Objection, On The Grounds of My Fist! Essay -- Comics, Abdul Rafi Ono

Passing the bar is more than a feather in one’s mortarboard – it is a testament to perseverance, ambition, and four years of nosebleeds. This is why for us law students, lawyers are extraordinary. Generalist lawyers in the past, those experts of every field of law, are regarded even more so. But recently, in a speech for UP Law’s 100th Anniversay, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara said that the age of these supermen-lawyers is over – the age of the specialists has come. The trend in Philippine legal profession is towards specialization, fueled by skepticism towards generalists, in our version of â€Å"kiu ĉasas du leporojn, kaptas neniun.† Who chases two jackrabbits catches none. But in comic books, the age of superhero lawyers is hardly over. After all, they started everything. Lawyers in capes and tights have always been present in the medium of comics since its inception. The concept would germinate and persist through the years. The following are only a few of the lawyers who put on capes, wish for luck, and kick some criminal derrià ¨res. The Clock Contrary to popular belief, the first masked superhero is not Superman - it is The Clock. Before he became a vigilante, former District Attorney Brian O’Brien believed in the courts, until it failed him. His decision to become a vigilante was sparked by a frustration with the court system, the flaws of which let criminals operate with impunity. His motivations would be explored by several comic book writers over the years, through several other superheroes, spanning all seven decades of comic book history. The Clock’s disguise was a three-piece suit, and he had a calling card that said, â€Å"The Clock Has Struck.† When DC Comics acquired the rights to the character in 1956, it let the character of... ...ng, superhuman lawyers are an indication of the masses’ admission that the legal system is the high-road, and vigilantism is the entertaining road, albeit the road that should not be taken. It is a confirmation by the people of that heroism is just one of the characteristics that define a member of the bar, literal ass-kicking not included. Works Cited Yap, D.J. "Senator Angara: ‘Superman-lawyer’ doesn’t fly anymore." Inquirer News. 5 Feb. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. Hilyerd, William A. "Hi Superman, I'm a Lawyer: A Guide to Attorneys (And Other Legal Professionals) Portrayed in American Comic Books: 1910-2007." Widener Law Review 15.1 (2009): 159-195. Web. 15 Dec. 2011. Hilyerd’s research is the most helpful and exhaustive review on the topic, providing over 300 notes.