On Remembrance Sunday, it's perhaps apt to talk about heroes. However, rather than soldiers who fought and died that we might retain our independence, I want to talk about super heroes. You see, I heard a sad tale recently about a hero who had been through tough times and had turned to the dark side.

This poignant story was told eloquently by Mister Ozzy Osbourne in the Black Sabbath song called 'Iron Man'. The story of this once-proud super hero was told as follows:

'He was turned to steel / in the great magnetic field / where he traveled time / for the future of mankind.

Nobody wants him / he just stares at the world / planning his vengeance / that he wil soon unfold.'

Now, I'm not really familiar with the Iron Man super hero story but it strikes me that we've got to a bad place if once revered heroes of our times have been discarded and made bitter by the hurtful apathy that they now encounter. The key question, though, is are there more embittered once-were-super heroes out there? Is Superman now living in a council tenement, with no central heating and walls that run with damp? His once dark hair now grey and those trademark muscles now atrophied and his fingers riddled with arthritis. Maybe next door Popeye is in the final stages of dementia, with a bent-backed Olive Oil having to provide loving around-the-clock care.

Of course, those depictions of Superman and Popeye are purely fictional. We all know that Superman is still pretty much in his prime, appearing on television frequently, and that Popeye's healthy diet (mainly spinach) means that he is still fighting fit. Anyway, he divorced from Olive and moved in with Betty Boo. 

Still, the point is valid, I think. There must be plenty of other super heroes that time has forgotten. Wonder Woman possibly? The Six Million Dollar Man? Inflation has reduced him significantly, me thinks? 

With Children in Need day coming up, our thoughts will be turning to how we can raise money to help disadvantaged kids across the globe. Surely, though, it's time for a Super Heroes in Need day? Joanathan Ross is free, apparently, to present it and, if nothing else, it would be a great excuse to dress up in super hero costumes! Come on, let's make it happen - Bananaman and his friends need you!