Ben 10: A Hero Without Cape Or Mask
Ben 10. If you’ve been a kid with a television set and a connection to Cartoon Network, then that name needs no definition. As for the others, Ben 10 was an animated cartoon show about a 10 year old kid, his cousin and their Grandpa’s crazy adventures throughout the country in a motorhome. But, wait it gets even better, with the onset of a mystic watch and aliens from outer space and a creepy looking octopus-guy, who wants it real bad. With story that spanned over a decade, Benjamin Kirby Tennyson came into my life way before the mainstream guys with capes and masks. And now that I look back, there was something different about this 10-year-old kid from Bellwood, and perhaps that difference was what made him special.
How It All Began
With a little luck and and some curiosity, Ben finds The Omnitrix, which gave him the ability to transform into 10 different alien lifeforms and he reacts the way you know one will, he freaks out. But, he is soon pushed into action, with the arrival of a giant robot who’s hurting innocent people. And, without losing even a moment, Ben knows what he needs to do. He uses his transformations to save the people from this threat.
And perhaps this was one of the things that differentiated Ben from others: he didn’t need no close one to die in front of his eyes or say some catchy last words to inspire him to become something greater than himself. Ben simply knew, he had to help the innocents.
And this aspect of Ben was seen throughout the series. Even when Ben would lose The Omnitrix, thereby becoming a normal kid, he would face the threats head-on, relying solely on his sheer will and intelligence.
Ben wasn’t a hero because he had The Omnitrix, he got The Omnitirx because he was a hero.
A kid battling a freaky clown, named Zombozo, a mad scientist who keeps mutating animals into bizarre forms, alien mummies and werewolves or simply catching armed robbers- who doesn’t want that? Created by Man of Action, the series went an instant hit. The thing that made Ben wasn’t his alien transformations, sure they’re cool, but no. What made Ben were his similarities to any kid of his age- he doesn’t like his cousin, Gwen, thinks his Grandpa Max is too old school, wants to just for once break rules and get what he wants, he makes paper-planes, doesn’t like homework, hell, he even gets bullied at school. He ain’t no, grown-up mind with all sorted values, he is just the same as us and that’s what made Ben. Remember the time when we would draw our arm and call “Hero time!”? And riding in the good ol’ Rust Bucket, with his family, Ben evolves, learns and with him so do we, the important lessons of life. The importance of family, friends, a sense of responsibility and accountability for our actions. Every story brought with it a lesson to be learnt, a value to cherished, and of course an evil alien to hit. But, like all good stories, this trip across the country came to an end when the vacations were over. And Ben had to reluctantly return to his normal life: not using his watch and facing the bullying of Cash. And, lo, Vilgax, the ugly octopus-guy finally arrives at Earth, for a final battle to get The Omnitrix, and ofcourse Ben wins, with entire Tennyson family coming together as one to Ben’s aid. That brings the story to a close, until we get a overhaul, or what feels like one.
A New Chapter Begins
With a revamped art-style, a new set of aliens and Ben and Gwen in their teens, we set out again on a new journey, with Ben 10: Alien force. And, this is where things took on the wrong highway. The first few seasons of the revamp showed Ben face much more real world consequences of his life, but the Ben we knew, faced them head-on, be it his secret leaking out in public, his love life with Julie or tying up with old Kevin and he came out more sorted, a better Ben Tennyson, until the show-runners gave it a soft-retouch to make Ben fall all the way back to the reckless 10-year-old version of his. Anyways, with Alien Force the stakes were drastically raised: we face Dragons, we become knights, we face The High-Breed Invasion, even an alter-ego and at long last we find Grandpa Max, who was lost in the Null-void at the beginning of the series. And through the show, we learn that the world isn’t just black and white, there are greys too. A once evil Kevin-11, can be a hero too, a seemingly good Morning Star can have his secret plans too.
Then came the Ben 10: Ultimate Alien picking up from where Ben was left with a The Omnitrix destroyed and an even more powerful device: The Ultimatrix, which allowed Ben’s exsisting aliens upgrade to their ‘Ultimate forms.’ Some were nice, actually useful upgrades, others well not so much. Oh! And Gwen got a new dress. Haha so thoughtful of the Network. Apart from this, I wouldn’t go beyond calling it a splash of paint over the Alien Force, only to boost the merchandise sales. And, apparently Big Chill went from an ice-breathing alien to what, ice flame breathing alien? Whatever that was supposed to mean. Anyways, when things didn’t work, we got one more overhaul.
A Final Piece in the Puzzle
Enter Ben 10: Omniverse. Fast forward a few years we see, Gwen goes on to grab a scholarship to continue her studies in college, Kevin tags along, leaving Ben heartbroken. Grandpa Max, finds Ben another partner from the Plumber Academy and the duo work their way through new aliens. This series, with a yet another reformed art-style and new aliens seemed to rectify the mistakes of it’s predecessor. An apparent mixture of the classic Ben 10 and the one in green jacket, this Ben worked better with the audience, however it came at the cost of Ben’s character development, with him slipping every now-and-then to his young cocky self.
With occasional cameos of the old squad, the show primarily focused on Ben and Rook, his new partner, a spitting image of Ben and Gwen, from the classic. This time though Ben is facing even higher stakes. There’s even a hunter and his dog wearing a Nemetrix: an Omnitrix copy with all the natural predators of Ben’s aliens. The series even, at several instances, brings us classic Ben Tennyson back with the help of Professor Paradox, going all the way to Ben going back in time to save the universe at it’s birth- The Big Bang, the final episode of the series and of Ben 10’s entire story that began all the way back from the classics.
I know, it’s hard to connect all the dots on the thread that had spawned so long. So, hit the play button below, where the folks at The Ink Tank, take you on a recap through Ben’s entire story- all the 4 series and multiple animation films, all forming a part of the big picture here. You know, until the very end, I, for one, did not realize that it was one big story spanning over years.
Last Words
To conclude, yes, the show faced it’s own share of highs and lows, and the Network’s cruel decisions. We can go on and on about what they could have done like Ben joining the Plumber Academy, or moving on to become the Ben 10,000. As the folks at The Ink Tank said:
“People may argue that once a character has reached his limits in terms of power their stories are rendered obsolete and there’s nowhere else to go. I would argue that if your stories are solely based on how powerful your hero must be to defeat the villain then you’re not telling a good story.”
But you wouldn’t disagree that the show made up a significant part in our childhood. From, tuning in at 6pm (IST) to the Scholastic books and action figures, and stickers, there’s something we all love about that kid and cherish, even something as simple as grouping up with your friends for a “Hero Time!” cheer. Something, I don’t think you’d find in the likes of those mainstream heroes. Ultimately I believe, like me, through this article, you too, relived that cherished period of your childhood. So, in the honor of that time, say it with me, “It’s Hero Time!”
