History ThePollyanna / ComicBooks

* Peter Parker from ''ComicBook/SpiderMan''. No matter what life throws his way, he will always do the right thing and [[TheDeterminator won't stop trying]] to make the world a better place. He also always seems to have a [[FunPersonified joke at the ready for any situation]].

* Stephanie Brown, Spoiler, who is also known as the fourth ComicBook/{{Robin}} and later on the third ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}. She has had an emotionally-abusive, villainous father; a drug-addict mother who left her alone during her childhood; a rocky relationship with Tim Drake, the 3rd Robin; not getting approval from Franchise/{{Batman}} and the Birds of Prey; getting tortured by Black Mask and her controversial 'death' (retconned later to her just fleeing the country with Leslie Thompkins); then coming back to Gotham only to be rejected again by Tim Drake -- it's a wonder how she managed to keep her sunny disposition and not get boggled down with angst. She is the most hopeful and lighthearted of all the Batfamily members.

* ''Franchise/GreenLantern'': The Blue Lantern Corps, representing the blue light of hope, always hope for the best in even the worst situations.

* Peter Parker from ''Franchise/SpiderMan''. No matter what life throws his way, he will always do the right thing and [[TheDeterminator won't stop trying]] to make the world a better place. He also always seems to have a [[FunPersonified joke at the ready for any situation]].

* ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'': Apollo is always kinder, happier and more optimistic than [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism most other folks in his universe]].
* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'':
** Although the amount of crap in his life (and therefore the strangeness of his constant kindness and optimism) varies from writer to writer, and era to era, Superman unfailingly [[RousseauWasRight believes in the goodness of the human race]], and frequently bucks up other superheroes by promising that no matter how bleak a crisis looks, they can always do something to help.
** Pre-Crisis ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} stands apart from her replacements and successors because she always strived to see the good side of things, no matter what. In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton1959'', Kara saw her entire civilization dying, lost her parents, was stranded in an alien planet and then she was dumped into an orphanage by her only living relative... and she still tried to think positively. In ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'', Superman is about to reveal her existence to the world after forcing her to train hard and operate in secret during one year, when her powers suddenly and mysteriously vanish. Kara is initially upset that her hard work was all for nothing, but then she says herself crying is useless and she must simply adapt to her new life.
** In ''ComicBook/SupergirlCosmicAdventuresInThe8thGrade'', Mxyzptlk thought he could use Kara's grief and sadness to fuel his emotion machine, so he took her away from her family and got her stranded on Earth. Then he disguised himself as her middle school principal in order to see that she was properly bullied, and got annoyed because her bloody-minded determination to remain optimistic and see the bright side overcame the amount of crap he heaped on her.
* ''ComicBook/TheFlash'': The second Flash, Barry Allen, is an eternal optimist who always sees the best in every situation. He is an easy-going and laid-back person who has huge amounts of patience, understanding, and kindness for most everybody. His life motto is literally "Every second is a gift". Can't get more optimistic than that.

* Although he isn't [[AbsentMindedProfessor exactly who comes to mind]] when you think of this trope, the ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'''s Reed Richards is notable for being sunnily confident that a good idea and a dash of [[ForScience science]] is all that's needed to defeat the most untouchably powerful universe-destroying villains one can face and whisk the heroes out of the most hopeless and unsolvable of dire circumstances. [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu The fact that he actually demonstrates this on a regular basis]] [[SuperIntelligence makes his attitude completely understandable.]]
* ''Franchise/GreenLantern'': The Blue Lantern Corps, representing the blue light of hope, always hope for the best in even the worst situations.
* Stephanie Brown, Spoiler, who is also known as the fourth ComicBook/{{Robin}} and later on the third ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}. She has had an emotionally-abusive, villainous father; a drug-addict mother who left her alone during her childhood; a rocky relationship with Tim Drake, the 3rd Robin; not getting approval from Franchise/{{Batman}} and the Birds of Prey; getting tortured by Black Mask and her controversial 'death' (retconned later to her just fleeing the country with Leslie Thompkins); then coming back to Gotham only to be rejected again by Tim Drake -- it's a wonder how she managed to keep her sunny disposition and not get boggled down with angst. She is the most hopeful and lighthearted of all the Batfamily members.
* During Creator/TerryMoore's run on ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'', this was the scrap of personality allotted to Klara. Despite coming from a hellish, abusive background and having to adjust to living with strangers, she was usually sweet and cheerful.
* Peter Parker from ''Franchise/SpiderMan''. No matter what life throws his way, he will always do the right thing and [[TheDeterminator won't stop trying]] to make the world a better place. He also always seems to have a [[FunPersonified joke at the ready for any situation]].
* ''ComicBook/HarleyQuinn'' is a rare (anti) villain example. Namely at one point she died and went to Hell, only to get kicked out as her endless cheerfulness threatened to ruin the gloom and despair of the place. This is also probably why she keeps coming back to the Joker and hoping things will work out, showing [[DeconstructedTrope why this isn't necessarily a good quality to have]].

* Apollo from ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'' is always kinder, happier and more optimistic than [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism most other folks in the Wildstorm universe]]. Or you could think of it this way: he's powered by sunshine, and has a [[PersonalityPowers personality to match]].
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':

** Pre-Crisis ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} stands apart from her replacements and successors because she always strived to see the good side of things, no matter what. In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Kara saw her entire civilization dying, lost her parents, was stranded in an alien planet and then she was dumped into an orphanage by her only living relative... and she still tried to think positively. In ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'', Superman is about to reveal her existence to the world after forcing her to train hard and operate in secret during one year, when her powers suddenly and mysteriously vanish. Kara is initially upset that her hard work was all for nothing, but then she says herself crying is useless and she must simply adapt to her new life.

** Pre-Crisis ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} stands apart from her replacements and successors because she always strived to see the good side of things, no matter what. In ''ComicBook/ActionComicsNumber252'', Kara saw her entire civilization dying, lost her parents, was stranded in an alien planet and then she was dumped into an orphanage by her only living relative... and she still tried to think positively. In ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'', Superman is about to reveal her existence to the world after forcing her to train hard and operate in secret during one year, when her powers suddenly and mysteriously vanish. Kara is initially upset that her hard work was all for nothing, but then she says herself crying is useless and she must simply adapt to her new life.

* ''ComicBook/TeenTitans '':

* Peter Parker from ''Franchise/SpiderMan''. No matter what life throws his way, he will always do the right thing and [[TheDeterminator won't stop trying]] to make the world a better place. He also always seems to have a [[FunPersonified joke at the ready for any situation.]]
* ''ComicBook/HarleyQuinn'' is a rare (anti) villain example. Namely at one point she died and went to Hell, only to get kicked out as her endless cheerfulness threatened to ruin the gloom and despair of the place. This is also probably why she keeps coming back to the Joker and hoping things will work out, showing [[DeconstructedTrope why this isn't necessarily a good quality to have.]]

* In volume one of ''ComicBook/LeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'', we get the girl that provides our page quote (and who is of course Creator/AlanMoore's reinterpretation of the TropeNamer). It should be noted that this scene [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation can also be read]] as her simply liking the sex, and not wanting to admit as much (would you?), and using optimism as an excuse for her behaviour.
** [[WordOfGod In an interview]], Alan Moore states that she was in [[HeroicBSOD state of shock]].
* [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Mary Marvel]] was described as this during her pre-Countdown and ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' portrayals. This was her most obvious comedic trait in the ''Superbuddies'' stories. She is also explicitly called "Pollyanna", causing her to talk about how that's her favorite movie.
** Billy himself used to be a pretty good example of this as well (before the New 52 [[TroubledKid changed everything]]). By the time he's an orphan, has endured abusive foster parents and lives on the street, but he somehow manages to be one of the most {{Cheerful Child}}ren in the DC Universe. Admittedly a lot of his problems were able to be solved once he got super powers.
** In the New 52, the Pollyanna status seems to have been taken by Billy's foster sister Darla. At first energetic about having another older brother, Billy later coldly tells her that he is not her brother and her other siblings are not an actual family because they aren't related, which drove Darla away in tears. Mary coldly tried to put Billy in his place for what he did, saying Darla was with them simply because her {{Jerkass}} biological parents didn't want her and ''told her exactly that to her face''. The next morning, however, Darla acts as if the previous day didn't happen. Mary mentions it's because Darla doesn't waste time on anger.

* ComicBook/{{Superman}} may also qualify, although the amount of crap in his life (and therefore the strangeness of his constant kindness and optimism) [[DependingOnTheWriter varies from writer to writer, and era to era]]. However he unfailingly [[RousseauWasRight believes in the goodness of the human race]], and frequently bucks up other superheroes by promising that no matter how bleak a crisis looks, they can always do something to help. Like Apollo, he is powered by the fucking ''sun'', thriving on light and warmth, and it sure as hell suits him.

* The [[Comicbook/GreenLantern Blue Lantern Corps]], representing the blue light of hope, always hope for the best in even the worst situations.
* Stephanie Brown, Spoiler, who is also known as the fourth Comicbook/{{Robin}} and later on the third ComicBook/{{Batgirl| 2009}}. She has had an emotionally-abusive, villainous father; a drug-addict mother who left her alone during her childhood; a rocky relationship with [[Comicbook/{{Robin}} Tim Drake]], the 3rd Robin; not getting approval from Franchise/{{Batman}} and the Birds of Prey; getting tortured by Black Mask and her controversial 'death' (retconned later to her just fleeing the country with Leslie Thompkins); then coming back to Gotham only to be rejected again by Tim Drake -- it's a wonder how she managed to keep her sunny disposition and not get boggled down with angst. She is the most hopeful and lighthearted of all the Batfamily members.

Peter Parker from ''Franchise/SpiderMan''. No matter what life throws his way, he will always do the right thing and [[TheDeterminator won't stop trying]] to make the world a better place. He also always seems to have a [[FunPersonified joke at the ready for any situation.]]

Peter Parker from [[Franchise/SpiderMan]]. No matter what life throws his way, he will always do the right thing and [[TheDeterminator won't stop trying]] to make the world a better place. He also always seems to have a [[FunPersonified joke at the ready for any situation.]]

Peter Parker from [[Franchise/Spider-Man]]. No matter what life throws his way, he will always do the right thing and [[TheDeterminator won't stop trying]] to make the world a better place. He also always seems to have a [[FunPersonified joke at the ready for any situation.]]

Peter Parker from [[Franchise/SpiderMan]]. No matter what life throws his way, he will always do the right thing and [[TheDeterminator won't stop trying]] to make the world a better place. He also always seems to have a [[FunPersonified joke at the ready for any situation.]]

* {{ComicBook/Superman}} may also qualify, although the amount of crap in his life (and therefore the strangeness of his constant kindness and optimism) [[DependingOnTheWriter varies from writer to writer, and era to era]]. However he unfailingly [[RousseauWasRight believes in the goodness of the human race]], and frequently bucks up other superheroes by promising that no matter how bleak a crisis looks, they can always do something to help. Like Apollo, he is powered by the fucking ''sun'', thriving on light and warmth, and it sure as hell suits him.

* Stephanie Brown, Spoiler, who is also known as the fourth Comicbook/{{Robin}} and later on the third ComicBook/{{Batgirl| 2009}}. She has had an emotionally-abusive, villainous father; a drug-addict mother who left her alone during her childhood; a jerkish ex-boyfriend who got her pregnant; a rocky relationship with [[Comicbook/{{Robin}} Tim Drake]], the 3rd Robin; not getting approval from Franchise/{{Batman}} and the Birds of Prey; getting tortured by Black Mask and her controversial 'death' (retconned later to her just fleeing the country with Leslie Thompkins); then coming back to Gotham only to be rejected again by Tim Drake -- it's a wonder how she managed to keep her sunny disposition and not get boggled down with angst. She is the most hopeful and lighthearted of all the Batfamily members.

* Gar Logan from ''ComicBook/TeenTitans ''is a rare male example; content with playing the PluckyComicRelief character despite a lifetime of hardship and self-loathing until [[FromBadToWorse it]] [[BewareTheNiceOnes gets]] [[UnstoppableRage worse]].

* [[{{Shazam}} Mary Marvel]] was described as this during her pre-Countdown and ''FinalCrisis'' portrayals. This was her most obvious comedic trait in the ''Superbuddies'' stories. She is also explicitly called "Pollyanna", causing her to talk about how that's her favorite movie.

* In volume one of ''LeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'', we get the girl that provides our page quote (and who is of course Creator/AlanMoore's reinterpretation of the TropeNamer). It should be noted that this scene [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation can also be read]] as her simply liking the sex, and not wanting to admit as much (would you?), and using optimism as an excuse for her behaviour.

* {{Superman}} may also qualify, although the amount of crap in his life (and therefore the strangeness of his constant kindness and optimism) [[DependingOnTheWriter varies from writer to writer, and era to era]]. However he unfailingly [[RousseauWasRight believes in the goodness of the human race]], and frequently bucks up other superheroes by promising that no matter how bleak a crisis looks, they can always do something to help. Like Apollo, he is powered by the fucking ''sun'', thriving on light and warmth, and it sure as hell suits him.
* ''TransformersShatteredGlass'' takes place in a MirrorUniverse version of ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1''. There, the infamous bellyacher Huffer and the grim fatalist Dirge are both sunshine and puppies all the way.

** Billy himself used to be a pretty good example of this as well (Before the New 52 changed everything)

* Apollo from ''TheAuthority'' is always kinder, happier and more optimistic than [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism most other folks in the Wildstorm universe]]. Or you could think of it this way: he's powered by sunshine, and has a [[PersonalityPowers personality to match]].

* In volume one of ''LeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'', we get the girl that provides our page quote (and who is of course AlanMoore's reinterpretation of the TropeNamer). It should be noted that this scene [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation can also be read]] as her simply liking the sex, and not wanting to admit as much (would you?), and using optimism as an excuse for her behaviour.

* Stephanie Brown, Spoiler, who is also known as the fourth {{Robin}} and later on the third ComicBook/{{Batgirl| 2009}}. She has had an emotionally-abusive, villainous father; a drug-addict mother who left her alone during her childhood; a jerkish ex-boyfriend who got her pregnant; a rocky relationship with [[{{Robin}} Tim Drake]], the 3rd Robin; not getting approval from {{Batman}} and the Birds of Prey; getting tortured by Black Mask and her controversial 'death' (retconned later to her just fleeing the country with Leslie Thompkins); then coming back to Gotham only to be rejected again by Tim Drake -- it's a wonder how she managed to keep her sunny disposition and not get boggled down with angst. She is notably the most hopeful and lighthearted of all the Batfamily members.

** In the New 52, the Pollyanna status seems to have been taken by Billy's foster sister Darla. At first energetic about having another older brother, Billy later coldly tells her that he is not her brother and her other siblings are not an actual family because they aren't related, which drove Darla away in tears. Mary coldly tried to put Billy in his place for what he did, saying Darla was with them simply because her {{Jerkass}} biological parents ''didn't want her''. The next morning, however, Darla acts as if the previous day didn't happen. Mary mentions it's because Darla doesn't waste time on anger.

* ''TransformersShatteredGlass'' takes place in a MirrorUniverse version of ''TransformersGeneration1''. There, the infamous bellyacher Huffer and the grim fatalist Dirge are both sunshine and puppies all the way.

* Although he isn't [[AbsentMindedProfessor exactly who comes to mind]] when you think of this trope, ''WesternAnimation/TheFantasticFour'''s Reed Richards is notable for being sunnily confident that a good idea and a dash of [[ForScience science]] is all that's needed to defeat the most untouchably powerful universe-destroying villains one can face and whisk the heroes out of the most hopeless and unsolvable of dire circumstances. [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu The fact that he actually demonstrates this on a regular basis]] [[SuperIntelligence makes his attitude completely understandable.]]