Superhero Cliche's

[Maccabe]

What is your favorite superhero cliche'

[Hermit]

The very idea of good triumphing over evil is considered by some cliche', but I do love it

Aside from that...

• A thin strip of cloth or even glasses is enough to hide your dual identity from the world
• Your romantic interest maybe danger prone, angst ridden, and/or evil, but he/she is almost always a hottie
• Long speeches don't slow down a fight

[freakboy6117]

I love the revealing teh origin an reapeting it cliches I think the best interpretation of this I've seen recently is in sleeper where the main chartecter is a sleeper agent in a villanous organisation and during down time on operations the superpowered enforcers exchange origin stories to pass the time.

[McCoy]

Venerable superhero cliche #16: "Any villian, if popular enough, will reform, team up with former advsaries, and finally get their own title."

One of the best campagines I ever ran included Foxbat as a teammate for the PC's.

[Doug McCrae]

There's so many I like. Here's a sample:

Talking gorillas, signature weapons, lost civilisations, speech balloons on covers, costumes based on playing cards, theme groups, villains with all the powers of a hero team, alternate Earth versions of superheroes.

Probably my favourite is the colourful costumes. I'm not sure if this counts a cliche, though, as it might be an absolute staple of the genre

[winterhawk]

My favorite is when a Rogue's Gallery of normally individual villains team up to fight the lone hero.

[Bengal]

The lengthy retelling of origin is an important bit. Nothing says superheroes like the retelling of the origin. Gloating over the hero in a death trap... and for that matter, the death trap itself. Telling the hero exactly what you're going to do once he's in the death trap, since of course, he won't be able to stop you.

Grabbing an innocent bystander as a hostage.

The secret escape route (I never understood why people like Dr. Doom would ever make one of these for themselves- they don't anticipate ever losing).

Glasses = witness protection program

Radiation accident = superpowers

Nerds always get the powers; police officers and soldiers rarely do.

Superwomen never wear enough clothing to get them into a dance club, let alone fight crime with. Even the smart ones. For that matter, every woman who gains superpowers immediately becomes a bimbo. Not that I'm complaining, mind you... but when you see Silver Sable fighting crime in her super-nightie, it stretches credibility.

The detective will always have exactly the right gadget to get out of whatever situation he's in, no matter how implausible. (Example: Batman once beat Mr. Freeze with a thermos of chicken soup he had since he has a cold that day.)

[TheEmerged]

Point of Clarification. Are we talking about genre conventions or cliches?

Genre conventions are things that are 'just true', even when they make no real-world sense. The thing about glasses & masks is a genre convention, as are the skin-tight & colorful costumes.

Cliches are things that are "so done they're overdone". Talking monkeys/apes/etc is a long-time superhero cliche. The incredibly/impossibly attractive and almost as nosy/meddling girlfriend is also a cliche.

[Madstone]

My favorite would probably have to be the Evil/Counter versions of the heroes.

The one that drives me absolute ape$#!t is the exploding headquarters when the villain is defeated. (Especially in the movies!)

[Southern Cross]

I don't think I have a favourite cliche....

[wcw43921]

My favorite is when a Rogue's Gallery of normally individual villains team up to fight the lone hero.

And the hero beats them all, showing how magnificently awesome he is.

Yeah, I like that too.

[The Owl]

Comic-based movies taught me that leather/PVC/outright fetish pants are incredibly flexible and comfortable. In fact, the more leather/PVC you wear, the more agile and awesome you are.

Ninjas ALWAYS feel the need to tell people that they are ninjas.

Guns are the suckiest weapon in the universe. They don't work against most monsters and most normal humans only receive minor injuries. Any other weapon, including weapons not taken seriously since the 14th century, or even a paper plate if you happen to be Jackie Chan, is more heroic. And likely to do more damage.

[Bengal]

I almost forget two of the better ones!

Superheroes who meet by accident usually have to have a fight before they recognize each other, even if they work together regularly.

The Recruitment Drive. This one makes no sense to me at all, but it always interesting.

[Vorsch]

I agree with madstone, the evil twin/clone/copy syndrome, either your reverse in powers or more commonly just plain better at your schtich than you are.

I never meet evil twins cos i hate them so much all ( as a element ) i will kill them regardless of ANYTHING. I am the evil twin BWHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.... err sorry about that.

[Trebuchet]

The one that drives me absolute ape$#!t is the exploding headquarters when the villain is defeated. (Especially in the movies!)

Yeah! Darn that J.R.R. Tolkein guy for introducing that tired old cliché! "Dark Lords", "Rangers", "Elves", "Halflings", I could go on and on. I mean, the whole supposedly classic "Lord of the Rings" trilogy is just blatant plagarism of Dungeons and Dragons™.