Are There TOO MANY Copycat Superheroes?

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[@superluigiac]

Well, of course. Blue Beetle is a prime example.

[@jakejupiter5905]

I forgot about Blue Beetle!... yeah he's pretty good, lots of potential

[@changvasejarik62]

@@jakejupiter5905 I always thought each beetle could be his own era of animation. like the idea of homaging the fleischer era of superheroics with Dan Garrett. Ted Kord could have full series based the showcase blue beetle. While Jaime continues to work with the modern era of animation. As for the lesser known Sara butters red beetle, I’m surprised she hasn’t appeared in Harley quinn with how pointless and obscure she is.

[@danjtrudeau]

For me, there are two issues: 1. The pile-up of spinnoffs/copycats Characters like The Flash and Green Lantern have been established as legacy characters since the beginning of the Silver Age, so having a new Flash or GL, doesn't break new ground. What is new is having a whole host of characters with those titles around at the same time (at least the GL's have been split up). Every superhero doesn't need to come with a squadron of spin off characters in tow. This is especially true of characters like Superman and Spider-Man, who have traditionally been on their own. I wish Gwen and Miles could stick to their own universe and whatever Super Family characters exist were off doing their own thing somewhere else (like Supergirl and Conner used to to). 2. Not every superhero is a legacy Batman is Bruce Wayne, Superman is Clark Kent, and Steve Rogers is Captain America. I can see making Sam Wilson Cap in the movies, as Chris Evans is off the board, but in the comics, he'll always be Falcon pretending to be Cap. If it's not those characters, it will never feel like the real thing. I love Morrison's take on Superman, but I hate them always going back to the idea that there will be legacy Supermen going into the distant future. In the distant future, Superman should be a legend, like King Arthur.

[@IzzysIssues]

I think a conversation about the Lanterns, Novas, Power Rangers, and other similar types of heroes begets a whole different discussion. Most of these characters we know and love are the ones to create their own design, iconography, and mantle based on their own life experience. That's what makes the passing of the torch or training a protégé so intimate and connected. But in those lessons above, they are pre-established roles that are meant to work as a unified force and be somewhat en masse.

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

Some of the examples given are more alternates than copies. There's a big difference, and for some characters the lines are blurred, but many characters who come from the same ideas/from an original character, are clearly different characters, and those are never bad if the universe isn't full of them. You can often tell by the looks and stories if a new character is really new character or not (is a copy) and alternatives are often a great thing....

[@TheComicsPals]

I think for me I often feel like the core concept is diminished by this practice, but there are certainly examples where it’s been done really well.

[@codystork3008]

I am glad you brought up Red Hulk, even making a villainous version of the hero can lead to a legacy situation. Black Adam to me is like the one example... maybe Doc Oc Spidey where overtime even the villain can take up the mantle or just surplant the og hero for a time.

[@TheComicsPals]

How do you feel about the idea of the legacy passing on to a villain like your examples?

[@codystork3008]

@@TheComicsPals In Black Adam's case he pretty much was the default Shazam based charcter for awhile I did not like him working with the JL like he did in Endless winter since they had to retcon why he was helping them . And given the popularity of evil superman analouges I get nervous about replacing the Big Red Cheese with a tyrant. But more generally you either split the audience or create a new audience. Venom created a new one both with the lethal protector and Agent Venom eras while Doc Oc I think splintered the spidey run a little bit. As long as it is a redemption/sacrifice arc for the villian turned hero I think it works but if it is just an excuse to see someone in that suit be extra viscious to thugs then arent we just in an Azrael situation?

[@AminPerez98]

Great discussion! For me, it's about the motivation behind the new character taking up the mantle. If it's organically built up and makes sense within the narrative, it can be fascinating. The Reign of the Supermen gave us four Superman "rip-offs", and they all felt different and unique. They all wanted to become Superman but for different reasons (some even evil). However, as you all mentioned, when it's clear you're just riding off a character's popularity, like Spider-Man, Batman, or Deadpool, it gets annoying. Knowing Spider-Man is one of millions of versions who all happened to be stronger or smarter than him pisses me off. Also, one of the worst trends I'm seeing right now is using the same superhero name for different characters. For me, it just doesn't make sense to have 2 Spider-Man in 616, or 2 Captain America, 2 Flash, 2 Superman, or 2 Batman. To Sean's point about the Superman family, I think they get a pass, since Kryptonians are technically a race. Any new character from Krypton is inherently a "copycat" to Superman in terms of powers, and if they are on the hero's side, it's even more obvious. My issue is that probably the "Last Son of Krypton" title doesn't seem trustworthy anymore.

[@shreyanshdas7481]

I love superhero genre regardless of copycat troupe.

[@TheComicsPals]

We do too!

[@shreyanshdas7481]

@@TheComicsPals really good podcast by the way. Your topics are original. Genuine love for comics.

[@TheComicsPals]

@@shreyanshdas7481 Thanks a lot, I appreciate your kind words.

[@changvasejarik62]

Each character has its fans but legacy characters are like butter on bread and tree branches. If the name is spread too thin it loses favor, and the thought of pruning needs to occur for it to thrive. I was fine with 7 guys named starman because each one had a purpose and knew their place in the story. With green lantern Hal is the face while the others fight for an increasing battle of “lantern of 2814, which one?”(plus if a single planet needs 10+ lanterns it starts to give validity to the “why not put the whole world in a bottle?” Plan. While writers try to balance the Barry and Wally but keep giving Wally the short end either intentionally or unintentionally. Oh, and as far as I care out of the long long list of those who held the title only Billy Batson, Monica Rambeau, and Mar-Vell are worthy of being Captain Marvel.

[@TheComicsPals]

Well said.

[@christopherbyrdakaSuperman]

Some superheroes can be as good as their predecessors, but you can't always copy the originals. For example there will never be another Rogue, there will be Rogues from alternate univereses, but don't count on Rogue and Gambit producing offspring, but there will be alternate versions of themselves and Rogue is one of a kind. Rogue was a experiment that happened to grow unexpectedly popular beyond what she was supposed to be, you can't copy that. If a new character is invented and surpasses Rogue, Marvel will have to experiment and as they throw in ideas, they can add to better the character! It needs to be a mistake or accident that catches the fans fondness, then you expand on that character and raise it up!

[@TheComicsPals]

Totally. I think Ms. Marvel is a great example of a new, organic character that caught fire and is now pretty popular.

[@christopherbyrdakaSuperman]

@@TheComicsPals Part of that is because Marvel won't bring Mar-vell back right away, so Genis- vell and others experimented with the name Captain Marvel. Carol Met Mar-vell then was inspired to become a hero ,so she took the name in his honor. She was lucky because she gained popularity, but there will be others who will carry that name, Rogue is different she is one of a kind unless another southern belle can be cheerful and heroic while appealing to the masses! Now if they ressurect Mar-vell does Carol branch out as a legacy hero, or does she play second fiddle?

[@schm00b0]

I don't care what changes happen to any FICTIONAL characters as long as they serve a good story.

[@TheComicsPals]

Valid!

[@Patrick-wl6pw]

Love dc legs character marvel legs hard get to