I just saw a post which listed the "superhero" along with "space science fiction" and "aliens", so how would most authors differentiate "superhero" from someone with mysterious abilities from another world? Are they the same thing, or do the characters need to wear their underpants over top of their suit so they have somewhere to tuck those damn capes into? ;)
so how would most authors differentiate "superhero" from someone with mysterious abilities from another world?
I can't speak for other authors. For me, "Superhero" would be more about how they use their abilities than where the abilities come from.
Don't forget, a number of major superheros in both the DC and Marvel universes are aliens.
That makes sense, but the added 'sci-fi' and 'alien' tags seem to imply something other than a traditional superhero story. So I was wondering whether I misinterpreted the copes or I was just missing something entirely.
But yeah, your point makes the most sense, as a superhero story IS a superhero story, so that may well diminish any other tags as secondary labels.
That makes sense, but the added 'sci-fi' and 'alien' tags seem to imply something other than a traditional superhero story. So I was wondering whether I misinterpreted the copes or I was just missing something entirely.
Here's how I would interpret the combination of superhero + sci-fi + alien:
You have an alien doing superhero (or perhaps supervillain) things that derives their abilities not from their alien biology (Superman, Martian Manhunter), but from alien technology far beyond what humans have achieved. Think Batman or (if you prefer Marvel) Ironman from outerspace.
The other possibility that comes to mind, is a superhero story set in the distant future. Think DC's Legion of Super-Heroes, where you have a Justice League style superhero group, but the stories are set in the 30th and 31st centuries in the midst of an interstellar civilization.
That's the thing, as the 'advanced alien technology' is part and parcel of the whole sci-fi and/or fantasy genres (where the protagonists are instead transported to an 'strange land'), whereas 'superhero' stories are more straightforward and more narrowly defined.
Hell, I've written quite a few 'alien tech stories', without ever touching a single superhero tale (of my own, that is).
That's the thing, as the 'advanced alien technology' is part and parcel of the whole sci-fi and/or fantasy genres (where the protagonists are instead transported to an 'strange land'), whereas 'superhero' stories are more straightforward and more narrowly defined.
Again, for me, it comes down to what are you doing with the alien tech? If you are using alien tech in on a current era earth to play superhero, it's a superhero story with science fiction elements.
Here's how I would interpret the combination of superhero + sci-fi + alien:
There's no requirement that alien applies to the superhero, only that there are aliens in the story. A human superhero might be fighting against the Daleks, for example.
AJ
There's no requirement that alien applies to the superhero, only that there are aliens in the story.
You have a point, but there are enough superheros in the Marvel and DC universes that are alien in origin that it wouldn't be my first thought.
Technically, the Daleks were 'intelligent machines' and NOT actually alien beings, yet it's been a long time since I watched the show, so again, my memory is pretty hazy on the topic now.
Technically, the Daleks were 'intelligent machines' and NOT actually alien beings
The Daleks are a made-up alien race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Daleks are aliens from the planet Skaro, integrated within a tank-like metal casing. Source (spit!).
AJ
Yeah, as a 'yank', Northern American, we only get the series long after it aired (typically several years), so it was rarely the most recent, as most have already moved on from those specific episodes, and the comments typically reflected that.
Yeah, as a 'yank', Northern American, we only get the series long after it aired (typically several years), so it was rarely the most recent, as most have already moved on from those specific episodes, and the comments typically reflected that.
I believe that was the case prior to the 2005 revival. Since then it normally would be days at the most between an episode seen in the UK and one seen in the USA. Granted, to see an episode here you might need a subscription service like Disney+.
Granted, to see an episode here you might need a subscription service like Disney+.
I believe the most recent series, and perhaps the one before it too, were a collaboration with Disney. Naturally it went overboard with woke crap and viewing figures are through the floor despite the bigger budget.
Ncuti Gatwa has left, possibly not of his own choice. Allegedly he'd like the James Bond role, but I can't imagine James Bond wearing dresses.
AJ
No, but Jane Bondie, agent 69, would, wearing dresses, stockings and possibly high heels, all without the appropriate undergarments (as the women have to work three times as hard to get half the accolades, and part of that extra effort would also be either 'under the covers', 'under the table' or even 'over the bathroom sink'.
Speaking as a Yankee (by any definition you care to use), Daleks have always, ever since their first appearance in original Who, been organic aliens piloting mechanical pepper-pot exosuits.
I haven't even seen NuWho. Except for like three episodes of the Disney "Who", before I dropped it forever, not because of the "'"woke"'", but because it was completely fucking stupid. And I'm saying that as someone who recently watched the entire surviving original Who on tubi, including the bit where they spent like half a season on people in terrible insect costumes doing interpretive dance and talking nonsense in affected voices. which was at least entertaining in that "what were they on when they wrote this?" way.
eta: In some of the original episodes, the protagonists actually hijacked Dalek exosuits.
Here's how I would interpret the combination of superhero + sci-fi + alien:
The plot a movie that came out in 2012 "The Avengers" is a combination of those three elements.