Why do you like Superheores?

[Deoscillate]

I am writing an essay for my English class that answers the question: Why are superheroes so popular? As one of my sources, I would like to take a survey and ask people why they like superheroes so much. That has led me here, a board dedicated to superheroes. Along with others sources of information, I hope to find some sort of explanation as to what attracts people to superheroes. I will be asking five questions and hope to get as many people as possible to participate. I will stop my data collecting Friday 6PM EDT at the latest. If you still want to do the survey after that, go ahead, but that your data won't be used in my essay. Thanks in advance for those that participate.

1.)Who is your favorite superhero and why? (Choose one superhero)

2.)Who is your least favorite superhero and why? (Choose one superhero)

3.)Do you want to be like your superhero in some form or another? (yes/no)

4.)What is your preferred Medium and why? (ie. Comic, Movie, TV, etc.)

5.)What is your least preferred Medium and why? (ie. Comic, Movie, TV, etc.)

I would like the answers in this format:

1.) *Your answer here*

2.) *Your answer here*

...

 

[Pink Ranger]

1.) The Hulk: there's something inherently fun about a character who is both a hero and a monster, basically a big giant baby with the strength of gods who is still technically human

2.) Reed "Mr. Fantastic" Richards. He seems like such a constant reminder of the most antiquated aspects of the 1950s; paternalism, male privilege, industrial progress without foresights, etc.

3.) No

4.)I haven't bought a comic book in years, but for me that is still the best medium for these stories. Comics allow you to go on tangents, have long plot arcs, have skys-the-limit action sequences.

5.) TV, by default. While I enjoy many of the new TV shows about comic book heroes, this sub-genre is still finding its place, and still seems rather "small" to me. However, if we're opening this up to all forms of media, I would have to say the stage (i.e. the Spiderman musical, the aborted Batman musical). I don't know what the hell they were thinking trying to make stage shows out of these.

 

[gwynplaine]

Welcome to the Hype.

1.) Batman, because I love the Joker and they "complete" each other.
2.) Robin, I think Batman works better as a loner, just like the Joker, (looking at you Harley Quinn.)
3.) I wouldn't mind being a billionaire playboy vigilante but I like my parents alive too, so no.
4.) Probably still Comic Books, even though one of my favorite incarnations of the Joker is Heath Ledger in TDK.
5.) TV, even though I loved Netflix's Daredevil, but is it exactly TV?

Good luck with your essay.

 

[flickchick85]

1.) Superman/Clark Kent, because unlike so many superheroes, he's not defined by some traumatic event. He's lost both his biological parents, one adopted parent, his entire race and native planet, is an alien with no one in his world to relate to and therefore has more reasons to angst than anyone, yet he still remains well-adjusted, moves on with his life and makes new relationships like an adult. Despite his god-like powers, he's a modest farmboy with simple dreams - good friends, good wife, good job. And speaking of those god-like powers, I like how with a character than can basically do anything, most of his best stories don't care so much about what he CAN do so much as what he SHOULD do, and therefore like the best Greek myths can make for great morality plays on human nature.

2.) Batman/Bruce Wayne, because I don't like how other heroes are often dumbed down or powered down to make him look good. And because I find the majority of his "Bat-family" AND his rogues gallery more engaging/interesting than him.

3.) Yes, I want to have the inner-strength Superman constantly displays when dealing with the hardships in life and maintain his general positive outlook.

4.) Comics are my preferred medium, because they aren't limited by time (like movies) or by budget (like TV). The possibilities are endless.

5.) TV, for now, because creators still tend to be stuck in the past with how they look at superheroes and almost always trend toward the cheesy side. They never seem to live up to their character's potential, in large part I'm sure due to budget/network constraints. Daredevil is a recent exception to this, and if superhero TV is going to be heading in that direction, then it won't be my least-favorite medium for much longer.

Best of luck with your essay!

 

[RetrogradeOrbit]

Happy to contribute...

1) Absolutely, hands down, Spider-Man.
2) Captain Marvel (DC) - Never been able to get into the character.
3) ALways wanted to be Peter Parker. So, yes. Probably due to the fact that he has this inner strength and bravery that nobody sees, they just assume he is some kind of pathetic nerd/geek, at least in the early days.
4) Comics, with movies and TV a tie for second place. I grew up reading comics.
5) My least preferred medium (for superheroes) is probably cartoon, I find the variance in quality of animation to be distracting.

 

[psylockolussus]

1.) Psylocke because she is fierce, bad-ass, mysterious and she's amazing!

2.) Iron Man, I just don't find him interesting and he doesn't really have a superpower, he build suits, I find it boring

3.) Yes, I want to be a X-Man! Mutant and proud!

4.) Live-action films because they are easier to follow and I just prefer seeing superheroes in big budgeted live-action films

5.) TV, like in cartoons I only watched the X-Men/Fantastic Four cartoons. Then for the live-action TV shows, I don't watch the DC shows and I find Marvel Studios television shows a bit overrated.

 

[TX85]

1.) Batman-He has an interesting double life where he's a billionaire playboy that runs a major company and is seen as just a rich jerk but is also secretly a vigilante/super hero known as Batman,I find it very interesting that he's himself as Batman while Bruce Wayne in public is the true mask. He's very intelligent,An inventor,Highly skilled martial artist,Extremely good at detective work,Never gives up no matter what and usually lives by his biggest code of not taking a life.He doesn't have super powers but has a variety of awesome and high tech gadgets&vehicles. I also really dig his whole brooding/serious aspect and that he's psychologically disturbed.

2.) Booster Gold

3.) Being a billionaire and able to be a vigilante of his level would be nice.

4.) Comics but I think films are actually very closely behind

5.) TV ain't bad but it's just my least favorite medium