Inspired partly by Watchmen.
Superheroes, the denizens of comic books, the superpowered defenders of justice, have always been revered and hated throughout history, both their's and ours. However, in alternate history most discussion of superheroes is either ASB (which is fascinating in its own right) or Deconstruction, based on the (fairly realistic) assumption that all real-life heroes would have to be sociopaths.
But is there a way to create, in good realistic alternate history, superheroes, starting in the '30s? Obviously there would be no superpowers or insane martial art skills, but could there be some kind of movement in response to the rife organized crime to form vigilante groups that fight crime of all kinds?
Superheroes, the denizens of comic books, the superpowered defenders of justice, have always been revered and hated throughout history, both their's and ours. However, in alternate history most discussion of superheroes is either ASB (which is fascinating in its own right) or Deconstruction, based on the (fairly realistic) assumption that all real-life heroes would have to be sociopaths.
But is there a way to create, in good realistic alternate history, superheroes, starting in the '30s? Obviously there would be no superpowers or insane martial art skills, but could there be some kind of movement in response to the rife organized crime to form vigilante groups that fight crime of all kinds?