Who is superhero

There is only so much time in a day and prioritization is key to maximizing entertainment. That is why we have assembled a list of the greatest superhero movies ever made. Write and collaborate on your scripts FREE. Create script breakdowns, sides, schedules, storyboards, call sheets and more. Previous Post. Next Post. A visual medium requires visual methods. Master the art of visual storytelling with our FREE video series on directing and filmmaking techniques.

More and more people are flocking to the small screen to find daily entertainment. So how can you break put from the pack and get your idea onto the small screen? Skip to content. Watch: Superheroes Unmasked — History of Superheroes. Subscribe on YouTube.

Superhero Definition How do we define superhero? Types of Superheroes: From gods to teenage mutants, superheroes take on many forms. Examples include: Superman, Wonder Woman and Thor Gadget user : These characters usually lack superpowers, but make up for it with skill, cunning and technology.

Examples include: Batman, Iron Man and Black Widow Speedster : These heroes rely on superspeed to overwhelm the bad guys and solve their problems. Examples include: The Flash and Quicksilver Magic user : With a reliance on magic and spells, these characters' powers are often only limited by their imaginations and will power. Examples include: Dr. Strange and Green Lantern Power house : These heroes use unbridled strength and endurance to smash the opposition.

Examples include: The Hulk and the Tick Shapeshifter : Able to change their size and form at will, giving them unparalleled adaptability. Examples include: Ghost Rider and Spawn. Superhero Characteristics What makes a Superhero? Stan Lee on what makes a Superhero. Who was the first Superhero? Any Superhero definition starts with the Man of Steel. Write and produce your scripts all in one place. Leave a comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.

Comment Name Email Website. Plot-Driven Narratives. Learn More. Featured Blog Posts. Advanced Filmmaking Techniques A visual medium requires visual methods. Copy link. With this in mind, we may ask the question, how does the American superhero reflect the American views on sexuality and gender and how does their sexuality affect out views of the hero?

We use physical appearance partly to verify and identify our sexuality. However, when looking at Superheroes this is taken to the extremes, an exaggerated ideal.

The physical appearance of superheroes does not leave much room for variation. For the men, they are at least six feet in height and are very muscular with wide shoulders and narrow hips. Even the facial characteristics of the men promote certain ideal features. They are clean shaven and have a strong, distinct jaw line. This may be to suggest strength on the part of the man, to compliment the strong body.

The men are also typically swarthy fellows, with dark hair and dark complexions. Rarely will you see a hero with pasty white skin and bleach blonde hair, though they do exist.

This robust appearance seems to encourage the idea that these men are healthy, and again, strong. For the women superheroes, they are built to promote their sexuality. Nearly all of the women have hourglass figures that could rarely be accomplished in real life, like Barbie, with a small waist and large bust and hips.

The breasts especially are very pronounced. These women are seen as beautiful in the American culture, and other women try to emulate the body styles. Unfortunately, some pursue this in the unhealthy manner of eating disorders while trying to achieve the pronounced waist and others resort to plastic surgery to increase their bust size.

The non-human superheroes follow virtually identical physical guidelines as their human counterparts with some slight differences. The non-humans are mostly bi-pedal humanoids and have similar physical characteristics as the human gender they most identify with; some of them come from planets with 8 or 9 genders, none of which are identical with our own.

Several of the humanoids are trans-figured humans who have taken on a beastly appearance, such as the Hulk or the Thing from the Fantastic Four, and are larger and much more muscular than the average hero. Alien humanoids frequently have different colored skin and slightly abnormal body shapes, such as the Martian Man-Hunter whose dark green skin and more pronounced brow bones set him off from his fellow Justice League of America members. The interesting phenomenon to note is that throughout the non-human heroes, the biggest deviation from the human heroes is skin color.

They may be shaped in a grotesque parody of human form or the same shape as humans, but it is the skin color which sets them apart. The non-humans with the same color skin, like Hawk Girl from the Justice League, have entirely human bodies with minor additions, such as wings.

Never once is there a human-flesh colored hero who is not shaped like a human. There are no giant pinkish bears or misshapen flesh toned blobs running around and saving people. I feel that this is because for us as Americans to identify with the characters, we must be able to have a solid basis for comparison; two legs, two arms, and one head all leading off of a central trunk in a recognizable pattern, color being much less important. Instead of being designed to draw the audience closer to the hero, it is used to set the hero apart.

While comparing the physical attributes of the superheroes is important, the clothing that the heroes don is just as equally significant. Just as Sarah Lamb mentions that different saris can indicate different ranks and importance Lamb, , so too does the garb of these titans designate them as superheroes and set them apart from the rest of humanity as people of importance. Skin tight jumpsuits seem to be the standard attire for the superhero male, with muscles showing clearly through the material.

There is typically briefs or a belt of some kind drawing attention to the narrow hips, or some sort of shoulder covering designed in a triangular fashion that once again draws attention to the waist and hips. The jumpsuits also typically have an insignia of some sort emblazoned on the chest, again drawing attention to how wide and strong the chest and shoulder area is.

One optional piece of equipment is the cape. The cape is either used to draw attention or to direct attention away from the hero. Superman for instance wears a brilliant red cape which is frequently observed snapping in the wind or trailing behind him as he flies through the air. One interesting side note is that Superman rarely lets the cape obscure his muscles by swirling in front of him.

His arms are always free of the cloak, openly, once more, advertising his strength. Batman however is often depicted with his cape wrapped around him avoiding detection on a dark, stormy, Gotham City night. Non-human males take a very different route with their clothing. They wear very little, frequently only short trousers or briefs, such as the Hulk, the Thing, or the Beast from X-Men. Some like Martian Man-Hunter choose to don a cloak as well.

This may be to once more highlight the fact that they are not human. It reveals their differently formed bodies and bizarrely colored or patterned skin to make sure that the observer knows they are not human.

This allows the characters to affect an even more exaggerated ideal, to exhibit characteristics such as incredible strength or size that would seem comic on a human hero.

It is hard to detect a definite difference in how human and non-human females dress because the costumes which they choose vary so highly to begin with.

Some wear the full length body suits that their male counterparts sport while others choose a more revealing leotard or corset style ensemble. Either way, the outfits are designed to draw attention to their large breasts, narrow waist, and wide hips.

They rarely have an insignia on their costume unless they are part of a team, in which case their outfit corresponds more directly with what their team members are wearing. The most baffling element of their costume however is their heeled boots or shoes.

Rarely ever is there a woman hero designed wearing flat shoes, they are always in heels. This raises the question of how they run, fight, and generally exist in these shoes.

The only possible reason for them to be portrayed wearing this torturous foot-ware is because we as a culture find heels attractive. They add definition to calf and leg muscles, but they are treacherous to wear. This theme seems to suggest that the appearance of the hero is very important in how we as a public view and accept them.

On radio he was voiced by Orson Welles and other actors, and he was played by Alec Baldwin in the film. Writer Bill Finger was influenced by the depiction of the Shadow when he co-created Batman.

Photo by Gage Skidmore. CC BY 2. Stan imbued his characters and stories with an element of psychological realism, making it easy for fans to relate to the characters and their plights.

Stan became an editor at Marvel when he was 19 years old and went on to become its publisher. Stan continues to create new superheroes under the banner of his POW! Entertainment company. Robin S. Rosenberg is a clinical psychologist. In addition to running a private practice, she writes about superheroes and the psychological phenomena their stories reveal. Our Privacy Policy sets out how Oxford University Press handles your personal information, and your rights to object to your personal information being used for marketing to you or being processed as part of our business activities.

We will only use your personal information to register you for OUPblog articles. Or subscribe to articles in the subject area by email or RSS. As Eisner defined it, a costumed crimefighter is a superhero. Or by Stan Lee, for that matter. So what we have here is multiple definitions. Disregarding a limitation is different from disregarding an inclusive criterion.

As I said, Batman was specifically created to capitalize on the success of Superman also not the first superhero and not the reason the word exists, by the way, as both predate Superman so when it used to be said that superheroes meant heroes like Superman that was referring to costumes just as much as powers.

They wear distinctive uniforms and have a uniquely distinctive car. Certainly saving NY and presumably the world from Gozer, Vigo, etc. But then we have to examine why. The Doctor has science fiction abilities, each incarnation has a distinctive outfit, and he even has a secret identity.

So is he a superhero? Again, I say no. Thought Walt disney has the rights to marvel now and owns Spider-Man iron man ect. Superheroes cartoons are the best.