Ages of Heroism - The Bronze Age

The Bronze Age of Heroism (1975–1990)   The bright polish of the Silver Age did not shatter so much as it wore away. As the world changed, heroism followed. Government corruption, public scandal, and growing distrust in institutions pulled the masks aside and revealed the harder truths beneath. Heroes and villains alike were no longer distant ideals or colorful menaces—they were human, flawed, and shaped by the same pressures as everyone else.   This era confronted what lay under the costumes and codenames. Heroes bled. They made bad choices. Some broke under the weight of expectation, while others compromised themselves to keep going. Corporate sponsorship crept into heroics, turning symbols into brands and protectors into assets. Public exposure became common, and secret identities proved fragile in a world increasingly hungry for accountability.   Villains, too, changed in the public eye. Once painted in stark moral extremes, many were now understood—if not forgiven—as damaged people, products of trauma, inequality, and systems that failed them. The clean lines of Silver Age morality dulled into something heavier and more complex. The shine faded, replaced by grit, consequence, and uncomfortable honesty. This was the Bronze Age: an era where the world learned that power did not make anyone less human—it only made the cracks easier to see.