The Standard

With that opening line, Ashley pokes another hole in the superhero myth, and one Gilbert doesn’t really have an answer for.  If you have a magic potion that gives someone superpowers, is the right use for that really to put on a costume and fight crime rather than figuring out a way to apply it in the healthcare profession?  It’s a variation on the “Why doesn’t Bruce Wayne use all his vast resources to help urban regeneration in Gotham as opposed to using it to fund beating up criminals as Batman?” argument.  Of course, ultimately, the answer is that becoming a hero is the more narratively satisfying road to take in drama, though of course the characters can’t say that.

Looking back at the series now, I think Gilbert’s line in that last panel is one of my favourite Gilbert moments in the series.  It just sums up his personality in a nutshell.

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