I know Tony Stark is a rich playboy. I was using him as an example of why Spider-man is not relatable.
Actually Spiderman is very relatable to the original teen readers of the comic books. For the first time, it showed nerd in a whole new light. It showed them that they too could be heroes. It showed that knowledge can be the used to be a hero more than just brute strength. Think about it. Spiderman is always up against some villain who is stronger than he is or has him outclassed and yet he wins? Why? Because Spiderman uses his brain in order to make up for the deficit. So of course every geek and nerd is going to be salivating over him and is going to be inspired by his plight.
He got bitten at 14-16 Can't remember which. He created Web Shooters, Not the natural web stuff he does now but mechanical stuff, at that age as well.
So you are saying that the teenage mind is stunted and can't possibly fathom anything that creative? I mean we have teenagers who have won pullitzers and are considered to be more creative than some of the most sophisticated scientific minds who are three times their age. There is a football player in the NFL right now who was the youngest player ever to be drafted in the NFL draft at the age of 19. And he had his 4 year degree from college as well. How did he do it? he was skipped several grades and excelled very well and ended up graduating with HONORS. And he's a FOOTBALL PLAYER. Does that make HIM not relatable or something to strive for?
What Teenager is that smart and goes to college and still works as a freelance photographer for a rag that seeks to discredit him in his superhero guise? He is further disestablished with contemporary teens and other comic readers because of the fact that the flaws he has as a 30 year old man is the same shit he dealt with as a Teenager.
If anything, this shows that your life can stagnate, even if you are a genius. He sacrifices his own economic placement in order to be a hero. And the irony is that he works to help build up his own name at a place that discredits him so much. It's called adversity. It's something that we all deal with. A daily struggle. The relatability is written all over the wall on this one.
Most people would have grown up by the time they reach 30 in terms of the shit the world gives them and doesn't mope around because something bad happened 15 odd years ago.
Actually you are very wrong here. As a Mental Health Rehab Worker, I deal with people every day who are still trying to deal with the things that happened to them during their childhood years. Everyone has their demons. But Spiderman is more of an inspirational character because he deals with them without letting them cripple him. He seems to be getting more relatable by the minute here.
Tony Stark as an Alchoholic is more relatable because of the fact that it is a failing that a large proportion of the general populace has. His fight with his inner demons and with his own personal ethics, in that he is effectively trying to save the world from himself. He manufactured weapons and he is himself a weapons system that puts most armies to shame. His philosophical stance on life also allows for the creation of things like his armour.
That's like saying that Batman is very relatable because his parents died. Sure Tony Stark is an alcoholic, but how exactly is he dealing with it? has he found his "moment of clarity" where he starts seeking help or treatment? No. Is he suffering from liver disease or facing the same failures that the general public type of alcoholic would have to deal with? No. Does he have to deal with the same consequences? No? Hell, when was the last time that Iron Man was on a bender and crashed into someone, killing an innocent person because of his alcoholism? Never. It aint gonna happen either. I'm sorry but, if anything, Stark is the least relatable figure I could think of. And I fight alcoholism every day! Hell, that's like saying that Captain Morgan should know how I feel because he has a bottle in his hand. Not too realistic is it?
