A Deep Dive Into the Minds of Your Favorite Marvel Characters

The connection you feel with your favorite Marvel characters may be deeper than you realize. In the latest episode of GQ’s Mental Breakdown, psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr. Eric Bender will examine mental health in the Marvel universe.

Take for example Thor: after failing to defeat Thanos in Thor: Ragnarok, Dr. Bender explains, Thor faced a sense of shame and loss that led to him gaining a few pounds during his time. Avengers: Endgame. Luckily, his friends are always there to help him out of his downward spiral. Dr Bender said: “The friends – these Avengers – were a source of support for him. “They came to him. They want him to know that they care about him and they want to recruit him back.” As Thor deals with food and alcohol, Deadpool turns to the comedy genre. “He [Deadpool] Dr. Bender said. “He is someone who is dealing with that reality and he is probably pushing it away and not even dealing with it. Don’t even want to think about it.” According to Dr. Bender, Deadpool’s love of breaking the fourth wall is a technique he uses to escape his own reality, toying with and ignoring his true feelings.

Iron Man is another Marvel character who, in Dr. Bender’s reading, has to face a lot of evil within. Dr Bender said: “Iron Man has been through a lot of trauma. “Often people who have had a lot of trauma try not to think about it – and the way they try not to think about it is by using alcohol, by using drugs,” Dr. Bender explains. “In Tony’s case, he’s an alcoholic.” Elsewhere in the clip, Dr. Bender delves into Norman Osborn’s possible struggles with personality disorder, and Loki’s complicated relationship with his father. Marvel’s movie stars may be superheroes – but like the rest of us, they could benefit from a therapy session or two.