Poll: Is batman a superhero?
- Thread starter Darkgoosey666
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Exactly.gamefreakbsp said:
Superhero doesn't necessarily have to mean "hero with super-powers", and even if it has, what does "super-powers" mean?
If it's just the ability to do something beyond natural human capabilities, does it matter where that ability comes from?
I take "superhero" as meaning a hero that stands above and beyond any reasonable human standards of heroism. That is to say that not only do they devote their entire lives and even identities to being heroes, but they also have capabilities far beyond anything one could be expected to ever attain.
By my standards, Batman is not just "a" superhero; he's "the" superhero. He doesn't even NEED superhuman powers to take out all manner of super-villains -- He's just crazy enough that he doesn't need to be alienated out of the normal societal proceedings by superpowers and he's just rich enough that he can supplement his genius intellect and Olympic physique with high-tech gadgetry that makes said superpowers unnecessary.
Clearly I voted "Yes".
By my standards, Batman is not just "a" superhero; he's "the" superhero. He doesn't even NEED superhuman powers to take out all manner of super-villains -- He's just crazy enough that he doesn't need to be alienated out of the normal societal proceedings by superpowers and he's just rich enough that he can supplement his genius intellect and Olympic physique with high-tech gadgetry that makes said superpowers unnecessary.
Clearly I voted "Yes".
Heros don't need super powers. Just look at peacekeepers or doctors without borders! Batman isn't majical, but he's brave, and that's a greater and more accesible trait than being able to fly around or whatever.
Batman is a hero, just like we all should be. He's the Terry Fox of Gotham.
Batman is a hero, just like we all should be. He's the Terry Fox of Gotham.
Semantics. That's all I can say to that. Or, to put it differently: Who gives a flying fuck? Wait, that came out wrong, all I mean to say is that when someone says "OMG, you called him a super-hero, that's so stupid, he's not super", the only correct answer is "Whatever".
Depends really. Do you consider high intelligence and a crap load of money super powers? If so then yes, he is. Otherwise no, he is not.
Super means something is superior to the norm.
So think about it; you jump in cold water to save a drowning puppy or baby and you are a hero.
Batman has saved gazillions of people throughout the decades, and did way more incredible things than get his clothes wet. So, YES, he is well superior to any regular kind of hero.
Hence a superhero!
So think about it; you jump in cold water to save a drowning puppy or baby and you are a hero.
Batman has saved gazillions of people throughout the decades, and did way more incredible things than get his clothes wet. So, YES, he is well superior to any regular kind of hero.
Hence a superhero!
it's been stated already by others in different ways, but Batman does indeed have "superpowers". his super power is his willpower. Batman is absolutely indomitable and has more self-control than any real human being, ever.
Definatly. I think part of the problem is that people oftentimes forget that super heroes existed before sequential art. Characters like "Batman" and their gangster busting exploits were inspired by various pulp characters. DC used to stand for "Detective Comics" and Batman was a take on the popular "super detective" concept.Darkgoosey666 said:
One thing to carefully consider is that just because the comics portray him as being a normal guy without powers, doesn't mean that's literally true. I mean this guy is supposed to somehow be a master of every field of human endeavor from Engineering to Martial Arts. Nobody could know or do all of the things that he does within a single lifetime. What's more despite being defined as a "normal person" the guy dodges bullets and stuff. The whole "body armor intergrated into the bat suit" thing is fairly recent. Back when Batman was first invented things like that weren't even seriously conceived of (I think Batman was created back in like the 1930s originally).
When your dealing with "Gadgeteers" understand that both Bat Man and Iron Man routinely ignore the laws of physics. Both of them are basically smarter than any scientist that has ever existed. Of course this is pretty typical for comic books in general (a lot of people are like that). There are versions of Batman where he has literally solved the mysteries of intergalactic travel, and apparently managed to kit bash a "Bat Spaceship" so he could fly from planet to planet alongside characters like Superman.
What counts as a "super power" is debatable, but in general I tend to think that the basic "Hero" in this context is someone who more or less conforms with what people can do in real life. Oh sure it gets ridiculously improbable, but it's vaguely possible. With Bat Man it's not even remotely possible, the guy can get a blood sample from a mutant, and then engineer a retro-mutagen in a couple of hours when in reality it would take teams of scientists a lifetime to do something like that.
Of course it can also be argued that there is no real differance, other than "super hero" being a trademarked term people have associated with a certain type of fantasy. The first "Heroes" I can think of are dudes from Greco-Roman mythology like Hercules, Achilles (from the Illiad actually) and similar characters. Nobody called them "super heroes", yet what made them heroic was the possession of freak powers, typically defined as coming from some kind of divine lineage or intervention. Hercules was part god, Achilles was dipped in The River Styx which made him invulnerable except for one part of his ankle where is mother held him (and thus it never got wet).
