In the interests of a blog im about to write, can anyone think of any comic books or comic book characters, now or ever which have dealt with mental illness in a way that you consider to be. Being a superhero can likely strain your mental health. The temptation to examine the human condition through characters who think or behave in ways we find strange is a common theme in literature, and yet more and more of society is waking up to the fact that frivolous depictions of mental illness can have serious realworld implications. Kids and teens work out depression, anxiety, and more in these compelling stories. Batman villains psychoanalyzed by mental health experts. Superheroes and supervillains with mental disorders florida. The book itself does not have to be about mental illness, but can have a characters with a disorder. Apr 10, 2017 this only reinforces the false stigma that those with powers, in fact those suffering from mental illness, are not to be trusted, thankfully, comic book movies often show the hero as a mirror image, a good compared to the bad, and the hero using a combination of natural skills and super powered abilities to overcome the villain with allies. Living with mental illness is difficult for anyone, but consider dealing with those. Mar 06, 2017 on its face, mental illness is nothing to laugh about, but illustrator gemma correll has used her biting wit as a coping mechanism for her own depression and anxiety.
In her article for, katy waldman examines the strangely prevalent link. Comic book superhero helps fight stigma surrounding mental. Psychiatrists diagnose gothams villains with mental illnesses. Dec 09, 20 tony kinnard holds a page of a comic book on wednesday, nov. Aura is a sharp departure from the kinds of stereotypes that you mention. This list is for the best characters, not the best books. So there are six comic book characters who are way more messed up than you and i, and if they cant get mental health right with all their power and money, then what hope do we have.
Superheroes and villains who are mentally ill screenrant. There are quite a lot of spoilers in this list, so beware. Childrens comic cartoon characters with psychological disorders. Characters like spider man, daredevil, and moon knight have all walked this path. Many heroes in recent comic book movie history have battled with mental health issues. Movies that feature characters dealing with mental illness. Alexis has bipolar disorder and has survived a suicide attempt. Batman is one of the most popular superheroes of all time. Superheroes who have depression or any other mental illness. In some of his tamer forms, such as professor hulk, it seems as though this mental illness goes away. However, the popular format of the webcomic, a regularly updated strip or series online usually for free, merges the two concepts more often than notand frequently does so with great success. Since his debut in new avengers, comic book readers have watched. In addition, a villain who is perfectly meaningful, coherent, and stable can still be qualified as mentally ill if. Mental illness and comic books may seem like two completely different subjects.
Humor is a powerful way to deal with the barbs of life. Movies that feature characters dealing with mental illness talking to kids about depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues can be tough. The importance of addressing trauma and mental health in. This really depends on how you want to parse out what counts as mental illness in comic books. What are the top 10 mentally ill dc and marvel comic. Pozios, a lifelong comic book reader, told psychiatric news that comic books have never been more mainstream, serving as a primary source of content for multibillion dollar film franchises, tv series, and video game adaptations. They live with conditions that cause them the same kind of pain as real people. The importance of addressing trauma and mental health in comics. Mania nominally a comic book exploration of the negative stigma of mental illness from a.
These are the top 10 most accurate depictions of mental illness in movies and tv. It is a common weakness to characters in comic books and a somewhat poorly used trope. Sep 19, 2017 while most of these characters have suffered from mental illness at some point in their career, the struggle for antman, aka giant man, aka yellowjacket, aka goliath, has been ongoing. Munchausen by proxy is considered mental illness manifested as a form of child abuse, where parents fake or exaggerate symptoms of illness or causes real symptoms to make it look as if. The book consists of interviews with four survivors of nearfatal suicide attempts. Identifying mental illness in comic books requires notice of a characters behavior as it.
Far too many writers have used this harley method of writing characters with mental illnesses. Graphic novel takes readers on reallife adventures in schizophrenia. Many superheroes owe their entire careers to traumatic events, but what would happen if you took that trauma away. How superheroes help us understand mental illnesses. You must be out of your mind if you are able to kill somebody or if you think that you should rule the world. Click on any image to see links to licensing and related cartoons. Many comic books that involve a psychological disorder are written by an artist who can relate to these issues on a personal level. To most fans, comics are a continuous source of entertainment that provide an escape from todays daily stressors. We all love cartoons, particularly for the goofy characters who behave in crazy, whacky ways. Comic book raises awareness of mental illness ht health. Both types of anxiety involve worry that is out of proportion to the actual. We hope that the audience gains a new appreciation of the batman characters through our examination of them, pozios said, adding that by using comic characters to deconstruct myths about serial killers, he and his colleagues aim to destigmatize mental health treatment and clear the connection or lack thereof between mental disorders and. Mental illness is an area frequently misunderstood by authors and readers alike. But with so many heroes battling deranged supervillains, the lines can.
Mental health awareness through superheroes comicbook debate. Fact most superheroes are disturbed individuals who suffering from some type ptsd red sonja, narcissistic personality disorder thor, obsessive compulsive disorder. Frank millers born again is not only one of the greatest daredevil stories ever written, but it was also probably the most personal. Psychiatrists call out dc on depictions of mentally ill. Marvel comics is a prime example of bringing awareness and ending the stigma of mental illness through their superheroes. Andrea letamendi uses batman characters to help people learn about mental illnesses. This only reinforces the false stigma that those with powers, in fact those suffering from mental illness, are not to be trusted, thankfully, comic book movies often show the hero as a mirror image, a good compared to the bad, and the hero using a combination of natural skills and super powered abilities to overcome the villain with allies. He is working with the national alliance on mental illness of racine county on a mental illness comic book to raise awareness about mental illness. Nov 02, 2017 the first week of october is recognized as mental health awareness week, while in november we recognize international survivors of suicide loss day. Best mentally ill characters this list is for the best characters, not the best books. Why everyone should be reading comic books longtime comic book fans are well aware of the benefits that come from reading comics. Psychology disorders mental disorders hulk art red hulk comic book collection book writer bruce banner classic cartoons comics top 10 mental disorders of cartoon characters top 10 cartoon psychiatric disorders. What are the top 10 mentally ill dc and marvel comic characters. Jan 03, 2019 one faction of viewers feels that, by using the effect of going crazy to convey the terrors of the beasts, the film is stigmatizing anyone with any mental illness and turning them into a monster.
Top 10 most accurate depictions of mental illness in. To mark world mental health day, we revisit a number of comics and graphic novels that touch directly or tangentially on the subject of mental health. Captain marvel was much on my mind last year as i wrote my latest book. Aug 16, 2016 superhero therapy refers to incorporating characters from geek culture, including superheroes and other characters from comic books, as well as characters from fantasy, science fiction, and video games into evidencebased therapy such as cognitivebehavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. For this list of films that depict mental illness, we tried to find films that were engaging, at least somewhat realistic in their approach to presenting the experience of mental illness, and did not demonize or negatively portray without reason those who have mental illnesses. Tony kinnard holds a page of a comic book on wednesday, nov. But if we try to think what it might be like for a real person to have their traits, it might not look like a good idea. She believes identifying with fictional characters can help us in mental health recovery. Mental illness is a mental or behavioral pattern which causes strife or anguish to ones life. Superheroes and mental illness why our stories matter the. The mental health comics and cartoons collected from thirtyfive of the best cartoonists. Worse, many have been shamed for struggling with depression and other forms of. Graphic novels about mental illness graphic novels, comic books, etc. In just about every major run on the character, there is at least some allusion to the character s mental illness.
Most people have not been taught to name and understand their mental health experiences. Living with mental illness is a daily struggle for many people and comic book superheroes are a way of escaping our everyday lives. Whether its in a comic book or a movie, most everyone has seen a superhero. Jul 22, 2016 mental illness and comic books may seem like two completely different subjects. He appears as the lead protagonist of the comic book series. If you can, please add the name of the character youve voted for in the why you added this book section. How is mental illness represented in superhero comics.
Comics and graphic novels for world mental health day. Top 10 most accurate depictions of mental illness in movies. Illustrator draws humorous comics about her mental illness. Jan 14, 2015 psychiatrists diagnose gothams villains with mental illnesses. Common sense media editors help you choose books that feature characters dealing with mental illness. Historically, comics have been incredibly bad in their treatment. On its face, mental illness is nothing to laugh about, but illustrator gemma correll has used her biting wit as a coping mechanism for her own depression and anxiety. These movies feature characters living and often struggling with mental illness and can help kids understand more about this often sensitive subject. The character does not have to be officially diagnosed as mentally ill or go to therapy in the book to qualify. The mental health comics and cartoons the cartoonist group. Six comic book characters who suffer from a mental illness.
They take the form of relatable mental health comics and illustrations that allow us to commiserate with correll, as well as many others who share her condition. The first week of october is recognized as mental health awareness week, while in november we recognize international survivors of suicide loss day. She also has migraine headaches not uncommon in people with bipolar disorder with visual aura although. Greg rucka, who returned to writing the character for dc rebirth, has. Pages in category mental illness in fiction the following 5 pages are in this category, out of 5 total. Finding resilience in pain asked this, as well as questions about how mental health is portrayed in comics and how comics can be used in the treatment of mental illness.
A c2e2 panel, the value of mental illness in comics. Second, i wanted to portray a comic book character with a mental illness who. No speculative diagnoses here, the characters were all given bipolar disorder by their creators. Netflixs bird box draws criticism over portrayal of.
She was the first character i read that had some type of mental illness and it. Comics offer their readers parallel worlds, where despite the odds the protagonists of the stories may face, good always. Apr 26, 2017 many superheroes owe their entire careers to traumatic events, but what would happen if you took that trauma away. And, since ive loved comic books for as long as i can remember. So i have compiled a list of five recent uk books which accurately portray characters coping with various mental illness and mental health issues and suicide loss. Illustrator draws humorous comics about her mental illness to. Books that feature characters dealing with mental illness.
Worse, many have been shamed for struggling with depression and other forms of mental health disorders, she told the mighty, adding. These are available to license for books, magazines, merchandise, newsletters, presentations and websites. Some supers arent villains or heroes but they have mental illnesses as well. This category is for villains who have any type of psychological disorder and can be deemed as mentally unstable or villains suffering from mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, dissociative identity disorder dissociative villains, schizophrenia and psychosis. Nine graphic novels and comic books about mental health. There are three main characters, and at least two of them have confirmed mental illnesses. The 20 best movies about mental illness that get it right.
Mental illness, superheroes, and stereotypes vasilis pozios on. Oct 14, 2015 mental illness is an area frequently misunderstood by authors and readers alike. Why marvel comics revealed a superhero to be bipolar. Why marvel comics revealed a superhero to be bipolar comic books can help to enlighten and educate readers about mental illness. By showing us heroes with these problems, marvel did a great. Most mental illnesses were previously met with a good amount of. Superheroes and mental illness why our stories matter. Theyre content with simply depicting certain characteristics and symptoms of the disease in order to inform the audience of a given characters motivations and pathos with the sole purpose of progressing the story.
The best writers on the book seem to be the ones who put poor matt through the most pain. Aura aura is the superhero alias of a young woman named alexis pope. Mira, one of the main characters, has depression, and the book shows her having good days and bad days. Graphic novel takes readers on reallife adventures in. Occasionally, were offered a glimmer of hope for perceptions of mental health in the media. These include behavioral or chemical dysfunction, abnormal disorders, intense fears, chemical dependency and, natural to comics, exposure to substances which affect a persons thought process and actions. Netflixs bird box draws criticism over portrayal of mental. Pages in category marvel comics characters who have mental powers the following 35 pages are in this category, out of 35 total. However, comic books often portray villains as not only evil and violent, but as having a mental illness, pozios noted. But help is available and there are many types of therapies and. The best movies about mental illness treat the issue with respect heres our top picks this world mental health day. Characters like spiderman, daredevil, and moon knight have all walked this path. Lets face it, mental health isnt the most inviting subject when it comes to.
Whatever their backstory, superhero comics often do a good job portraying the. One faction of viewers feels that, by using the effect of going crazy to convey the terrors of the beasts, the film is stigmatizing anyone with any mental illness and turning them into a monster. Clinical psychologist, podcaster and comiccon panelist dr. Why reading comic books benefits your mental health shrink tank. Jul 07, 2018 occasionally, were offered a glimmer of hope for perceptions of mental health in the media. Their characters experience the same kinds of trauma and tragedy many of us experience.