AHC: Powerless Superheroes

A slightly unusual one from me, but here goes. What PoDs are required to make the American comic industry focus much more on 'human' Superheroes (Batman, the Phantom, Green Lantern, etc) rather than 'extraordinary' ones (Superman, Spiderman, X-men, etc).

Edit: Superpowers can come via 'Green Lantern' type (ie, alien artefacts) methods, but must not be conveyed to the individuals themselves.

No-one interested?

I think you might have to re-wire the human psyche to eliminate the millenia-old fascination with magic. To a large extent, I think comic-book writers were just jazzing up the old supernatural motifs from mythology and fairy tales, albeit occassionally with a pseudo-scientific explanation, eg. radiation in Spiderman and the Hulk.

Or, maybe make protestant fundamentalism more of a force in the mid-20th Century(no Scopes Trial?), prompting a stronger backlash against magic and wizardry in children's comics. So, the writers switch to "powerless" heroes as compensation.

Really? Batman turned out pretty good didn't he?

I'd say no. Not now. He's too much Deus Ex Machina. Seriously, any problem, just rub Batman against it and it goes away. This is ANY problem from a grease spot on the drive to intergalactic horror that will devour mankind. Just apply Batman/Superman to ANY DC problem to make it go away.

Would Iron Man count?

Thing is, Iron Man has flaws. Most of them psychological. Batman's just so good that its merrily going into Marty Stu territory.

I mean he managed to OUT FUCKING BLUFF Darksied.... Whilst Starks a genius he's still got human flaws. Batman's flaws is a propensity to put people in hospital and not fucking kill the Joker (I mean seriously..why has no one on the police shot that lunatic yet. In the face. Dozens of times.)

Batman being flawed depends on what book you're reading. If he's with the Justice League, he'll probably be played up so he doesn't look useless. Afterall, he's surrounded by people who can smash planets apart with their fists or run millions of times faster than light and ignore the laws of physics.

Hades said:

Would Iron Man count?

Click to expand...

Yes, because he's got no actual powers, just the suit.

I can see such superheroes - normal people who overcome their limitations - catching on in an individualistic sense. It's almost an aspect of the American Dream - you too can be a superhero, if only you apply yourself. The heroes aren't entirely without abilities, but rather get their 'powers' from a lifetime of dedication to self-improvement.

This will of course limit what they can do to the humanly plausible. 'Magical' superheroes like Superman will remain, but be in the minority, and scathingly referred to by many as impossible, ridiculous, and unentertaining.

Obviously these 'human' stories will need to feature their characters' flaws - real flaws - as much as their strengths, in order to get dramatic tension. With some (though not much) literary merit, realistic plots, and the morally healthy message of self-improvement, I can see these comic books being more widely accepted as a 'normal' part of society.