Taken from the ‘Heroes need love and understanding’ forum...

TOPIC / THREAD: Changing perceptions after the fact

Anna_taz:
Here’s my problem. I only date other heroes, because normals just wouldn’t understand my crazy life or why I’m always in my stage outfit even on my day off. A long time ago I did some morally frowned upon stuff and it’s since resurfaced in the present. Now it seems that every guy I meet already has a tainted perception of me. I used to have a kind of fun, harmless life of the party image, but now...How do I change their minds without REALLY changing their minds?

Magic_redhead:
I had a similar experience, although I’m not really in the dating scene. I’m still trying to make up for it and make the one who matters understand that I was only motivated by love.

Pale_majesty:
I’ve always been considered a bit of a bitch in professional circles. I was the other woman and to make matters worse my powers are similar to his then wife and she’s (almost universally beloved). So, people like to compare her ‘saintly’ use of her powers to my perceived ‘borderline ethically questionable’ use of my powers.

Anna_taz:
Thanks guys. Is there anything more specific I can do?

Flying_quiver:
Anna_taz: I don’t know you and lack enough details about your situation, but here’s my two cents. There are a lot worse deeds than posing for a playboy spread.

Pale_majesty: I don’t know you either, but judging from your username (majesty?) you have a HUGE opinion of yourself. So, my advice to you is simple: Get over yourself. Yeah, you’re borderline alright...

Magic_redhead: You, I do know. It’s my life’s greatest regret that I never caught on to how unquestionably batshit crazy you were and possibly still are!

Cap_amorous (moderator):
To Flying_quiver: Son, the user who owned that moniker died once and never renewed his membership. I don’t know who you are, but you’re NOT him. I’m going to lock your IP address out of this forum permanently. God bless America.

Lime_cupid:
'...died once and never renewed his membership.'  Huh?
Cap_amorous, I don’t think that death isn’t quite the impediment to forum participation you think it is. Trust me.

Raving_bAD:
Lime_cupid: Actually, Cap should know you’re right as well, considering what’s gone on with him...

Anna_taz: As someone who has also done more than his share good intentioned misdeeds, I can tell you that Magic_redhead (hi) is right. Btw, are you new here? I haven’t seen on this forum before and I’m always trawling for topics. I’d never judge you. Can I send you a private message to set up a coffee date? I know this café in Paris with the best espresso. Maybe we can fly there for a cup...together?

I_Malone:
Anna_taz, don’t be so mysterious. Give us more detail. Please be as specific as you can about everything. Use this as ‘practice run’ for when you tell your next partner your side of the story. That’s the only way to change perceptions about you. Say what you are thinking. I always try to do this in my relationships.

Anna_taz:
I_Malone, do I know you?

Lime_cupid:
Raving_bAD, does Anna_taz really need to know you? You sound like a capitalist tyrant who thinks that you can buy everyone. Grab a clue card: You can't! Trawling, indeed.

I_Malone, you’re scaring everyone on this forum with your thinly veiled fascist interrogation tactics.

The Other Superdickery

Disclaimer: This post has absolutely positively nothing to do with http://www.superdickery.com/  (a site that is well known for its analysis of comic book covers and its contention that Superman is a dick on occasion).

No, this post is focused on the dickery that certain comic fanboys have perpetrated. I’ve reread some examples of this phenomenon recorded on the blogosphere and this is by far the biggest example of such dickery this year (thus far).

The above link makes the following type of reaction to interacting with comic fanboys at comic book conventions and signings all the more understandable (and visually apt). Okay, so she isn’t a comic artist, but I bet every comic book pro (writer or artist) feels like this on the inside when some creep pulls a stunt like this.

It occurs to me that Comic book pros are easier targets than say movie directors or actors, because of their convention appearances and lack of bodyguards to beat up jackasses.

Btw, I like Rob Liefeld. Sure, his art isn’t always consistent, but what he did for X-force has yet to be matched.

Rob co-created Cable. Pretty poppular character.

Rob created Deapool. This is one of the most popular characters of recent decades and Mister Liefeld deserves a lot of credit for that.

Which two characters have starred in a title (as DEMANDED by fans)?

Rob is a great creator. A much better creator than Artist. His work on the Youngblood books is way cooler than I could ever imagine the Titans (the original, intended home of his later reworked Youngblood ideas) being. Much better than the “Junior Justice League Sidekick” feel that The Teen Titans suffered from for years.

Furthermore, Die Hard is, and always will be, a cooler hero than Captain America. One (Die Hard) gave up his humanity for the greater good, the other (Cap) was a scrawny dude who became the world's most glorified and saluted steriod-user. Huh?

Rant over. Mesage to be taken away from rant: Don't engage in the other superdickery.

So ends the sermon.

Clichés and Superhero comics: From Nature to Cap

I’ve watched a lot of nature documentaries (Natural Geographic and the like) over the years. Every now and then I’ll watch one about sharks. In about 99% of these documentaries, the narrator will say something to the effect of:

“Often depicted as mindless killing machines, sharks are misunderstood beasts....In fact, you are more likely to be killed [insert activity or type of death]. Only X number of deaths [where X >1] per year are attributed to shark attacks.”

To which I usually say, “No, there’s really no misunderstanding about sharks. If they attack you, you’re likely to die or suffer serious injury. X number is still a number. Sharks aren’t 100% harmless. On the other hand, in a documentary about lions or crocodiles, it is always made absolutely clear that no matter how few (lion or crocodile) attacks there may be, that it is best to stay away from these killing machines.”

Okay, I’ve rambled on a bit. The point is that the typical narration excerpt above has become a cliché in Shark documentaries.

Clichés. They’re out there. Even in superheroes comic books.

No, I’m not talking about origin tropes in superhero (subgenre) comic books. A trope is different from a cliché.

I’m referring to clichés that show up in hero characterization. One of the biggest of writer-sins (and it IS a writer-sin) is have the hero be your Mary Sue (the character that never does anything wrong AND/OR never loses a fight AND/OR gets spoken about in glowing terms whenever said character isn’t around, etcetera).

“But he is the HERO”, you say?

Sure. He/She is the hero, but even in single hero comic books, there are often other heroes in the supporting cast who should be allowed to shine from time to time. For example, look at Nightwing in the Bat-books...Okay, maybe Nightwing is perhaps a better Anti-Mary-Sue (See this post) - some fans have posited that Nightwing is there to make Batman/Bruce Wayne look good in his heroic exploits.

Another writer-sin is how other people (and even fellow heroes) react to certain heroes. See every comic in which a young hero meets the Avengers. Even if young hero has a lot of experience and has been around for ages, some writers will make this hero fall over themselves in fanboy-like worship and say things "OMG, I've just met the Avengers and Cap just called me 'son'...The...A...vengers!"

To which I say, "Wake up, kid. Cap calls everyone son. It's his thing. Hey, it's not like you met the JLA."

Yeah...The JLA (big seven) might make me act like that, but not The Avengers. Sorry, Marvel.

That's just me.

I'm SURE that you can think of many other clichés in Superhero comics and particular writer-hero-combos that tend to transgress every now and then.