Superhero Aftermath and its Portrayals

 

Disclaimer: There will be some spoilers, so it’s best to have seen Avengers, Man of Steel, and Dredd in order to avoid them

One thing most superhero films seem to have in common is that, by their conclusion, there is going to be a lot property damage and wreckage. In The Avengers (2012), most of New York is greatly bruised, with smashed buildings, broken streets, and more – but you never really pay attention to or much care for how badly the city is devastated by the battle between the Chitauri and the Avengers. You see both the heroes and villains smash into offices and possible residential areas, but you’re more focused on the action than the destruction and possible loss of human life. A previous scene shows Captain America organizing a citywide evacuation with the aid of the NYPD, informing viewers that innocent bystanders will be removed from harm’s way. This gives audiences the opportunity to watch the Hulk smash flying alien Leviathans into skyscrapers without worrying if a family was crushed in the process.

Then there’s Man of Steel (2013), a movie that, more or less, hurts its suspension of disbelief with its aftermath. Once Superman and Zod’s men start to fight in Smallville, they collide into convenience stores, gas stations and restaurants, all of which are shown with civilians still present inside. Once the fight moves to Metropolis, a Kryptonian doomsday machine topples entire skyscrapers. Even after Superman stops Zod’s machine and duels Zod directly, swarms of civilians continue to crowd the streets as debris from the buildings rains down around them. At the conclusion of Man of Steel, you’re left wondering: just how many innocent lives were lost in the aftermath of that battle? This question is never answered in the film. No news stories address this loss of life, the military never confronts Superman, and it’s of no consequence to the other supporting characters.

But then there’s Dredd, a 2012 adaptation of 2000 AD’s comic book anti-hero Judge Dredd. One of the things that elevates Dredd above its peers is the way it handles aftermath. Wherein The Avengers the destruction is an afterthought and Man of Steel simply ignores its carnage, Dredd examines every little detail from destruction of property to loss of life. The film takes time to show you every bullet hole, explosive residue and bloody smatter that previously formed a human being. The reason for this is that Dredd is aware of its aftermath and using it to make a point. While we like to think the heroes saved the day after a long hard fight, we forget that there are consequences to their actions. Dredd understands this, emphasizing that in Judge Dredd’s line of work, innocent lives will be lost, and they will be lost in the name of justice. 

At the beginning of the film where Judge Dredd gets into a car chase with drug dealers at a shopping center, civilians and criminals alike are both blasted to pieces. When the scene finally ends, you see every bullet-riddled corpse, smear of blood and piece of rubble left behind. The most gruesome aftermath comes when Ma-Ma, the antagonist of Dredd, starts firing a Gatling gun at Dredd and his partner Anderson, breaking concrete, tearing holes in the walls, and ripping residents of the complex to shreds. Once the commotion has calmed, we’re left with a body count alongside the wreckage, with the film fully acknowledging just how many families and lives were lost in the battle. What is usually left in the back of our minds is brought to the forefront of our thoughts, making us question how much fun we should be getting out of all this destruction.