Do you like the uber-mensch?

[Phaedrus]

I like the heroes to be competent, and usually super-competent.

I actively dislike stories where the main characters stumble through, not knowing what they're doing, not able to "make it happen," or relying on others.

Someone mentioned Modesitt... I especially like his heroes. They are super competent, but not arrogant or flashy about it, usually hampered by angst or such. It gets repetitive, but I still like it.

 

[Wayside]

I like ubermenschen when they're well done, like Black Willow in Buffy, John Preston in Equilibrium, Clark (at times) in Smallville, etc. I'm all for unstoppable forces of nature, as long as they're interesting.

 

[Staffan]

Sayid on Lost is kinda like that. Apparently, the Republican Guard will train you to be friggin' MacGyver (how'd we ever beat these guys?). He fixed a transponder, built a radio triangulation setup, built some radio thing that Kate broke, fixed an antique computer, and he's an expert torturer to boot.

They have said he was trained as a communications/electronics specialist. All the things you mentioned, except the torturing bit, fall well within the realm of that.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

They have said he was trained as a communications/electronics specialist. All the things you mentioned, except the torturing bit, fall well within the realm of that.

Yeah, I know. He's just so friggin' convenient. He's the dang Professor of Craphole Island, only he doesn't even need coconuts.

"Hey, we got a busted up transponder! Good thing we've got Sayid."

"Hey, there's a completely thrashed computer down here that's older than half the people on this island. This looks like a job for...SUPER-IRAQI!"

I keed .

But really, Sayid pales in comparison to the ultimate twink: James Bond. Have you ever once seen James Bond say "Gosh, I have no idea how to do that." He can do anything. I mean, look at the Mission Impossible movies. Ethan Hunt is pretty twinked too, but he still needs to surround himself with a crew of flunkies to hack computers, seduce somebody, or get him a coffee. Bond doesn't need any of those jerks. He flies solo.

 

[mojo1701]

But really, Sayid pales in comparison to the ultimate twink: James Bond. Have you ever once seen James Bond say "Gosh, I have no idea how to do that." He can do anything. I mean, look at the Mission Impossible movies. Ethan Hunt is pretty twinked too, but he still needs to surround himself with a crew of flunkies to hack computers, seduce somebody, or get him a coffee. Bond doesn't need any of those jerks. He flies solo.

That's why he's Bond.

 

[sniffles]

I actually don't have a problem with these ubermensch types, except when their heroics are limited by bad writing. Phoenix being taken out by various contrived plot devices, then brought in at the last moment as a deus-ex-machina to save the day was bad writing IMHO.

I like it when the uberhero is limited by something more fundamental. In Gandalf's case, for example, it was humility. He was told not to overuse his power (that's not explained in the movies, so if you haven't read the appendices of LOTR then you won't be familiar with his backstory), and he took this completely to heart. It was important that the people of Middle-Earth save themselves, prove themselves worthy, not that a Maia from Valinor save them.

I really enjoyed a large graphic novel a few years ago: Superman, Peace on Earth, by Paul Dini and Alex Ross. It completely demonstrated for me why Superman is a great hero, and why he's not an ubermensch of the type you describe, KB. Superman wants to make the world a better place, and he's powerful enough to destroy armies. But he can't change the way people think or feel, and he can't be everywhere at once. If a writer can use a really powerful hero in that way, rather than as a convenient plot device, then I find it much more enjoyable.

 

[Fast Learner]

Yeah, I know. He's just so friggin' convenient. He's the dang Professor of Craphole Island, only he doesn't even need coconuts.

"Hey, we got a busted up transponder! Good thing we've got Sayid."

"Hey, there's a completely thrashed computer down here that's older than half the people on this island. This looks like a job for...SUPER-IRAQI!"

I keed .

The hidden secret is, of course, that the writers are instead thinking, "we need something for Sayid to do, I know, let's have a need for some electronics," or possibly, "we need a problem that can be solved by one of the characters... I know, let's make it an electronic thing that Sayid can later fix."

Of course there's, "If Sayid ever builds anything, we must smash it before it reveals more than one island secret."

 

[Mallus]

That's why he's Bond.

And even better than Bond... Derek Flint

 

[mojo1701]

And even better than Bond... Derek Flint

The guy who publishes Hustler?

 

[Fast Learner]

No, his brother.