What makes a good superhero?

[alfheim]

Basicaly im trying to make my own MU. I created a character for my MU but I accidently made him seem like a cross between darth vader and luke skywalker I was basicaly basing him on...er...somebody and that was the result.

Anyway just so i dont make the same mistake again if you are creating a superhero what makes a good character?

[imperium]

interesting powers

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

It's all about the character, character comes first before the powers. Because a the character of a hero has a great impact on how those powers are used.

[imperium]

yes but what is a superhero without some sort of power physical or extranormal sometimes its that power that makes or gives the character interest or emotion. i totally agree that it all about the character though.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Well they need a superpower usually, but look at Batman, he has no powers and he's considered one... some are just icons and don't have much depth though, I agree there...

[Psyquis52]

A sense of loss within the character's life.

Loss has a tendency to define the character's persona. It's also a good way to breathe new life into an old character.

Batman - parents, Jason Todd, Barbara Gordon, Dr Leslie, His back (that whole Bane thing) so on and sor forth. Losing defines him.

Punisher - family...and just about every time he gets his butt kicked which is suprisingly often.

Spiderman - Uncle Ben, Gwen Stacy etc...

Superman - Supergirl (at least one of them I think) His entire home planet etc...

Captain America - Bucky, his time...etc..

Namor - a good portion of Atlantis and his wife (I think)

The FF -....nope. Nevermind this was a poor example.

Wolverine - His past, his loves, his family, his dog ...

As you can see there is a standing pattern with these characters of repeated loss. Even in non Marvel/DC characters such loss is proficient.

Spawn - His life

Savage Dragon - His memory

Invincible - His father

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

psyquis52 said:

A sense of loss within the character's life.

Loss has a tendency to define the character's persona. It's also a good way to breathe new life into an old character.

Batman - parents, Jason Todd, Barbara Gordon, Dr Leslie, His back (that whole Bane thing) so on and sor forth. Losing defines him.

Punisher - family...and just about every time he gets his butt kicked which is suprisingly often.

Spiderman - Uncle Ben, Gwen Stacy etc...

Superman - Supergirl (at least one of them I think) His entire home planet etc...

Captain America - Bucky, his time...etc..

Namor - a good portion of Atlantis and his wife (I think)

The FF -....nope. Nevermind this was a poor example.

Wolverine - His past, his loves, his family, his dog ...

As you can see there is a standing pattern with these characters of repeated loss. Even in non Marvel/DC characters such loss is proficient.

Spawn - His life

Savage Dragon - His memory

Invincible - His father

I think it's more or less the overall imperfection of the character, watching them struggle. Superman for the most part has been perfect until recent years, which most people found boring. Spiderman, well, his life sucks, people relate to him because nothing goes his way except for those small mercies we all like to have.

[Psyquis52]

Imperfection eh...

Yeah. But every once in a while it pays off to kill somebody too. #banana#

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

But it can't be cliche'. *coughsuperboycough*

[Psyquis52]

I don't know what you're talking about. #bath2zd#

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Riiight...

[alfheim]

admin said:

I think it's more or less the overall imperfection of the character, watching them struggle. Superman for the most part has been perfect until recent years, which most people found boring. Spiderman, well, his life sucks, people relate to him because nothing goes his way except for those small mercies we all like to have.

Well yeah Captain America is a bit to perfect but in all fairness maybe I was too young to undertsand him. There were some stories in the Avengers were Baron Zemo screwed up Cap pretty bad, but I was too young to appreciate what true loss feels like.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

alfheim said:

admin said:

I think it's more or less the overall imperfection of the character, watching them struggle. Superman for the most part has been perfect until recent years, which most people found boring. Spiderman, well, his life sucks, people relate to him because nothing goes his way except for those small mercies we all like to have.

Well yeah Captain America is a bit to perfect but in all fairness maybe I was too young to undertsand him. There were some stories in the Avengers were Baron Zemo screwed up Cap pretty bad, but I was too young to appreciate what true loss feels like.

They've tried to give him some depth, but yes he does have the Superman aura about him in many aspects.

[imperium]

Hulk

[Dreampanther]

Read David Gemmell

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

imperium said:

Hulk

Go on...

[EsteemedLeader©]

Hulk sucks so badly.

And I think that although Cap started off with that Superman persona, he's taken a very different path. He's much more renegade.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

esteemedleader said:

Hulk sucks so badly.

And I think that although Cap started off with that Superman persona, he's taken a very different path. He's much more renegade.

And old.

[newjak]

To be honest there are many things that can define a hero

Loss(Self Pain of some kind) , imperfection(Whether it be physical or social or emtional), just the willingness to help people.

This last one often gets overlooked in today's word because for some reason we need people to be mortal down to our level so we can relate but often it is the exact opposite when people are asked to describe what a good hero is to them.

Most people instead of saying loss or pain often use these words:
Caring
Honest
A Good Person
Trustworthy
Helpful
This little saying is probably one of the most emtional impactful ones I generally hear:
The willingness to do the right thing no matter the circumstance simply because it is the right thing to do.

People want mortal heros but then again many people want Iconic Heros as well.

Basically I like to catorgize the first group as the everyday hero. These are the people who if they could be normal would be but only act unless a very powerful event compels them to.

The next group I like to clasify as the Firefighter group. What is the number one answer why FFs do what they do. The asnwer is they simply like helping people and doing good. These people are idols people we all wish we could be even as adults.

Ask many people both child and adult alike who if they could be any hero which would they be. Most will say Superman others will say Captain America. The point is that most of the times people wish to be the second why because deep down that is who we all want to be the guy who is just doing good because he wants to do good. People also like the second group because alot of time the first can be realted to Villains as most Villains have a traumtic event that makes them into what they are.

Nowadays people like to ignore the second group most of the time and focus too much on the first reasoning which I think is rediculus.

One other thing I would like to point out is most if not all heros who start off in the first group eventually will go to the second group.

A perfect example of this is Spiderman. Everyone likes to talk about how they relate to him and his everyday woes and talk about Uncle Ben. While he did originally get into this because of this accident over the years if you notice they have moved him away from someone who simply does it because of one loss to someone who does it because it is the right thing to do. even his famous quote is directly related to this.
"With great power comes great responsibility"
Basically saying you should do good simply because you have the power to do so.

So what makes ahero I think depends more on his ability to tap into that little thing inside of us all that wants to be the hero the good guy not because of kool powers but because deep down we wnat to do good if for ntohing more than it makes the world a better place.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

newjak said:

To be honest there are many things that can define a hero

Loss(Self Pain of some kind) , imperfection(Whether it be physical or social or emtional), just the willingness to help people.

This last one often gets overlooked in today's word because for some reason we need people to be mortal down to our level so we can relate but often it is the exact opposite when people are asked to describe what a good hero is to them.

Most people instead of saying loss or pain often use these words:
Caring
Honest
A Good Person
Trustworthy
Helpful
This little saying is probably one of the most emtional impactful ones I generally hear:
The willingness to do the right thing no matter the circumstance simply because it is the right thing to do.

People want mortal heros but then again many people want Iconic Heros as well.

Basically I like to catorgize the first group as the everyday hero. These are the people who if they could be normal would be but only act unless a very powerful event compels them to.

The next group I like to clasify as the Firefighter group. What is the number one answer why FFs do what they do. The asnwer is they simply like helping people and doing good. These people are idols people we all wish we could be even as adults.

Ask many people both child and adult alike who if they could be any hero which would they be. Most will say Superman others will say Captain America. The point is that most of the times people wish to be the second why because deep down that is who we all want to be the guy who is just doing good because he wants to do good. People also like the second group because alot of time the first can be realted to Villains as most Villains have a traumtic event that makes them into what they are.

Nowadays people like to ignore the second group most of the time and focus too much on the first reasoning which I think is rediculus.

One other thing I would like to point out is most if not all heros who start off in the first group eventually will go to the second group.

A perfect example of this is Spiderman. Everyone likes to talk about how they relate to him and his everyday woes and talk about Uncle Ben. While he did originally get into this because of this accident over the years if you notice they have moved him away from someone who simply does it because of one loss to someone who does it because it is the right thing to do. even his famous quote is directly related to this.
"With great power comes great responsibility"
Basically saying you should do good simply because you have the power to do so.

So what makes ahero I think depends more on his ability to tap into that little thing inside of us all that wants to be the hero the good guy not because of kool powers but because deep down we wnat to do good if for ntohing more than it makes the world a better place.

And it doesn't hurt to have struggle from time to time either. Internal and external. Though I meant more of internal in this case.

[Dreampanther]

I prefer characters who are bad and tricked into doing good. That way you don't feel too bad if something terrible happens to them!

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

dreampanther said:

I prefer characters who are bad and tricked into doing good. That way you don't feel too bad if something terrible happens to them!

What is your favorite example of this instance? ;D

[JACK-2]

Nov 27, 2006 11:43:43 GMT -5 The Big Daddy C-Master said:

It's all about the character, character comes first before the powers. Because a the character of a hero has a great impact on how those powers are used.

This.

That's why batman is more interesting than say Superman despite having no powers.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Feb 28, 2014 15:36:40 GMT -5 JACK-2 said:

Nov 27, 2006 11:43:43 GMT -5 The Big Daddy C-Master said:

It's all about the character, character comes first before the powers. Because a the character of a hero has a great impact on how those powers are used.

This.

That's why batman is more interesting than say Superman despite having no powers.

Wow, old post. But yea, most people prefer Batman over Superman because they see him as more flawed and interesting (plus the wish fulfillment). Superman was a hero in an era where the boy scout thing worked, no people like edgy and flawed stuff. Spider-Man is a good example of a relateable character who is popular. Sometimes they go too far off and try to saturate the hell out of the "badass" thing, look at the 90's for example.