it’s a bird it’s a plane it’s a cliche I
know welcome to watchmojo.com and today
we’re counting down our picks for the
top ten superhero cliches before we
begin we publish new videos every day so
be sure to subscribe for more great
content for this list we’re looking at
the tropes cliches and other recurring
elements that make up superhero stories
these will apply to stories of every
medium and because a few entries might
enter spoiler territory proceed with
caution
spunk loosen your bullshit long conical
number 10 from selfish individual to
selfless hero peril is now officially
compared to lose a few with you many a
hero to be has been a real jerk before
donning the spandex or cape when we
first meet the individual heroes they’re
often characterized by their
self-centered behavior only developing
into better people over the course of
their journey to superheroism laurels
gonna kill me she’s so gonna kill me yes
you’ll never know
good here’s one possible explanation for
the tropes popularity is the fact that
depicting someone developing from
selfish to selfless is a simple but
effective way to demonstrate a
character’s personal growth everyone
likes a tale of redemption right it’s
also a handy way of defining what makes
a hero first showing the character as
obviously unheroic and then having them
discover their own inner bravery and
nobility Oh
seize everything number 9 a personal
connection to the villain in a comic you
know how you can tell who the odds
villains going to be
he’s the exact opposite of the hero and
most times good friends like you remain
keep your friends close and your
villains closer while by no means
limited to superhero stories this cliche
does feature in them heavily having the
villain be someone close to the hero
allows the writers to inject some more
drama into the story very nervous with
coming speak there’s a sense of betrayal
when the bill one is finally revealed as
well as the tantalizing possibility that
the foe will redeem themselves somehow
plus a villain with a personal
connection to the hero offers great
stakes and more emotional investment
from the hero as well as the audience
I’m always loved turn pain you know
number eight intelligence is the
defining characteristic if you ask me
again and I’m not on fire I’m donating
Univ city college in general superhero
IQs tend to be on the high side of the
scale capes often work as scientists
engineers savvy businessmen or you know
all-around problem-solving super
geniuses he’s one of the Midtown
Sciences best and brightest seconds
classes oh thank you then again that
technically makes sense as such minds
are more likely to find themselves in
situations that would result in a
superhero origin be it a science
experiments gone awry or access to
next-level tech even those without
explicitly brilliant minds are typically
more clever than your average Joe or
chain to be fair however any heroes on
the dummer side of things or who rely on
guts alone and who aren’t entirely
invulnerable probably don’t last long
enough to become very popular it’s a
whole new way of looking at physics it
will literally change the way that we
think about everything you gotta get
yourself a contract number seven
exorbitant wealth facilitates their
mission it is not a question of money
see under – and setting some new rules
about the pool there there are plenty of
superheroes that struggle to make ends
meet but let’s face it being rich makes
being a superhero that much simpler it’s
hard enough trying to fight crime in
foil your nemesis as is it becomes a lot
more draining if you have to worry about
getting fired as a result of missing a
shift to save the city plus rich
superheroes just have access to that
many more resources whether it’s loyal
skilled helpers money for supplies and
equipment or a secret property they own
that they can use as a headquarters the
1% have a leg up in most things and
being a superhero is no exception
big man in a suit of armor take that off
what are you genius billionaire playboy
philanthropist number 6 police
resistance stance the Law & Order Sun
that’s what I stand for ok I wear a
badge
this guy wears a mask like a you know
like a like an outlaw vigilante ISM in
the real world is a complex issue with
many factors and argument to consider in
a universe where genuine superheroes
exist though you think that the cops
would be a little more welcoming no no
it’s a pretty common cliche though for
the police to be critical of superheroes
if not outright hostile to them sure
superheroes perform a similar function
to the cops but they’re almost always
just as well if not better equipped to
deal with the criminals particularly if
the criminals have superpowers of their
own you know no matter how well arms
they are we doubt that many police men
are up to facing some of the threats
dealt by the superheroes right
how did you lose it got a lot of
firepower
what nu number five a younger sidekick
Bonita
no speedy Green Arrow’s sidekick well
that makes no sense
holy kid companion plenty of superheroes
fight crime with the help of younger
partners whose comedy can rain from
complimentary and genuinely helpful to
an outright liability the popularity of
the kid sidekick in superhero stories is
likely due to kids being the primary
demographic for superhero comics hey
don’t freak out at least at one time by
including characters closer to the age
of their target demographic comic
creators hopes to give children somewhat
more relatable than these superheroes
themselves who were good role models but
generally older than the target audience
kid sidekicks sometimes go on to become
superheroes in their own right or else
take up the mantle previously held by
the elf partner in those case nothing is
certainly something Robin
let’s see zero zilch goose egg precisely
number four a secret identity to protect
a staple of the superhero mythology is
there’s the superhero and there’s the
alter ego creating another persona is
put us among superheroes the idea is to
keep their identity a secret from their
enemies society and if need be the
police they’re selfless acts of heroism
often come with reprisals either against
them or worse their loved ones and so
preserving their anonymity is paramount
just kid a superhero name a special
costume equipment or a mask are all
popular ways of maintaining that secret
identity
this convention also helps create plenty
of drama particularly if the hero
struggles to eat their activities hidden
from their friends and loved ones this
is one cliche that’s probably here to
stay but there are still some
superheroes that we feel could stand to
up their disguise game number three
death and the inevitable resurrection
they all come back eventually
superheroes just don’t stay dead no
matter how long or how ironclad the
certainty of the death was writers will
always find a way to bring popular
characters back whether it’s explained
by introducing another version of the
character from a parallel universe magic
or an elaborately faked death or
something killing off a superhero is a
good way to create drama as well as
illustrate the impact of the characters
loss on those around them
however if a superhero remains dead no
more stories can be told about them Ange
to borrow a phrase from another genre
dead men tell no tales so the cycle
continues for thy jus
is like the dew of the morning and the
earth shall give birth to her dead
number two dead parents
finding a superhero with two parents is
kind of like finding someone who doesn’t
like chocolate they’re out there but
they’re just kind of hard to find
having dead or absent parents is a
pervasive trope among protagonists of
all kind but superheroes especially
personal tragedy is a powerful way to
inspire someone towards a life of
heroism and losing my parents is a very
popular and direct method of
illustrating just that besides acting as
a motivator being an orphan is also
narrative ly convenient since parents
would be much more likely to discourage
dangerous super heroics at least in the
case of younger heroes classic or
overdone or materials will promptly
remain the norm to teddy today number
one abilities be a freak accident I feel
fear for the last time
[Music]
as William Shakespeare once wrote some
are born great some achieve greatness
and some have greatness thrust upon them
superhero stories have explored all
three but the third is easily the most
prevalent the genres writers love to
show what happens when ordinary people
have their bodies altered to become
extraordinary and these sudden
transformations are frequently the
result of an accident often of the
scientific and or radioactive variety
sometimes the villains will also receive
powers at the same time allowing the
writers to show the contrast between
hero and villain in terms of what they
choose to do with those powers say it
with us Uncle Ben great power comes
great responsibility do you agree with
our picks check out these other great
clips from WatchMojo and subscribe for
new videos every day
[Music]
know welcome to watchmojo.com and today
we’re counting down our picks for the
top ten superhero cliches before we
begin we publish new videos every day so
be sure to subscribe for more great
content for this list we’re looking at
the tropes cliches and other recurring
elements that make up superhero stories
these will apply to stories of every
medium and because a few entries might
enter spoiler territory proceed with
caution
spunk loosen your bullshit long conical
number 10 from selfish individual to
selfless hero peril is now officially
compared to lose a few with you many a
hero to be has been a real jerk before
donning the spandex or cape when we
first meet the individual heroes they’re
often characterized by their
self-centered behavior only developing
into better people over the course of
their journey to superheroism laurels
gonna kill me she’s so gonna kill me yes
you’ll never know
good here’s one possible explanation for
the tropes popularity is the fact that
depicting someone developing from
selfish to selfless is a simple but
effective way to demonstrate a
character’s personal growth everyone
likes a tale of redemption right it’s
also a handy way of defining what makes
a hero first showing the character as
obviously unheroic and then having them
discover their own inner bravery and
nobility Oh
seize everything number 9 a personal
connection to the villain in a comic you
know how you can tell who the odds
villains going to be
he’s the exact opposite of the hero and
most times good friends like you remain
keep your friends close and your
villains closer while by no means
limited to superhero stories this cliche
does feature in them heavily having the
villain be someone close to the hero
allows the writers to inject some more
drama into the story very nervous with
coming speak there’s a sense of betrayal
when the bill one is finally revealed as
well as the tantalizing possibility that
the foe will redeem themselves somehow
plus a villain with a personal
connection to the hero offers great
stakes and more emotional investment
from the hero as well as the audience
I’m always loved turn pain you know
number eight intelligence is the
defining characteristic if you ask me
again and I’m not on fire I’m donating
Univ city college in general superhero
IQs tend to be on the high side of the
scale capes often work as scientists
engineers savvy businessmen or you know
all-around problem-solving super
geniuses he’s one of the Midtown
Sciences best and brightest seconds
classes oh thank you then again that
technically makes sense as such minds
are more likely to find themselves in
situations that would result in a
superhero origin be it a science
experiments gone awry or access to
next-level tech even those without
explicitly brilliant minds are typically
more clever than your average Joe or
chain to be fair however any heroes on
the dummer side of things or who rely on
guts alone and who aren’t entirely
invulnerable probably don’t last long
enough to become very popular it’s a
whole new way of looking at physics it
will literally change the way that we
think about everything you gotta get
yourself a contract number seven
exorbitant wealth facilitates their
mission it is not a question of money
see under – and setting some new rules
about the pool there there are plenty of
superheroes that struggle to make ends
meet but let’s face it being rich makes
being a superhero that much simpler it’s
hard enough trying to fight crime in
foil your nemesis as is it becomes a lot
more draining if you have to worry about
getting fired as a result of missing a
shift to save the city plus rich
superheroes just have access to that
many more resources whether it’s loyal
skilled helpers money for supplies and
equipment or a secret property they own
that they can use as a headquarters the
1% have a leg up in most things and
being a superhero is no exception
big man in a suit of armor take that off
what are you genius billionaire playboy
philanthropist number 6 police
resistance stance the Law & Order Sun
that’s what I stand for ok I wear a
badge
this guy wears a mask like a you know
like a like an outlaw vigilante ISM in
the real world is a complex issue with
many factors and argument to consider in
a universe where genuine superheroes
exist though you think that the cops
would be a little more welcoming no no
it’s a pretty common cliche though for
the police to be critical of superheroes
if not outright hostile to them sure
superheroes perform a similar function
to the cops but they’re almost always
just as well if not better equipped to
deal with the criminals particularly if
the criminals have superpowers of their
own you know no matter how well arms
they are we doubt that many police men
are up to facing some of the threats
dealt by the superheroes right
how did you lose it got a lot of
firepower
what nu number five a younger sidekick
Bonita
no speedy Green Arrow’s sidekick well
that makes no sense
holy kid companion plenty of superheroes
fight crime with the help of younger
partners whose comedy can rain from
complimentary and genuinely helpful to
an outright liability the popularity of
the kid sidekick in superhero stories is
likely due to kids being the primary
demographic for superhero comics hey
don’t freak out at least at one time by
including characters closer to the age
of their target demographic comic
creators hopes to give children somewhat
more relatable than these superheroes
themselves who were good role models but
generally older than the target audience
kid sidekicks sometimes go on to become
superheroes in their own right or else
take up the mantle previously held by
the elf partner in those case nothing is
certainly something Robin
let’s see zero zilch goose egg precisely
number four a secret identity to protect
a staple of the superhero mythology is
there’s the superhero and there’s the
alter ego creating another persona is
put us among superheroes the idea is to
keep their identity a secret from their
enemies society and if need be the
police they’re selfless acts of heroism
often come with reprisals either against
them or worse their loved ones and so
preserving their anonymity is paramount
just kid a superhero name a special
costume equipment or a mask are all
popular ways of maintaining that secret
identity
this convention also helps create plenty
of drama particularly if the hero
struggles to eat their activities hidden
from their friends and loved ones this
is one cliche that’s probably here to
stay but there are still some
superheroes that we feel could stand to
up their disguise game number three
death and the inevitable resurrection
they all come back eventually
superheroes just don’t stay dead no
matter how long or how ironclad the
certainty of the death was writers will
always find a way to bring popular
characters back whether it’s explained
by introducing another version of the
character from a parallel universe magic
or an elaborately faked death or
something killing off a superhero is a
good way to create drama as well as
illustrate the impact of the characters
loss on those around them
however if a superhero remains dead no
more stories can be told about them Ange
to borrow a phrase from another genre
dead men tell no tales so the cycle
continues for thy jus
is like the dew of the morning and the
earth shall give birth to her dead
number two dead parents
finding a superhero with two parents is
kind of like finding someone who doesn’t
like chocolate they’re out there but
they’re just kind of hard to find
having dead or absent parents is a
pervasive trope among protagonists of
all kind but superheroes especially
personal tragedy is a powerful way to
inspire someone towards a life of
heroism and losing my parents is a very
popular and direct method of
illustrating just that besides acting as
a motivator being an orphan is also
narrative ly convenient since parents
would be much more likely to discourage
dangerous super heroics at least in the
case of younger heroes classic or
overdone or materials will promptly
remain the norm to teddy today number
one abilities be a freak accident I feel
fear for the last time
[Music]
as William Shakespeare once wrote some
are born great some achieve greatness
and some have greatness thrust upon them
superhero stories have explored all
three but the third is easily the most
prevalent the genres writers love to
show what happens when ordinary people
have their bodies altered to become
extraordinary and these sudden
transformations are frequently the
result of an accident often of the
scientific and or radioactive variety
sometimes the villains will also receive
powers at the same time allowing the
writers to show the contrast between
hero and villain in terms of what they
choose to do with those powers say it
with us Uncle Ben great power comes
great responsibility do you agree with
our picks check out these other great
clips from WatchMojo and subscribe for
new videos every day
[Music]
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