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11 types of superhero origins
15 years ago
I think that I have found the only 11 different sub categories of different types of super hero origins.
The Tragic Experience Hero - They had a very traumatizing experience that suddenly changed their life forever. They are not out for revenge, but instead now just want to stop injustice and protect the innocent.
The Grandfathered Hero - Either their father or grandfather was a hero and now they are. That or they were once the sidekick of a superhero, or former hero, and now they are either taking on the mantle of the old superhero or are trying to make a name for themselves as a superhero.
The Crazy Hero - They don't really need a reason, sometimes its just fun... and besides... they crazy. Also sometimes they just figure that they are good at being a super hero, so why not?
The Revenge Seeker Hero - Someone killed someone else or did something horrible to this hero, so they are out for revenge in some form and to stop a lot of bad guys while making the world safe or whatever.
The Justice Seeker Hero - They mean to uphold justice, usually because they feel that regular law enforcement just isn't enough.
The Attention Seeker Hero - They want to be a hero for the glory, though sometimes they come to realize that its not all about the glory and attention they would get.
The Mutated Hero - They were either born a mutant, or they were mutated to have powers, or were somehow granted powers by another means and used that to be super heroic, because now they have the power to be so.
The Alien Hero - From another world and come to ours through some means and they mean to uphold justice as a superhero for whatever varied reason that they might have.
The Created Hero - created in a lab, sometimes a robot, sometimes a genetically engineered being of some sort, sometimes sent from the future also, but they were made with the sole purpose of acting as a hero.
The Repenting Hero- They have to make amends for something that they either did, or had someone else do. Possibly a former super-villain that seeks to fight on the side of good now.
The Forced To Be A Hero- Self explanitory. They are forced by some or something into a destiny as a hero, that they do not want, but most of the time come to terms with. Sometimes forced by the government to join up with a government sponsored hero-team. Sometimes they are forced by an extra-dimensional being. Sometimes by a phantom or other means, but usually that had no intention of being a hero and, like it or not, they are a super hero now.
I think that is really the only 11 types. sometimes its just one of the above reasons and sometimes it is several combined into one origin story. Those are all the ones I can think of. Can you think of any others that would not fit into any of these categories?
Perhaps an example?
The Tragic Experience Hero - They had a very traumatizing experience that suddenly changed their life forever. They are not out for revenge, but instead now just want to stop injustice and protect the innocent.
The Grandfathered Hero - Either their father or grandfather was a hero and now they are. That or they were once the sidekick of a superhero, or former hero, and now they are either taking on the mantle of the old superhero or are trying to make a name for themselves as a superhero.
The Crazy Hero - They don't really need a reason, sometimes its just fun... and besides... they crazy. Also sometimes they just figure that they are good at being a super hero, so why not?
The Revenge Seeker Hero - Someone killed someone else or did something horrible to this hero, so they are out for revenge in some form and to stop a lot of bad guys while making the world safe or whatever.
The Justice Seeker Hero - They mean to uphold justice, usually because they feel that regular law enforcement just isn't enough.
The Attention Seeker Hero - They want to be a hero for the glory, though sometimes they come to realize that its not all about the glory and attention they would get.
The Mutated Hero - They were either born a mutant, or they were mutated to have powers, or were somehow granted powers by another means and used that to be super heroic, because now they have the power to be so.
The Alien Hero - From another world and come to ours through some means and they mean to uphold justice as a superhero for whatever varied reason that they might have.
The Created Hero - created in a lab, sometimes a robot, sometimes a genetically engineered being of some sort, sometimes sent from the future also, but they were made with the sole purpose of acting as a hero.
The Repenting Hero- They have to make amends for something that they either did, or had someone else do. Possibly a former super-villain that seeks to fight on the side of good now.
The Forced To Be A Hero- Self explanitory. They are forced by some or something into a destiny as a hero, that they do not want, but most of the time come to terms with. Sometimes forced by the government to join up with a government sponsored hero-team. Sometimes they are forced by an extra-dimensional being. Sometimes by a phantom or other means, but usually that had no intention of being a hero and, like it or not, they are a super hero now.
I think that is really the only 11 types. sometimes its just one of the above reasons and sometimes it is several combined into one origin story. Those are all the ones I can think of. Can you think of any others that would not fit into any of these categories?
Perhaps an example?
=p
...its like the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme comes with a doctorate now
My all time favorite "Hero" would be Rincewind from the Discworld. He's a little "forced to be a hero" (He just wants to be left alone, but the gods keep messing with him.) and a touch of anti-hero. Being born and raised in Ahnk-Morpork does that to anyone.