longer response
@EllMcKenna I think that aspect is more about *superheroes* saving the world than the horrible events. Living through huge world-crushing events is uncomfy enough, but the escapism of what if someone with huge power pushed back, and we've SEEN how huge power in real life (governments, corporations, militaries) doesn't in fact push back.
I feel like that connects up to the much bigger obvious "they've made a b'jillion superhero movies who cares anymore," because that lends more appeal to heroes with more human aspects. With bigger names we've already hit where more human parts of their stories would be earnest and less well known superheroes are... less well known.