A superhero is a fictional character with special powers.Since the first Superman story was written in the USA in 1938,superheroes have appeared in various comic books around the world.But more recently they have become better known as film characters.

Although superhero powers vary widely,superhuman strength and the ability to fly are common.Some superheroes do not have special powers but have developed other important abilities.In order to protect friends and family,a superhero's identity is normally kept secret,which often means superheroes have complicated double life.

There have been successful superheroes in countries other than the USA.Examples include Cybersix from Argentina and the heroes of AK Comics from Egypt.Japan is the only country that has created as many superhero characters as the USA.However,most Japanese superheroes are short-lived.While American entertainment companies reinvent superheroes,hoping they will stay popular,Japanese companies frequently introduce new characters.