The Charles Atlas Methods start the trends of marketing fitness, so of course comics have to parody them. It’s certainly enticing to look like a superhero, especially since Hollywood adopts the methods for their leading roles. But what happens when the fantasy gets to the heads of people who complete it? Grant Morrison explores the concept two-fold with his creation Flex Mentallo. Then there’s Luther Strode where being a “real man” begins to look like a cult. Especially since people like to twist changes for ambiguity. Fortunately, instead of mocking fitness, these series reaffirm the aspirational qualities of the methods.
What The Heck Are The Charles Atlas Methods?
Technically there’s really only one method, the Dynamic Tension. Angelo Siciliano developed this method after researching health and strength training. As a poor, young, scrawny man unable to attend the YMCA, he researched various health and strength training exercises. The end result is a series of twelve exercises and one perpetual exercise to build muscle mass. With this transformation comes the new identity of Charles Atlas, because a catchy name sells books to teach others. To top it all off, his book’s ads are comic strips that look like an abridged superhero origin story. Considering Chuck kept his physique well into his 70s, he might as well have been a superhero.
Flex Mentallo: Post-Method Humility
So let’s now look at Flex Mentallo, the Hero of the Beach debuting in Morrison’s Doom Patrol. Flex’s origins are very much based on the Dynamic Tension ads. But where Flex differentiates himself is what happens after the workouts. No, I don’t mean the absurd Muscle Mystery powers that can warp reality. I’m talking about Flex’s attitude after his old identity Mac gains such a body and power. Mac liked the attention he got from others, to the point of losing interest in his girlfriend. Becoming Flex, he lives the life of a superhero with complete with team-ups. Everything seems to go pretty well especially when he marries his love, Dolores. That is until it becomes apparent that despite the pleasurable life, Flex finds himself aimless.
Despite whatever magic Flex gains from Muscle Mystery and superhero life, this lack of purpose leads to obsession. When one of his friends disappears after uncovering a conspiracy, Flex tries to solve the problem. Only he tries to do so in such a bizarrely oversimplified fashion, he loses touch with the world around him. Dolores ends up separating from him because of this. That’s not even the worst of it, apparently the secret is so traumatizing Flex had to forget about it for a while.
Muscle Mystery Didn’t Need To Be Solved
Until he’s forced to confront the problem again, where Flex discovers he is a literal power fantasy. He is actually a comic book character created by the psychic Wally Sage. Despite these revelations, Flex honors his dying creator by living his best life as a superhero. Something that ultimately continues in Morrison’s solo outing with Flex.
Flex Mentallo is about challenging the narrative of power fantasies, especially regarding superheroes. The series antagonist spends the series criticizing the more campy aspects of Flex and his friends. Can you imagine working out so much but never reaching the same levels of fitness as Schwarzenegger? That’s not exactly realistic. Let alone getting power from vibrating muscle tendons.
But that’s just it, power fantasies don’t have to be toxic or out of reach dreams. They can serve as inspirations for people going through some hard times. While Flex wasn’t able to save his Wally Sage, the idea of Flex keeps another Wally from committing suicide. Aspirational figures, even imaginary ones, don’t have to be realistic; they just have to enjoy life as much as everyone else with confidence.
Luther Strode: A Legendary Legacy of A Strange Talent
With that creative high dying down, comes a deconstruction-reconstruction of the methods. Luther Strode is the archetypical character of the Dynamic Tension, a weakling who needs to turn his life around. With no father figure and a bully keeping him from really living, Luther discovers the Hercules Method. Only here’s the kicker, the Luther Strode saga revolves around combining the concept of Spider-Man with slashers.
In a twisted parody of the Charles Atlas Methods, the Hercules Method gives the user a body they completely control. Meaning instead of just becoming a beefcake, a person can catch bullets with their muscles. Well among other abilities like slowing aging down to the point where they can live thousands of years. The only apparent downside is that it also makes people susceptible to their bloodlust. Even worse, there is a cult of people who pass the method down and encourage people to act like serial killers. It’s fitting that they’re lead by none other than the “first murderer,” Cain.
Subverting The Methods
As for Luther, he’s an exception to the rule after going through the rough. In the “Strange Talent” chapter, it’s apparent Luther finds himself scared of what he can do. Sure while his friend Pete encourages him to be a superhero, Luther doesn’t really find any enjoyment in it. If anything, Luther would rather spend time with his love interest Petra. But the cult would have none of it and are ready to take everything Luther loves to mold him to their image.
With the deaths of his best friend and mother, the “Legend” chapter focuses on Luther as an aimless vigilante. It’s only when the cult seek to keep him under control does Luther come across Petra again. Petra herself is aimless from Luther’s influence, so she seeks purpose in looking for Luther. It’s only thanks to Petra that Luther is able to gain control of his bloodlust.
Finally, the “Legacy” chapter goes into Luther’s journey to prune the Hercules Method of its toxicity. Because when the pinnacle of this method is supposedly Cain, a guy who makes his own rules just to exploit the loopholes, that’s a problem. There are benefits to the method, Luther’s willingness to talk people down is proof of how it can be better. Even Petra who never did the method itself, found confidence thanks to the aspirational example Luther provides.
The Unwritten Charles Atlas Methods
This is what ties everything back to the original Charles Atlas Methods. The purpose of building muscle was never to fight back against bullies, it was to build confidence. Besides, Angelo didn’t build the physical method himself, he stood on the shoulders of other bodybuilders like Bernarr MacFadden. It’s that communication and appreciation of everybody who helped him that made Charles so iconic.
Heck, dynamic tension didn’t even start with Charles. It’s been around in a number of martial arts circles. Even the late Bruce Lee did the method, complete with lessons of humility and self-improvement. Because the example of Charles Atlas is its journey, not the destination. This journey through the funny pages means to live in the moment, enjoy yourself in the absurd, and above all else to not just be the best version of yourself but allow others to do the same.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always, remember to look between the panels.