Strange thing is, I've had the same aspiration since I was a little kid. My friends and I would play super hero games, but I took the idea far more seriously than any of them. I'm still looking for a way to realize that dream, hence my interest in biotechnology, VR, martial arts, and standing tanks.

I dunno, I just found it ironic. Maybe it's a trait common to people with a strong sense of justice. Maybe we just think alike.

Look at the advances of the past ten years. TEN YEARS ALONE saw the rise of the microprocessor. Can anybody really predict what's going to happen over the next ten?

Whatever it is, I suspect it may be quite dramatic.

In any case, I'm not sure that what I feel is simply a desire to better myself. It's a strong desire to protect the innocent and punish the unjust as well, all that corny stuff.

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Maradön? had this to say about Tron:
In any case, I'm not sure that what I feel is simply a desire to better myself. It's a strong desire to protect the innocent and punish the unjust as well, all that corny stuff.

---

It appears that not many people are as idealistic as all that anymore, which is why the standard super-hero comic books have seen such a falling out and off beat titles from inependants, like Spawn, become such a draw.

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Check out the big brain on Kanid!
It appears that not many people are as idealistic as all that anymore, which is why the standard super-hero comic books have seen such a falling out and off beat titles from inependants, like Spawn, become such a draw.

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Spawn was all about that sort of idealism, it also just happened to be ultra-violent.

I have noticed, however, that the X-men seem to sit around talking about thier feelings more than they actually go out and do stuff anymore.

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Maradön? had this to say about Pirotess:
Spawn was all about that sort of idealism, it also just happened to be ultra-violent.

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That level of idealism precluded harming the bad guys. Supes wouldn't hurt someone if he could stop them without hurting them. Spiderman would NEVER harm someone if he could prevent it.

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I have noticed, however, that the X-men seem to sit around talking about thier feelings more than they actually go out and do stuff anymore.

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The only comics I read these days are Star Wars.

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Maradön? had this to say about Captain Planet:
I noticed a while back that in my VR thread you mentioned you wanted to be a super hero.

Strange thing is, I've had the same aspiration since I was a little kid. My friends and I would play super hero games, but I took the idea far more seriously than any of them. I'm still looking for a way to realize that dream, hence my interest in biotechnology, VR, martial arts, and standing tanks.

I dunno, I just found it ironic. Maybe it's a trait common to people with a strong sense of justice. Maybe we just think alike.

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Join. The. Military.

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And I was all like 'Oh yeah?' and Bloodsage was all like:
Join. The. Military.

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I kicked around the idea, but I settled on the conclusion that I really wasn't ready to uproot myself and move off to some far away military academy.

I'm only recently starting to make close friends, and my new girlfriend is wonderful.

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Originally posted by Kanid:
That level of idealism precluded harming the bad guys.

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Correction: That level of idealism precluded harming human bad guys. Bad guys who had some hope of reforming. The denizens of hell itself are hardly that sort of bad guy.

I grew up on the mainstays. DC comics, mostly. Started on The Flash and The Atom, moved on to other books. Drifted to Marvel when DC started to stagnate before they started fixing the universe, had the brief teenaged flirtation with Image comics, and ended up back with DC when they'd gotten their acts together.

Anyways...while most kids are looking up to movie stars or sports stars, I was growing up reading Batman, Flash, etc. And truth be told, I think my heroes were better role models for an intelligent, aware child than sports celebrities or media stars.

And I think that it's because comic books are the modern mythology (mythology is another hobby interest of mine). They teach ideals, they show what's right and what's wrong, and the heroes that last thrive on that ideal-based strength, not on who's the toughest cat on the block.

When you look up to a sports star, what are you really buying into? A guy who may or may not have graduated from college, a guy who's likely tearing his body up to play what's ultimately a game, a guy who may well be into all sorts of drugs or addictions. How many sports stars have gotten caught making illegal bets or the like? How many times can you remember in high school there being jocks who were basing all their hopes and dreams in life on making it in professional sports? And it's all glorified. It's glitzed and glamoured over and it blows over when the next prepackaged superstar moves in.

Media celebrities are the same way. I'm sure a lot of them are nice people with simple interests, but that's not what gets emphasized, is it? They're all played off as having attitudes or being difficult to work with, or being eccentric weirdos, or worst of all as being some sort of royalty. And the worst part is they buy into their own publicity. Yes. Jolly good role models there. Plus there's the constant barrage of wild parties, sophomoric "who's sleeping with whom" and drug use. Just not all that attractive to me.

With comic heroes, if they have faults, then you see it from their point of view, mentally, and understand the conflict from all sides. They have resolutions. Very few times do heroes give up, very few times do they give in, and if they do then it's an event to remember. Ultimately superheroes are epic caricatures of every day life.

Who, for instance, is the Hulk? The Hulk is the very intelligent young man who's weak physically. He's the young man with a lot of pent up anger and frustration, who gets picked on a lot, and who just once would like to get the better of the bullies on their own terms. And those same kids are the ones who'd likely feel the worst if they accidentally hurt someone.

Who's Batman? Batman, aside from being the badass, teaches you that you don't have to aspire to be something you're not. No matter how great the tragedies you've had in your life, you just have to be the best you that you can be to make a difference. Batman has no superpowers; everything he has, he has because he made it himself.

Who's Superman? Superman is the Ideal. Do you know why Superman has never ever been surpassed? Why he's still around today? Superman's around because whether you think he's a big blue and red boyscout or not, you respect him. He's the vanguard. He's the shield. He's the big red S that ensures that all people have the same rights. He's Truth, he's Justice. He isn't Superman because he's Super. He's Superman because he's what ever human, what every man wishes they were. They've explored it. Look at the "Kingdom Come" story.

My personal hero is the Flash, Wally West. He grew up under the wing of HIS hero, Barry Allen, who was the Flash before him. All Wally ever wanted to do was grow up and be the Flash, and then when Barry died saving the multiverse, Wally was suddenly the Flash. It wasn't how he wanted to get the job. No one would give him a break or a chance to see how well he could do the job, and he responded poorly. Was kind of a jerk for a while with a real big ego. But eventually he started getting it together. People started respecting him for who he was, and he learned that the only race in life you have to run is against yourself, and you only have to do it at YOUR speed. He met a wonderful woman who he loved dearly, and literally fought death itself to come back to her. He finally married her, and now he's got everything in life he wanted. So here's this kid from a small town with big dreams and big aspirations, and even though a lot of shit has hit him in his life, and he's had a hard time getting respect, he finally makes it. Stereotypical story, yes, Archetypical. Could even pin it all down to Joseph Campbell's pattern for an Epic hero. But it's the one that struck a chord with me. As I grew up and dealt with trouble in my life, I saw Wally doing the same thing. That's why he's my hero.

Oh, and as for the X-Men...the reason why the X-Men have become more thoughtful than "punch this, punch that" is that they're getting back to their roots. The X-Men, at their core, were always part of a very philosophical story. They're just closer to that philosophical core right now.

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Maradön? had this to say about Duck Tales:
I kicked around the idea, but I settled on the conclusion that I really wasn't ready to uproot myself and move off to some far away military academy.

I'm only recently starting to make close friends, and my new girlfriend is wonderful.

---

Ah, so you like the idea of being a hero--as long as it doesn't involve discomfort, inconvenience, or self-sacrifice? I think you've discovered the difference between "superhero" and "wannabe."

Not a flame, but more of a . . . reality check.

And Maradon, watch Unbreakable if you haven't. Nice take on super heroes in there.

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Ja'Deth Issar Ka'bael had this to say about Captain Planet:
My interest in being a superhero comes from when I was a kid. My mom would egg me on to read novels and Dad would stick comics in my hand (Dad has comics from back when he was a kid, sooo it's sort of a heritage thing) and being a little kid, I read the comics (then read the novels later on).

I grew up on the mainstays. DC comics, mostly. Started on The Flash and The Atom, moved on to other books. Drifted to Marvel when DC started to stagnate before they started fixing the universe, had the brief teenaged flirtation with Image comics, and ended up back with DC when they'd gotten their acts together.

Anyways...while most kids are looking up to movie stars or sports stars, I was growing up reading Batman, Flash, etc. And truth be told, I think my heroes were better role models for an intelligent, aware child than sports celebrities or media stars.

And I think that it's because comic books are the modern mythology (mythology is another hobby interest of mine). They teach ideals, they show what's right and what's wrong, and the heroes that last thrive on that ideal-based strength, not on who's the toughest cat on the block.

When you look up to a sports star, what are you really buying into? A guy who may or may not have graduated from college, a guy who's likely tearing his body up to play what's ultimately a game, a guy who may well be into all sorts of drugs or addictions. How many sports stars have gotten caught making illegal bets or the like? How many times can you remember in high school there being jocks who were basing all their hopes and dreams in life on making it in professional sports? And it's all glorified. It's glitzed and glamoured over and it blows over when the next prepackaged superstar moves in.

Media celebrities are the same way. I'm sure a lot of them are nice people with simple interests, but that's not what gets emphasized, is it? They're all played off as having attitudes or being difficult to work with, or being eccentric weirdos, or worst of all as being some sort of royalty. And the worst part is they buy into their own publicity. Yes. Jolly good role models there. Plus there's the constant barrage of wild parties, sophomoric "who's sleeping with whom" and drug use. Just not all that attractive to me.

With comic heroes, if they have faults, then you see it from their point of view, mentally, and understand the conflict from all sides. They have resolutions. Very few times do heroes give up, very few times do they give in, and if they do then it's an event to remember. Ultimately superheroes are epic caricatures of every day life.

Who, for instance, is the Hulk? The Hulk is the very intelligent young man who's weak physically. He's the young man with a lot of pent up anger and frustration, who gets picked on a lot, and who just once would like to get the better of the bullies on their own terms. And those same kids are the ones who'd likely feel the worst if they accidentally hurt someone.

Who's Batman? Batman, aside from being the badass, teaches you that you don't have to aspire to be something you're not. No matter how great the tragedies you've had in your life, you just have to be the best you that you can be to make a difference. Batman has no superpowers; everything he has, he has because he made it himself.

Who's Superman? Superman is the Ideal. Do you know why Superman has never ever been surpassed? Why he's still around today? Superman's around because whether you think he's a big blue and red boyscout or not, you respect him. He's the vanguard. He's the shield. He's the big red S that ensures that all people have the same rights. He's Truth, he's Justice. He isn't Superman because he's Super. He's Superman because he's what ever human, what every man wishes they were. They've explored it. Look at the "Kingdom Come" story.

My personal hero is the Flash, Wally West. He grew up under the wing of HIS hero, Barry Allen, who was the Flash before him. All Wally ever wanted to do was grow up and be the Flash, and then when Barry died saving the multiverse, Wally was suddenly the Flash. It wasn't how he wanted to get the job. No one would give him a break or a chance to see how well he could do the job, and he responded poorly. Was kind of a jerk for a while with a real big ego. But eventually he started getting it together. People started respecting him for who he was, and he learned that the only race in life you have to run is against yourself, and you only have to do it at YOUR speed. He met a wonderful woman who he loved dearly, and literally fought death itself to come back to her. He finally married her, and now he's got everything in life he wanted. So here's this kid from a small town with big dreams and big aspirations, and even though a lot of shit has hit him in his life, and he's had a hard time getting respect, he finally makes it. Stereotypical story, yes, Archetypical. Could even pin it all down to Joseph Campbell's pattern for an Epic hero. But it's the one that struck a chord with me. As I grew up and dealt with trouble in my life, I saw Wally doing the same thing. That's why he's my hero.

Oh, and as for the X-Men...the reason why the X-Men have become more thoughtful than "punch this, punch that" is that they're getting back to their roots. The X-Men, at their core, were always part of a very philosophical story. They're just closer to that philosophical core right now.

---

................

*is speechless*

(On a sidenote: WOW! IT's like my thoughts were typed, copied, and pasted onto your post! As I said before: WOW!)

For the record I almost got into the BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training) program to be a police officer. Attacking people for not wanting to join the military is pretty low. There's a reality check for you.

No blue fur though.

Much safer as a teacher

I've always wanted to... just be the person who goes by their own rules, not just goes by them, but enforces them. Protects the people their own heart tells them to protect. Dosen't respond to a bat-signal, would shoot the bad guy even if there was hope of reforming. In my (slight) artistic endeavors, those were the types of heroes I would draw, the renegade savior, the fallen angel still doing what THEY beleive is right. These were the types of heroes, of people, I wanted to BE.

I guess what it boils down to is this: I want the ability, the power to not just be more than what I am, but to use that ability, that power for whatever good I agree with. I want to save the world, save the people, but I want to do it however my own soul decides I should. I guess this would make me a villain. I guess this would mean I'd have to break rules. But y'now what? It's still what I want.

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Lyinar had this to say about Punky Brewster:
I would have worried about you as a cop

Much safer as a teacher

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Have you been in a public school recently?

[ 01-27-2002: Message edited by: Rabidbunnylover ]

They're the guys who break the rules in order to enforce them. See, for instance, the Punisher, who guns down criminals.

See also Spawn.

And I think a super hero has a certain responsibility to do something even if they may not quite want to. That's the responsibility they've been given in life. With power comes duty.

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Ja'Deth Issar Ka'bael had this to say about Captain Planet:
Sage...are you attacking Maradon or are you attacking people who don't want to join the military or are you attacking superheroes?

For the record I almost got into the BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training) program to be a police officer. Attacking people for not wanting to join the military is pretty low. There's a reality check for you.

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I'm attacking no one. Really.

Touchy, perhaps?

Military, police, fire department, CDC . . . there are many ways to be a superhero in real life. Given Maradon's initial post, the military sounded the closest to what he described.

Just wanted to point out that wishing to be a superhero is one thing, while going out and doing it is quite another. Opportunities to be one in real life abound.

But it involves discomfort, inconvenience, and self-sacrifice. The aspects of being a superhero everyone ignores, though they're what make the hero a hero.

Not sure what you take me for, but when I say I'm not flaming, I'm not flaming. That's why I say it, you see: so there'll be no misunderstanding.

Neener.

This nerdy kid who by some accident, gets bitten and has super-duper powers and can kick your ass to Wisconsin is really neat. And i like how he deals with emotional problems and different things, I think Spider-Man has delved the most into the lead's psyche, at least in the Marvel world anyway.

In the end with me, it's not whether I enforce the rules and reform the bad guy that matters... it's whether my own code of justice is upheld.

(I'd shoot the hostage )

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Solstyce had this to say about Robocop:
Yeah, anti-hero, that's it. Was thinking of Spawn and Punisher when I wrote that.

In the end with me, it's not whether I enforce the rules and reform the bad guy that matters... it's whether my own code of justice is upheld.

(I'd shoot the hostage )

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Sorry, but "anti-hero" is the wrong word. Anti-heroes still stand for Truth and Justice, but they do it with the gloves off.

What you described is an anarchist. Someone who makes and enforces rules simply because they have the power. It'd be hard to find a philosophy that doesn't label that kind of behavior evil.

Methinks that'd translate into what I'd be like as a superhero. I wouldn't answer a bat-signal. But on the other hand, I wouldn't cause unneccessary pain, hurt, wouldn't be... villainlike, I guess.

There is a code of justice I stand by with everything I have. It's just my own.

The thin line that seperates hero from villain is how others perceive them. To both the true hero and the true villain, they're doing what is right.

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Ruvyen Warblade had this to say about Optimus Prime:
You've really gotta wonder why Supey always wears his underwear on the outside of his pants. Maybe because of his superheroishness, there are so many people in his pants, there's no room for underwear.

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It looks spiffy!

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Dr. Doom isn't really a doctor. In fact, I don't even think he has a degree since he got kicked out of college for blowing himself and his dorm room up. Now he rules a country called Latveria where his turn ons are oppressing the peasants and vaporizing their livestock.

His hobbies include speaking in the third person, building robot versions of himself, and announcing how great he is. For example, if he or one of his robo-clones were to use the bathroom, he(it) would walk out and say, "The inevitable ruler of the world has finished his domination of the toilet." The only way to tell if it was him or the robot is to take a sample of his unstoppable stool. But while you're collecting it, look out. Doom rarely leaves a restroom without planting deadly traps.

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D had this to say about dark elf butts:
"When guys read alot of comic books as they grow up. These aren't just for entertainment, these are career options!" - Some comedian that I can't remember.

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Jerry Seinfeld

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Bloodsage had this to say about Robocop:
I'm attacking no one. Really.

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Really? I certainly felt attacked.

I'm prepared to make sacrifices if it means I can achieve my dream, make no mistake about that, but to put it quite bluntly I don't join the armed services because, physically, I'm a wuss.

I've weighed in at 145lbs since eighth grade. I can't bench press 80. I'm very fast, but I'm clumsy and I have a nervous condition that basically means I do not have a steady hand in the slightest, pretty much ruining my chances of firing a gun with any respectable level of accuracy.

Boot camp would chew me up and spit me out like twice-chewed gum.

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Arrenn Lightblade had this to say about John Romero:
I tend to assume the more neutral role. I am the guy who sells weapons or secrets or whatever. basically, I want self benefit.
*shrugs*

---

Arrenn... run. There are several people chasing after you with flamethrowers...

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Maradön? had this to say about John Romero:
Really? I certainly felt attacked.

I'm prepared to make sacrifices if it means I can achieve my dream, make no mistake about that, but to put it quite bluntly I don't join the armed services because, physically, I'm a wuss.

I've weighed in at 145lbs since eighth grade. I can't bench press 80. I'm very fast, but I'm clumsy and I have a nervous condition that basically means I do not have a steady hand in the slightest, pretty much ruining my chances of firing a gun with any respectable level of accuracy.

Boot camp would chew me up and spit me out like twice-chewed gum.

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When have I ever not meant what I was saying? If I say I'm not attacking anyone, then I'm not.

If you persist in taking it that way, then that's your problem.

Nor were those the reasons you initially gave. So . There's a difference between being physically unqualified (your current reasons) and not wanting the inconvenience (your earlier reasons).

Being a superhero involves more than lounging about enjoying the fruits of cool superpowers, but many neglect the gritty realities even the most unrealistic, 2-D comic book hero has to face.

But that's not unique to this group, either. In 1990, I was rather astonished at how many of my fellow bomber crewmen hadn't considered the reality of what they were training to do. Some--not many, thankfully, but a few nonetheless--had chosen that career for the stability of lifestyle under the glib assumption that B-52s would never be used in combat again.

I thought it would be useful to point out that there is another side to the whole superhero bit. The downsides of sacrifice and responsibility and inconvenience rarely get the airtime they deserve.

There's a difference between having a philsophy, and living a philosophy. That so few people even bother with the former is what makes those who follow through with the latter exceptional.

Making a difference in the world certainly isn't easy, but it's within almost anyone's reach, if they choose to accept the challenge.

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Maradön? wrote this stupid crap:
Really? I certainly felt attacked.

I'm prepared to make sacrifices if it means I can achieve my dream, make no mistake about that, but to put it quite bluntly I don't join the armed services because, physically, I'm a wuss.

I've weighed in at 145lbs since eighth grade. I can't bench press 80. I'm very fast, but I'm clumsy and I have a nervous condition that basically means I do not have a steady hand in the slightest, pretty much ruining my chances of firing a gun with any respectable level of accuracy.

Boot camp would chew me up and spit me out like twice-chewed gum.

---

I've seen some sorry looking people (physically) go into boot camp, and come out a whole new person. Boot camp is 'meant' to chew you up, it's taxing on those who are even in good shape.

Yes, it's hard work. But nothing worth doing is easy. I agree with Bloodsage, join the military

I already told you, Bloodsage, I'm prepared to make sacrifices if it means I can achieve my dream. Don't automatically assume I'm too naieve to realize the reality of what that means.

And frankly there are a lot more reasons I'm reluctant to join the military. Not only because I don't think I'd be suited to it, but also because I'm fairly sure I'd be making sacrifices without achieving my dream.

If America were actually threatened - if I were actually needed in the armed forces - I'd join in a heartbeat. As it stands our military really isn't facing much that can't be solved from the air.

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We were all impressed when Maradön? wrote:
Great, my childhood-dream thread has turned into "My cock is bigger than your cock because I joined the military"

I already told you, Bloodsage, I'm prepared to make sacrifices if it means I can achieve my dream. Don't automatically assume I'm too naieve to realize the reality of what that means.

And frankly there are a lot more reasons I'm reluctant to join the military. Not only because I don't think I'd be suited to it, but also because I'm fairly sure I'd be making sacrifices without achieving my dream.

If America were actually threatened - if I were actually needed in the armed forces - I'd join in a heartbeat. As it stands our military really isn't facing much that can't be solved from the air.

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I think you are over-reacting to what Bloodsage said.

But that's what people do here...over-react