Mighty Crusaders 2 

Stanley "Artgerm" Lau created "Mighty Crusaders 2" in the 21st century as a variant cover for a comic book. Superheroes are never just about good versus evil. They capture a society's anxieties and aspirations. Artgerm’s work plays with the established visual language of superhero comics, heightening the sense of drama and action. The devastation surrounding the Crusaders is a somber backdrop, highlighting the human cost of heroism. The lead character is kneeling; this is not your traditional representation of a superhero. It's emotionally complex. Are they grieving, praying, or simply exhausted? The Mighty Crusaders represent a range of powers and backgrounds, hinting at the diversity within these fictional universes and, by extension, our own. This image invites us to think about who gets to be a hero and what burdens they carry. It reflects our ongoing need for figures who can inspire hope amidst chaos, reminding us of both the power and the responsibility that come with that role.