A Question for Our Times: Is Santa Claus a Superhero?
By Dan BrownHe has abilities that can only be described as superpowerful, among them omnipresence and the gift of being able to see into the human heart. Yet the question remains: Is Santa Claus a superhero? Let’s talk this one out, OK?So, for starters, to be a superhero in the same vein as Superman or Wolverine you need to have a secret origin that explains how you became a champion of everything good, right?But Santa was never bitten by a radioactive spider, nor did he come to Earth as a refugee from a distant planet before he started delivering presents to the world’s children.It’s said Santa was inspired by a real-life person, Saint Nicholas, but that’s not the same thing as having a hidden origin story. Santa has always been . . . Santa, even if how he is depicted changes over time. (I believe the Santa Clause movies explain how an ordinary person, Tim Allen, becomes Santa, but I haven’t seen those films.) This one would seem to go in the “against” column.What about another hallmark of our favourite heroes, the flashy costume?Yes, Santa definitely has a signature look, which we are told owes a lot to the artists employed by the advertising department at Coca-Cola. In North America, he is clad in red with white trim and even though he’s roly-poly, this doesn’t slow him down on Christmas Eve. There’s also the endless white beard.Red caps with white pom-pom have even become known as “Santa hats,” so I would say he checks the “costume” box.What about the other accoutrements of superheroes?Sidekicks? Check. (He’s got the elves and Mrs. Claus.) Cool vehicle to zoom around in? Check. (His magical sleigh.) Hideout? Check. (His North Pole abode.)He even has a special vulnerability, akin to the Man of Steel’s kryptonite allergy. What is it? You’ll recall from the song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer how Santa’s operation grinds to a halt when he is blocked in by . . . fog. He is helpless to dispel the cloudy banks or see through them, and is only able to make his deliveries that night with the help of the outcast reindeer’s unusual snout. So checkmark again.Superhero fans know that the best ones always have a sworn enemy, for example Lex Luthor or the Joker or Doctor Octopus or Doctor Doom. Does Santa have a nemesis? I suppose you could cite the Grinch, but that character doesn’t ever interact with Santa, just the Whos of Whoville, in the original book.We’ll put Santa down as lacking a foe dedicated to foiling his mission. No checkmark.But now for perhaps the most telling question. Does Santa have superpowers?Oh my yes. First of all, he appears to be immortal, like Wolvie. Santa is always frozen at the same age, and is impervious to sickness and disease. Santa never tires, so he has an unlimited supply of energy.And what else would explain how he can deliver all those toys in a matter of a few hours? Either he’s omnipresent, or he has super-speed along the same lines as the Flash. Plus there’s another part to his powers. As we’ve always been told, Santa Claus can tell if a human being has been naughty or nice throughout the year. He has that in common with the pulp hero the Shadow, who could see what evil lurks in the hearts of men.Santa doesn’t really punish the bad ones as, say, the Punisher or Judge Dredd, but he does reward those who make the right choices. (I don’t think Santa’s standard of moral conduct is written down anywhere.)But I know what you’re thinking: Just because he has superpowers, that doesn’t automatically make him a superhero.Santa could be something else. He could be a deity (like Thor), a mutant, or even a force of nature. Just because he’s really, really powerful doesn’t mean he necessarily qualifies.But there is one more argument for Santa Claus being considered a superhero: He has appeared in many comic books!!What say you? I would love to hear your arguments for and against in the comment box below.And while I’m at it, I hope you all have a peaceful festive season!Dan Brown has covered pop culture for more than 31 years as a journalist and also moderates L.A. Mood’s monthly graphic-novel group.
