What Makes A Great Superhero?

I recently came across an article entitled, Stan Lee Explains What Makes A Great Superhero? It is an interesting question, and of course, when someone like comic book pioneer Lee speaks on it you’d best listen.

Some of the key qualities that I noted in the short clip (the full interview can be found on Ora.tv) are:

• “Care-able:” Yes, I made up a word. But Lee is simply stating that you must care about the lead character.
• Likable: The character must have “it.” An idol is someone that a man/woman wants to either be with or be like. All great superheroes have this quality.
• Relatable: S/he must be someone you can relate to. They must feel “real.”

I’ll break down each of these key qualities and cite examples on-screen, where these qualities have been exemplified.

“Care-able”

Empathy is not something one would immediately think a hero would necessarily need. And in many cases, they don’t nor do they want your empathy (a brooding, distant character like Bruce Wayne/Batman comes to mind), but it’s not about what they want. But what we want to give them.

In the aforementioned case of Batman, despite his vigilante status and grim exterior (the dude wears black and speaks in a gravely voice for Pete’s sake!), we still feel sorry for the young orphan who witnessed the murder of his own parents. Not only do we care about him, we are actually cheering for him on his seemingly endless crusade for retribution (against all criminals) and redemption (of Gotham, his parents’ beloved city).

Likable

It’s really simple. If you like someone, you will tend to root for them. There’s no secret why most superheroes and/or their alter egos are either extremely good-looking, very rich, super smart, or just darn right stand-up guys and gals. Superman is the epitome of this archetype.

Clark Kent is the nicest of nice, while Superman is basically a knight in shining armor with no physical or character flaws. He’s almost too good to be true, but that’s why we like him. And it’s also why I detested the Man of Steel, but I digress.

Relatable

Although Tony Stark/Iron Man is arguably the most likable comic book movie character that we have ever seen, a self-proclaimed narcissist who refers to himself as a “billionaire, playboy philanthropist,” isn’t exactly someone that the common man or woman can relate to.

But the super-rich and super-powerful aren’t the only ones who get our love and admiration. Marvel has done an excellent job of depicting realistic, grounded characters who range from hard-working military men (Falcon and War Machine) or just regular, and sometimes flawed people, like ex-con Scott Lang/Ant-Man who becomes a superhero in order for a second shot at being a better father to his daughter.

Super soldiers, omnipotent aliens and super rich, self-made power players have built-in gravitas which make them special. They embody much that we aspire to be but may not have the resources or natural ability to become. But that’s why we love them, they fight the battles we can’t.

But for my money, and in line with the great Stan Lee’s thinking, if your heroes aren’t “care-able,” likable or relatable, you will have some problems winning over the masses. I think this is something that every iteration of Fantastic Four has struggled with, and something that no comic book movie maker should take lightly.