HULK AND HULKIER

If our heroes represent our greatest aspirations, then villains represent our greatest fears. What does it say about us that two of the biggest superhero blockbusters from this summer, Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk, have arch-nemeses who are essentially bigger, better versions of the hero?

Is it latent fears of Asia taking over as the world's superpower? I mean, Japan does take all our technology and makes it better (although usually smaller). Are we perhaps scared that, although we use technology for good, those who would thwart us might use it for evil? Are we talking about the bomb here?

Is it the "size matters" thing? Are we feeling morally small right now? Or is it just about our dicks? No matter how big, there's always someone bigger; there's always a tighter vagina.

Who could make Iron Man limp except bigger Iron Man? Who could deflate the Hulk except Bigger Hulk? Okay, his name is officially "The Abomination," (?), a lame appellation to strike fear into summer popcorn-and-Pepsi-guzzlers, but I guess it's better than the villain in the last Hulk movie, the malevolent "Absorbing Man!"

Whatever happened to ideological enemies? Chaos versus control? Public good versus personal good? From now on, is it going to be the middleweight versus the heavyweight?

What is he peepin' at? Photo courtesy Universal Pictures.