Issue #0 – Origin Story

Amazing Fantasy #15. A young Peter Parker gets bitten by a radioactive spider and becomes the Amazing Spider-man. Action Comics #1 young Kal-El is sent to Earth after his planet was destroyed and discovered super abilities that would make him known as Superman. Detective Comics #27, billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne begins fighting crime in the underbelly of Gotham City as Batman. Origin stories that changed and created the comic book industry but rather defined a definitive change in the world of storytelling. The genesis of these characters have influenced many generations at this point, and it’s important to remember where these stories start from. How important an origin story truly can be. Not just for the character but for the individual who will read it. Because everyone has their story. Everyone has their turning point where they will decide to follow a path and take their first steps. And while not everyone will end up flying, swinging webs or punching bad guys, their origins define who they are, who they used to be, and who they choose to be. And at the base of it all, not everyone understands how important and powerful their origin can be.

The first step is always terrifying. In fact, I have a problem with taking that first step. It’s daunting, it’s challenging and to begin a journey is to also see the possibility of falling. But taking that first step can be life-changing. It’s as powerful as the spider-bite that gave Peter Parker his powers. The power of choice, and the journey ahead changes who we are and begins a new era for all of us. And sometimes that first step is more of a misstep, we don’t figure out exactly why and how we get to our destination, or rather our destiny but we take it anyway. Sometimes that’s just enough. Take the first step.

The truth is, this is my first step. My first step towards something that I have always believed to be impossible. How would you feel if you had always believed that you were meant  for something but you never took your shot, step, chance or whatever you want to call it. It’s scary. This whole idea of me writing this blog post is very scary. I word-vomited all these thoughts on Origin stories because I want this to be my origin story. I want this to be where it all changes. My superhero moment finally. It’s awkward, but that’s the point isn’t it? Spider-man wasn’t immediately a superhero, he stumbled to find his way. I guess this is that. The stumble.

Stumbling can be hard on the soul. In a time where our brains are wired to react to instant gratification, it’s difficult for us to take a moment and enjoy the journey. I’ve found many roadblocks along the way to get to this point. I wanted this to be an informative, and well thought out essay about the history of origin stories and maybe one day I will get to research that more thoroughly. But I can’t force myself to get to that point. Leaving this out in its rawest form is the greatest expression of my true self. Writing the thoughts on how I want my story to be similar to those heroes that I have always looked up to. But when we all look back, where we struggled, we can see where we were, and where we ended. The ultimate journey. That’s the power of an origin story, to remind ourselves we will grow. Once we choose to let go, and rise.

So while you read this, maybe consider this origin  the genesis of a broader story. A story I get to share with the world as I learn my way around all of this. I write because I care, I write my thoughts out in the world, so that someone may find it one day and say “ I want today to be my origin story.”