Superheroes come in all shapes and sizes. 

I think that is explored in this issue of Town & Country News, where we examine an artist’s interpretation of a local superhero gracing our front page, look at our past to find the heroes that have emerged from this area … and even find the region’s own “Batmobile.”

Superheroes have jumped off the pages of comic books and onto the big screen in cinemas for years now. 

Before that, they were told in legends by the likes of the ancient Greeks. 

Is there a Superman without Hercules and Zeus? Aquaman without Poseidon, or Batman without Hades? They all share similar tales.

It has been nearly 3,000 years since the ancient Greeks, and humankind, has been fascinated by superheroes, even if they go by different names. 

The heroes explored in comics, TV, movies, and Greek mythology all give us a sense of hope. 

A hope for a better future. 

A hope that we can become better people than who we are today. 

It’s a message we need more than ever, as the world seems to be more polarized than ever, and inequality continues to rise. 

In a world where people on the political stage seem ripped from a comic book villain’s storyline, we need heroes.

We need someone to look up to with morals and values. 

If we look back at our past here in the Grande Prairie region, we find heroes that exist within our community. 

On pages 8 and 9 (Town & Country News July 10, 2025) you can read about those people from our history who saved lives with out-of-this-world machines, women who pioneered medicine when there was no one else, those who preserved history, and botanists who changed the world of flowers. 

Today, many heroes live among us, and if you go out into the community, you will see their familiar faces everywhere.

They do not have capes or superhuman strength, but Superman’s greatest feat was never his strength, flight, laser eyes, or X-ray vision. 

It was always his compassion. His ability to see the good in everyone and look at things from their perspective. Something you too can do. 

In All-Star Superman, there is a scene where Superman sees a person who has lost all hope and is on the edge of a building. He then tells them, “It’s never as bad as it seems. You’re much stronger than you think you are,” and then hugs the person. 

You don’t need to wear a cape to be a hero. 

Sometimes it’s just being there for someone, calling a friend in need, giving that person who needs a hug a hug, or smiling at a stranger can change that person’s day. 

I hope you take this as a reminder to be a superhero.