Long, rambling post on superhero conventions

[thormagni]

And I just want to stress that these aren't RULES on how to play a superhero in a superhero world, just the sort of genre conventions and assumptions that are in effect in a standard superhero comic world. I mean, there is no Genre Police that swoop in and take somebody out for breaking these conventions. But breaking them would mean it wouldn't FEEL like a standard superhero setting.

 

[Bob_Probst]

I wonder where the Flaming Carrot lies in the superhero genre. He fits all of the core conventions -- only uses lethal force against MONSTERS (though he's been known to cut off a man's arm with a frozen pizza).

What makes the world of FC different is the utter lack of useful powers. Sure, Scotty can turn into a scottish terrier and Jumpin' Jehosephat can jump really high but when an evil scientist clones Hitler's feet, it's baseball bats, 2x4s and shovels (ultimately the feet are killed when it rains and they all die in their boots)

 

[InzeladunMaster]

Also, say Punisher, Lobo or Wolverine break the no-killing convention pretty frequently.In the case of Punisher or Lobo, you might even say gleefully. Which is what makes them both anti-heroes.

Would that make Conan (of the 70's & 80's Marvel Comics) an anti-hero? I thought it was interesting that in an issue of "What If?" (What if Conan the Barbarian were stranded in the 20th century?), Conan became a crime lord in New York City, but, because of his barbaric code of honour, did not allow his criminals to hurt women. He basically became a protector of New York City (if people paid him his protection money). He had a few run ins with Captain America, but by the end of the issue, Cap asked Conan to join the Avengers...