# Best (or worst) superhero origin stories **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 31, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458 "2009-03-31T16:54:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/41 "2009-04-01T13:16:32Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > and the extraordinarily confident [Cosmic Boy](http://www.legionnaires.com/characterimages/cosmicboygrell.jpg). Linky no worky, but I know what you mean. _Superboy: Say, Cos? Cosmic Boy: Yo. Superboy: Is that a … halter top of some kind?_ ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/42 "2009-04-01T13:48:37Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Till Mike Grell got ahold of them. Then things got interesting–and by that I mean “stripperific.” > > [Saturn Girl](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1xs9uQ-IpXs/R63O4l2tIOI/AAAAAAAAAag/PV5K9dtosfY/s1600-h/saturngirl.jpg) > > [Shadow Lass](http://threshold.vox.com/library/photo/6a00cdf3ac0c23cb8f00e398c8be410004.html) > > [Dream Girl](http://a5.vox.com/6a00cdf3ac0c23cb8f00e398b0b41d0005-500pi) > > [Night Girl](http://www.legionpics.net/data/507/thumbs/Night_Girl_Foust.jpg) who might as well have fought gone ahead and fought crime naked) > > and the extraordinarily confident [Cosmic Boy](http://www.legionnaires.com/characterimages/cosmicboygrell.jpg). > > I’ll let you guys google Laurel Kent for yourselves. I loved those ridiculously skimpy costumes! Completely and utterly inappropriate, and some of them would likely have fallen off if the heroine made any sudden moves, but very eye-catching! And don’t forget Princess Projectra: [http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=312999&GSub=58317](http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=312999&GSub=58317) ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/43 "2009-04-01T15:21:57Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > I loved those ridiculously skimpy costumes! Completely and utterly inappropriate, and some of them would likely have fallen off if the heroine made any sudden moves, but very eye-catching! > > And don’t forget Princess Projectra: > > [http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=312999&GSub=58317](http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=312999&GSub=58317) I hadn’t forgotten her; I was just lazy. But as I think on it, her costume is even more stripperific than Dream Girl’s, who, given her personality in the late 80s, was surprisingly modest. Of the stripperific Legon costumes, the one that always bothered me was Saturn Girl’s. It’s just completely out of character; she was always presented as the most serious and modest of the group. The one that made the most sense was Laurel Gand’s. I mean, she was impervious to cold, heat, impact, and most everything else,a and she was hot; I can easily see her deciding to wear only the minimum amount of clothing necessary to avoid arrest. Returning to the thread topic, am I the only one who likes Daredevil’s origin? The radioactive gunk in the eyes was just the beginning of a process. Also on topic, I think the single best origin story is Spider-Man’s, particularly as told in the movie. (Eliminating the invention of the web-shooter both helps the narrative move along and eliminates a major plot hole, as it is no longer a mystery why he is not a trillionaire.) Spidey’s origin works for me as he has an utterly believable response to suddenly getting super-strength & speed: he goes from nerd to asshole, as most people who’ev been picked on for long periods would. And I can believe in his neurotic need to atone for his failure much more than I can Batman’s psychotic need to avenge, because Ben’s death WAS largely his fault. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/44 "2009-04-01T16:47:10Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Also on topic, I think the single best origin story is Spider-Man’s, particularly as told in the movie. (Eliminating the invention of the web-shooter both helps the narrative move along and eliminates a major plot hole, as it is no longer a mystery why he is not a trillionaire.) Spidey’s origin works for me as he has an utterly believable response to suddenly getting super-strength & speed: he goes from nerd to asshole, as most people who’ev been picked on for long periods would. And I can believe in his neurotic need to atone for his failure much more than I can Batman’s psychotic need to avenge, because Ben’s death WAS largely his fault. I concur with you about Spider-Man’s origin. It is very believable to me, as well. Peter/Spidey being a selfish jerk about his powers at first, inadvertantly causing his uncle’s death, then finally owning up to the “With great power comes great responsibility” theme. Great story! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/45 "2009-04-01T16:55:08Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I can easily see her deciding to wear only the minimum amount of clothing necessary to avoid arrest. Suddenly, I’m thinking of Wendy O. Williams. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/46 "2009-04-01T17:33:54Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > It seems like the mack-daddy of all origins is Batman. Ever since the Dark Knight comic book, the focus has all been on his traumatic origin and how every day of his life has revolved around it. But it is a cool origin, especially since it explains how this non-super powered guy got so badass. Agreed! Batman is the king of superhero stories when it comes to psychology. Rorschach was pretty good to, and similar though more subtle. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/47 "2009-04-01T17:40:16Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Linky no worky, but I know what you mean. > > _Superboy: Say, Cos? > Cosmic Boy: Yo. > Superboy: Is that a … halter top of some kind?_ Really, it’s more of a bustier. He looks like some kind of super macho drag queen. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/48 "2009-04-01T17:47:25Z")
> [@5-HT](#): > > Agreed! **Batman is the king of superhero stories when it comes to psychology.** Rorschach was pretty good to, and similar though more subtle. How so? In a genre that’s rife with childish fantasizing, Batman’s one of the worst offenders. As a character, and as currently written, Batman is permanently stuck at the age of 11. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/49 "2009-04-01T17:49:46Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > How so? In a genre that’s rife with childish fantasizing, Batman’s one of the worst offenders. As a character, and as currently written, Batman is permanently stuck at the age of 11. and a grown man stuck at age 11 due to a trauma and struggling with the implications of that isn’t psychologically interesting? ok, to each his own. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/50 "2009-04-01T17:54:08Z")
> [@5-HT](#): > > and a grown man stuck at age 11 due to a trauma and struggling with the implications of that isn’t psychologically interesting? ok, to each his own. Except that Batman doesn’t struggle. He’s as content with his dysfunctionality as, say, Greg House,and believes that others who aren’t dysfunctional are the deluted ones. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/51 "2009-04-01T17:55:56Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Except that Batman doesn’t struggle. He’s as content with his dysfunctionality as, say, Greg House,and believes that others who aren’t dysfunctional are the deluted ones. you haven’t read much batman, i take it. he absolutely struggles with. That’s the main aspect of his relationship with the Joker. The Joker thinks batman is just as psychotic as the villains, occasionally batman think’s he’s right. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/52 "2009-04-01T17:58:04Z")
> [@5-HT](#): > > you haven’t read much batman, i take it. > > he absolutely struggles with. That’s the main aspect of his relationship with the Joker. The Joker thinks batman is just as psychotic as the villains, occasionally batman think’s he’s right. I’ve read a lot of Batman. I can tell you all about Anarky and Mr. Zzzazz and Hush and Leslie Thompkins and Cassandra Cain and so forth. I’m not denying that Batman is an interesting character; I just don’t think he’s especially psychologically complex. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/53 "2009-04-01T18:03:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’ve read a lot of Batman. I can tell you all about Anarky and Mr. Zzzazz and Hush and Leslie Thompkins and Cassandra Cain and so forth. I’m not denying that Batman is an interesting character; I just don’t think he’s especially psychologically complex. He’s very straightforward much of the time, I’ll agree with that. But to compare him again to Rorschach, he’s more complex because he does sometimes start to wonder if his no compromise vigilante approach is correct. Since you’ve read it, I’m sure you know that the main point in Batman is loss and people’s reactions to it. Compare Harvey Dent, Batman, and the Joker and tell me there isn’t some psychological complexity that’s being examined. edit: or even expand that and include Com. Gordon in that, specifically in _The Killing Joke_ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/54 "2009-04-01T18:06:25Z")
From City of Heroes: [Lesbian Hellions](http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h30/Tettsuro/description.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/55 "2009-04-01T18:17:37Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Of the stripperific Legon costumes, the one that always bothered me was Saturn Girl’s. It’s just completely out of character; she was always presented as the most serious and modest of the group. The one that made the most sense was Laurel Gand’s. I mean, she was impervious to cold, heat, impact, and most everything else,a and she was hot; I can easily see her deciding to wear only the minimum amount of clothing necessary to avoid arrest. Agreed as to SG. Recall that Saturn Girl switched back to her old costume somewhat out of shame, after she was discovered in a compromising position with Timber Wolf (they had turned to each other for … um … mutual comfort after their shuttlecraft had crashed somewhere remote). > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > [Night Girl](http://www.legionpics.net/data/507/thumbs/Night_Girl_Foust.jpg) who might as well have fought gone ahead and fought crime naked) > > and the extraordinarily confident [Cosmic Boy](http://www.legionnaires.com/characterimages/cosmicboygrell.jpg). Night Girl by definition fought in the dark. 😃 As to Cosmic Boy, I recall the editors explaining one time that his costume had metal thread in it and was held up by his own powers. It seems that getting knocked unconscious would risk a certain embarrassment factor. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/56 "2009-04-01T18:31:53Z")
[Spider-Woman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Woman_(Jessica_Drew)) had a particularly icky origin story - she was a spider who was genetically mutated into a human female form. That idea was so unsettling that her origin was almost instantly retconned. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/57 "2009-04-01T19:52:19Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > I loved those ridiculously skimpy costumes! Completely and utterly inappropriate, and some of them would likely have fallen off if the heroine made any sudden moves, but very eye-catching! > > And don’t forget Princess Projectra: > > [http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=312999&GSub=58317](http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=312999&GSub=58317) [Dawnstar](http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs32/f/2008/233/1/8/Dawnstar_commission_by_gb2k.jpg) and [Tyroc](http://prettyfakes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/tyroc.jpg) certainly had 70’s porn-o-riffic boom-chicka-wow-wow costumes. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/58 "2009-04-01T20:57:46Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > [Dawnstar](http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs32/f/2008/233/1/8/Dawnstar_commission_by_gb2k.jpg) and [Tyroc](http://prettyfakes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/tyroc.jpg) certainly had 70’s porn-o-riffic boom-chicka-wow-wow costumes. Hee Hee! These pics sure bring back memories! There is also “Mariah”, the swordswoman from the “Warlord” comic book: [http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=196281&GSub=58571](http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=196281&GSub=58571) My own superheroine, Panther Girl (who gets knocked out in pretty much every pic she is in, because of my “superheroine-in-peril” fetish!), also has a ridiculously tiny costume: [http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=310363&GSub=38079](http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=310363&GSub=38079) [http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=486659&GSub=38079](http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=486659&GSub=38079) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/59 "2009-04-01T21:24:09Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > Hee Hee! These pics sure bring back memories! > There is also “Mariah”, the swordswoman from the “Warlord” comic book: > [http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=196281&GSub=58571](http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=196281&GSub=58571) > > My own superheroine, Panther Girl (who gets knocked out in pretty much every pic she is in, because of my “superheroine-in-peril” fetish!), also has a ridiculously tiny costume: > [Panther Girl and the Wasp KOed by Gytalf the Utmost!, in David  Hughett's Panther Girl Commissions Comic Art Gallery Room](http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=310363&GSub=38079) > [Panther Girl Zapped by Electro!, in David  Hughett's Panther Girl Commissions Comic Art Gallery Room](http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=486659&GSub=38079) Why is Electro a hunchbsck? ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458/60 "2009-04-01T21:58:57Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Why is Electro a hunchbsck? You know, I never really noticed that he looked a bit “hunchback”-y in that pic until you mentioned it. Ha! I guess that my eyes had always been diverted elsewhere, for some reason… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-superhero-origin-stories/491458.md?page=4)