Tired of Superman, Batman and the Hulk? Weary of their much vaunted super powers which constantly save the world? Then meet 12-year-old Liam McKenzie, who patrols his suburban neighbourhood as the Masked Avenger — a superhero with powers so potent that even he cannot fully comprehend. With his pet, Richie the Powerbeagle, he protects the people of Franklin Street not only from chaos, mayhem and evil but also low tyre pressure and crooked gates. But can he protect the lovely lady down the lane from sadness too?
Australian author Craig Silvey’s short spiritual novella The Amber Amulet, featuring the pre-pubescent superhero who derives his power from the potential energy all around us — in the minerals of his Amazing Powerbelt and, more importantly, through the kindness we do for others – presents us with this problem. Can this great little kid find or spread enough kindness around him in order to retrieve someone’s lost joy?
Knowingly or unknowingly the premise draws heavily on the philosopher Nietzsche’s concept of the over-human Übermensch who Nietzsche in his 1883 book Thus Spake Zarathustra believed should be the goal for humanity to set for itself. The super person was specially used as a contrast to the other-worldliness of Christianity and organised religions in general which promise escape from the real world by invoking everlasting souls and places of eternal paradise.
The real superman instead – although the great German philosopher never actually worded it so – is the little masked guy with a cape who repairs gates and tries hard to come to terms with grownup grief.