History Main / OurAncestorsAreSuperheroes

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'': Inspired by ''Genealogy'', the game features a similar setup with all noble houses of Fodlan descended from either the Ten Elites (warriors who defeated the GreaterScopeVillain Nemesis in the backstory [[spoiler:and actually eleven if you count [[TheUnperson Maurice]]]]) or the Four Saints (actually five, if you count [[OneExtraMember Saint Seiros]]). Those descended from these ancient figures may occasionally manifest their "Crests" (blood-borne superpowers) and, in the case of the Ten Elites' descendants, wield their signature {{Ancestral Weapon}}s, the Relics. It is eventually revealed (specifically in the [[StoryBranching Verdant Wind route]]) that [[spoiler:the Saints have actually been the last survivors of the draconic Nabatean species, and their "descendants" were actually humans they gave their dragon blood to. The Ten Elites, meanwhile, were actually allies of Nemesis, leaders of bandit clans who gained their powers and status due to how Nemesis ''killed'' most of said species and allowed them to drink their draconic blood and make Relics out of their ''bones'', but were later [[WrittenByTheWinners rewritten]] as folk heroes due to how deeply the Elites had ingrained themselves to their human subjects]]. Either way, both the Saints and the Elites have clearly been superhuman figures, and so are their descendants. A recurring theme of the game is how the Fodlan nobility's obsession with preserving their magical bloodlines (not-so-subtly encouraged by TheChurch of Seiros) causes social stagnation and MedievalStasis of the continent.

* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'': During the 90s, Guy Gardner discovered he was the descendant of a near extinct race of alien warriors called the Vuldarians. After drinking from a chalice meant for him, Guy unlocks the powers of his ancestors, which consists of super strength, flight, accelerated healing and [[ShapeshifterWeapon the ability to morph his body into various weapons]].

* In Creator/DCComics' title ''The Great Ten'', Thundermind is a character that resembles a kind of Bodhisattva, an enlightened Buddhist with superhuman powers (siddhis) like invisibility, bilocation, super strength, super speed, telekinesis and telepathy. He is the powerhouse of the team. However, although it absolutely contrasts with the understanding of an enlightened Buddhist, these powers can be knocked on or off. In reality, Thundermind is a high school teacher who is in love with his colleague Ms. Wu; however, love is something an enlightened Buddhist wouldn't feel, because it's a passion. He also uses a Dixie toilet to change into Thundermind ''à la'' Clark Kent by a magical incantation.

* CelticMythology: The Milesians/Gaels, the ancestors of the modern Irish, were descendants of Donn the god of death and storms, were said to be such powerful sorcerers and mighty warriors that they not only did they wage war on the gods themselves, but [[DidYouJustPunchOutChthulu got the gods to sue for peace.]]

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'': Inspired by ''Genealogy'', the game features a similar setup with all noble houses of Fodlan descended from either the Ten Elites (warriors who defeated the BigBad Nemesis in the backstory) or the Four Saints (actually five, if you count [[OneExtraMember Saint Seiros]]). Those descended from these ancient figures may occasionally manifest their "Crests" (blood-borne superpowers) and, in the case of the Ten Elites' descendants, wield their signature {{Ancestral Weapon}}s, the Relics. It is eventually revealed (specifically in the [[StoryBranching Verdant Wind route]]) that [[spoiler:the Saints have actually been the last survivors of the draconic Nabatean species, and their "descendants" were actually humans they gave their dragon blood to. The Ten Elites, meanwhile, were actually bandits who ''killed'' most of said species, drank their blood, made Relics out of their ''bones'', but were later [[WrittenByTheWinners rewritten]] as folk heroes]]. Either way, both the Saints and the Elites have clearly been superhuman figures, and so are their descendants. A recurring theme of the game is how the Fodlan nobility's obsession with preserving their magical bloodlines (not-so-subtly encouraged by TheChurch of Seiros) causes social stagnation and MedievalStasis of the continent.

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* One of the core tenants of the ''Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}'' - In the beginning of humanity's history, during the age of gods, humans were capable of incredible feats, but over time as the world's mysteries (the source of magic's power) disappeared, so did humanity's power to the point where individual humans are the weakest that they will ever be. However eventually, should humanity survive long enough and not fall into decline, our descendants may become superheroes again, leading to Literature/AngelNotes.

** The Grey family are descended from a supposedly defunct Askani bloodline, with weak to moderate powers cropping up a couple of times a century. However, unlike most examples, none of them were even remotely as powerful as Harry, let alone ComicBook/JeanGrey who [[spoiler: (along with her stolen twin, Maddie Pryor)]] is the single most powerful human-born psychic of all time.
** The Kryptonian traditionally prominent 'High Blood' families formed an oligarchy and are the only ones to have the full FlyingBrick power set under a Yellow Sun, with the rest being limited to Golden Age powers. However, they didn't become prominent because they gained these powers, but the other way around - their prominence meant that in the age of exploration, they were the ones to make political marriages with compatible alien nobility, which granted [[HybridPower Hybrid Vigour]] on their descendants by replacing some RestrainingBolt genes. In the case of the House of El, this marriage was to an Asgardian, granting what is implied to be a very, very limited resistance to magic.

* In one of the later ''Literature/MyTeacherIsAnAlien'' books, the protagonists learn that ''all'' humans were once telepaths. People eventually suppressed this ability because of the growing population - contact with so many other minds would have driven them insane otherwise. This is used to explain, in part, why HumansAreBastards sometimes, as they evolved to coexist using a means of communication and understanding which they no longer possess.

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* In Dharmic religions (mainly Hinduism and Buddhism), humanity is steadily declining due to loss of virtues. The most noticeable decline is the decline of lifespan-- what started as hundreds of years long will eventually be as short as a couple years. On the other hand, the decline will eventually be reversed, allowing our distant ''descendants'' to be superheroes.
* Most heroes in epic poetry: Gilgamesh, Achilles, Hercules.

* ''ComicBook/SpiderManBlackCatTheEvilThatMenDo'': Garrison and Francis are descended from concentration camp inmates who were implanted with mutant genetic material stolen from mutants.

* The ''Literature/BookOfGenesis'' depicts the first humans as living for anywhere from 300 to 900 years, even the ones who didn't have god-given superpowers. There is implication that humans were originally created immortal with natural abilities that could be considered superhuman, but greatly diminished after the Fall from God's grace and have been further declining over time, healthcare and technology notwithstanding.

** Johnny Cage's [[AllThereInTheManual bio]] in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' reveals that he is descended from a race of superhuman warriors who were bred by a cult to serve as champions for the gods. In ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'', Johnny's daughter Cassie has inherited the abilities Johnny possesses. ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'' reveals that Johnny's bloodline got their powers from Fujin.
** Kung Lao, Kung Jin and [[AmbiguouslyRelated possibly]] Liu Kang are descendants of the Great Kung Lao, the original Earth Champion of Mortal Kombat.

-->-- '''Grandpa Simpson''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "King of the Hill"

** Subverted with Lucia in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2''. She initially believes she is descended of demon-human hybrids as a member of the Protectors Clan but she is revealed to be a demon created by the villain Arius.

** Lady from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'' is a devil hunter with CharlesAtlasSuperpower and is descended from a priestess who helped [[AscendedDemon Sparda]] seal a gateway to the demon world two thousand years ago.