# Where did the trend of naming superheroes with the prefix "Captain" come from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 7, 2016, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257 "2016-09-07T06:10:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/41 "2016-09-09T22:37:21Z")
> [@Cartoonacy](#): > > Here are all the superheroic Captains I can list from memory: From memory, there’s also Captain Triumph. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/42 "2016-09-10T00:09:18Z")
I just got a book called The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half-Baked Heroes from Comic Book History, by Jon Morris. In addition to a couple of the ones from Cartoonacy’s list, it includes Captain Truth and Captain Science. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/43 "2016-09-10T01:12:20Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > For your enlisted types I give you that unsung vigilante: **Corporal Punishment.** > > Ba-dum-CHEE. 😃 I saw this thread and immediately thought of General Disarray (South Park). ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/44 "2016-09-10T22:18:42Z")
It had to annoy [Captain Atom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Atom) that he was outranked by his nemesis, [Major Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Force). A couple decades ago I created my own superhero, Captain Apple. He was intended to be a spoof on the local apple industry. ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/45 "2016-09-10T22:29:52Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > It had to annoy [Captain Atom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Atom) that he was outranked by his nemesis, [Major Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Force). > > A couple decades ago I created my own superhero, Captain Apple. He was intended to be a spoof on the local apple industry. Are you based in Cupertino? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/46 "2016-09-11T12:33:53Z")
[Captain Lance Murdock](http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Captain_Lance_Murdock) of _The Simpsons_ must qualify as a superhero. After all, he’s survived unbelievably horrific accidents and comes back for more. (And with a last name like that, he is no doubt related to Daredevil.) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/47 "2016-09-11T15:15:18Z")
> [@Uniqueorn](#): > > Are you based in Cupertino? 😃 😛 Nope, [Wenatchee](http://www.wenatcheewa.gov/) Around here, it’s apples, apples, apples, all the damn time. But I do use a Mac 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/48 "2016-09-11T16:17:00Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > A captain, Army type not Navy, is high enough to have some authority but not so high that he wouldn’t take place in front line combat. This. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/49 "2016-09-12T02:25:02Z")
[Captain Deadpool. No just…just Deadpool. That sounds like a fucking franchise!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJVQj4sw3zI) I’ve often wondered what Captain America would call himself if Steve Rogers got promoted to Major. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/50 "2016-09-12T12:40:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **ftg** : > > Captain Lance Murdock of The Simpsons must qualify as a superhero. After all, he’s survived unbelievably horrific accidents and comes back for more. (And with a last name like that, he is no doubt related to Daredevil.) Or maybe Macgyver’s nemesis, who likewise cheats death many times. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/51 "2016-09-12T14:14:12Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > Kind of a different thing but in military installations, usually the Navy or Coast Guard, the Commanding Officer of the installation is often called “Captain”, despite his or her actual rank. For example, in “The Caine Mutiny” Humphrey Bogart’s character is sometimes referred to as Captain Queeg although his official Navy rank is Lieutenant Commander (two pay grades below what a real Captain is). Being the Captain of a ship, or Navy/CG installation, is just as real as having a rank of Captain. ---
**Author:** ![PAjoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pajoe/32/58_2.png) [@PAjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PAjoe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/52 "2016-09-12T14:47:45Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > For your enlisted types I give you that unsung vigilante: **Corporal Punishment.** > > Ba-dum-CHEE. 😃 And his sidekick Private Parts ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/53 "2016-09-12T16:28:34Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > [Captain Deadpool. No just…just Deadpool. That sounds like a fucking franchise!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJVQj4sw3zI) > I’ve often wondered what Captain America would call himself if Steve Rogers got promoted to Major. Major 'Merica, of course. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/54 "2016-09-13T00:00:18Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > For your enlisted types I give you that unsung vigilante: **Corporal Punishment.** > > Ba-dum-CHEE. 😃 [Simpsons did it! Simpsons did it!](http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Corporal_Punishment) ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/55 "2016-09-15T12:23:17Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > A captain, Army type not Navy, is high enough to have some authority but not so high that he wouldn’t take place in front line combat. > [@ftg](#): > > I think the ambiguity of the terms has an effect: > > Major Malfunction: A big screwup or a superhero? > General Malfunction: A widespread problem or a superhero? > Captain Malfunction: Oh, that must be a superhero. > > (Lieutenant Malfunction: That’s redundant.) I think it’s a combination of those two. A rank high enough for command but low enough to have horrible people telling him what to do, that makes for good storytelling, and all the other words other than Commander are also adjectives. Commander just doesn’t have the zing that Captain does, plus would probably be older than a Captain. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/56 "2016-09-15T18:16:28Z")
There’s a DC hero called Commander Steel. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257/57 "2016-09-15T21:18:19Z")
I call dibs on “Colonel of Truth.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-trend-of-naming-superheroes-with-the-prefix-captain-come-from/765257.md?page=2)