Superheroes around the World CarrieLynn D. Reinhard, PhD. Roskilde University
What is a superhero?
But what about these?
What makes some characters superheroes, and others not? Do they all have to be from the United States?
What do people outside of the United States think about superheroes?
International Survey • Spring of 2009, International survey: – Advertised across different country specific Facebooks, from the United States to Japan, from South Africa to Sweden. – 1000+ partially completed the online survey. – Of this group, only the 112 who answered all the close-ended answers and provided a real country of origin were included in the analysis.
• Discuss: – What defines a superhero? – How well know American superheroes? – What other cultures’ heroes could be superheroes?
What defines a superhero?
Main Definitional Categories • Sanctioned Mission – Engages in missions sanctioned by society/culture in which stories originate – Either as “the calling”, assigned or personally taken up
• Superpower(s) – Possesses some ability that is beyond what a normal human could do with training or technology
• Secret Identity – Engages in mission-related activities under a pseudonym to protect real identity and loved ones
• Codename – Pseudonym, or the operational name given when engaging in missionrelated activities
• Costume Motif – Iconic representation of what the character stands for, is able to do, overall theme/power – Worn in mission-related activities, often to protect real identity
American Superheroes Superhero Superman Batman Wonder Woman Green Lantern The Flash Green Arrow The Martian Manhunter Spider-Man Iron Man Wolverine The Hulk Storm Captain America Ghost Rider Thor Mr. Fantastic The Human Torch Punisher Hellboy The Shadow Zorro
Sanctioned Mission
Superpower(s)
Secret identity
X X X X X X X X X X
X
X X X X X X
X X X X X X X X X X
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
X X X X X X
X
X X
X X
Costume motif Code-name X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
• The percentages of people who agree or disagree or are not certain that the specific characteristic is necessary for defining a character as a superhero. 100%
10
90%
34
80%
55
70% 60%
74
31
39
22
66 32
50%
29
24
40%
21
19
Serve Motivation
13
34
40
37
Original Costume
13
Strong Moral Code
10%
15
Codename
20%
68
25
30%
0%
Tights & Capes
No
Secret Identity
Maybe
Extraordinary Abilities
Yes
How well known are American superheroes?
Recognizing Superheroes: DC 100% 90% 80% 70% 73
60% 50%
96
88
93
80
79
5 5
4 5
40% 30% 8
20%
8 5 2 5
10
13
Aquaman
Wonder Woman
The Flash
Green Lantern
Yes Maybe No Unfamiliar
11
Batman
0%
2 1
4 3 0
Superman
10%
Recognizing Superheroes: Marvel 100% 90% 80% 70% 60%
73 85
73 94
50%
84
64 80
40% 10
30% 20%
2 2 2
10 2
13 13
Thor
5 6 5
7 5 8
Captain America
Spider-Man
Mr. Fantastic
Wolverine
Yes Maybe No Unfamiliar
15
The Hulk
0%
5 5 5
15
Iron Man
10%
7 5
Recognizing Superheroes: Other Comic Book 100% 90%
26
80% 70%
45
55
60
50%
15
40% 13
27
11
14 15
21
21
14
18
12
13
14
19
Ghost Rider
25
13
12
22
14 25
17
19
Silver Surfer
10%
56
Blade
20%
62
22
60%
30%
37
38
25
0% Crow
Punisher
Spawn
Swamp Thing
Hellboy
Yes Maybe No Unfamiliar
Recognizing Superheroes: And Others Still‌ 100% 90% 80% 70%
43
17 7
13
45 51
5,4 4,5
32 34
Zorro
15,2
Mr. Incredible
Tarzan
The Shadow
The Phantom
2
6
17
Dick Tracy
19
0% Yes Maybe No Unfamiliar
13
16
14
20% 10%
75
17
50%
30%
49
54
60% 40%
21
30
What is the reason for such patterns of recognition?
What other cultures’ heroes could be superheroes?
Would-Be, Could-Be Superheroes Superhero?? Ultraman Kamen Rider 1 Power Rangers Gatchaman Sailor Moon The Guyver NERV Samurai Pizza Cats Mamoru Kusanagi Pretty Girl Sammy Witch Hunter Robin Card Capturer Sakura The Knight Sabers Vash the Stampede Voltron Astro Boy Jesus Hercules Robin Hood Beowulf James Bond
Sanctioned Mission
Superpower(s)
Secret identity
X X X X X
X X X
X X X X X X
X X X X X X X X X X
X X X X
X X
X X X X X
X
X X
X
Costume motif Code-name X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
X X
X X X
X
X
X
X
Recognizing Superheroes: Japanese 100% 90%
16
80%
8
70%
18
23
24 38
5 11
64
13
60%
10 14
50% 22
40% 30%
58
61
20%
12
22
56
17
30
10%
20
7
0%
Sailor Moon
Goku
Gatchaman
Power Rangers
Kamen Raider
The Guyver
Yes Maybe No Unfamiliar
42
7
Do other cultures, countries have superheros?
North America Canada: Captain Canuck, Fleur de Lys, Nelvana
Argentina: El Eternauta
Mexico: El Santo, Kaliman, Blue Demon
Europe
Italy: Diabolik, Zagor France: Fant么mas
Spain: El Guerro del Antifaz, El Capit谩n Trueno
United Kingdom: Tank Girl, James Bond, V, Judge Dredd, MarvelMan, Promethea, Sherlock Holmes
Middle East
Israel: Sabraman, Adiri Atchelet
Kuwait: The 99
Asia
Indonesia: Gundala, Gatotkaca, Garuda Putih
Japan: Volton, M.K.R., Akazukin Chacha, Saint Tail, Astro Boy, Godzilla, Saint Seiya, Biomen
China: The 108 Heroes of The Water Margin
Let’s Break It Down…
• Codename: El Santo • Secret Identity: Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta (sorta…)
• Superpower(s): strength, wrestling moves
• Sanctioned Mission: to fight supernatural creatures, evil scientists, criminals
• Costume Motif: silver mask, cape, leggings
• Codename: Gundala • Secret Identity: Sancaka
• Superpower(s): shoot lightning, super speed
• Sanctioned Mission: to fight crime
• Costume Motif: Blue spandex, red boots/gloves, winged ears
• Codename: Robin Hood • Secret Identity: Robert Fitzooth, Earl of Huntingdon, Robin of Loxley
• Superpower(s): marksmanship
• Sanctioned Mission: to ”rob from the rich to give to the poor”
• Costume Motif: green, and a hood
• Codename: Samson • Secret Identity: ... • Superpower(s): tremendous strength
• Sanctioned Mission: to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines
• Costume Motif: his long hair, toga/loincloth
• Codename: Jesus • Secret Identity: Son of God
• Superpower(s): miracles
• Sanctioned Mission: to ease human suffering
• Costume Motif: long hair, beard, simple and flowing garmets
• Codename: Diabolik • Secret Identity: unknown
• Superpower(s): technology
• Sanctioned Mission: to steal from criminals
• Costume Motif: black spandex covers all but eyes
• Codename: Pippi Longstocking • Secret Identity: Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Ephraim's Daughter Longstocking
• Superpower(s): super strength
• Sanctioned Mission: to mock and dupe bad adults
• Costume Motif: long red pigtails, patchwork dress, long stockings
Appropriation versus Parody
Other Appropriations • • • •
La Mujer Murcielago (1968) Japanese Spider-Man (1978) Turkish Superman (1979) Indian Superman (1987)
Parodies • • • • •
Canada’s Mr. Canoehead Superlópez from Spain Falafel Man from Israel Supershlumper from Israel Italian Spider-Man (2008)
To learn more… • International Catalogue of Superheroes http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/ • My writings: http://issuu.com/ourmediapolis