Xander Harris Precedents

[roguerouge]

Are there any comic book characters or mythic figures that have no superpowers that fight the good fight?

I'm thinking of characters like Xander: no powers, no special privilege or extraordinary skills or training, not a lover or family member, must fight in combat with the hero(ine) or alone. That excludes characters like Aunt May (relative, doesn't fight), Alfred the Butler (doesn't fight), Batman (special privilege, training, skills), Arthur from the Tick (powered by suit), Mary Jane Watson (lover), Enkidu (special martial skill), and Nick Fury (excluded due to government privileges).

Is Xander without precedent or am I missing someone?

 

[Rackhir]

Are there any comic book characters or mythic figures that have no superpowers that fight the good fight?

I'm thinking of characters like Xander: no powers, no special privilege or extraordinary skills or training, not a lover or family member, must fight in combat with the hero(ine) or alone. That excludes characters like Aunt May (relative, doesn't fight), Alfred the Butler (doesn't fight), Batman (special privilege, training, skills), Arthur from the Tick (powered by suit), Mary Jane Watson (lover), Enkidu (special martial skill), and Nick Fury (excluded due to government privileges).

Is Xander without precedent or am I missing someone?

Actually it isn't entirely true that Xander had no powers, there was the Halloween episode where they all became what ever costume they were wearing and Xander became GI Joe or something like that. At least some of the knowledge/skills stuck around, because it was what let them use a rocket launcher to blow up some monster that was immune to weapons "forged" by man.

But yes this is largely the case. However, most of the Doctor's companions could fall into this category. Though obviously most of the time they aren't directly fighting the menaces. That is the only one that springs to mind at the moment.

 

[Umbran]

I would argue that Xander qualifies as family - maybe not in terms of genetics, but in terms of emotional closeness - he and Willow are Buffy's "chosen family".

But, setting that aside, looking for precedents...

Jimmy Olsen (from Superman)
Rick Jones (from the Hulk)
Commissioner Gordon (it isn't as if being a cop in Gotham qualifies as "privilege")

 

[Ed_Laprade]

By discounting money you've counted out most of the Mystery Men from the golden age of comics. (Lots with no powers, but plenty of money.) Doc Savage is out, but what about his companions? (Ok, they're all geniouses in their fields and former military, so they're probably out.) Not so, however, his cousin Pat. (Oh, wait, she's rich too. But do you count owning a posh beauty saloon as being privledged in this context?)

 

[GSHamster]

Samwise Gamgee - Lord of the Rings

 

[Brown Jenkin]

But yes this is largely the case. However, most of the Doctor's companions could fall into this category. Though obviously most of the time they aren't directly fighting the menaces. That is the only one that springs to mind at the moment.

Specifically Leela was much more combat oriented than the Doctor. Sarah Jane Smith developed enough (like Xander) to take on more as the series advanced, eventually getting her own show.

Would Dick Tracy count or do all his gadgets make him like Batman?

There is Elektra who has had heavy martial arts training.

There is also the Punisher who certainly has no super powers.

Edit: Looking at another thread there is the Lone Ranger, which would also bring in Zorro as well. Also in Literature there is Conan and John Carter of Mars.

Going back in history there are plenty of heroic mortals who fought monsters and kept up the good fight. From the Greeks like Jason, Perseus, and Oddyseus, to the Norse with Beowulf, and the British with King Arthur and his Knights.

 

[Rackhir]

Specifically Leela was much more combat oriented than the Doctor. Sarah Jane Smith developed enough (like Xander) to take on more as the series advanced, eventually getting her own show.

Would Dick Tracy count or do all his gadgets make him like Batman?

There is Elektra who has had heavy martial arts training.

There is also the Punisher who certainly has no super powers.

Edit: Looking at another thread there is the Lone Ranger, which would also bring in Zorro as well. Also in Literature there is Conan and John Carter of Mars.

Going back in history there are plenty of heroic mortals who fought monsters and kept up the good fight. From the Greeks like Jason, Perseus, and Oddyseus, to the Norse with Beowulf, and the British with King Arthur and his Knights.

no special privilege or extraordinary skills or training, not a lover or family member, must fight in combat with the hero(ine) or alone.

Most of those violate these conditions above. The OP is specifically looking for char with no special training or skills or abilities (at least to begin with). Not just ones that aren't superheroes.

Allmost all of the characters you mention do have special skills, training or abilities.

Leela was a highly trained warrior so she wouldn't count.

Sarah Jane would since she had no special training (though I always hated her because all she ever seemed to do was cower and whine. Oh gods the whining).

 

[Villano]

Dr. Watson (of Sherlock Holmes fame).

Madam Fatale. A golden age heroine. Well, actually, a hero. He was Richard Stanton, an actor who fought crime disguised as an old woman. The idea was that his foes would underestimate his speed and strength. His only "special" skill was his acting ability.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Most of those violate these conditions above. The OP is specifically looking for char with no special training or skills or abilities (at least to begin with). Not just ones that aren't superheroes.

Allmost all of the characters you mention do have special skills, training or abilities.

Leela was a highly trained warrior so she wouldn't count.

Sarah Jane would since she had no special training (though I always hated her because all she ever seemed to do was cower and whine. Oh gods the whining).

As has been pointed out earlier the example of Xander is equally highly trained. If you are looking for totally untrained instead the list is very small and I would have to second Samwise Gamgee as well as Frodo, Bilbo, Merry, and Pippen as well. If Xander is allowed then others with Military training are valid as well which puts most of my list back in play.

 

[Felon]

Are there any comic book characters or mythic figures that have no superpowers that fight the good fight?

I'm thinking of characters like Xander: no powers, no special privilege or extraordinary skills or training, not a lover or family member, must fight in combat with the hero(ine) or alone. That excludes characters like Aunt May (relative, doesn't fight), Alfred the Butler (doesn't fight), Batman (special privilege, training, skills), Arthur from the Tick (powered by suit), Mary Jane Watson (lover), Enkidu (special martial skill), and Nick Fury (excluded due to government privileges).

Is Xander without precedent or am I missing someone?

For some odd reason, you seem to be fixated on the superhero genre, even though Buffy is more closely associated with the horror genre. Obviously, the superhero genre isn't going to yield a buch of unextraordinary people (although the Inferior Five had Merryman...). Beyond that, some of your disqualifiers are pretty questionable--why is it important to separate family and lovers from people who are just good friends? Does Arthur having a suit that, for the most part, just sends him crashing into stuff really qualify him as extraordinary?

In the horror genre, it's pretty common for normal, unextraordinary people to be the protagonists. In films, you have Rippley from the Aliens films. In TV, there're the main characters from Friday the 13th, Jack and Micki. In literature, geez, you could go all the way back to Jonathan Harker from Dracula.

And then there's always the original Scooby gang--Fred, Velma, Daphne, Shaggy, and Scooby (I suppose Scrappy would be disqualified for possessing "puppy power").