“Guardians of Justice” took up the superhero genre and criticized this genre and the real-world thinking created by it.
“Guardians of Justice” is Netflix’s latest dark superhero show that parodies the DC universe. The show begins with the apparent suicide of a Wonderful Man, Superman’s understudy. When questions arise as to whether it was suicide or murder, the Nighthawk and other Guardians of Justice must keep the peace and determine who is responsible for the death of a Wonderful Man.
The show uses its DC superhero cartoons to tell an incredible political story, exploring how heroes can turn into dictators and plunge the world into violence. The show is filled with propaganda imagery and political messages, as well as criticism of the superheroes it uses to tell its story.
Changing world values
“I meant what I said, Rebecca. You keep me honest. Unfortunately, we now live in a world where you are killed for honesty.”
Gone are the days when colorful superheroes helped townspeople get cats out of trees. Batman mainly went through image changes, preferring dark and hard ones. The Guardians of Justice reflected this accordingly, positioning the Hawk Knight as a scary superhero who doesn’t exactly look like a good guy.
To defeat a potentially greater threat, Nighthawk is poised to kill superheroes who support his honesty and value freedom from his totalitarian regime. His willingness to do anything means he quickly turns against his former allies when they resist his villainous actions.
Criticism of the war media
“Fight terrorism with voyeurism. The ratings will be historic.”
In recent decades, American society has turned into a voyeuristic media environment where citizens watch war and terrorism play out on television. This quote criticizes both the consequences of such visibility and media networks that put high ratings above improving society.
Red Talon turns the fight against Anubis into something like a video game that downplays the seriousness of the threat and the on-screen deaths, including his own.
Destruction of good and evil
“These men, women and now children dress up as cartoon characters in a blatant attempt to play and actually capitalize on our innocent childhood fantasies of good and evil.”
Lockwood, Lex Luthor’s interpretation in Guardians of Justice, makes some good points in his critique of superheroes in his world. The world is full of shades of gray, but superheroes make everything seem fresh and dry when it comes to good and evil.
This morally simplistic view of heroes contrasts with a darker and sharper view of superheroes like Peacemaker and The Boys. When the world is dark and complex, but portrayed as simplistic and ambivalent, it’s easy to fall victim to propaganda.
Surprising personal sadness
“You know what I’d think if I married him? I would be special. I would be important. But I wasn’t. I drowned in his shadow.”
The character of Laura Louis is a small glimpse of life in the shadow of the gods. Superman – or, in this case, a Beautiful Person – is impossible to match, and in this case he doesn’t even love her. Laura is put in a terrible position, she can’t be less than perfect, and in return only pressure is put on her.
Even such a relatively simple crime as cheating is more complicated than it seems at first glance, in a world where superheroes marry ordinary people.
Criticism of Batfamily
I mean, how can you trust the opinion of a man who puts a suit on a little boy and lets him fight crime?
The bat family is a beloved part of the DC Comics universe, but it raises many questions about child safety, especially when you consider the tragedy of Jason Todd and the upbringing of Damian Wayne. There are many dangers associated with allowing a teenager (or younger) to become a superhero, and “Speed” covers them here.
Teaching children to be loyal soldiers, largely indifferent to the violence around them, is disturbing and forms an early pattern of the dark side of the Nighthawk. He barely reacts to Red Claw’s death before sending Little Wing to end the conflict with Anubis. What does this say about the parallel between the Batman character and the people who love him so much?
A lesson in marginality and fanaticism
“You’d be surprised how many influential people live their lives in shame.”
One of the biggest surprises in “Guardians of Justice” was that the Wonderful Man was in a relationship with the villain, the Lord of Reason.
While most people would like to believe that modern America will not turn away from a hero because of his sexuality, many influential people hide their differences for fear of losing their status as a result. Becoming idolized is a lot of pressure, and it eventually leads to a Wonderful Person committing suicide.