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Fantasy has existed long before J.R.R Tolkein wrote his famous trilogy, in the form of Babylonian epics (Gilgamesh) classic Greek Myth (the Minotaur, Olympian Gods, and Hercules) fairy tales and fables (the Brother's Grimm and Aesop's Fables) and oral tradition (aboriginal lore and legends like Ulagaru and the First People) so why is it then that we (I mean of course, us fantasy-loving geeks) start and end every discussion of the "genre" with the esteemed Mr. Tolkein? He is a cornerstone of modern fantasy, and is aptly credited with the creation, catalogue, and definition of many fantasy staples like elves, orcs, dwarves, and wizards, but while he did innovate the genre (some argue he created it) I say he merely modernized antiquated archetypes into pallatable characters. He popularized a hodge podge of myth, legend, and fantasy into his great compendium of Middle Earth. He packaged fantasy and brought it to the masses.

I state this history of the origins of fantasy in order to address it's future as a literary style, for without a knowledge of its lengthy journey to the popular status it enjoys today, we as readers might misunderstand its current standing as a genre.

Think about the length of time, geography, and culture that fantasy tropes like the rebellious God (Melkor and Sauron of the Valar, Ouranos, Kronos, Zues, Odin, and Loki) the outmatched yet powerful hero (Gilgamesh, Hercules, Bilbo, Aragorn) and the hapless, jolly fools (hobbits, elves, nymphs, fairies) have all had to go through to arrive, preserved in their present state. The trail of that narrative stretches to the dimly lit caves of Homo Sapien in the dawn of spoken word whispered to keep spirits and predators away.

The point however, is not that these archetypes have merely survived, but that they have prospered, profligated, and perforated every facet of our culture. One must only look to the recent explosion of comic book titles not only in print, but in film that have erupted over the past few years to see that fantasy is alive and well. Classics are being unearthed and exciting new epics like Marvel's Civil War and Secret Invasion are taking new readers by surprise. Fantasy characters like Superman, Spider Man, The Hulk, X-Men, and many others that draw on the supernatural have easily been accepted right alongside characters that draw their fantasy from the elements of science like Ironman, War Machine, Henry Pym, and others to the point where many origin stories for fantastic

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