Superheroes.
Because they're so PREDICTABLE and convenient. Someone has epic powers, or is granted them, and has to come to terms with them. They also have to learn to cope with "normality" in a world where people don't flinch at giant monsters, monorail crashes and vapid, manipulative women. Along the way they will encounter an enemy or an ordeal that is always (conveniently) slightly less powerful than they are.

And I know you're going to mention those instances where the form is subverted, but it's always conscious of that, and when you're watching it there's nothing to set it apart from a pastiche.

I don't understand how the same movie can be released twice every year with slightly different "superpowers", and still get rave reviews. Let's have something with a bit of plot, please!!

//end rant
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Thu 15 Oct 2009, 15:19, 9 replies)

I sort of agree
especially in the case of Superman. An immortal, flying, susper-strong man with lasers for eyes? Yeah, that's a fair fight coming isn't it.

At least batman was just clever, fit and very very rich. But then he's a costumed vigilante, not really a super hero.
( Mockingbird Practitioner of SCIENCE, Thu 15 Oct 2009, 15:24, closed)

Yeah
I kinda don't count Batman as a superhero as he wasn't granted superpowers, he kinda earned them (training etc.) But it does annoy me how he has an endless supply of money for bat-themed gadgetry.
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Thu 15 Oct 2009, 15:26, closed)

Superman does get some bad rep
They had to work through it but eventually realised that you need something 'cosmic' to challenge him and they toned down his powers a bit (notably the speed). When they killed him off (I know they brought him back, shush for now) it wasn't a macguffin, it was just brute power overwhelming his (finite) resitance to damage.
( Cadmus has teh uplikn coeds at, Thu 15 Oct 2009, 19:51, closed)

2 comcis for you to read:
"The Boys" Funny comic, portrays superheros how they wold actualy be irl.
and
"The Midnighter" A gay anarchist superhero.

Brilliant stuff from both.
( Crap Little Monkey Deathstar, so good they built it twice, Thu 15 Oct 2009, 15:54, closed)

Thanks :)
I'll look out for them.
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Thu 15 Oct 2009, 16:03, closed)

The boys!
Ennis at his best!
(Dangerous Disco Trev Isn't my real name, Fri 16 Oct 2009, 15:57, closed)

They are all metaphors for adolescence
so they 'speak' to each generation afresh.

Yup, they bore me too.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Thu 15 Oct 2009, 16:07, closed)

Hollywood destroying comic storylines..
..forever

Oi!, Spielberg, NO!!!
(danniekavanagh did nothing constructive on, Thu 15 Oct 2009, 16:23, closed)

I do understand the attraction to Superheroes,
but I clicked, as this is enlightening in a way.
( Herr Tezcat, Thu 15 Oct 2009, 16:33, closed)