Yeah, it's interesting over on the Marvel side that the Hulk and the Fantastic Four were not originally conceived as super heroes (the Fantastic Four didn't even wear costumes in their first issue). With the FF it seemed a little silly, cuz they clearly WERE super heroes, but with the Hulk, it was different. I can kind of see his strip as an ongoing EC monster- light horror thing (you know, the monster that came from beyond space and was misunderstood by man, "Kuklon, the Thing That Walked" kind of stuff).
Few more observations:
If Green Lanterns are super heroes, should Jedi also count?
Anyone recalls Rick Flag? He was member of Suicide Squa....er, Task Force X in Justice League. Normal guy, but his teammates were Deadshot, Clock King, Captain Boomerang and Plastique - super villains. Does that make him super hero/villain?
And one that always bugs - how does being weird makes you super? There is no reason Black Mask, Two-Face or Scarface count as supervillains more that Tony Zucco or Rupert Thorne.
Oh yeah, I've seen arguments that the theatrical Fantastic Four movies aren't working because the Fantastic Four are really supposed to be campy science adventurers first and foremost... And Doctor Doom needs to be just a tyrant who screams "RICHARDS!", they say?
Goddess of Nature
Superheroes generally can work as both campy and serious, it just depends on writing skill.
You know, I have to wonder why Pit is obsessed with this site. It’s gonna ruin his life!
Out of the context of the Marvel Universe, Hulk would probably be considered a science fiction horror / action story, somewhere between The Fly and Godzilla or The Wolfman, where the "monster" is the hero.
"The difference between reality and fiction is that fiction has to make sense." - Tom Clancy, paraphrasing Mark Twain.
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I wouldn't call the members of the Suicide Squad (at least this iteration of it) Rick Flagg's "teammates;" he's more their handler. And I wouldn't call him a super hero, personally. I would call Jedi super-heroes, though. As to The Ventriloquist, Two-Face, and Black Mask being super-villains...well, that's a matter of opinion. I don't think you'd find much consensus on that. The term "super-criminal" actually predates "super-hero," (it's been used in blood and thunder thrillers dating back to the turn of the 20th century)and originally referred to the scope of said criminal's operations or the ambition of their goals, rather than to anything strange or otherworldly about them personally.
I would argue against the Jedi being super heroes. I think, in addition to scope, an important part of being a super hero(/villain) is adopting a persona. That could be having code names and costumes, but also personifying a personal ideal. It's adopting an identity. Jedi are, frankly, conformist and are almost diametrically opposed to all that. You become A Jedi. One of many. Like you become A cop or A soldier. Only Tony Stark can become THE Iron Man (unless, like cases like Batman, it becomes a mantle that gets passed along).
Consider GI Joe. What makes them super soldiers and sets them apart from a regular military (besides scope and tech)? Everyone has a code name with matching individual theme, outfit and specialty.
I would also argue, on those grounds, Sith are closer to super villain ideals. They at least adopt the Darth [something] title and often maintain dual identities. They don't do standardized uniforms and they each stand out being there's usually only two at a time.
Was there ever any argument that GI Joe was anything other than an elite special forces unit? I've never heard anyone call them super-soldiers, much less super-heroes.
I'd advise avoiding strict adherence to categories. Strict categorization just restricts the imagination.
Not proof. Just a sort of petition from the cast + Andrea.
Disasturbator
Going to bump this because of the talk of Green Arrow elsewhere got me thinking
I love how he continues the tradition of using a bow and arrow but harmlessly dispatching his enemies,which is sort of impossible in the real life!
Also he's dressed as robinhood lol
New theme music also a box
He also sings his own theme music... so unrealistic.
Disasturbator
if hes robinhood where are his merry men
New theme music also a box
Humans inferior. Ultron superior.
Speedy doesn't like it when you call him a Merry Man
Bite my shiny metal ass.
The sleepiest good boi
That guy with the face
I rewatched the episode where Superman "dies" and I'm surprised at how pathetic Kalibak is.
He fights Batman, and it's not just that he can't beat him, it's that Batman flat out humiliates him.
Surrounded by weirdoes
Kalibak went from a genuine threat to Apokolips's resident loser. I think he got slapped down by his dad to prove the pecking order.
Wake me up at your own risk.
Disasturbator
there's a mandate somewhere Darkseid must be the number threat at all times with no alternatives
> Speedy doesn't like it when you call him a Merry Man
wheres Maid Marion and little John
Edited by Ultimatum on Sep 3rd 2023 at 1:36:02 PM
New theme music also a box
Lobo is probably the equivalent on the DC side, although in Lobo's case he's fully in control of his own mind, he's just a galaxy-class asshole who occasionally points himself in the right direction to do good.