When you think about it, superheroes are the modern representation of the heroes found in Persian, Roman, Greek, and Asian mythologies. They are the modern equivalents of Suiran the Fire Maker, Hercules, and Odysseus. They’re found in stories that are meant to primarily excite us and fill us with a feeling of adventure, but they’re also capable of uplifting us.

As great as they are, however, they aren’t the only ones being honored by National Superhero Day—a day that falls on April 28th. Sure, people can celebrate their favorite superheroes on this day, but they can also use this day to celebrate the real heroes that live among us: first responders, police, firefighters, and anyone who works to protect us.

The History of National Superhero Day

National Superhero Day is a holiday that initially began when employees from Marvel Comics went out into the community and started asking children what superpowers they would like to have—if they could have superpowers.

This got people talking about not only the fictional superheroes that they love, such as Batman, Black Panther, Iron Man, Captain America, and others, but also about the real heroes that exist in their lives. The paramedics, first responders, doctors, nurses, and everyone else who puts the health and safety of other people above their own. It’s been celebrated that way ever since.

Fun Facts About Superheroes

Below are some fun facts about the fictional heroes that we all love and appreciate.

• Wolverine was initially supposed to be The Badger.
• The Incredible Hulk was initially supposed to be gray, but the color green looked better on the printed page, so it was used instead.
• Superman was initially supposed to be bald.
• Bruce Wayne is supposed to have an IQ of 192. For comparison, Einstein had an IQ of 160.
• Green Lama was a pulp magazine fictional superhero of the 1940s.

How to Celebrate National Superhero Day

For many people, celebrating this holiday is simply spending some time with their favorite superhero. This might mean watching a superhero movie, reading a comic book, or even dressing up as your favorite hero. Other people might decide to throw a superhero-themed party and invite all of their friends and/or family.

And of course, no holiday would be complete without posting about your involvement on social media. For this holiday, participants can use the hashtag #NationalSuperHeroDay to let everyone know that they’re celebrating this day.

Of course, as we’ve said earlier, people can also spend the day focusing on the real heroes in all of our lives. The people who put their lives on the line for us each and every day. People can celebrate this day by thanking these people for their service or by giving to causes that help those on the front line.

And finally, a person can celebrate this day by being a superhero for their friends and family. Maybe that’s by volunteering for a coworker who needs time off or helping someone stranded on the side of the road change their tire. We can all be heroes on this day, and all throughout the year if we take the time to help those around us.