Here’s why we like some superheroes more than others

commentary Maybe it's easier to be chosen than worthy Senior Culture Critic Published August 16, 2026 12:00PM (EDT) Tom Holland in "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" (Sony Pictures) A version of this story first appeared in The Swell, Salon's culture newsletter. Sign up for early access to articles like this, for more culture that's made to last. Back in 2007, long before the MasterClass franchise was a thing, Jane Espenson, one of television’s most respected and imaginative writers, wrote an essay/tutorial for The New Republic that breaks down the embraceable genre formula she calls the Chosen One. It’s a catchy idea that explains why figures like Peter Parker, Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter have a lasting hold on their fans in ways that other heroes don’t. Although each occupies a distinctly s