Homo Superior

In younger years I was an avid reader of Marvel comics:  X-Men and all the Mutant spin-offs mostly, but I followed certain storylines across the entire Marvel universe.  Their stories dealt with all manners of beings: gods, aliens, and humans, and it is the latter that I want to talk about now.

I think there were roughly three divisions of "super-powered" humans in the comics: those who were genetically predisposed to manifesting powers (mutants, like the X-Men); those who were at one time "normal" but obtained powers after an altering phenomenon (consider the Fantastic Four and their cosmic rays); and those who use technology to alter their natural abilities (e.g. Iron Man).

Marvel seemed to apply "Homo Superior" in the context of mutants specifically, for these humans could propagate their genes to the next generation of mutants.  Mutants were treated with suspicion to outright hostility by the non-endowed human race and it is fair to say as a reader that an appealing part of the mutant saga is their struggle to simply fit in.  The X-Men had two fronts of the struggle: normal humans on one side and on the other the bad guy mutants who would abuse their powers and give mutantkind a bad name.  Interestingly, the Fantastic Four didn't have it nearly as tough with their New York neighbors -- nay, they were heroes to the human populace and treated as such.

The third group, the bridgers of the technology-biology divide, are the most provocative to me, and truly where the comics meet the real world.  Were it not for EOTW, transhumanism would really have had a legitimate shot at the title of Homo Superior.

Which brings us to my first classic episode of Star Trek TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before," featuring Lt. Cmdr Gary Mitchell as the guy who has the life-altering event that makes him Starship Enterprise's resident Homo Superior.  Kirk, Spock and the gang must make the tough decision on what to do with Mitchell as his power (and ego) grow exponentially.  Interestingly, this was supposed to be the second pilot episode and did not feature Bones or Uhura yet.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying all of the episodes, and today's batch of four were all good. "The Enemy Within" was made even better with a Papa Gino's Super Steak pizza.



Drops from My 2012 Bucket: Jan. 2, 354 days remaining

Where No Man Has Gone Before (there's a universe in those eyes)
The Naked Time (Sulu the swashbuckler, and Spock gets weepy)
The Enemy Within (my evil twin did it)
Mudd's Women (beauty is just one pill away)

Video Mission Update: 7 / 728 hours = 1%