Prey for the Hunted

With a new comic book blockbusters coming out every six months it is clear that people are longing for superheros. In todays society we face a variety of villains from terrorists waging jihad, to imperialist countries conducting wars for oil, from Coporate villains profiting from the docile middle class, to our President who has vilified everything from the constitiution to common sense during his 8 year reign. Luckily we have a superhero among us in the form of the infamous "guerilla artist" Banksy .

Banksy has made a career as an artist using both superhero cunning and superhero anonymity. His graffiti career began around 1994 and as his works started gaining attention in the early 2000’s it only served to fueled his daring. Some of Banksy’s capers include painting giant murals on the wall of the west bank separating Israel and Palestine, leaving a manequin dressed as a Guantanamo Prisoner at Disney World, and hanging his own art in both the Tate and the Louvre.

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Banksy’s art has sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction to celebrities and collectors a like, and through it all he has completely protected his identity. (even his agent claims to not know his real identity) There are many theories about Banksy’s origins, it is widely held that he hails from Bristol England and that he is in his mid thirties. Some think his real name is Robin Banks (which is rediculous, just say it out loud) and some speculate that he is not one man but rather a consortium of like minded artists.

Just like some Marvel Comic icon Banksy is filling the shoes of a mondern superhero. He regularly accomplishes the impossible  in both the feats of his art and his evasion of the law and the public in a time of paparazzi and cell phone snapshots. Like a superhero Banksy’s mask of anonymity has caused him to transcend from a man or artist into something more. His superpower is more obvious than his cunning and bravado, it is in his art where he forces us to look, laugh, and be critical of the world we live in. In this day in age that makes him a true superhero.

Recently the Britain’s Daily Mail has been trying to break the story if Banksy’s identity. Banksy’s website has only this comment . What kind of villain wants to strip a superhero of his mask? I say let Banksy keep his mask, God knows we could use some heroes these days.