Steve Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 I've been working on the background concepts for a recent-emergence (a year or so since superhumans first appeared) superhero campaign, and one of those background items is the history of superhumans. I'm trying to think of a good name for the first costumed superhuman, and I'm a little stuck. Since he is the first, with your basic Flight/Invulnerable/Super-Strength powerset, I've been considering the name Advent or maybe Majestic, but I'm also trying to imagine what the papers would name him if he didn't name himself first. What would be a good name for the first superhuman? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kahuna's bro Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero depends on his powerset that mightgive him an idea of a codename Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero How about Vanguard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DusterBoy Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero or Prime? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnaskar Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero Depending on how close your campaign is to reality I think the media would name a flying brick Superman. Most people would get the reference, and it's the sort of nick name that would stick. If he got to name himself on the other hand: Invincible, Paladin, Guardian, Guardian of Justice, or Defender. Vanguard is cool, too, but Lord Liaden beat me to it. Or maybe he's use some nickname, in joke or military call sign. A more religious dude (or dudete; the first being a female brick would be an unusual touch) could go for Salvation, Templar, or something biblical (David, Goliath or Adam spring to mind). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDestiny Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero Depending on where the hero comes from, Gilgamesh may work too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korvar Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero I can see him being named by the press a "modern-day Samson", "a modern-day Hercules", and so on... Depends exactly when and where he appears... (He? Does it have to be a he?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermit Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero I can see him being named by the press a "modern-day Samson"' date=' "a modern-day Hercules", and so on... Depends exactly when and where he appears... (He? Does it have to be a he?)[/quote'] You could also take Korvar's excellent suggestion and have the press mix in those old titles heroes more often wore in the golden age leading to things like "Captain Hercules" "Mr. Samson" or "Lady Atlas" etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranxerox Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero How about simply Super. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Querysphinx Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero Depends on which Media gets hold of him first. What would Faux News call him as opposed to Ms. NBC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Hero Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero How about simply Super. "He's Super! Thanks for asking!" (Big Gay Al, South Park) lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clonus Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero My version of that idea ended up just being called "Hero", because that was the headline. "Costumed Hero Saves Hundreds". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted October 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero Thanks to everyone for help. I'm going to go with LL's suggestion of Vanguard because it covers several things I am looking for: an iconic feel akin to Superman, showing that this superhero is the first of the Age of Superhumans, and it sounds good. Hero was another good idea, and I could have also gone with Champion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StGrimblefig Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero It may also depend on the time that the first supers appear. The "zeitgeist" of the 30s or 40s would yield a different name than, say, the 70s or 80s. The former would mean simpler, more "pulp"-ish names, while the latter would be more colorful. In my background, the first acknowledged super hero in the modern era appeared in 1938, and was called simply, "the Brawler." His only power was near-invulnerability, so he waded into the badguys with fists a-flyin' -- thus the name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted October 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero It may also depend on the time that the first supers appear. The "zeitgeist" of the 30s or 40s would yield a different name than, say, the 70s or 80s. The former would mean simpler, more "pulp"-ish names, while the latter would be more colorful. In my background, the first acknowledged super hero in the modern era appeared in 1938, and was called simply, "the Brawler." His only power was near-invulnerability, so he waded into the badguys with fists a-flyin' -- thus the name. The beginning of the Age of Superhumans in my campaign write-up was about a year ago. I could imagine a headline being something like "Vanguard of a New Age?" with a picture of said superhero flying away from his first major public appearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckem Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero I was going to suggest 'Alpha' but it appears you have made your decision. Vanguard sounds good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt the Bruins Posted October 5, 2010 Report Share Posted October 5, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero Too late to the party, but I was going to suggest making him a her and naming her Brick House. (She's mighty mighty.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero Patient Zero, then Patriot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrestlinggeek Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero Was the campaign world the same as the real world up until then? The same comic books and everything? If so, a good name for the first superhero (especially a flying brick), could be Archetype. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero You could call him Super Dude or even just the Dude if you're into that brevity thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escafarc Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero You could call him Super Dude or even just the Dude if you're into that brevity thing. And if his powers are Focus based he would be the Dude with the Thing and we know where that leads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrestlinggeek Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero And if his powers are Focus based he would be the Dude with the Thing and we know where that leads. Kill the Dude with the Thing!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kahuna's bro Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero Kill the Dude with the Thing!!! wouldn't that put the human torch or mr fantastic in danger, those dudes are ALWAYS with the thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Desmarais Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero For my Neptune City setting, the first super-powered hero was named Centurion. The name was a bit of a play on words with regards to his origin - he comes from one century in the future. (He's a modern-day "Superman" type who got thrown back in time and was unable to return). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fbdaury Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 Re: Naming the first superhero Always meaning to get around to my Superman-esque homage, have always planned on calling him Paragon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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