Resenting superheroes, and the real world

[Rackhir]

Doesn't that pretty much define every public figure in the world? Movie stars, politicians, religious leaders; all these people, or just the offices they hold, are able to influence our lives, and many of them are trying to do good. But after enough time we start to take them for granted and assume they're just not doing enough.

I just wonder how many superheroes we've shunned because "they're not doing enough," when we ourselves aren't even trying to affect the world on the same scale.

I don't really recall seeing public figures raked over the coals, because they hadn't solved all of the worlds ills. I think generally speaking people hold the authority figures and celeberties to fairly reasonable standards, if they don't actually let them get away with more than they ought to.

Though this may cross over the line into politics it did - Plane Sailing

Look at how much damage they cause while fighting villains. Even mundane crooks. The property damage these people cause is unbelievable.
How much would it cost to repair the fascade of all those buildings damaged by Spiderman and Doc Ock in S2? The train, tracks and the whole works. How much damage was done in Batman Begins?
Next time you watch one of those movies, pay attention. Because even when they're just running along, they're damaging the streets, rooftops, breaking pipes, destroying cars, etc.

They always made a point of showing how much property damage The Tick was causing when he and Arthur were traveling about The City. When he went to Europe on an exchange program they got quite upset with him over that.

 

[Dagger75]

Like someone didn't you see The Incredibles. Thats the whole movie.

Also in City of Hereos there are billboards that basically say "Where you injured by a superhero. Call us and we can get you money."

 

[KenM]

I think there was an old issue of X-Men where Juggernuaght and Collous(sp?) were fighting in a bar, everyone runs out of the bar. As the bulding is collapsing around the supers, the owner is telling another guy: "of course I have super hero insurance. Can't have a business in New York city without super hero insurance."

 

[Chimera]

I don't really recall seeing public figures raked over the coals, because they hadn't solved all of the worlds ills.

Then you aren't paying much attention, are you.

Not an attack, just saying that I see people (usually brain dead Hollywood types) raking politicians over the coals nearly every day because they haven't wiped out poverty, eliminated disease, stopped all wars, etc.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

There's a really great anthology of superhero stories that came out several years back (titled, appropriately enough, "Superheroes"). One of the stories deals with a hero who comes to save the world, and ends up being sued by just about everyone involved because of the collateral damage he caused.

Actually, several of the stories deal with these "real world" issues. Pretty good anthology. Kind of sad, but I believe you'd see that exact same sort of scenario if there really were superheroes.

 

[Rackhir]

Then you aren't paying much attention, are you.

Not an attack, just saying that I see people (usually brain dead Hollywood types) raking politicians over the coals nearly every day because they haven't wiped out poverty, eliminated disease, stopped all wars, etc.

I should have been more specific, I meant the public didn't do that. There are obviously partisans on both sides of every issue.

 

[Arashi Ravenblade]

Collateral damage should be the least of your worries when someone needs to stop...
Doomsday
Starconquerer
Starbreaker
Darkseid
joker
bane
gorrila grodd
senistro
galactus
magneto
onslaught
apocalypse
and any number of other would be world destroyers. If these or other such super beings had not been defeated, the world wouldnt need to worry about fixing collateral damage, the world would have been the damage.
Collateral damage is the price the supers ( and the rest of comic earth) pays for their saftey.
Same thing goes for our world, when somone or something rises up to challenge the good and welfare of the people, a little collateral damage is nothing compared to what could have happened if the threat was not stopped no matter how small or how powerful.
Our own real world sports its own long list of villains and i for one am thankful for the collateral damage caused if such vileness and evil is defeated.
Sure others might have been killed in the process of defeating evil but who would have died if the heroes had done nothing.

 

[Klaus]

This whole topic was, for me, settled in JLA #1-4, "New World Order", the opening arc of Grant Morrison's legendary run.

In a nutshell: The alien Hyperclan arrives on Earth and starts correcting lots of things, like turning the Sahara into farmland to feed the hungry and whatnot. Needless to say, things aren't what they seem. In the end, the Big Seven (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter) ponder about their roles in the world. Superman says that they aren't there to carry humanity to great heights, for that might cause humanity to depend on them too much and let go of its drive to climb towards greatness. To which Flash asks "What are we here for?". Superman answers "To catch them if they fall".

 

[Filby]

This is under the assumption that the heroes involved never do anything to make up for collateral damage. After Superman tears up Metropolis fighting Bizarro, you think he's just going to chill out in the Fortress of Solitude? No -- he's more than capable of rebuilding everything that gets broken. Likewise, if the Trickster detonates a bomb in Central City's city hall, the Flash can grab loose bricks, mortar them back in place, rewire the electrical systems, fix the plumbing, et al, all before landing the first punch. Who says the capes don't care about the damage they cause?

 

[LogicsFate]

Surely some of the cities the heros reside in have good samaritan laws, if you try your best no one can sue you, it's a pretty sweet racket