Why are heroes often orphans?

[Ultimatehero]

I've always been fascinated that society seems intrigued with us (orphans, adoptees). Many superheroes or even heroes, in general, are orphans to some degree. If another parallel could be drawn it's that we're often seen as "aliens" in pop culture as well.

In one regard it's really awesome to have that in common. On another it seems like big shoes to fill. Especially since I was born with a biological <S> in my name. It's made me a fighter, had to overcompensate many times, and right now I'm at a big film studio - big future...

But, still:

Why are heroes often "orphans"?
And, if an "orphan", how has this impacted you?

I see it as a good thing, it's inspiring. It definitely gave me the strength to get where I am.

 

[Anubis]

It's not that many.

I mean, Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, I guess the Hulk, annnndd that's about it.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

There's also James Bond.

 

[Ultimatehero]

Daredevil. Green Arrow. Harry Potter. Luke Skywalker. Tarzan. Hercules. Etc.

If it's something one is watching for, it pops up more often than not - even if it's the half-orphan effect a la missing just one parent. Kirk (Star Trek).

Didn't know about Hulk, other than the Ang Lee version included it.

 

[Anubis]

There's also James Bond.

For the last time, THAT SONOFAB***H AIN'T A SUPERHERO!!!!

Daredevil. Green Arrow. Harry Potter. Luke Skywalker. Tarzan. Hercules. Etc.

Didn't know about Hulk, other than the Ang Lee version included it.

DD's not an orphan. His old man didn't die until he was an adult and his mothers a nun.

Same with GA's parents.

And like James bond, Potter, Skywalker are not Superheroes.

I'll give you Tarzan and Herc though.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

i think the kid said very specifically that he's not JUST talking about superheroes. so yeah, james bond could be applicable here. i think its an archetype addressed in the whole hero's journey thing. like, a lot of the time, the hero is often estranged from the mother usually has to to attone for the sins of the father, herecles, jesus christ, luke skywalker. not to sure why this archetype is so prevalent, but there is a whole book dedicated to analyzing called "the Hero with a thousand faces" by joseph campbell. you might want to check it out if you're interested in that whole thing.

 

[Warhammer]

James Bond, Batman, and Superman were the first things that came to mind when I saw the thread title.

 

[Thundercrack85]

There's a few reasons. The most obvious one is that orphans are much more likely to be independent, which makes them more likely to go off adventuring at a young age. Most heroes start being heroes at a young age.

It also often makes them outsiders, who need to have things told to them. Whic is good for an audience.

The hardships of being an orphan also often means that they learn to have empathy. Though it can also make them bitter and misanthropic, and as a result, you also see a lot of villains who are orphans.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

For the last time, THAT SONOFAB***H AIN'T A SUPERHERO!!!!



DD's not an orphan. His old man didn't die until he was an adult and his mothers a nun.

Same with GA's parents.

And like James bond, Potter, Skywalker are not Superheroes.

I'll give you Tarzan and Herc though.

1. He says heroes, not superheroes.

2. Sean Connery says otherwise about not being a superhero.

i think the kid said very specifically that he's not JUST talking about superheroes. so yeah, james bond could be applicable here. i think its an archetype addressed in the whole hero's journey thing. like, a lot of the time, the hero is often estranged from the mother usually has to to attone for the sins of the father, herecles, jesus christ, luke skywalker. not to sure why this archetype is so prevalent, but there is a whole book dedicated to analyzing called "the Hero with a thousand faces" by joseph campbell. you might want to check it out if you're interested in that whole thing.

That's a great book.

 

[Anubis]

Ohhhh, missed that.

 

[Ultimatehero]

Said heroes in general - also orphaned - whatever the age, could be teenaged. I'd consider the adult case more being in your twenties a la 'Supernatural' to be a reach thus not really fitting in with the rest. Daredevil, or at least one version, had him lose his Dad at 15/16 - comic version would be a stretch, I agree with that one since that's 18/19 I think. To add another, the recent Clash of the Titans (the parents alive, but orphaned type - more adoptee status). I am Number Four - I think, just taken from movie - is Superman type origins.

 

[Anubis]

Well in that case....lots of mofos.

 

[8wid]

Indiana Jones was after his mother died at age 12 because his father was too busy studying the Holy Grail.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

For the last time, THAT SONOFAB***H AIN'T A SUPERHERO!!!!



DD's not an orphan. His old man didn't die until he was an adult and his mothers a nun.

Same with GA's parents.

And like James bond, Potter, Skywalker are not Superheroes.

I'll give you Tarzan and Herc though.

he probably means just "heroes". after all... most superheroes are just the modern day equivalent of mythological ones, often forming a similar pattern of a "heroes journey"

 

[Anubis]

Yeah, we got that.

 

[Spider-Vader]

It makes the hero more tragic & for some of them, gives the hero a reason to fight.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

James Bond isn't really a hero, he's an anti-hero.

He's employed by the MI6 to 'save' the world, but like M stated -- Bond is "a blunt instrument".

At least, that's what I get Craig's Bond.

Egotistical, narcissistic, trigger-happy, cold, etc. The man is only worried about three things:

1.) Completing the mission at any cost.
2.) Getting ass.
3.) Drinking.

Bond's a badass, but not a hero.

 

[Erzengel]

I'm a hero and I'm not an orphan.

 

[Angry Monkey]

It's not that many.

I mean, Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, I guess the Hulk, annnndd that's about it.

This.



It seems like more villains were orphans.

I was an orphan. I was abandoned at age 6 months and adopted at 2 1/2.

I spend my whole childhood blaming myself, and thinking it was fault that I was adopted. That it was my fault that my birth mother didn&#8217;t want me, that I was somehow defective.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

so lets see...

-Spidey
-Batman
-Robin
-Superman
-Captain America
-Daredevil (quasi counts.. he wasnt as young as most children heroes.. but still counts)
-Elektra
-Bond
-Harry Potter
-Luke and Leia Skywalker
-Scott and Alex Summers
-Tarzan
-Wolverine
-Hercules
-Moses
-Claire Bennet from Heroes sort of was.. though her parent weren't killed and she found out later in life she was adopted..
-Storm
-Hulkling
-Wiccan and Speed sort of were
-Mogli (jungle book)
-Blade
-Hulk
-Dorothy of Oz

also, Rogue and Nightcrawler were both Orphaned... but not Orphans if that makes sense.

 

[Thundercrack85]

You should make a list of all the orphan villains too while you're at it.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

You should make a list of all the orphan villains too while you're at it.

that i know less about... otherwise i would.

-Penguin (at least in tim burtons)
-Magneto (that's pretty much where it ends for me.. )

 

[8wid]

Don't forget Short Round, Indiana Jones technically, Green Lantern, Anakin Skywalker.

This phenomena in literature is strangely like in the 1980s and 90s after parents either died, went missing somewhere far off, or were divorced when the kid protagonists were introduced.

 

[Angry Monkey]

(NOT a superhero comic)

Villian: Lord Voldemort.



2,000 TH POST!!!!!

 

[Thundercrack85]

that i know less about... otherwise i would.

-Penguin (at least in tim burtons)
-Magneto (that's pretty much where it ends for me.. )

Voldemort, Dr. Doom, Lex Luthor (self-made in some stories), Darth Vader (sort of) just a few off the top of my head.

Orphans are incredibly common in fiction.