Review by Steve Bennett

Review

If you're a comic book geek then check your enthusiasm at
the door: Superheroes has a couple of comic related gags but
nothing you haven't heard before. In fact you'll probably find
the opening discussion on Batman's superpowers, or lack thereof,
fairly predictable.

Instead, Superheroes, inspired by the antics of the Fathers4Justice
movement, is about fatherhood, and the extremes one can go to
either be a good father, or avoid responsibility altogether.

Two members of Fairplay 4 Fathers are standing atop a skyscraper,
both dressed as Batman (as neither wanted to be Robin) protesting
for their fatherly rights. Later, a third character is introduced
and they discuss sex, TV, the point of such protest stunt and
exactly why they're dressed as Batman when Bruce Wayne wasn't
exactly a family man, but a playboy millionaire.

Through this dialogue we learn more about these characters,
where they've come from and how they feel: one is desperate to
be a good father, the other is fed up with it. It's an interesting
study on the concept of blame and accountability, showcasing
the flaws in each of the believable characters, who are each
trying to avoid responsibility for anything in their own way.

It's not a laugh-out-loud show, although there are some very
funny moments and even some slapstick towards the end, though
that feels misplaced. Rather, the dialogue seeks to amuse, inform
and make points in equal measure, although the balance isn't
right, as many of the jokes fail to hit the mark or are awkwardly
crowbarred in.

Dean Love

Review date: 1 Jan 2006
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett