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Classical vs. Modern Hero’s Classical heroes, both in their characteristics and their missions, heavily influence contemporary superheroes. Like most modern works of literature, comics are also influenced by some of the greatest sagas ever told. Many comic authors base their hero’s and villains off of ancient Greek and Roman stories. The stories are very easy to adapt to modern circumstances because they all deal with ageless lessons. Although the ancient authors created their characters hundreds of years ago, they were used to teach the people of ancient Greek and Rome the same lessons that are needed even today, such as humility and duty to the state. One of the most famous Greek mythological characters is Achilles. His character has directly influenced the creation of multiple contemporary characters. However, the most famous hero that he influenced is Superman, the most commonly known comic book hero. They both have many similarities, from the very obvious weaknesses to the minutest details, such as their archrivals. However, the similarities that are deeper than the visual observations are the ones that have made both characters timeless. Through their adventures, both Achilles and Superman are able to demonstrate some of the most sought after characters, which can also be seen in almost every successful human being. Both fictional characters also have a few, but fatal weaknesses, which leads to their constant struggle to stay in power. At the most basic level of comparison, both Achilles and Superman are very similar in their near perfect anatomical construction. Achilles is at the peak of human fitness, with the added mythological power of being invincible, except in his heel. Similarly, Superman is more perfect than any human being can be, due to his birth parents being form a different planet. Although he looks human, Superman is actually Kryptonian, allowing him to fly, have laser vision, and be invincible