Comic books are known for many things. Many think of comic book stories merely as tales of costumed heroes fighting crime. At times that may be true, however there are those who see beyond the superficial and have found themselves in these stories, these characters, and these adventures. They see their own ideals and standards reflected by their favorite characters. Here are some quotations from these beloved stories that make us want to walk a little taller, and become a little more like these admirable heroes.
I believe there’s a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride. Even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want most. Even our dreams.
Aunt May – Spider-Man 2
Life doesn’t give us purpose, we give life purpose.
The Flash – Blackest Night
When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth and tell the whole world, ‘No, YOU move.’
Captain America – Amazing Spider-Man #537
Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us. And on my soul I swear…until my dream of a world where dignity, honor, and justice becomes the reality we all share…I’ll never stop fighting. Ever.
Superman – Action Comics #775
We come into the world alone, and we leave the same way. The time we spend in between — time spent alive, sharing, learning together — is all that makes life worth living.
Jean Grey – Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #303
We have a saying, my people. Don’t kill if you can wound, don’t wound if you can subdue, don’t subdue if you can pacify, and don’t raise your hand at all until you’ve first extended it.
Wonder Woman – Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #25
Focus solely on your goal, regardless of your surroundings. Be in the now. Set up and draw. Inhale and prepare for what you are about to do…take responsibility for the outcome, for every shot.
Hawkeye – Hawkeye & Mockingbird Vol. 1 #3
The Future is worth it. All the pain. All the tears. The future is worth the fight.
Martian Manhunter – Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 #1,000,000
No. Not even in the face of Armageddon. Never compromise.
Rorschach – Watchmen
True happiness is found along a middle road. There lies the balance and the harmony — with reason and emotion not at war but hand in hand.
Aquaman – Aquaman Special Vol. 1
If there is nothing but what we make in this world, brothers…let us make good.
Beta Ray Bill – Beta Ray Bill – The Green of Eden Vol. 1
Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea…and ideas are bulletproof.
V – V For Vendetta
A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended.
Batman – The Dark Knight Rises
The door is more than it appears. It separates who you are from who you can be. You do not have to walk through it…you can run.
Franklin Richards – Fantastic Four #23
You’re going to make a difference. A lot of times it won’t be huge, it won’t be visible even. But it will matter just the same.
Commissioner James Gordon – Gotham Central #2
The Nerdd 