About a month ago a friend, whom I shall refer to as Dragnet, posted on G+ on the subject of what makes a hero into a superhero.
Actually, to get the story in its entirety, Dragnet's post was: "What's the first thing to pop into your head when I say "female super hero"? Be honest! "
Actually, to get the story in its entirety, Dragnet's post was: "What's the first thing to pop into your head when I say "female super hero"? Be honest! "
Some names were floated and the nature of the female superhero discussed, and then this happened:
The story you are about to hear 14 Aug 2014
High leg leotards and ridiculous proportions. :(
The first superheroes I think of are probably Spider-Girl, Elektra, Black Widow & Mockingbird - though actually I think the only one of those that's actually a super is Spider-Girl. +Only the names - you know Elektra better than me - does she count as one? I'm assuming she doesn't.
This sparked a new debate, which brought up the following opinions:
Only the names 14 Aug 2014
+The story you are about to hear - I wouldn't call her a "super" hero, no; in the same way as Black Widow or Hawkeye, she's just well trained.
To protect the innocent 14 Aug 2014
+The story you are about to hear <Elektra> can psychically poses people and communicate telepathically. if she doesn't count as super, because they are learnt skills, then neither does Doctor Strange.
Only the names 14 Aug 2014
But [Iron Man's] arc reactor is technology he built - it's not the intervention of some magical, mystical* or alien force.
*or supernatural, mutation-based etc
Gangbusters Presents 14 Aug 2014
+The story you are about to hear So, technological intervention doesn't count, but alien does? How does Superman (a perfectly ordinary Kryptonian) compare then to, say, Rocket Raccoon (altered by alien technology)?
Does the "super" in "superhero" not refer to their heroics? The exaggerated nature of their actions?
This then proceeded to a more general debate on another thread, launched by another friend, whom we shall call Fargo:
"What changes a character from a hero to a superhero?"
Which brought out opinions like these:
The events depicted 14 Aug 2014
Having capabilities that more normal people do not have.
Its why heroes are so much cooler ;)
Only the Names 14 Aug 2014
In my opinion, a "super" hero is one that has been somehow changed from the "normal" to give them extra capabilities. So, being a mutant, being bitten by a radioactive spider, super solider serum, that sort of thing.
...
Dr Strange is probably the weirdest one - I haven't really read him much, so I don't know if he really is just a normal human who has learnt magic (thus hero), or if something gave him that ability, like a pact or something (thus superhero)
Minnesota 1987 14 Aug 2014
Hero: ordinary person doing extraordinary things - fireman, policeman etc.
Superhero: protagonist appearing in the comic genre which is the primary output of Marvel & DC, commonly known as 'superhero comics'. There's no difference in my mind between Superman & Black Widow, as they both are protagonists in the same genre.
Request of the survivors 14 Aug 2014
A definition of "superhero" that excludes Batman, one of the five pillars of the form, must needs be inaccurate. Obviously, there isn't a completely accurate definition, but I think a superhero is an iconic, costumed character who fights evil (usually but not solely crime), usually but not always iconic, costumed crime.
...
it has nothing at all to do with the personal intention of the individual. A cop who goes above and beyond for a moment doesn't become a superhero. A superhero wears a costume or is otherwise visually iconic (like the Hulk, who is obviously recognisable even though he doesn't wear a costume) and usually fights some kind of equally iconic opponent. A superhero also typically possesses some kind of exceptional ability, even if that is explained in mundane terms (like Ted Kord Blue Beetle, who has a bunch of Bond-like gadgets).
Now, clearly a lot of people - not least my main man James 'Gonzo History' Holloway have said a great deal on the subject, but Dragnet did ask me to give my take when I was taking requests for an RPGaDAY topic on a day when I didn't have anything to say about the prompt. I said I'd look at that later, so here I go.
However, having set the scene with other people's thoughts, I'm going to go into this in detail in another post.
The story you are about to hear 14 Aug 2014
High leg leotards and ridiculous proportions. :(
The first superheroes I think of are probably Spider-Girl, Elektra, Black Widow & Mockingbird - though actually I think the only one of those that's actually a super is Spider-Girl. +Only the names - you know Elektra better than me - does she count as one? I'm assuming she doesn't.
This sparked a new debate, which brought up the following opinions:
Only the names 14 Aug 2014
+The story you are about to hear - I wouldn't call her a "super" hero, no; in the same way as Black Widow or Hawkeye, she's just well trained.
To protect the innocent 14 Aug 2014
+The story you are about to hear <Elektra> can psychically poses people and communicate telepathically. if she doesn't count as super, because they are learnt skills, then neither does Doctor Strange.
Only the names 14 Aug 2014
But [Iron Man's] arc reactor is technology he built - it's not the intervention of some magical, mystical* or alien force.
*or supernatural, mutation-based etc
Gangbusters Presents 14 Aug 2014
+The story you are about to hear So, technological intervention doesn't count, but alien does? How does Superman (a perfectly ordinary Kryptonian) compare then to, say, Rocket Raccoon (altered by alien technology)?
Does the "super" in "superhero" not refer to their heroics? The exaggerated nature of their actions?
This then proceeded to a more general debate on another thread, launched by another friend, whom we shall call Fargo:
"What changes a character from a hero to a superhero?"
Which brought out opinions like these:
The events depicted 14 Aug 2014
Having capabilities that more normal people do not have.
Its why heroes are so much cooler ;)
Only the Names 14 Aug 2014
In my opinion, a "super" hero is one that has been somehow changed from the "normal" to give them extra capabilities. So, being a mutant, being bitten by a radioactive spider, super solider serum, that sort of thing.
...
Dr Strange is probably the weirdest one - I haven't really read him much, so I don't know if he really is just a normal human who has learnt magic (thus hero), or if something gave him that ability, like a pact or something (thus superhero)
Minnesota 1987 14 Aug 2014
Hero: ordinary person doing extraordinary things - fireman, policeman etc.
Superhero: protagonist appearing in the comic genre which is the primary output of Marvel & DC, commonly known as 'superhero comics'. There's no difference in my mind between Superman & Black Widow, as they both are protagonists in the same genre.
Request of the survivors 14 Aug 2014
A definition of "superhero" that excludes Batman, one of the five pillars of the form, must needs be inaccurate. Obviously, there isn't a completely accurate definition, but I think a superhero is an iconic, costumed character who fights evil (usually but not solely crime), usually but not always iconic, costumed crime.
...
it has nothing at all to do with the personal intention of the individual. A cop who goes above and beyond for a moment doesn't become a superhero. A superhero wears a costume or is otherwise visually iconic (like the Hulk, who is obviously recognisable even though he doesn't wear a costume) and usually fights some kind of equally iconic opponent. A superhero also typically possesses some kind of exceptional ability, even if that is explained in mundane terms (like Ted Kord Blue Beetle, who has a bunch of Bond-like gadgets).
Now, clearly a lot of people - not least my main man James 'Gonzo History' Holloway have said a great deal on the subject, but Dragnet did ask me to give my take when I was taking requests for an RPGaDAY topic on a day when I didn't have anything to say about the prompt. I said I'd look at that later, so here I go.
However, having set the scene with other people's thoughts, I'm going to go into this in detail in another post.
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