Superhero - Antecedents. The origins of superheroes can be found in several prior forms of fiction. Many share traits with protagonists of later Victorian literature, such as The Scarlet Pimpernel and Sherlock Holmes. Penny dreadfuls, dime novels and other popular fiction of the early twentieth century featured mysterious, swashbuckling heroes with distinct costumes, secret identities and altruistic missions. These include Zorro, the Scarecrow of Romney ...

See also:

Superhero, Superhero - Common traits, Superhero - Common costume features, Superhero - Superheroes outside America, Superhero - Character subtypes, Superhero - Divergent character examples, Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books, Superhero - Antecedents, Superhero - Golden Age, Superhero - Silver Age, Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero, Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s, Superhero - Growth in diversity, Superhero - Female characters, Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters, Superhero - Gay characters, Superhero - Diversified teams, Superhero - Treatment in other media, Superhero - Film, Superhero - Animation, Superhero - Live-action television series, Superhero - Radio, Superhero - Prose, Superhero - Computer games, Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia II - Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books

See also:

Superhero, Superhero - Common traits, Superhero - Common costume features, Superhero - Character subtypes, Superhero - Divergent character examples, Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books, Superhero - Antecedents, Superhero - Golden Age, Superhero - Silver Age, Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero, Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s, Superhero - Growth in diversity, Superhero - Female characters, Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters, Superhero - Gay characters, Superhero - Diversified teams, Superhero - Treatment in other media, Superhero - Film, Superhero - Live-action television series, Superhero - Animation, Superhero - Radio, Superhero - Prose, Superhero - Computer games, Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia II - Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books

A range of attributes are commonly part of a superhero's make-up, although they are by no means definitive (see Divergent character examples). Most superheroes have a few of the following features: Extraordinary powers and abilities, mastery of relevant skills, and/or advanced equipment. Although superhero powers vary widely, superhuman strength, the ability to fly, enhancements of the senses and the ability to project energy of some kind are all common. Some superheroes, such as Batman and Green Hornet, possess no superpowers b ...

See also:

Superhero, Superhero - Common traits, Superhero - Common costume features, Superhero - Superheroes outside America, Superhero - Character subtypes, Superhero - Divergent character examples, Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books, Superhero - Antecedents, Superhero - Golden Age, Superhero - Silver Age, Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero, Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s, Superhero - Growth in diversity, Superhero - Female characters, Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters, Superhero - Gay characters, Superhero - Diversified teams, Superhero - Treatment in other media, Superhero - Film, Superhero - Animation, Superhero - Live-action television series, Superhero - Radio, Superhero - Prose, Superhero - Computer games, Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia II - Superhero - Common traits

A superhero is a fictional character who is noted for feats of courage and nobility, who usually has a colorful name and costume and abilities beyond those of normal human beings. A female superhero is called a superheroine. Since the definitive superhero, Superman, debuted in 1938, the stories of superheroes - ranging from episodic adventures to decades-long sagas - have become an entire genre of fiction that has dominated American comic books and crossed over into several other media. Superhero - Common t ...

Including:

Superhero - Common traits
Superhero - Common costume features
Superhero - Character subtypes Superhero - Divergent character examples Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books
Superhero - Antecedents Superhero - Golden Age Superhero - Silver Age Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s
Superhero - Growth in diversity
Superhero - Female characters Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters Superhero - Gay characters Superhero - Diversified teams
Superhero - Treatment in other media
Superhero - Film Superhero - Live-action television series Superhero - Animation Superhero - Radio Superhero - Prose Superhero - Computer games
Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia - Superhero

A range of attributes are commonly part of a superhero's make-up, although they are by no means definitive (see Divergent character examples). Most superheroes have a few of the following features: Extraordinary powers and abilities, mastery of relevant skills, and/or advanced equipment. Although superhero powers vary widely, superhuman strength, the ability to fly, enhancements of the senses and the ability to project energy of some kind are all common. Some superheroes, such as Batman and Green Hornet, possess no superpowers b ...

See also:

Superhero, Superhero - Common traits, Superhero - Common costume features, Superhero - Character subtypes, Superhero - Divergent character examples, Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books, Superhero - Antecedents, Superhero - Golden Age, Superhero - Silver Age, Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero, Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s, Superhero - Growth in diversity, Superhero - Female characters, Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters, Superhero - Gay characters, Superhero - Diversified teams, Superhero - Treatment in other media, Superhero - Film, Superhero - Live-action television series, Superhero - Animation, Superhero - Radio, Superhero - Prose, Superhero - Computer games, Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia II - Superhero - Common traits

Superhero - Film. Main article: Superhero films Superhero films began as Saturday movie serials aimed at children during the 1940s. The decline of these serials meant the death of superhero films until the release of 1978‘s Superman. Several sequels followed in the 1980s. A popular Batman series lasted from 1989 until 1997. These franchises were initially successful but later sequels in both series fared poor ...

See also:

Superhero, Superhero - Common traits, Superhero - Common costume features, Superhero - Superheroes outside America, Superhero - Character subtypes, Superhero - Divergent character examples, Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books, Superhero - Antecedents, Superhero - Golden Age, Superhero - Silver Age, Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero, Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s, Superhero - Growth in diversity, Superhero - Female characters, Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters, Superhero - Gay characters, Superhero - Diversified teams, Superhero - Treatment in other media, Superhero - Film, Superhero - Animation, Superhero - Live-action television series, Superhero - Radio, Superhero - Prose, Superhero - Computer games, Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia II - Superhero - Treatment in other media

In superhero role-playing games (particularly Champions), superheroes are informally organized into categories based on their skills and abilities. Since comic book and role-playing fandom overlap, these labels have carried over into discussions of superheroes outside the context of games: "Martial Artist": A hero whose physical abilities are mostly human rather than superhuman but whose combat skills are phenomenal. Some of these characters are actually superhuman (Daredevil, Iron Fist) while others are normal human beings who ...

See also:

Superhero, Superhero - Common traits, Superhero - Common costume features, Superhero - Superheroes outside America, Superhero - Character subtypes, Superhero - Divergent character examples, Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books, Superhero - Antecedents, Superhero - Golden Age, Superhero - Silver Age, Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero, Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s, Superhero - Growth in diversity, Superhero - Female characters, Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters, Superhero - Gay characters, Superhero - Diversified teams, Superhero - Treatment in other media, Superhero - Film, Superhero - Animation, Superhero - Live-action television series, Superhero - Radio, Superhero - Prose, Superhero - Computer games, Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia II - Superhero - Character subtypes

In superhero role-playing games (particularly Champions), superheroes are informally organized into categories based on their skills and abilities. Since comic book and role-playing fandom overlap, these labels have carried over into discussions of superheroes outside the context of games: "Martial Artist": A hero whose physical abilities are mostly human rather than superhuman but whose combat skills are phenomenal. Some of these characters are actually superhuman (Daredevil, Iron Fist) while others are normal human beings who ...

See also:

Superhero, Superhero - Common traits, Superhero - Common costume features, Superhero - Character subtypes, Superhero - Divergent character examples, Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books, Superhero - Antecedents, Superhero - Golden Age, Superhero - Silver Age, Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero, Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s, Superhero - Growth in diversity, Superhero - Female characters, Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters, Superhero - Gay characters, Superhero - Diversified teams, Superhero - Treatment in other media, Superhero - Film, Superhero - Live-action television series, Superhero - Animation, Superhero - Radio, Superhero - Prose, Superhero - Computer games, Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia II - Superhero - Character subtypes

From their birth until the early 1960s, superheroes largely conformed to the model of lead characters in American popular fiction in the first half of the 20th century. Hence, the typical superhero was a white, middle to upper class, heterosexual, professional, young-to-middle-aged man. A majority of superheroes still fit this description but, in subsequent decades, many minority characters have broken the mold.

Superhero, Superhero - Common traits, Superhero - Common costume features, Superhero - Superheroes outside America, Superhero - Character subtypes, Superhero - Divergent character examples, Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books, Superhero - Antecedents, Superhero - Golden Age, Superhero - Silver Age, Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero, Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s, Superhero - Growth in diversity, Superhero - Female characters, Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters, Superhero - Gay characters, Superhero - Diversified teams, Superhero - Treatment in other media, Superhero - Film, Superhero - Animation, Superhero - Live-action television series, Superhero - Radio, Superhero - Prose, Superhero - Computer games, Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia II - Superhero - Growth in diversity

Superhero - Film. Main articles: Superhero films, and [[{{{2}}}]], and [[{{{3}}}]], and [[{{{4}}}]]See also:

Superhero, Superhero - Common traits, Superhero - Common costume features, Superhero - Character subtypes, Superhero - Divergent character examples, Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books, Superhero - Antecedents, Superhero - Golden Age, Superhero - Silver Age, Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero, Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s, Superhero - Growth in diversity, Superhero - Female characters, Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters, Superhero - Gay characters, Superhero - Diversified teams, Superhero - Treatment in other media, Superhero - Film, Superhero - Live-action television series, Superhero - Animation, Superhero - Radio, Superhero - Prose, Superhero - Computer games, Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia II - Superhero - Treatment in other media

From their birth until the early 1960s, superheroes largely conformed to the model of lead characters in American popular fiction in the first half of the 20th century. Hence, the typical superhero was a white, middle to upper class, heterosexual, professional, young-to-middle-aged man. A majority of superheroes still fit this description but, in subsequent decades, many minority characters have broken the mold.

Superhero, Superhero - Common traits, Superhero - Common costume features, Superhero - Character subtypes, Superhero - Divergent character examples, Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books, Superhero - Antecedents, Superhero - Golden Age, Superhero - Silver Age, Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero, Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s, Superhero - Growth in diversity, Superhero - Female characters, Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters, Superhero - Gay characters, Superhero - Diversified teams, Superhero - Treatment in other media, Superhero - Film, Superhero - Live-action television series, Superhero - Animation, Superhero - Radio, Superhero - Prose, Superhero - Computer games, Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia II - Superhero - Growth in diversity