging muscles or flashy gadgets, but what he has is something even more important: a sense of justice and a desire to help those in need.

Plus, let's be honest, there's something inherently charming about a superhero with a jolly belly and a big white beard. Super Santa is a hero that's all about spreading joy and fighting crime while doing it. He's the kind of hero that kids can look up to and aspire to be like. And even though he may not fit the traditional superhero mold, Super Santa proves that heroes can come in all shapes and sizes.

In conclusion, Stefano Labbia's Super Santa is a refreshing take on the superhero genre. It shows that heroes can come from anywhere, even a small and unassuming employee like James Arthur Spades. And when the world needs it most, there's a hero who's ready to save the day with a jolly belly and a blue Santa Claus costume. Super Santa may not be the hero we expected, but he's the hero we need!