Line #9 Main/SuperHeroGods


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5	[[quoteright:320:[[ComicBook/TheMightyThor https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thor_vol_1_229.png]]]]
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7	->''"Gods, angels -- different cultures call us different names. Now all of the sudden it's superheroes."''
8	-->-- '''Mary''', ''Film/{{Hancock}}''
9
10	Perhaps it's because of the connection of incredibly attractive and powerful people intervening in our daily lives with saving the world. Perhaps it's because having the godlike serve to protect our lives is the closest we can get to getting the divine to serve us. Perhaps it's what comes naturally of making a character stronger than the strongest person. Whatever the case, comic book writers (and others) have seen the obvious logic in not just making godlike superheroes, but making ''gods'' superheroes.
11
12	[[OlderThanTheyThink The ancient Greek myths]] (as well as those from any number of other ancient cultures) often featured the heroic (by the standards of the time) adventures of various Demi-Gods, usually people with mixed Divine and Mortal parentage since the Gods themselves were usually too busy being complete dicks [[KarmaHoudini and getting away with it]], because, well they are the Gods...
13
14	Note: There's a lot of overlap with PhysicalGod, so this trope ''only'' refers to mythological gods or original divinities becoming superheroes.
15
16	----
17	!!Examples:
18	[[foldercontrol]]
19
20	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
21	* ''Franchise/DragonBall'';
22	** Kami was Guardian of Earth but also a FlyingBrick able to help the heroes take on the various aliens that attacked Earth.
23	** Goku and Vegeta's Super Saiyan God forms that Goku learned to fight Beerus, the God of Destruction in ''Anime/DragonBallSuper''. Other gods in the setting confirm that these forms do make them gods. [[note]]While in this form, their power levels can only be sensed by other gods.[[/note]]
24	** Belmod is Universe 11's God of Destruction and commands a {{Sentai}} group called the Pride Troopers, of which he used to be an active member. The Troopers' current leader, Top is in training to replace Belmod as God of Destruction.
25	* Retired superheroine Athena from ''Manga/DontMeddleWithMyDaughter'' is actually the Greek goddess, making her superheroine daughter Clara SemiDivine.
26	[[/folder]]
27
28	[[folder:Comic Books]]
29	* Creator/MarvelComics
30	** ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'' is one of the first (and more obvious) examples.
31	** Thor's sister, ComicBook/{{Angela\|AsgardsAssassin}}, joined the superhero team ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy, and fought alongside them.
32	** Thor's lover, ComicBook/LadySif. Although she doesn't join any superhero team and mostly fights for or in Asgard, she does have her moments in Midgard (Earth).
33	** Even Thor's adopted brother ''freaking'' ComicBook/{{Loki}} was in two superhero teams: In the second lineup of the ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'', although admittedly the guy was [[TokenEvilTeammate most of their problems]] too; and if we count disguises in one iteration of the ''ComicBook/MightyAvengers'' (as the Scarlet Witch).
34	** Brunhilde the Valkyrie is a super heroine as well. She had a lengthy stint as a member of the Defenders.
35	** ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'' takes an interesting look at Marvel's Thor, focusing on the fact that anybody who claimed to be a god would immediately be classified as insane. The existence of superpowers only makes it worse, of course, as his powers are not entirely inexplicable.
36	** As is ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules.''
37	** And Comicbook/{{Ares\|Marvel}}, god of war, sometime member of Comicbook/TheAvengers.
38	** Snowbird from ''ComicBook/AlphaFlight'' is an Inuit demigoddess. Her family would make occasional appearances in the book, and their enemies, the Great Beasts, were recurring villains.
39	** The GoldenAge Marvel heroes Mercury and Venus were ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. In modern continuity, Mercury was revealed to be Makkari of ComicBook/TheEternals, and Venus was revealed as merely a Siren.
40	* Creator/DCComics
41	** Hercules is treated as a JerkAss more often than not, usually showing up to get in fights with Franchise/WonderWoman or Franchise/{{Superman}}. His most notable outing as a ''hero'' was in the Silver Age series ''ComicBook/HerculesUnbound'' where he defended the remnants of mankind in a post-nuclear world.
42	** Comicbook/WonderWoman gets half-points for a few reasons: she's an Amazon, which are basically a race of semi-immortal demigoddesses, and she was created when her mother, Hippolyta, prayed to the gods to create her from clay. The Comicbook/New52 changed things so that she was Zeus' daughter, but Comicbook/DCRebirth has changed it back. In ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'' she briefly became the goddess of truth, but was able to return to her (semi-)mortal state as an Amazon in short order.
43	** At one point, Donna Troy became a Titan of Myth.
44	** The second Comicbook/WonderGirl, Cassie Sandsmark, is a modern demigoddess, being the daughter of Zeus and a normal {{Muggle}} archaeologist. (During the Comicbook/New52 she was reimagined as Zeus' granddaughter.)
45	** Comicbook/MonkeyPrince is the son of [[Literature/JourneyToTheWest Sun Wukong the Monkey King.]]
46	** The ComicBook/NewGods, though the degree to which most of the New Gods are ''gods'' rather than HumanAliens [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens with superpowers and advanced technology]] varies a lot. Creator/JackKirby originally conceived them as new characters to introduce into the Thor mythos--they were literally a ''new'' pantheon for modern times, hence all the technological and modern imagery, rather than ancient chariots and swords. But he jumped ship to DC and took them with him. In that sense, the name "ComicBook/NewGods" is something of an ArtifactTitle.
47	** ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmericaRebirth'' and ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol2016'' introduced not simply a superheroic god, but the God of Superheroes himself, Ahl. Reaching down from his domain in "Final Heaven" millions of years ago, he gave birth not only to the idea of justice, but to the concept that would eventually become Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, from whom all other superheroes symbolically descend; the area where he touched Earth, having risen up to meet him and eventually becoming a mountain in Happy Harbor, Rhode Island, would one day become the first headquarters of the original Justice League, who were unaware of the true significance of Mount Justice. By the time we learn of him however [[KillTheGod he's long since been murdered]] by [[spoiler:Haxxalon the Star Archer]] with "The Brick That Can Think", which in an apparent attempt at communicating its own sentiments on the matter [[ApologeticAttacker had "I'M SORRY" written on it.]]
48	** The angel Zauriel debuted in ''ComicBook/JLA1997''.
49	** Similar to Marvel’s ''ComicBook/SquadronSupreme'', DC has a CaptainErsatz ''[[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers]]'' group variously called the Champions of Angor/The Justifiers. Their Thor counterpart is Aboriginal Australian thunder god Wandjina/Wundajin.
50	** Doctor Manhattan from ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' is the quote source for AGodIAmNot but at the end of the story he accepts his role as a DeityOfHumanOrigin and leaves Earth to create human life elsewhere. It later turns out he created ''Franchise/TheDCU'', or at least was responsible for the ''Comicbook/New52'' version.
51	** The Linda Danvers version of ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} was an [[OurAngelsAreDifferent "Earth-born Angel".]]
52	%%* The Image comic ''ComicBook/GodComplex''.
53	%% Broken link; needs more context. * The gods of ''[[http://www.pantheaobscura.com/ Panthea Obscura]]'' actually ''set out'' to be superheroes.
54	%%* [[http://www.superdickery.com/45-pages-of-god-hitler-crucified-my-son/ This trope taken to the logical extreme.]]
55	* ''ComicBook/{{Supergod}}'' revolves around various countries' attempts to create superheroes based on their religion or mythology. The projects have mostly... [[BewareTheSuperman not fulfilled their hopes]].
56	* ''ComicBook/{{Viz}}'' had a story called ''[[https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.reddit.com/r/exchristian/comments/7ltc3f/supergod_and_son_of_man_wonder/ SuperGod and The Son of Man Wonder]]'' where God and Jesus are superheroes who fly around doing nothing but assuring victims of accidents and crimes that they'll go to Heaven when they die (apart from the man having impure thoughts about his wife's sister) and that their tormentors will burn in Hell unless they repent and get to sit at God's side for all eternity.
57	* National Lampoon had the [[http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/417/ Son-O'-God comics]] about a guy who could transform into a superhero Jesus.
58	* Thor also appeared in ''ComicBook/{{Elementals}}''. Not too surprising, since all the supers there have magical or mythological origins.
59	* Inverted in ''ComicBook/TheSavageDragon'': Thor is a villain.
60	* ''ComicBook/BlackHammer'' is about a group of superhero gods called the New World, based on the ''ComicBook/NewGods'' with shades of the Asgardians from ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor''.
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
64	* ''ComicStrip/TomTheDancingBug'': Parodied, along with [[TheFundamentalist conservative Christian]] views of God, in the [[http://www.fecundity.com/pmagnus/godman.html "God Man"]] strips.
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Film]]
68	* ''Film/{{Thor}}'' in the ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'' saved Earth multiple times and teamed up with other superheroes to form The Avengers.
69	* ''Creator/TheAsylum'' did a [[TheMockbuster Mockbuster]] called ''Film/AlmightyThor'' where Thor comes to Los Angeles to save it from Loki.
70	* ''Film/WonderWoman2017'' has the Amazons, a mythical race of female warriors. The villain in the movie is the Greek god Ares, the last of the gods after a long war. [[spoiler:Diana is also the daughter of Zeus, born and raised to be a [[KillTheGod living weapon against Ares]].]]
71	* ''Film/{{Hancock}}'' belonged to a race of immortal [[FlyingBrick Flying Bricks]] who were considered gods and angels in ancient cultures but superheroes today.
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
75	* ''Series/TheSecretsOfIsis'' featured a school teacher who used a magic amulet to transform into the titular Egyptian goddess and save people.
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder:Music]]
79	* The song "Something Just Like This" by Music/TheChainsmokers and Music/{{Coldplay}} invokes this, the lyrics comparing ComicBook/{{Superman}}, ComicBook/SpiderMan, and ComicBook/{{Batman}} to [[Literature/TheIliad Achilles]] and Hercules while the singer describes how his girlfriend specifically ''didn't'' want somebody in that mold.
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	[[folder:Religion]]
83	* The Indian parody religion [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinkoism Dinkoism]] worships the cartoon superhero mouse Dinkan.
84	* There's a Christian kid's song that reinterprets Jesus as a superhero "Jesús es mi superheroe".
85	[[/folder]]
86
87	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
88	* ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'':
89	** The ''TabletopGame/HaltEvilDoer'' supplement has Athena leave the Olympian gods and come to Earth to be a WonderWomanWannabe superheroine.
90	** In ''TabletopGame/FreedomCity'', the Siren is a voudoun superheroine who gains her powers from being a "horse" to the loa La Sirene.
91	* ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'' features Dr. Blake Washington, Jr. Ph.D., an archeologist who took on the powers of the Egyptian sun god Ra and fights evil under the name; his archnemesis in the game is the Ennead, a team of villains which consists of a large part of the Egyptian pantheon.
92	[[/folder]]
93
94	[[folder:Theater]]
95	* Invoked in most productions of ''Theatre/{{Godspell}}'' where Jesus has a Superman logo on his t-shirt.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Video Games]]
99	* ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' has all the major deities actually be genetically-altered cyborgs. Most of them besides Asura become the main villains. It should be noted, though, that there ''is'' a spiritual component to them, as they can be powered up by the prayers and souls of mortals.
100	* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'':
101	** Raiden is the [[ShockAndAwe God of Thunder]] and the Protector God of Earthrealm. He normally takes a hands off approach to protecting Earth, usually serving as the BigGood, but when circumstances are really dire he steps in to kick ass alongside the heroes.
102	** [[BlowYouAway Fujin]], Raiden's fellow Earthrealm god, [[VideoGame/MortalKombat4 occasionally]] [[VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon gets in on the action]] [[VideoGame/MortalKombat11 as well]].
103	** Taven is TheHero of ''VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon'' and the [[SemiDivine demigod]] son of the Edenian Protector God Argus and his wife [[LadyOfBlackMagic Delia]].
104	[[/folder]]
105
106	[[folder:Web Comics]]
107	* ''Webcomic/TheGodOfHighSchool'' probably counts. After all, [[spoiler:Mori Jin is the Monkey King from ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'']]. Later, we get a character who's a direct descendant of of Hercules, which allows him to get possessed by him, essentially becoming Hercules for a brief duration.
108	* Parodied in ''Webcomic/LeagueOfSuperRedundantHeroes'' where putting [[http://superredundant.com/?comic=187-theistic-debate Athena and Odin in the same room]] isn't the best idea.
109	[[/folder]]
110
111	[[folder:Web Original]]
112	* Given this is a Supers Trope, you know there's a ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'' example, and here it is: The New Olympians may or may not be the classical Greek Gods reborn. They certainly think they are, and have appropriate powers.
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Western Animation]]
116	* The Avatar from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' is the earthly embodiment of the show's equivalent of {{God}}.
117	* The Justice Friends SuperGroup from ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' has Valhallen the Viking god of [[ThePowerOfRock Rock]].
118	* The ''Super Best Friends'' from ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' are a supergroup composed of UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}}, UsefulNotes/TheProphetMuhammad, [[Literature/BookOfExodus Moses]], [[Myth/HinduMythology Krishna]], [[Literature/TheBookOfMormon Joseph Smith]], Creator/{{Laozi}}, [[UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} Buddha]] and an ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'' parody called Seaman.
119	* One of the most powerful characters in ''Franchise/TheTick'' is the Mighty Agrippa, Roman god of the aqueduct. According to the series canon, he's the last god to join the Roman pantheon, but when he showed up the rest had left for another planet. Despite being a low-ranking god, he's still a PhysicalGod and one of the strongest beings in the series.
120	* ''WesternAnimation/TheMightyHercules'' was an interesting example. For whatever reason (MoralGuardians?), Hercules and the other characters from Greek myth are never explicitly referred to as gods, demigods, etc., only as "King Zeus" and so on, so that Hercules could plausibly be a "mere" superhero from a realm of other superheroes.
121	[[/folder]]

Context Main / SuperHeroGods