Death Wish 3: Hear Me Out... It's a Proto-Superhero Movie?

Okay, so I just rewatched Death Wish 3 and I know, I know, it's... not high art. But something struck me this time. Paul Kersey in this flick isn't just some grieving architect anymore. He's practically a freaking superhero. Think about it: he's got the tragic backstory (dead family, duh), the righteous anger fueling his actions, and he's taking on an entire army of street thugs. Plus, that freakin' .475 Wildey Magnum? That's his Bat-Signal, baby. I mean, even the police are like, "Yo, you're basically Judge Dredd, but less robo-cop-y. Help us!" And let's be real, Manny the Gang Leader is a pretty textbook supervillain. The dude's got zero moral compass, a posse of goons, and just wants to watch the world burn... or at least rob it blind. The whole neighborhood rallies around Kersey like they're waiting for Captain America to show up. The ending shootout? It's pure comic book action. Grenades, rocket launchers, Kersey mowing down dudes left and right – it's all there! It's like if Frank Miller directed a Charles Bronson movie. Maybe I'm reaching here, but I think Death Wish 3, underneath all the cheese and questionable '80s fashion, is actually a really early example of the kind of grounded superhero stories we see today. It’s not The Dark Knight, obviously, but it's got that "one man against the criminal underworld" vibe dialed up to eleven. I can't be alone on this, right? Anyone else see the resemblance or am I just sniffing too much Wildey Magnum fumes? Also, gotta love the exchange where the police chief literally says "We've got a warrant... for all of them!" Like, c'mon now. It's so over the top it comes back around to being brilliant. He's handing Kersey a license to thrill! That line alone makes the whole thing worth watching. Just sayin'.