The Superheroes and Villains in Comics
Most of the stories depicted in most comics contain an almost matching and heroic storyline. In most cases, the story involves a cruel villain who is intent on causing catastrophic damage but is stopped by an unlikely hero. In most cases, the superhero possesses some supernatural and extraordinary powers, which he uses to subdue the villainous opponent. However, the powers are not easily discernible and the hero appears to be normal and ordinary in the face of the villain and the rest of the people requiring his help.
The hero discovers his strengths and uses them to destroy the villain and overcome a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Likewise, some kids suffer from appearing too modest or even weak, thereby suffering from low self-esteem and suffering in childhood woes. Just like in superhero comics, children judge themselves and their friends based on visible physical attributes. However, every child has some core strengths, which they can use to overcome any childhood situation and thereby enjoy a satisfactory childhood.
Comics offer countless stories that represent unlikely victories where one uses their strengths to overcome seemingly unconquerable challenges and barriers. I learnt the importance of comics and how they can be used to boost self-esteem and confidence in children from an internet journal. Apparently, children can use comics for inspiration, education, and humor. Children suffering from low self-esteem can relate to the heroes depicted in comics to overcome childhood fears and achieve fruitful lives. I applied this knowledge to my nephew’s situation and the results were amazing.
Comics Helped a Frustrated Kid to Be a Man
My nephew is a very interesting kid, who has always been fun and happy when I am around. However, several years ago I went visiting and I noticed that the kid had changed. Although he tried to hide it from me, I noticed that the kid was somehow distracted, sad, and even worried. He was not in high spirits when I told my jokes and he avoided discussing his school life.
My nephew is an only child, whose mother passed when he was only five years old. His father, my brother-in-law, is a very busy man who travels a lot and hence does not interact a lot with the child. I have always tried to be there for the family, especially since my sister passed on. I was worried and I persuaded the kid to open up about his problems. He confided that he was being harassed by some of his classmates but he could not divulge their names.
The bullying was affecting his academic performance, which frustrated him further. I knew that I could not actively intervene in this situation. However, I decided to impart the knowledge I had acquired, regarding the use of comics to boost self-esteem and confidence in children.
Gaining Strength and Confidence from Comics
My nephew is an avid fan of comics just like me. In this light, it was very easy for me to identify and relate some of the super heroes and villains in the comics, which my nephew was conversant with. I spent about two weeks educating my nephew on how he could turn his woes into success by employing some of the ideologies depicted in these comics. Together we identified his strengths and how he could embrace them and use them to subdue his fears and overcome his tormentors.
After the second week, he started concentrating on his musical talent and his passion for creative art. We agreed that he should focus on his strengths, ignore his weaknesses, and use all the resources at his disposal to become a winner like Batman. I left after two weeks but we discussed his progress on the phone regularly. Amazingly, his life changed after he embraced the life of a super hero. He became famous for his art and music and he even drew funny pictures of the worst bullies in class.
The other kids thought that this was cool and he became a class hero. Two years later, my nephew is one of the coolest kids in school and his grades have improved tremendously. Apparently, comics are not only funny but a source of childhood strength.

