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{{short description|Type of character}}
{{other uses}}
{{mi|
{{original research|date=March 2012}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2024}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=September 2024}}
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}}
A '''superhero''' or '''superheroine''', is a character who typically possesses [[Superpower (ability)|''superpowers'']] or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the [[hero]], typically using their powers to save lives, fight [[crime]], [[Public safety|protect the public]] and help the [[World peace|world become a better place]]. [[Superhero fiction]] is the genre of [[fiction]] that is centered on such characters,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Superhero Definition & Meaning |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superhero |access-date=2020-09-07 |website=[[Merriam-Webster]] |language=en |archive-date=November 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105205405/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superhero |url-status=live }}</ref> especially, since the 1930s, in [[American comic books]] (and later in [[Hollywood films]], film serials, television and [[video games]]), as well as in Japanese media (including ''[[kamishibai]]'', ''[[tokusatsu]]'', [[manga]], [[anime]] and video games).
Superheroes come from a wide array of different backgrounds and origins. Some superheroes (for example, [[Batman]] and [[Iron Man]]) derive their status from advanced [[technology]] they create and use, while others (such as [[Superman]] and [[Spider-Man]]) possess non-human or [[superhuman]] biology or use and practice [[Magic (supernatural)|magic]] to achieve their abilities (such as [[Shazam (DC Comics)|Captain Marvel]] and [[Doctor Strange]]).<ref>{{cite news |last=Niccum |first=John |url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/mar/17/v_vendetta_s_subversive/?arts |title='V for Vendetta' is S for Subversive |work=[[Lawrence Journal-World]] |___location=[[Lawrence, Kansas]]| date=March 17, 2006| archive-date=November 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114224059/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/mar/17/v_vendetta_s_subversive/?arts |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last1=Gesh| first1=Lois H.| first2=Robert| last2=Weinberg| title=The Science of Superheroes| publisher=John Wiley & Sons| year=2002| isbn=978-0-471-02460-6| chapter=The Dark Knight: Batman: A NonSuper Superhero| chapter-url=http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/00/04710246/0471024600.pdf| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106212533/http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/00/04710246/0471024600.pdf| archive-date=November 6, 2015| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author-link=Frank Lovece |last=Lovece |first=Frank |url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003828021 |access-date=February 5, 2009 |title=''The Dark Knight'' |publisher=(movie review) [[Film Journal International]] |date=July 16, 2008 |quote=Batman himself is an anomaly as one of the few superheroes without superpowers |archive-date=November 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107082934/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003828021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''[[Dictionary.com]]'' definition of "superhero" is "a figure, especially in a [[comic strip]] or [[cartoon]], endowed with superhuman powers and usually portrayed as fighting evil or crime,"<ref>{{cite web |title=Superhero's | Define Superhero's |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/superhero%27s?r=14 |access-date=March 26, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113073206/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/superhero%27s?r=14 |archive-date=November 13, 2014 |publisher=Dictionary.com}}</ref> and the [[Merriam-Webster]] dictionary gives the definition as "a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers; also: an exceptionally skillful or successful person."<ref>{{cite web |date=March 22, 2016 |title=Superhero Definition & Meaning |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superhero |access-date=March 26, 2016 |publisher=Merriam-Webster |archive-date=November 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105205405/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superhero |url-status=live }}</ref> Terms such as masked crime fighters, costumed adventurers or masked [[vigilantes]] are sometimes used to refer to characters such as [[Spirit (comics character)|the Spirit]], who may not be explicitly referred to as superheroes but nevertheless share similar traits.
Some superheroes use their powers to help fight daily crime while also combating threats against humanity from [[supervillain|''supervillains'']], who are their criminal counterparts. Often at least one of these supervillains will be the superhero's [[archenemy]] or ''nemesis''. Some popular supervillains become [[recurring character]]s in their own right.
==History==
{{Main|Superhero fiction#History|History of comics|Superhero film|Tokusatsu}}
===Influences===
[[:wikt:antecedent|Antecedents]] of the archetype include mythological characters such as [[Gilgamesh]], [[Hanuman]], [[Perseus]], [[Odysseus]], [[David and Goliath|David]], and [[demigods]] like [[Heracles]], all of whom were blessed with extraordinary abilities, which later inspired the superpowers that became a fundamental aspect of modern-day superheroes.<ref>{{cite book|last=Coogan|first=Peter|title=Superhero: The Secret Origin of a Genre|url=http://www.monkeybrainbooks.com/Superhero.html|date=25 July 2006|publisher=[[MonkeyBrain Books]]|___location=Austin, Texas|isbn=1-932265-18-X|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=March 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303224707/http://www.monkeybrainbooks.com/Superhero.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20090304%2FREVIEWS%2F903049997 |title=Roger Ebert. Roger Ebert's review of ''Watchmen;'' rogerebert.com; March 4, 2009 |access-date=October 4, 2021 |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209171737/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20090304%2FREVIEWS%2F903049997 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The distinct clothing and costumes of individuals from [[English folklore]], like [[Robin Hood]] and [[Spring-heeled Jack|Spring-Heeled Jack]], also became inspirations.<ref name=packer52>{{cite book| title=Superheroes and Superegos: Analyzing the Minds Behind the Masks |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=1UopTvWYaYgC&q=%22scarlet+pimpernel%22+superhero&pg=PA52 | first=Sharon|last=Packer| isbn=978-0313355363| publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group| year= 2009| page = 52}}</ref> The dark costume of the latter, complete with a [[domino mask]] and a cape, became influential for the myriad of masked rogues in [[penny dreadful]]s and [[dime novel]]s.<ref name="Ezine">{{cite web|url=https://ezine-articles.com/a-history-of-historical-superheroes-and-masked-vigilantes/|title=A History of Historical Superheroes and Masked Vigilantes|website=Ezine Articles|author=Irvine, Clarke|date=July 4, 2024|access-date=July 5, 2024|archive-date=July 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705171947/https://ezine-articles.com/a-history-of-historical-superheroes-and-masked-vigilantes/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Bell, Karl. "8 The Decline and Demise of Spring-heeled Jack". The Legend of Spring-Heeled Jack: Victorian Urban Folklore and Popular Cultures, Boydell and Brewer: Boydell and Brewer, 2012, pp. 200-222. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781782040392-010 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162357/https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781782040392-010/html |date=September 26, 2024 }}</ref>
The [[Vigilantism|vigilantes]] of the American [[Old West]] also became an influence to the superhero.<ref name="Galaver" /> Several vigilantes during this time period hid their identities using masks.<ref name="Ezine"/> In frontier communities where de jure law was not yet matured, people sometimes took the law into their own hands with makeshift masks made out of [[Gunny sack|sacks]]. Vigilante mobs and gangs like the San Diego Vigilantes and the [[Bald Knobbers]] became infamous throughout that Old West era.<ref name="Ezine"/><ref name="LA Times">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-30-nc-1718-story.html|title=The Wild West : Executions Staged by Vigilantes Marred Justice in the 1880s|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|author=Crawford, Richard|date=April 30, 1992|access-date=July 21, 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807183104/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-30-nc-1718-story.html|url-status=live}} April 30, 1992</ref><ref name="DenGeek">{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/culture/the-punisher-and-the-dark-myth-of-the-real-life-vigilante/|title=The Punisher and The Dark Myth of the Real Life Vigilante|website=[[Den of Geek]]|author=Sokol, Tony|date=January 20, 2019|access-date=July 21, 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807151218/https://www.denofgeek.com/culture/the-punisher-and-the-dark-myth-of-the-real-life-vigilante/|url-status=live}} January 20, 2019</ref> Such masked vigilantism later inspired fictional masked crimefighters in American story-telling, beginning with the character [[Deadwood Dick]] in 1877.<ref name="Ezine"/><ref name="Galaver">Gavaler, Chris. ''On the Origin of Superheroes: From the Big Bang to Action Comics No. 1''. University Of Iowa Press; 1 edition (November 1, 2015). p. 132. {{ISBN|978-1609383817}}</ref>
===1900s–1939===
[[File:Flame 002.png|thumb|upright|left|[[Fox Feature Syndicate]]'s 1930s–1940s superhero the [[Flame (comics)|Flame]]]]
The word [[wikt:superhero|superhero]] dates back to 1899.<ref name=mw>{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superhero |title=Superhero – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary |access-date=October 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008144818/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superhero |archive-date=October 8, 2021 }}</ref> The 1903 British play ''[[The Scarlet Pimpernel]]'' and its spinoffs popularized the idea of a masked avenger and the superhero trope of a [[secret identity]].<ref name=packer52 /> Over the next few decades, masked and costumed [[pulp magazine|pulp fiction]] characters such as [[Jimmie Dale|Jimmie Dale/The Grey Seal]] (1914), [[Tarzan]] (1912), [[John Carter of Mars|John Carter]] (1912), [[Zorro]] (1919), [[Buck Rogers]] (1928), [[The Shadow]] (1930), [[Lensman]] (1934)<ref name="Denial">{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Roy |year=2001 |title=The Lensman Connection |periodical=Alter Ego |page=24 |volume=3 |issue=#10}}</ref> and [[Flash Gordon]] (1934), [[film serial]] heroes [[Judex]] (1916) and [[The Shielding Shadow|Ravengar]] (1916)<ref>Xavier Fournier, ''Super-héros : une histoire française'', Huginn Muninn, 2014, p. 70-73</ref> and [[comic strip]] heroes such as the [[Mandrake the Magician]] (1934),<ref>{{cite web |title=Who was the first superhero? |url=http://ask.yahoo.com/20070503.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330034735/http://ask.yahoo.com/20070503.html |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |access-date=March 26, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{cite web |date=March 11, 1935 |title=The Adventures of Patsy |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/phanmagi.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525191937/https://www.webcitation.org/66BxT6VRO?url=http://toonopedia.com/phanmagi.htm |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=March 26, 2016 |website=Don Markstein's Toonopedia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 17, 1936 |title=First superhero ever in the world. Mandrake the Magician Lee Falk Popeye the Sailor Man Superman |url=http://thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com/first145.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406091540/http://thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com/first145.html |archive-date=April 6, 2016 |access-date=March 26, 2016 |publisher=Thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com}}</ref> [[The Adventures of Patsy|Magic Phantom]] (1935),<ref name=":7" /> [[Phantom (character)|Phantom]] (1936), began appearing, as did non-costumed characters with [[super strength]], including the comic-strip characters [[Patoruzú]] (1928) and [[Popeye]] (1929) and literary characters such as [[Hugo Danner]] (''[[Gladiator (novel)|Gladiator]]'', 1930)<ref>{{cite news |last=Lovece |first=Frank |author-link=Frank Lovece |date=November 11, 2013 |title=Superheroes Go the American Way on PBS |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/superheroes-go-the-american-way-on-pbs-1.6239837 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222233700/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/superheroes-go-the-american-way-on-pbs-1.6239837 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2013 |work=[[Newsday]] |___location=New York / [[Long Island]]}}</ref> and Aarn Munro (''[[The Mightiest Machine]]'', 1934).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Weldon |first=Glen |url=https://www.google.com.br/books/edition/Superman/eoHuEAAAQBAJ?hl=pt-BR&gbpv=1&dq=%22aarn+munro%22+%22jupiter%22&pg=PT25&printsec=frontcover |title=Superman: The Unauthorized Biography |date=2013-02-20 |publisher=Turner Publishing Company |isbn=978-1-118-48382-4 |language=en}}</ref> Another early example was [[Sarutobi Sasuke]], a Japanese superhero [[ninja]] from the Japanese folklore and [[children's novels]] in the 1910s;<ref name="Torrance">{{cite journal |last1=Torrance |first1=Richard |title=Literacy and Literature in Osaka, 1890–1940 |journal=[[The Journal of Japanese Studies]] |date=2005 |issue=31 |page=56 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kLswAQAAIAAJ |publisher=Society for Japanese Studies |quote=Sarutobi Sasuke precipitated a "ninja boom" among the young throughout the country. Sarutobi is an adolescent superhero who, in addition to his ability to chant incantations, appear and disappear at will, and leap to the top of the highest tree, can hear whispered conversations hundreds of yards away, is superhumanly strong, can ride on clouds, is able to conjure water, fire and wind as well as transform himself into other people and animals. |access-date=April 15, 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162350/https://books.google.com/books?id=kLswAQAAIAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Vintage">{{cite web |url=http://vintageninja.net/?p=141 |title=A primer on the history of "NINJA" |website=Vintage Ninja |access-date=2011-11-20 |archive-date=October 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018004524/http://vintageninja.net/?p=141 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Yoshimoto |first1=Mitsuhiro |title=Kurosawa: Film Studies and Japanese Cinema |date=2000 |publisher=[[Duke University Press]] |isbn=978-0-8223-2519-2 |page=417 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QizaCOjKs-IC&pg=PA417 |access-date=March 11, 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162358/https://books.google.com/books?id=QizaCOjKs-IC&pg=PA417#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> by 1914, he had a number of superhuman powers and abilities.<ref name="Torrance" /> France produced early examples like the superheroine [[L'Oiselle]], ccreated in 1909 by French writer Renée Marie Gouraud d'Ablancourt under her pen name René d'Anjou. The character, whose real name is Vega de Ortega, is notable as one of literature's earliest winged heroines, utilizing artificial wings for flight<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-04-01 |title=Oubliée pendant un siècle, L'Oiselle, première superhéroïne française, reprend son envol |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2022/04/01/oubliee-pendant-un-siecle-l-oiselle-premiere-superheroine-francaise-reprend-son-envol_6120153_4408996.html |access-date=2022-04-11 |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411090000/https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2022/04/01/oubliee-pendant-un-siecle-l-oiselle-premiere-superheroine-francaise-reprend-son-envol_6120153_4408996.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[cyborg]] [[Nyctalope]] (1911), possessing two revolutionary enhancements for the period - enhanced nocturnal vision and an electromechanical cardiac implant,<ref name="Zehr">{{cite book |last=Zehr |first=E. Paul |title=Inventing Iron Man: The Possibility of a Human Machine |publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-1421402260 |page=5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Walker |first=Andy |url=https://www.google.com.br/books/edition/Super_You/C2JUDAAAQBAJ?hl=pt-BR&gbpv=1&dq=Nyctalope+super-heroi+cyborg&pg=PT359&printsec=frontcover |title=Super You: How Technology is Revolutionizing What It Means to Be Human |last2=Walker |first2=Kay Svela |last3=Carruthers |first3=Sean |date=2016-06-15 |publisher=Que Publishing |isbn=978-0-13-379070-2 |language=en}}</ref> ''Famany'', the "flying man" of a German comic story of 1937, who uses a winged apparatus to fly over New York and who becomes embroiled in the world of crime, had only one appearance.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kägermann |first1=Andreas |last2=Sackmann |first2=Eckart |title=Superman aus der Gartenlaube |journal=Deutsche Comicforschung |date=2005 |issue=1 |pages=52–55 |language=German}}</ref>
The pulp magazines of the 1930s served as a crucial breeding ground for early superhero concepts through their innovative comic features:
In August 1936, ''[[Thrilling Wonder Stories]]'' published Zarnak by ax Plaisted. In August 1937, a [[letter column]] of the magazine, the word ''superhero'' was used to define the title character.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davin |first=Eric Leif |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZoNDebTvUnsC&q=zarnak+max&pg=PA173 |title=Partners in Wonder: Women and the Birth of Science Fiction, 1926–1965 |date=2006 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=978-0-7391-1267-0 |language=en |access-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162401/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZoNDebTvUnsC&q=zarnak+max&pg=PA173#v=snippet&q=zarnak%20max&f=false |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Superhero |url=https://sfdictionary.com/view/172 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123175642/https://sfdictionary.com/view/172 |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction}}</ref> Another groundbreaking character emerged in August 1937, [[Olga Mesmer]], "The Girl with the X-ray Eyes," featured in a single-page comic strip in ''Spicy Mystery Stories''.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Glen Weldon |title=Superheroes!: Capes cowls and the creation of comic book culture |author2=Michael Kantor |page=87}}</ref>
[[File:OutOfTheNightNo11pp34.jpg|thumb|One of Charles Atlas's advertisements.]]
In addition to fictional sources, the superhero archetype may also have been influenced by real-life strongmen such as [[Siegmund Breitbart]], [[Joseph Greenstein]], [[Eugen Sandow]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Darowski |first=John |url=https://www.google.com.br/books/edition/Adapting_Superman/--UzEAAAQBAJ?hl=pt-BR&gbpv=1&dq=Joseph+Greenstein.+superman&pg=PA207&printsec=frontcover |title=Adapting Superman: Essays on the Transmedia Man of Steel |date=2021-06-04 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-7725-5 |language=en}}</ref> and [[Charles Atlas]]. Charles Atlas, in particular, gained lasting cultural visibility through his mail-order fitness program and his iconic advertisements published directly in comic books.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-26 |title=MacFadden & Houdini: Real Life Pre-Precursors to Superman & Batman by Alex Grand |url=https://comicbookhistorians.com/macfadden-and-houdini-real-life-grand-antecedents-to-superman-and-batman/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Comic Book Historians |language=en-US}}</ref>
The trends converged in some of the earliest superpowered costumed heroes, such as Japan's [[Ōgon Bat]] (1931) and Prince of Gamma (early 1930s), who first appeared in ''[[kamishibai]]'' (a kind of hybrid media combining pictures with live storytelling).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://comicsbulletin.com/first-superhero-golden-bat/| publisher=ComicsBulletin.com| title=The First Superhero – The Golden Bat?| first=Zack| last=Davisson| date=December 19, 2010| access-date=November 18, 2014| archive-date=November 9, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109164440/http://comicsbulletin.com/first-superhero-golden-bat/| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/uncategorized/the-early-origins-of-anime-and-manga-traced-to-street-theater-of-japan/ |title=The superheroes of Japan who predated Superman and Batman| work=[[Los Angeles Times]]| date=November 29, 2009 |access-date=November 18, 2014| first=Liesl| last=Bradner| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105055754/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/uncategorized/the-early-origins-of-anime-and-manga-traced-to-street-theater-of-japan/| archive-date=January 5, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref> [[Superman]] (1938) and [[Shazam (DC Comics)|Captain Marvel]] (1939) at the beginning of the [[Golden Age of Comic Books]], whose span, though disputed, is generally agreed to have started with Superman's launch.<ref name="pbs.org" /> Superman has remained one of the most recognizable superheroes,<ref name="pbs.org">{{cite web |title=The Golden Age Of Comics |url=https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/the-golden-age-of-comics/ |publisher=www.pbs.org |access-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905025350/http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/the-golden-age-of-comics/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and his success spawned a new archetype of characters with secret identities and superhuman powers.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=atyQCwAAQBAJ&q=superhero+archetype&pg=PT86 |title=Superhero Movies |first=Liam |last=Burke |publisher=Oldcastle Books |date=2008 |___location=Harpenden, UK |isbn=978-1842432754 |quote=If Superman can be credited with the creation of the superhero archetype, then Batman should be recognised for its refinement. |access-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162353/https://books.google.co.id/books?id=atyQCwAAQBAJ&q=superhero+archetype&pg=PT86&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=superhero%20archetype&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gAPN7Lpxh2UC&q=%22are+superman+(the+S-type)&pg=PA38|first=Stan|last=Lee|author-link=Stan Lee|chapter=The Two Superhero Archetypes|title=Stan Lee's How to Draw Superheroes|page=38|publisher=[[Watson-Guptill]]|year=2013|isbn=978-0823098453|access-date=November 21, 2020|archive-date=September 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162350/https://books.google.com/books?id=gAPN7Lpxh2UC&q=%22are+superman+(the+S-type)&pg=PA38#v=snippet&q=%22are%20superman%20(the%20S-type)&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uyc8BQAAQBAJ&q=%22the+superhero+is+a+concept%22+%22an+archetype+residing%22&pg=PA7 |title=Superheroes and Gods: A Comparative Study from Babylonia to Batman |first=Don |last=LoCicero |publisher=McFarland & Company |year=2007 |isbn=978-0786431847 |page=7 |quote=[T]he superhero is a concept [...] an archetype residing in the human psyche. |access-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162349/https://books.google.com/books?id=Uyc8BQAAQBAJ&q=%22the+superhero+is+a+concept%22+%22an+archetype+residing%22&pg=PA7#v=snippet&q=%22the%20superhero%20is%20a%20concept%22%20%22an%20archetype%20residing%22&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> At the end of the decade, in 1939, [[Batman]] was created by [[Bob Kane]] and [[Bill Finger]]. This era saw the debut of one of the earliest female superheroes, [[Magician from Mars]], created by [[John Giunta]] and Malcolm Kildale for [[Centaur Publications]] in ''Amazing-Man Comics''.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Nicholson |first1=Hope |date=3 May 2017 |title=The fury and the fashion: comic-book heroines down the years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/may/03/the-fury-and-the-fashion-comic-book-heroines-down-the-years |access-date=September 5, 2019 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> She appeared in five issues (#7-11, Nov 1939 to Apr 1940), predating many other Golden Age superheroines. Jane 6ᴇᴍ35, later known as Q-X3,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mougin |first1=Lou |title=Secondary Superheroes of Golden Age Comics |date=2020 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9781476638607 |page=17}}</ref> was a hybrid of Earth and Martian origins born on Mars. As a baby, she was exposed to a beam of [[cathode rays]], which, combined with her hybrid physiology, gave her extraordinary powers, including superstrength, telekinesis, illusion creation, and even matter transformation.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nicholson |first1=Hope |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9rLUDAAAQBAJ&q=magician+from+mars |title=The Spectacular Sisterhood of Superwomen: Awesome Female Characters from Comic Book History |date=2017 |publisher=Quirk Books |isbn=978-1594749483 |pages=14–15 |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>
===1940s===
[[File:AmericasBestComics1001.jpg|thumb|[[America's Best Comics#History|America's Best Comics #7]] October 1943]]
During the 1940s there were many superheroes: [[Flash (Jay Garrick)|The Flash]], [[Green Lantern]] and [[Blue Beetle]] debuted in this era.
Other pioneering superheroines include [[Fantomah]] and the [[Invisible Scarlet O'Neil]]. Fantomah, created by [[Fletcher Hanks]], was an ageless [[ancient Egyptian]] woman in the modern day who could transform into a skull-faced creature with superpowers to fight evil; she debuted in [[Fiction House]]'s ''Jungle Comic'' #2 (Feb. 1940), credited to the pseudonymous "Barclay Flagg".<ref name="toonopedia">{{Cite encyclopedia |last=Markstein |first=Don |encyclopedia=[[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]] |title=The Black Widow |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/blwidow1.htm |access-date=July 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525215953/https://www.webcitation.org/66vunFgcm?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/clvoyant.htm |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |quote=Fantomah was the first female character in comics to use extraordinary powers in combatting evil. The [[Woman in Red (comics)|Woman in Red]] was the first to wear a flashy costume and maintain a dual identity while doing so. On the other hand, [[Black Widow (Marvel Comics)|Black Widow]] was the first to do both.}}</ref><ref>[http://www.toonopedia.com/fantomah.htm Fantomah, Mystery Woman of the Jungle] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20240527053351/https://www.webcitation.org/6VxMoDjpg?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/fantomah.htm Archived] from the original on January 29, 2015.</ref> A few months later, the Invisible Scarlet O'Neil, a non-costumed character who fought crime and wartime saboteurs using the superpower of [[invisibility]] created by Russell Stamm, would debut in the eponymous [[print syndication|syndicated]] [[newspaper]] [[comic strip]] a few months later on June 3, 1940.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://cartoonician.com/not-seen-but-not-forgotten-the-invisible-scarlet-oneil/ | title=Not Seen but not Forgotten: The Invisible Scarlet O'Neil | work=[[Hogan's Alley (magazine)|Hogan's Alley]] | issue=17 | date=May 11, 2012 | first=Tom | last=Heintjes | archive-date=June 12, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612085603/http://cartoonician.com/not-seen-but-not-forgotten-the-invisible-scarlet-oneil/ | url-status=dead | access-date=January 16, 2013 }}</ref>
In 1940, Maximo the Amazing Superman debut in [[Big Little Book series]], by [[Russell R. Winterbotham]] (text), Henry E. Vallely and Erwin L. Hess (art).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Schelly|first=Bill|date=2013-06-18|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TyurDgAAQBAJ&q=maximo+big+little+book&pg=PA57|title=The Best of Alter Ego Volume 2|publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|isbn=978-1-60549-048-9|language=en|access-date=November 21, 2020|archive-date=September 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162412/https://books.google.com/books?id=TyurDgAAQBAJ&q=maximo+big+little+book&pg=PA57|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Carper|first=Steve|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NXOdDwAAQBAJ&q=maximo&pg=PT259|title=Robots in American Popular Culture|date=2019-06-27|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-3505-7|language=en|access-date=November 21, 2020|archive-date=September 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162852/https://books.google.com/books?id=NXOdDwAAQBAJ&q=maximo&pg=PT259#v=snippet&q=maximo&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:WowComicsNo2.png|thumb|left|upright|[[Mr. Scarlet]], the "Red Raider of Justice", a superhero appearing in ''[[Wow Comics]]'' (1940)]] [[Captain America]] also appeared for the first time in print in December 1940, a year prior to the attack on [[Pearl Harbor]] by the Japanese government, when America was still in [[isolationism]]. Created by [[Joe Simon]] and [[Jack Kirby]], the superhero was the physical embodiment of the American spirit during World War II.
[[File:WhizComicsNo02.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|''[[Whiz Comics]]'' cover featuring [[Shazam (DC Comics)|Captain Marvel]], published by [[Fawcett Comics]] in 1940]]
One superpowered character was portrayed as an [[antiheroine]], a rarity for its time: the [[Black Widow (Claire Voyant)|Black Widow]], a costumed emissary of [[Satan]] who killed evildoers in order to send them to [[Hell]]—debuted in ''[[Mystic Comics]]'' #4 (Aug. 1940), from [[Timely Comics]], the 1940s predecessor of [[Marvel Comics]]. Most of the other female costumed crime fighters during this era lacked superpowers. Notable characters include the [[Woman in Red (comics)|Woman in Red]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/womanred.htm |title=Don Markstein's Toonopedia: The Woman in Red |publisher=Toonopedia.com |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=May 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240527130911/https://www.webcitation.org/6bb3771bM?url=http://toonopedia.com/womanred.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=675 |title=GCD :: Issue :: Thrilling Comics #v1#2 (2) |publisher=Comics.org |date=January 11, 1940 |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=February 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223121820/http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=675 |url-status=live }}</ref> introduced in [[Standard Comics]]' ''Thrilling Comics'' #2 (March 1940); [[Lady Luck (comics)|Lady Luck]], debuting in the Sunday-[[newspaper]] comic-book insert ''[[Spirit (comics character)|The Spirit Section]]'' June 2, 1940; the comedic character [[Red Tornado (Ma Hunkel)|Red Tornado]], debuting in ''[[All-American Comics]]'' #20 (Nov 1940); [[Miss Fury]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/missfury.htm |title=Don Markstein's Toonopedia: Miss Fury |publisher=Toonopedia.com |date=April 6, 1941 |access-date=March 26, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525211336/https://www.webcitation.org/66nTzorDi?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/missfury.htm |archive-date=May 25, 2024 }}</ref> debuting in the eponymous comic strip by female cartoonist [[Tarpé Mills]] on April 6, 1941; the [[Phantom Lady]], introduced in [[Quality Comics]] ''Police Comics'' #1 (Aug. 1941); the [[Black Cat (Harvey Comics)|Black Cat]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/blackcat.htm |title=Don Markstein's Toonopedia: The Black Cat |publisher=Toonopedia.com |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525211456/https://www.webcitation.org/66nxomHOg?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/blackcat.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=1572 |title=GCD :: Issue :: Pocket Comics #1 |publisher=Comics.org |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=March 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301230257/http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=1572 |url-status=live }}</ref> introduced in [[Harvey Comics]]' ''Pocket Comics'' #1 (also Aug. 1941); and the [[Black Canary]], introduced in ''[[Flash Comics]]'' #86 (Aug. 1947) as a supporting character.<ref name=Amas&Nolen-Weathington2010>Jim Amash & Eric Nolen-Weathington, (2010), ''Carmine Infantino: Penciler, Publisher, Provocateur'' p.30-32</ref> The most iconic comic book superheroine, who debuted during the Golden Age, is [[Wonder Woman]].<ref name=WW>{{cite web |author=Curtis M. Wong |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/wonder-woman-gay-wedding_55d3924ce4b0ab468d9ebbb4?section=australia&adsSiteOverride=au |title=Wonder Woman Officiates Her First Gay Wedding |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=August 19, 2015 |access-date=March 27, 2016 |archive-date=November 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126070535/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/wonder-woman-gay-wedding_55d3924ce4b0ab468d9ebbb4?section=australia&adsSiteOverride=au |url-status=live }}</ref> Modeled from the myth of the [[Amazons]] of [[Greek mythology]], she was created by [[psychologist]] [[William Moulton Marston]], with help and inspiration from his wife [[Elizabeth (Sadie) Holloway Marston|Elizabeth]] and their [[polyamory|mutual lover]] Olive Byrne.<ref name=bu>{{cite web|last1=Lamb|first1=Marguerite|title=Who Was Wonder Woman?|url=http://www.bu.edu/alumni/bostonia/2001/fall/wonderwoman/|website=Bostonia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070119055842/http://www.bu.edu/alumni/bostonia/2001/fall/wonderwoman/|archive-date=January 19, 2007|date=Fall 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Malcolm |first=Andrew H. |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE1DF1539F93BA25751C0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print |title=OUR TOWNS - She's Behind the Match For That Man of Steel - NYTimes.com |newspaper=New York Times |date=February 18, 1992 |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=February 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214142359/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE1DF1539F93BA25751C0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print |url-status=live }}</ref> Wonder Woman's first appearance was in ''[[All Star Comics]]'' #8 (Dec. 1941), published by [[All-American Publications]], one of two companies that would merge to form [[DC Comics]] in 1944.
[[Pérák, the Spring Man of Prague|Pérák]] was an [[urban legend]] originating from the city of [[Prague]] during the [[German occupation of Czechoslovakia]] in the midst of [[World War II]]. In the decades following the war, Pérák has also been portrayed as the only [[Czech Republic|Czech]] superhero in film and comics.
===1950s===
In 1952, [[Osamu Tezuka]]'s [[manga]] ''Tetsuwan Atom'', more popularly known in the West as ''[[Astro Boy]]'', was published. The series focused upon a robot boy built by a [[scientist]] to replace his deceased son. Being built from an incomplete robot originally intended for [[military]] purposes, Astro Boy possessed amazing powers such as flight through [[Rocket engine|thrusters]] in his feet and the incredible mechanical strength of his limbs.
The 1950s saw the [[Silver Age of Comics]]. During this era DC introduced the likes of [[Batwoman]] in 1956, [[Supergirl]], [[Arrowette|Miss Arrowette]], and [[Batgirl#Betty/Bette Kane|Bat-Girl]]; all female [[:wikt:derivative|derivatives]] of established male superheroes.
In 1957 Japan, [[Shintoho]] produced the first film serial featuring the superhero character [[Super Giant]], signaling a shift in [[Japanese popular culture]] towards ''[[tokusatsu]]'' masked superheroes over ''[[kaiju]]'' giant monsters. Along with ''Astro Boy'', the ''Super Giant'' serials had a profound effect on [[Japanese television]]. 1958 saw the debut of superhero ''[[Moonlight Mask]]'' on Japanese television. It was the first of numerous televised superhero dramas that would make up the ''tokusatsu'' superhero genre.<ref>''Japan Pop!: Inside the World of Japanese Popular Culture'', p. 262 {{ISBN|0-7656-0560-0}}</ref> Created by [[Kōhan Kawauchi]], he followed up its success with the tokusatsu superhero shows ''[[Seven Color Mask]]'' (1959) and ''[[Messenger of Allah (TV series)|Messenger of Allah]]'' (1960), both starring a young [[Sonny Chiba]], a manga adaptation, illustrated by Ippei Kuri (brother of [[Speed Racer]] creator [[Tatsuo Yoshida]]), was serialized in ''[[Bōken Ō]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite book |title=超人画報―国産架空ヒーロー四十年の歩み (Chōjin Gahō Kokusan Kakū Hīrō Yon Jū-nen no Ayumi) |date=November 30, 1995 |publisher=株式会社竹書房 (Takeshobo Co.Ltd.) |isbn=4-88475-874-9 |___location=Japan |page=45}}</ref>
===1960s===
It is arguable that the [[Marvel Comics]] teams of the early 1960s brought the biggest assortment of superheroes ever at one time into permanent publication, the likes of [[Spider-Man]], [[The Hulk]], [[Iron Man]], [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Daredevil]], [[Nick Fury]], [[Thor (comic book)|Thor]], [[Avengers (comics)|The Avengers]] (featuring a rebooted [[Captain America]], Thor, Hulk, [[Ant-Man]] and [[Quicksilver (Marvel Comics)|Quicksilver]]), and many others were given their own monthly titles.
Typically the superhero supergroups featured at least one (and often the only) female member, much like DC's flagship superhero team the [[Justice League of America]] (whose initial roster included Wonder Woman as the [[tokenism|token female]]); examples include the [[Fantastic Four]]'s [[Invisible Woman|Invisible Girl]], the [[X-Men]]'s [[Jean Grey]] (originally known as [[Marvel Girl]]), the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]' [[Wasp (character)|Wasp]], and the [[Brotherhood of Mutants]]' [[Scarlet Witch]] (who later joined the Avengers) with her brother, Quicksilver.
In 1963, ''[[Astro Boy]]'' was adapted into a highly influential [[anime]] television series. ''[[Phantom Agents]]'' in 1964 focused on [[ninjas]] working for the Japanese government and would be the foundation for [[Sentai]]-type series. 1966 saw the debut of the sci-fi/horror series ''[[Ultra Q]]'' created by [[Eiji Tsuburaya]] this would eventually lead to the sequel ''[[Ultraman (1966 TV series)|Ultraman]]'', spawning a [[Ultra Series|successful franchise]] which pioneered the [[Kyodai Hero]] subgenre where the superheroes would be as big as giant monsters (''[[kaiju]]'') that they fought.
The ''kaiju'' monster [[Godzilla]], originally a villain, began being portrayed as a radioactive superhero in the [[Godzilla (franchise)|''Godzilla'' films]],<ref name="Huffington">{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-lankes/godzillas-secret-history_b_5192284.html|title=Godzilla's Secret History|last=Lankes|first=Kevin|work=[[Huffington Post]]|date=June 22, 2014|access-date=March 19, 2018|archive-date=July 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717085529/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-lankes/godzillas-secret-history_b_5192284.html|url-status=live}}</ref> starting with ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'' (1964).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grebey |first1=James |title=The history of Ghidorah, Godzilla's rival for the title of King of the Monsters |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-history-of-ghidorah-godzillas-rival-for-the-title-of-king-of-the-monsters |website=[[Syfy Wire]] |publisher=[[NBCUniversal]] |access-date=27 May 2020 |date=28 May 2019 |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808005447/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-history-of-ghidorah-godzillas-rival-for-the-title-of-king-of-the-monsters |url-status=live }}</ref> By the 1970s, Godzilla came to be viewed as a superhero, with the magazine ''King of the Monsters'' in 1977 describing Godzilla as "Superhero of the '70s."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Glut |first1=Donald F. |chapter=Godzilla, Saurian Superhero |title=Jurassic Classics: A Collection of Saurian Essays and Mesozoic Musings |date=2001 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-0-7864-6246-9 |page=225 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O5znudeYRzEC&pg=PA225 |access-date=May 27, 2020 |archive-date=August 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807023559/https://books.google.com/books?id=O5znudeYRzEC&pg=PA225 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===1970s===
In 1971, ''[[Kamen Rider]]'' launched the "Henshin Boom" on [[Japanese television]] in the early 1970s, greatly impacting the [[tokusatsu]] superhero genre in Japan.<ref>{{Cite book |editor=Takeshobo|date=1995-11-30 |script-title=ja:超人画報 国産架空ヒーロー四十年の歩み|trans-title=The Super Heroes Chronicles: The History of Japanese Fantastic Televisions, Movies and Videos, 1957–1995 |publisher=[[Takeshobo]] |pages=85|chapter=BonusColumn「変身ブーム到来!!」|trans-chapter=Bonus Column 'The Henshin Boom Arrives!'|id=C0076 |isbn=4-88475-874-9|language=ja}}</ref> In 1972, the ''[[Science Ninja Team Gatchaman]]'' anime debuted, which built upon the superhero team idea of the live-action ''Phantom Agents'' as well as introducing different colors for team members and special vehicles to support them, said vehicles could also combine into a larger one. Another important event was the debut of ''[[Mazinger Z]]'' by Go Nagai, creating the [[Super Robot]] genre. Go Nagai also wrote the manga ''[[Cutey Honey]]'' in 1973; although the [[Magical girl]] genre already existed, Nagai's manga introduced Transformation sequences that would become a staple of Magical Girl media.
The 1970s would see more anti-heroes introduced into Superhero fiction such examples included the debut of [[Shotaro Ishinomori]]'s [[Skull Man]] (the basis for his later ''Kamen Rider'') in 1970, Go Nagai's [[Devilman]] in 1972 and Gerry Conway and John Romita's [[Punisher]] in 1974.
The dark [[Skull Man]] manga would later get a television adaptation and underwent drastic changes. The character was redesigned to resemble a grasshopper, becoming the renowned first masked hero of the [[Kamen Rider]] series. Kamen Rider is a motorcycle-riding hero in an insect-like costume, who shouts Henshin (Metamorphosis) to don his costume and gain superhuman powers.
The ideas of [[second-wave feminism]], which spread through the 1960s into the 1970s, greatly influenced the way comic book companies would depict as well as market their female characters: Wonder Woman was for a time revamped as a [[mod (subculture)|mod-dressing]] [[martial artist]] directly inspired by the [[Emma Peel]] character from the [[Television in the United Kingdom|British television series]] [[The Avengers (TV series)|''The Avengers'']] (no relation to the superhero team of the same name),<ref>"We were all in love with Diana Rigg and that show she was on." Mike Sekowsky, quoted in Les Daniels, ''Wonder Woman: The Complete History'' (Chronicle, 2004), p. 129.</ref> but later reverted to Marston's original concept after the editors of ''[[Ms. (magazine)|Ms.]]'' magazine publicly disapproved of the character being depowered and without her traditional costume;<ref>[http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/colloquy/download/colloquy_issue_twenty-four_/matsuuchi.pdf Wonder Woman Wears Pants: ''Wonder Woman'', Feminism and the 1972 "Women's Lib" Issue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217190114/http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/colloquy/download/colloquy_issue_twenty-four_/matsuuchi.pdf|date=February 17, 2016}}, by [[Ann Matsuuchi]], in ''Colloquy: text theory critique'', no.24 (2012); archived at [[Monash University]]</ref> Supergirl was moved from being a secondary feature on ''[[Action Comics]]'' to headline ''[[Adventure Comics]]'' in 1969; the [[Lady Liberators]] appeared in an issue of ''The Avengers'' as a group of mind-controlled superheroines led by [[Valkyrie (Marvel Comics)|Valkyrie]] (actually a [[Enchantress (Marvel Comics)|disguised supervillainess]]) and were meant to be a caricatured parody of feminist activists;<ref>{{cite book |last=W. Wright |first=Bradford |date=2001 |title=Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America |url=https://archive.org/details/comicbooknationt00wrig |url-access=registration |quote=lady liberators. |___location=United States |publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/comicbooknationt00wrig/page/250 250] |isbn=0-8018-6514-X |access-date=December 29, 2014}}</ref> and Jean Grey became the embodiment of a cosmic being known as the [[Phoenix Force]] with seemingly unlimited power in the late 1970s, a stark contrast from her depiction as the weakest member of her team a decade prior.
Both major American publishers began introducing new superheroines with a more distinct feminist theme as part of their origin stories or character development. Examples include [[Big Barda]], [[Power Girl]], and [[Huntress (DC Comics)|the Huntress]] by DC comics; and from Marvel, the [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)|second Black Widow]], [[Shanna the She-Devil]], and [[Tigra#The Cat|The Cat]].<ref>''Alter Ego'' #70 (July 1970): Roy Thomas interview, pp. 49–50</ref> Female [[supporting character]]s who were successful professionals or hold positions of authority in their own right also debuted in the pages of several popular superhero titles from the late 1950s onward: [[Hal Jordan]]'s love interest [[Carol Ferris]] was introduced as the Vice-President of [[Ferris Aircraft]] and later took over the company from her father; [[Medusa (comics)|Medusa]], who was first introduced in the ''Fantastic Four'' series, is a member of the [[Inhumans|Inhuman Royal Family]] and a prominent statesperson within her people's quasi-feudal society; and [[Carol Danvers]], a decorated [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] in the [[United States Air Force]] who would become a costumed superheroine herself years later.
In 1975 [[Shotaro Ishinomori]]'s ''[[Himitsu Sentai Gorenger]]'' debuted on what is now TV Asahi, it brought the concepts of multi-colored teams and supporting vehicles that debuted in Gatchaman into live-action, and began the ''[[Super Sentai]]'' franchise (later adapted into the American ''[[Power Rangers]]'' series in the 1990s). In 1978, Toei adapted [[Spider-Man]] into [[Spider-Man (Japanese TV series)|a live-action Japanese television series]]. In this continuity, Spider-Man had a vehicle called Marveller that could transform into a giant and powerful robot called Leopardon, this idea would be carried over to Toei's [[Battle Fever J]] (also co-produced with Marvel) and now multi-colored teams not only had support vehicles but giant robots to fight giant monsters with.
===1980–present===
In subsequent decades, popular characters like [[Dazzler (Marvel Comics)|Dazzler]], [[She-Hulk]], [[Elektra (character)|Elektra]], [[Catwoman]], [[Witchblade]], [[Mayday Parker|Spider-Girl]], [[Batgirl]] and [[Birds of Prey (comics)|the Birds of Prey]] became stars of long-running eponymous titles. Female characters began assuming leadership roles in many ensemble superhero teams; the ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' series and its related spin-off titles in particular have included many female characters in pivotal roles since the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kristiansen |first1=Ulrik |last2=Sørensen |first2=Tue |title=An Interview with Chris Claremont |website=Comic Zone |url=http://www.seriejournalen.dk/sj_indhold.asp?ID=32 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928040416/http://www.seriejournalen.dk/tegneserie_indhold.asp?art=&ID=32 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |date=May 1, 1996}}</ref> Volume 4 of the [[X-Men (comic book)|X-Men comic book series]] featured an all-female team as part of the [[Marvel NOW!]] branding initiative in 2013.<ref name="vol4">{{cite news | last = Sunu | first = Steve | url = http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=43153 | title = Wood and Coipel Mutate "X-Men" for Marvel NOW! | date = January 14, 2013 | work = [[Comic Book Resources]] | access-date = January 14, 2013 | archive-date = January 16, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130116123717/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=43153 | url-status = live }}</ref> Superpowered female characters like [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer in popular culture|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]<ref>{{cite magazine |author=By Maria Aspan |url=http://www.inc.com/maria-aspan/happy-birthday-buffy-the-original-female-superhero.html |title=What We Learned About Power From Buffy the Vampire Slayer |magazine=Inc.com |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=March 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309233235/http://www.inc.com/maria-aspan/happy-birthday-buffy-the-original-female-superhero.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Darna]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anvilpublishing.com/shop/from-darna-to-zsazsa-zaturnnah-desire-and-fantasy/ |title=From Darna To Zsazsa Zaturnnah: Desire And Fantasy « Anvil Publishing, Inc |publisher=Anvilpublishing.com |access-date=March 26, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054539/http://www.anvilpublishing.com/shop/from-darna-to-zsazsa-zaturnnah-desire-and-fantasy/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20030217&id=OlU1AAAAIBAJ&pg=1953,8884472&hl=en |title=Darna ha ha ha! |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=February 17, 2003 |access-date=July 19, 2014 |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614105223/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20030217&id=OlU1AAAAIBAJ&pg=1953,8884472&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> have a tremendous influence on popular culture in their respective countries of origin.
With more and more [[anime]], [[manga]] and [[tokusatsu]] being translated or adapted, Western audiences were beginning to experience the Japanese styles of superhero fiction more than they were able to before. [[Haim Saban|Saban]]'s ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'', an adaptation of ''[[Zyuranger]]'', created a multimedia franchise that used footage from [[Super Sentai]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grnrngr.com/zyu2/essay |title=Zyu2 |publisher=GrnRngr.com |date=October 24, 2006 |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111165339/http://www.grnrngr.com/zyu2/essay |url-status=live }}</ref> Internationally, the [[shoujo manga|Japanese comic book character]], [[Sailor Moon (character)|Sailor Moon]], is recognized as one of the most important and popular female superheroes ever created.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Can Sailor Moon Break Up the Superhero Boys Club? |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/09/can-sailor-moon-break-up-the-superhero-boys-club/244648/ |magazine=The Atlantic |access-date=July 19, 2014 |archive-date=November 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122201329/http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/09/can-sailor-moon-break-up-the-superhero-boys-club/244648/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19950214&id=UjRQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6121,3715639 |title=Sailor Moon superhero may replace Power Rangers |publisher=Ludington Daily News |access-date=July 19, 2014 |archive-date=May 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522042716/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19950214&id=UjRQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UFUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6121,3715639 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IDlEHGKj8JgC&q=sailor+moon+superhero&pg=PA711 |title=Sailor Moon (superhero) |publisher=The Superhero Book: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Comic Book Icons |access-date=July 19, 2014 |isbn=9781578591541 |date=January 1, 2004 |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206163330/https://books.google.com/books?id=IDlEHGKj8JgC&q=sailor+moon+superhero&pg=PA711 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://leslieirl.com/2013/10/17/moon-prism-power-why-sailor-moon-is-the-perfect-female-superhero/ |title=Moon Prism Power! Why Sailor Moon is the perfect female superhero |publisher=Leslie IRL |access-date=July 19, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223101605/http://leslieirl.com/2013/10/17/moon-prism-power-why-sailor-moon-is-the-perfect-female-superhero/ |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Anthony |last=Comella |url=http://www.popmythology.com/grrrl-power-why-female-superheroes-matter/ |title=Grrrl power: why female superheroes matter |publisher=Pop Mythology |access-date=July 19, 2014 |date=March 24, 2013 |archive-date=August 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805220509/http://www.popmythology.com/grrrl-power-why-female-superheroes-matter/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Trademark status==
{{Essay-like|date=September 2024}}
=== Background ===
The first use of the phrase "super hero" dates back to 1917.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Stewart |first=D. G. |date=2022-05-06 |title=The "Superhero" Trademark: how the name of a genre came to be owned by DC and Marvel, and how they enforce it |url=https://worldcomicbookreview.com/2017/06/01/superhero-trademark-name-genre-came-owned-dc-marvel-enforce/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=World Comic Book Review |language=en-US |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162856/https://www.worldcomicbookreview.com/2017/06/01/superhero-trademark-name-genre-came-owned-dc-marvel-enforce/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At the time, the phrase was merely used to describe a "public figure of great accomplishments."<ref name=":0" /> In 1967, Ben Cooper, Inc., an American Halloween costume manufacturer, became the first entity to commercialize the phrase "super hero" when it registered the mark in connection with Halloween costumes.<ref name=":0" /> In 1972, [[Mego Corporation]], an American toy company, attempted to register the mark "World's Greatest Superheroes" in connection with its line of action figures.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Surisetti |first=Prateek |date=2016-08-18 |title=The "Superhero" Trade Mark |url=https://spicyip.com/2016/08/the-marvellous-duo-and-their-superhero-trade-mark.html |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=SpicyIP |language=en-US |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420055649/https://spicyip.com/2016/08/the-marvellous-duo-and-their-superhero-trade-mark.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Mego Corporation’s attempted registration led Ben Cooper, Inc. to sue Mego Corporation for trademark infringement.<ref name=":1" /> Due to its financial struggles, Mego Corporation was unwilling to defend itself against Ben Cooper Inc.'s suit.<ref name=":1" /> As a result, in 1977, Mego Corporation jointly assigned its interest in the trademark to [[DC Comics]], Inc. ("DC") and [[Marvel Comics]] ("Marvel").<ref name=":1" /> Due to the financial prowess of DC and Marvel, Ben Cooper, Inc. decided to withdraw its trademark opposition and jointly assigned its interest in the "World's Greatest Super Heroes" mark to DC and Marvel.<ref name=":1" /> Two years later in 1979, DC and Marvel applied for the mark in connection with comic books, and were granted the mark by the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] (USPTO) in 1981.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |last=Scoville |first=Alexandra |date=May 16, 2019 |title="SUPER HEROES" Team Up: A Look at Joint Trademark Ownership |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/super-heroes-team-up-look-joint-trademark-ownership-scoville/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=Linkedin.com}}</ref>
In the years leading up to the assignment of the mark, both DC and Marvel battled to register various trademarks involving the phrase “superhero.”<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=Adler |first=Adam |date=2018-11-29 |title=When Marvel and DC Teamed Up to Own Super Heroes |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/when-marvel-and-dc-teamed-up-to-own-super-heroes/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=The Escapist |language=en-US |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420055636/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/when-marvel-and-dc-teamed-up-to-own-super-heroes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, DC and Marvel quickly discovered that they could only register marks involving the phrase "superhero" if the phrase referenced their own company or a character associated with their company.<ref name=":2" /> As a result, DC and Marvel decided to become joint owners of the "superhero" trademark.<ref name=":2" />
Although joint ownership in a trademark is uncommon, the USPTO will grant joint ownership in a mark.<ref>{{cite web|title=How to File for Joint Ownership in a Trademark|url=https://www.trademarkengine.com/blog/joint-ownership-trademark/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=Trademark Engine |language=en |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523213214/https://www.trademarkengine.com/blog/joint-ownership-trademark/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the case ''Arrow Trading Co., Inc. v. Victorinox A.G. and Wegner S.A.'', Opposition No. 103315 (TTAB June 27, 2003), the TTAB held that when "two entities have a long-standing relationship and rely on each other for quality control, it may be found, in appropriate circumstances, that the parties, as joint owners, do represent a single source."<ref>{{cite web |title=Arrow Trading Co., Inc. v. Victorinox A.G. and Wenger S.A, No. 91103315 {{!}} Casetext |url=https://casetext.com/admin-law/arrow-trading-co-inc-v-victorinox-ag-and-wenger-sa |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=casetext.com |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420052333/https://casetext.com/admin-law/arrow-trading-co-inc-v-victorinox-ag-and-wenger-sa |url-status=live }}</ref>
DC and Marvel have continued to expand their [[commercialization]] of the "superhero" mark to categories beyond comic books.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |last=Adler |first=Adam |date=November 29, 2018 |title=When Marvel and DC Teamed Up to Own Super Heroes |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/when-marvel-and-dc-teamed-up-to-own-super-heroes/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=Escapist Magazine |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420055635/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/when-marvel-and-dc-teamed-up-to-own-super-heroes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Now, the two publishers jointly own numerous trademarks for [[figurine]]s (see Spider-Man, Batman), movies, TV shows, magazines, merchandise, cardboard stand-up figures, [[playing cards]], [[eraser]]s, [[pencil]]s, [[notebook]]s, [[cartoon]]s, and many more.<ref name=":3" /> For instance, the companies filed a trademark application as joint owners for the mark "SUPER HEROES" for a series of animated [[motion picture]]s in 2009 (Reg. No. 5613972).<ref name=":4" /> Both DC and Marvel also individually owned<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-trademark-office-cancels-marvel-dcs-super-hero-marks-2024-09-26/ US Trademark Office cancels Marvel, DC's 'Super Hero' marks]</ref><ref>[https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=92085201&pty=CAN&eno=9 Superbabies Ltd v. Marvel Characters Inc, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, Cancellation No. 92085201.]</ref> trademarks involving the "super hero" mark.<ref name=":4" /> Notably, DC owns the mark "[[Legion of Super-Heroes]]" for comic magazines and Marvel owns the mark "Marvel Super Hero Island" for story books, fiction books, and children’s activity books.<ref name=":4" />
DC and Marvel have become known for aggressively protecting their registered marks.<ref>{{cite web |last=Adler |first=Adam |date=December 6, 2018 |title=The Super Hero Trademark Needs a Powerful Challenger |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-super-hero-trademark-needs-a-powerful-challenger/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=Escapist Magazine |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420055646/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-super-hero-trademark-needs-a-powerful-challenger/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, the companies pursued a British law student named Graham Jules who was attempting to publish a [[self-help book]] titled ''Business Zero to Superhero''.<ref name=":5">{{cite web |last=Tung |first=Jonathan |date=March 21, 2019 |title=Law Student Beats DC Comics and Marvel in 'Superhero' Lawsuit |url=https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/greedy-associates/law-student-dc-comics-and-marvel-in-suit-over-use-of-superhero/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=FindLaw.com |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420055635/https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/greedy-associates/law-student-dc-comics-and-marvel-in-suit-over-use-of-superhero/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Much academic debate exists about whether the "super hero" mark has become generic and whether DC and Marvel have created a [[duopoly]] over the "super hero" mark.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bartz |first=Steven |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Joint ventures, IP, and the siren song of joint ownership: IP-related pitfalls |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/joint-ventures-ip-siren-song-joint-ownership-ip-related-pitfalls-2023-08-09/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite web |last=Ulaby |first=Neda |date=March 27, 2006 |title=Comics Creators Search for 'Super Hero' Alternative |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5304264 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=NPR.org |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922153228/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5304264 |url-status=live}}</ref> Conversely, DC and Marvel hold that they are merely exercising their right and duty to protect their registered marks.<ref name=":6" />
=== Current status/relevant cases ===
The following trademarks were or are registered jointly with MARVEL CHARACTERS, INC. and DC COMICS:
* 73222079 SUPER HEROES for publications<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73222079&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73222079&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |url-status=live }}</ref> (Cancelled)
* 72243225 SUPER HERO for costumes<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=72243225&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=72243225&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |url-status=live }}</ref> (Cancelled)
* 77732560 SUPER HEROES for production and distribution of a series of animated motion picture<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77732560&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77732560&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 78356610 SUPER HEROES for t-shirts<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=78356610&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=78356610&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |url-status=live }}</ref> (Cancelled)
* 73011796 SUPER HEROES for toy figures<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73011796&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73011796&caseSearchType=US_APPLICA |url-status=live }}</ref> (Cancelled)
As mentioned, the two companies also own a variety of other superhero-related marks. For instance, DC owns "Legion of Super-Heroes" and "[[DC Super Hero Girls]]" and Marvel owns “Marvel Super Hero Island" and "Marvel Super Hero Adventures."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Search |url=https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/search/search-results |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tmsearch.uspto.gov |archive-date=May 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508232510/https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/search/search-results |url-status=live }}</ref>
DC and Marvel have garnered a reputation for zealously protecting their superhero marks. As noted above, one of these instances included a man by the name of Graham Jules, who sought to publish a book entitled ''Business Zero to Superhero''.<ref name="abajourna_law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants">{{Cite web |last=Journal |first=A. B. A. |title=Law student prevails against Marvel and DC Comics over the use of word 'superhero' in book title |url=https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants_in_battle_over_use_of_word_superh |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=ABA Journal |language=en |archive-date=May 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508232516/https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants_in_battle_over_use_of_word_superh |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, he received a cease and desist from DC and Marvel who claimed that his use of the term superhero would cause confusion and dilute their brands.<ref name="abajourna_law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants"/> He was offered a few thousand dollars in settlement to change the name of his book, but he did not concede.<ref name="abajourna_law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants"/> A few days prior to the scheduled hearing at the Intellectual Property Office in London, the companies backed down.<ref name="abajourna_law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants"/>
A similar scenario occurred when comic book creator Ray Felix attempted to register his comic book series ''A World Without Superheroes'' with the USPTO.<ref name="nydailynews_2013-04-25">{{Cite web |date=2013-04-25 |title=Comic book creator takes on publishers Marvel and DC for right to use term 'superhero' |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2013/04/25/comic-book-creator-takes-on-publishers-marvel-and-dc-for-right-to-use-term-superhero/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US |archive-date=May 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508232516/https://www.nydailynews.com/2013/04/25/comic-book-creator-takes-on-publishers-marvel-and-dc-for-right-to-use-term-superhero/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Felix is one of many who argue that the term "superhero" has become generic (see discussion below).<ref name="nydailynews_2013-04-25"/> Felix's mark is currently abandoned, but he has stated that he intends to fight against DC and Marvel for use of the term.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=85098521&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=85098521&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2024, Superbabies Limited managed to obtain a default judgement and cancel the "super heroes" trademarks as genericized, except for the animation pictures mark.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=92085201&pty=CAN&eno=8 | title=USPTO TTABVUE. Proceeding Number 92085201 }}</ref> This was unexpected as Marvel and DC had filed a motion to extend time to answer.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=92085201&pty=CAN&eno=4 | title=USPTO TTABVUE. Proceeding Number 92085201 }}</ref>
[[File:Daredevil Battles Hitler.djvu|thumb|''Daredevil Battles Hitler'' (July 1941), the premiere issue of ''Daredevil Comics''; art by [[Charles Biro]] and [[Bob Wood (comics)|Bob Wood]].]]
=== Ongoing legal debate ===
There is an ongoing debate among legal scholars and in the courts about whether the term "superhero" has become [[genericized]] due to its widespread use in popular culture, similar to terms like "aspirin" or "escalator" which lost their trademark protection and became generic terms for their respective products.<ref>''Central Penn Distilling, Inc. v. Drake's Organic Spirits, Inc.'', 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4183 (M.D. Pa. 2023)</ref> Some argue the term "SUPER HERO" trademark is at risk of becoming generic.
Courts have noted that determining whether a term has become generic is a highly factual inquiry not suitable for resolution without considering evidence like dictionary definitions, media usage, and consumer surveys.<ref>''Central Penn'', 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4183, at *15-16</ref> Trademark owners can take steps to prevent [[Trademark erosion|genericide]], such as using the trademark with the generic product name, educating the public, and policing unauthorized uses.<ref>Gilson on Trademarks § 2.02[7][b] (2023)</ref> However, misuse by the public alone does not necessarily cause a trademark to become generic if the primary significance of the term is still to indicate a particular source.<ref>''Elliot v. Google, Inc.'', 860 F.3d 1151, 1156-63 (9th Cir. 2017)</ref>
Some legal experts argue that, like the once-trademarked terms "aspirin" and "yo-yo," the term "superhero" now primarily refers to a general type of character with extraordinary abilities, rather than characters originating from specific publishers.
=== Superhero names: public ___domain vs. trademark ===
Even when characters enter the [[Public ___domain in the United States|public ___domain]], their names are not always free for use. A notable example is the character [[Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications)|Daredevil]], originally created by [[Jack Binder]] and [[Jack Cole (artist)|Jack Cole]] for [[Lev Gleason Publications]]. Although his classic version is in the public ___domain, Marvel holds the trademark for the name “Daredevil,” associated with its own [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|character introduced in 1964]]. This prevents third parties from commercially using the name.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Paul |date=2015-11-06 |title=15 Abandoned Comic Book Characters That Became Marvel & DC Icons |url=https://screenrant.com/classic-marvel-dc-comic-book-characters-origins/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> Under U.S. law at the time, publishers were required to renew their copyrights after 28 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burlingame |first=Russ |date=2024-02-14 |title=Public Domain Superheroes Take the Screen in Miss Masque's Saturday Breakfast Cereal |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/public-___domain-superheroes-miss-masques-saturday-breakfast-cereal/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Minority superheroes==
In keeping with their origins as representing the archetypical [[hero]] stock character in 1930s American comics, superheroes are predominantly depicted as [[White Americans|White American]] [[Social class in the United States|middle- or upper-class]] young adult males and females who are typically tall, athletic, educated, physically attractive and in perfect health. Beginning in the 1960s with the [[civil rights movement]] in the United States, and increasingly with the rising concern over [[political correctness]] in the 1980s, superhero fiction centered on cultural, ethnic, national, racial and language [[minority group]]s (from the perspective of [[US demographics]]) began to be produced. This began with depiction of [[List of black superheroes|black superheroes]] in the 1960s, followed in the 1970s with a number of other ethnic-minority superheroes.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=832MAgAAQBAJ&q=Panther |title=The Contemporary Comic Book Superhero |chapter='Oy Gevalt': A Peek at the Development of Jewish Superheroines |first=Jennifer |last=Dowling |date=May 7, 2009 |publisher=Routledge |access-date=August 22, 2015 |isbn=9781135213930 |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162757/https://books.google.com/books?id=832MAgAAQBAJ&q=Panther#v=snippet&q=Panther&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> In keeping with the political mood of the time, [[cultural diversity]] and [[inclusivism]] would be an important part of superhero groups starting from the 1980s. In the 1990s, this was further augmented by the first depictions of superheroes as homosexual. In 2017, [[Sign Gene]] emerged, the first group of [[deaf]] superheroes with superpowers through the use of [[sign language]].<ref name="ASVOFF I">{{cite web|url=http://ashadedviewonfashion.com/2017/09/10/sign-gene-by-emilio-insolera-arrives-at-cinema/|title=Sign Gene by Emilio Insolera arrives at cinema|publisher=[[ASVOFF]]|date=September 10, 2017|language=en|access-date=December 13, 2017|archive-date=December 14, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171214010216/http://ashadedviewonfashion.com/2017/09/10/sign-gene-by-emilio-insolera-arrives-at-cinema/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Female superheroes and villains===
{{Main|Portrayal of women in American comics}}
Female super heroes—and villains—have been around since the early years of comic books dating back to the 1940s.<ref>Comic Book Lecture Moore, Dr. Eric. 2019. TAMUCC.</ref> The representation of women in comic books has been questioned in the past decade following the rise of comic book characters in the film industry (Marvel/DC movies). Women are presented differently than their male counterparts, typically wearing revealing clothing that showcases their curves and cleavage and showing a lot of skin in some cases.<ref name="Nicosia 2016">{{Cite thesis|title=Performing the Female Superhero: An Analysis of Identity Acquisition, Violence, and Hypersexuality in DC Comics |publisher=Bowling Green State University |date=2016 |url=https://etd.ohiolink.edu/pg_10?0::NO:10:P10_ACCESSION_NUM:bgsu1476751594815625 |language=en |first=Matthew|last=Nicosia|access-date=December 7, 2019|archive-date=December 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207195351/https://etd.ohiolink.edu/pg_10%3F0::NO:10:P10_ACCESSION_NUM:bgsu1476751594815625|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Avery-Natale">{{Cite journal |last=Avery-Natale|first=Edward|date=2013-01-01|journal=Social Thought and Research |doi=10.17161/str.1808.12434|issn=1094-5830 |title=An Analysis of Embodiment Among Six Superheroes in DC Comics|doi-access=free|hdl=1808/12434|hdl-access=free}}</ref> Heroes like Power Girl and Wonder Woman are portrayed wearing little clothing and showing cleavage.<ref name="Nicosia 2016" /><ref name="Avery-Natale" /> Power Girl is portrayed as wearing a suit not unlike the swimsuits in the T.V. show ''[[Baywatch]]''. The sexualization of women in comic books can be explained mainly by the fact that the majority of writers are male.<ref name="Avery-Natale" /> Not only are the writers mostly male, but the audience is mostly male as well.<ref name="Chute, Rebecca 2016">Chute, Rebecca. 2016. "The" Pornographic Polemic": The Objectification and Inferiority of Female Comic Book Characters." ''UNBC Award for Academic Writing International Student Academic Writing Award William & Mary Wanka History'':1.</ref><ref name="Avery-Natale" /> Therefore, writers are designing characters to appeal to a mostly male audience.<ref name="Chute, Rebecca 2016" /><ref name="EMAD 954–984">{{Cite journal|author-link=Mitra Emad|last=EMAD|first=MITRA C.|date=December 2006 |title=Reading Wonder Woman's Body: Mythologies of Gender and Nation|journal=The Journal of Popular Culture|volume=39|issue=6|pages=954–984 |doi=10.1111/j.1540-5931.2006.00329.x|issn=0022-3840}}</ref> The super hero characters illustrate a sociological idea called the "[[male gaze]]" which is media created from the viewpoint of a normative heterosexual male.<ref name="EMAD 954–984" /><ref name="Wade, Lisa Professor">{{Cite book|title=Gender |author1=Wade, Lisa|author2=Ferree, Myra Marx |year=2019|isbn=978-0-393-66796-7|edition=2nd|___location=New York |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |oclc=1050142539}}</ref> The female characters in comic books are used to satisfy male desire for the "ideal" woman (small waist, large breasts, toned, athletic body).<ref name="EMAD 954–984" /><ref name="Crawshaw, Trisha L 2015">{{cite thesis |type=Research Paper |last=Crawshaw |first=Trisha L. |date=August 2015 |title=Truth, Justice, Boobs? Analyzing Female Empowerment and Objectification in the Graphic Novel Genre |publisher=Southern Illinois University Carbondale |url=https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1838&context=gs_rp |access-date=2024-05-09 |archive-date=March 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330204103/https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1838&context=gs_rp |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Avery-Natale" /> These characters have god-like power, but the most easily identifiable feature is their hyper sexualized bodies: they are designed to be sexually pleasing to the hypothetical [[Heteronormativity|heteronormative]] male audience.<ref name="Nicosia 2016" /><ref name="Wade, Lisa Professor" /><ref name="Crawshaw, Trisha L 2015" /><ref name="Avery-Natale" />
Villains, such as [[Harley Quinn]] and [[Poison Ivy (character)|Poison Ivy]], use their sexuality to take advantage of their male victims.<ref name="Avery-Natale" /> In the film versions of these characters, their sexuality and seductive methods are highlighted. Poison Ivy uses seduction through poison to take over the minds of her victims as seen in the 1997 film ''[[Batman & Robin (film)|Batman and Robin]]''. Harley Quinn in 2016's ''[[Suicide Squad (2016 film)|Suicide Squad]]'' uses her sexuality to her advantage, acting in a promiscuous manner.
Through the overdeveloped bodies of the heroes or the seductive mannerisms of the villains, women in comic books are used as subordinates to their male counterparts, regardless of their strength or power.<ref>Rubin, Alexandra. 2015. "The Female Superhero: Fighting Villains and Stereotypes." ''A Publication of the Critical Writing Program the University of Pennsylvania 3808 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-6221'':18.</ref> Wonder Woman has been subject to a long history of suppression as a result of her strength and power, including American culture's undoing of the Lynda Carter television series.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Boucher |first=Ian |date=2018 |title=Casting a Wider Lasso: An Analysis of the Cultural Dismissal of Wonder Woman Through Her 1975–1979 Television Series |url=https://www.popularculturereview.org/pcr-292-summer-2018.html |journal=Popular Culture Review |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=151–191 |doi=10.1002/j.2831-865X.2018.tb00237.x |access-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129115113/https://www.popularculturereview.org/pcr-292-summer-2018.html |url-status=live |issn = 1060-8125|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In 2017's ''[[Wonder Woman (2017 film)|Wonder Woman]]'', she had the power of a god, but was still drawn to a much weaker, mortal male character.<ref name="Wade, Lisa Professor" /> This can be explained by the sociological concept "feminine apologetic," which reinforces a woman's femininity to account for her masculine attributes (strength, individualism, toughness, aggressiveness, bravery).<ref name="Wade, Lisa Professor" /> Women in comic books are considered to be misrepresented due to being created by men, for men.<ref name="EMAD 954–984" /><ref name="Crawshaw, Trisha L 2015" />
[[The Hawkeye Initiative]] is a website satirizing the sexualized portrayal of women in comics by recreating the same poses using male superheroes, especially Marvel's [[Hawkeye (Clint Barton)|Hawkeye]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2013-01-18|title=The battle against 'sexist' sci-fi book covers|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21033708|access-date=2020-05-15|archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806170552/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21033708|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The hilarious Hawkeye Initiative pokes fun at sexist comics art|website=Blastr|url=http://blastr.com/2012/12/the-hilarious-hawkeye-ini.php |access-date=2020-05-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206221737/http://blastr.com/2012/12/the-hilarious-hawkeye-ini.php|archive-date=2012-12-06 |date=2012-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Strong Female Superhero Pose meme gets a Hawkeye reboot |website=The Daily Dot |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/hawkeye-initiative-superhero-poses-tumblr/|date=2012-12-03|language=en|access-date=2020-05-15 |archive-date=2020-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807203559/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/hawkeye-initiative-superhero-poses-tumblr/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Ethnic and religious minorities ===
{{See also|Ethnic stereotypes in comics|African characters in comics|List of black superheroes|List of Asian superheroes|List of Latino superheroes|List of Native American superheroes|List of Jewish superheroes|List of Filipino superheroes|List of Russian superheroes}}{{Multiple image
| image1 = Kismet in Bomber Comics 1.jpg
| image2 = Blazing comics 2.jpg
| footer = Kismet and the Green Turtle: early attempts at ethnically diverse superheroes, both fought in World War II, representing underrepresented identities in the Golden Age of Comics.
}}
In 1966, Marvel introduced the [[Black Panther (character)|Black Panther]], an African [[monarch]] who became the first non-[[caricature]]d black superhero.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Brown
| first = Jeffrey A.
| title = Black Superheroes, Milestone Comics and their Fans
| publisher = University Press of Mississippi
| year = 2001
| isbn = 1-57806-281-0}}
</ref> The first [[African-American]] superhero, the [[Falcon (comics)|Falcon]], followed in 1969, and three years later, [[Luke Cage]], a self-styled [[Heroes for Hire|"hero-for-hire"]], became the first [[list of black superheroes|black superhero]] to star in [[Power Man and Iron Fist|his own series]]. In 1989, the [[Monica Rambeau]] [[Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics)#Monica Rambeau|incarnation of Captain Marvel]] was the first female black superhero from a major publisher to get her own title in a special one-shot issue. Before them, a few characters appeared during the Golden Age of Comics, but they are not generally considered superheroes in the modern sense, such as the characters featured in the one-shot ''[[All-Negro Comics]]'' #1 (1947),<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNeill |first=Brian |title=First all-black comic book added to VCU Libraries’ Comic Arts Collection |url=https://news.vcu.edu/article/first_allblack_comic_book_added_to_vcu_libraries_comic_arts_collection |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=VCU News |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Saladin |author-link=Saladin Ahmed |title=How Censors Killed The Weird, Experimental, Progressive Golden Age Of Comics |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/saladinahmed/how-the-comics-code-killed-the-golden-age-of-comics |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250325213226/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/saladinahmed/how-the-comics-code-killed-the-golden-age-of-comics |archive-date=2025-03-25 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=BuzzFeed News |language=en}}</ref> Waku, Prince of the Bantu, introduced by Marvel’s 1950s predecessor [[Atlas Comics (1950s)|Atlas Comics]], who starred in his own feature in the anthology series ''[[Jungle Tales]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2018 |title=Wakanda Forever: How 'Black Panther' Upholds a Revolutionary Legacy |url=https://chapelboro.com/town-square/wakanda-forever |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212215411/https://chapelboro.com/town-square/wakanda-forever |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=February 12, 2020 |website=Chapelboro.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nevins |first=Jess |author-link=Jess Nevins |date=August 18, 2004 |title=Waku |url=http://www.geocities.com/ratmmjess/waku.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040818200112/http://www.geocities.com/ratmmjess/waku.html |archive-date=August 18, 2004 |access-date=February 12, 2020 |website=ratmmjess}}</ref>'' and [[Kismet, Man of Fate]], a [[Muslim]] [[Algerians|Algerian]] hero who debuted in 1944 and is considered one of the first Muslim superheroes in comic book history.<ref>Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 240–241. ISBN 978-1605490892.</ref> In 1971, [[Red Wolf (comics)|Red Wolf]] became the first [[Native Americans of the United States|Native American]] in the superheroic tradition to headline a series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/redwf2.htm |title=Red Wolf (Old West, Johnny Wakely) |publisher=Marvunapp.com |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=December 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208145822/http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/redwf2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1973, [[Shang-Chi]] became the first prominent [[List of Asian superheroes|Asian superhero]] to star in an American comic book. [[Kato (The Green Hornet)|Kato]], from the [[Green Hornet|''Green Hornet'']] franchise, had existed as a secondary character since the 1930s.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kim |first=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan Kim |date=January 15, 2011 |title=Why The ''Green Hornet''{{'}}s Kato Matters |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-kim/rethink-review-the-green-_b_809097.html?ir=Australia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924233359/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-kim/rethink-review-the-green-_b_809097.html?ir=Australia |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=August 22, 2015 |work=The Huffington Post}}</ref> [[The Green Turtle]], created in 1944 by Chinese-American artist Chu F. Hing, was originally conceived as a Chinese hero fighting against the Japanese invasion.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |page=42}}</ref> However, Hing was prevented by his editors from making the character explicitly Chinese, so he deliberately left the hero’s identity ambiguous.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/153 |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |isbn=0-87833-808-X |___location=Dallas |page=153 |access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref>
[[Kitty Pryde]], a member of the X-Men, was an openly Jewish superhero in mainstream American comic books as early as 1978.<ref>{{cite book | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8aH3H7DC6BQC&q=first+jewish+superhero+kitty+pryde&pg=PA120 | title= From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books | author-link= Arie Kaplan | first= Arie | last= Kaplan | publisher= The Jewish Publication Society | year= 2008 | isbn= 978-0827608436 | page= 120 | quote= In ''Uncanny X-Men'' #129 [[cover-date]]d Jan. 1979 and on sale in late 1978, writer [[Chris Claremont]] and the artist [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]] created Katherine "Kitty" Pryde, aka Shadowcat, a young Jewish girl who possess the mutant ability to walk through walls. | access-date= November 21, 2020 | archive-date= September 26, 2024 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240926162757/https://books.google.com/books?id=8aH3H7DC6BQC&q=first+jewish+superhero+kitty+pryde&pg=PA120#v=snippet&q=first%20jewish%20superhero%20kitty%20pryde&f=false | url-status= live }}</ref>
Comic-book companies were in the early stages of cultural expansion and many of these characters played to specific [[stereotype]]s; Cage and many of his contemporaries often employed lingo similar to that of [[blaxploitation]] films, Native Americans were often associated with [[shamanism]] and [[Totemism|wild animals]], and [[Asian American]]s were often portrayed as [[Chinese martial arts|kung fu martial artist]]s. Subsequent minority heroes, such as the [[X-Men]]'s [[Storm (Marvel Comics)|Storm]] and the [[Teen Titans]]' [[Cyborg (DC Comics)|Cyborg]] avoided such conventions; they were both part of ensemble teams, which became increasingly diverse in subsequent years. The X-Men, in particular, were revived in 1975 with a line-up of characters drawn from several nations, including the [[Kenya]]n Storm, [[Germany|German]] [[Nightcrawler (character)|Nightcrawler]], [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]/[[Russians|Russian]] [[Colossus (character)|Colossus]], [[Ireland|Irish]] [[Banshee (character)|Banshee]], and [[Japan]]ese [[Sunfire (comics)|Sunfire]]. In 1993, [[Milestone Comics]], an African-American-owned media/publishing company entered into a publishing agreement with DC Comics that allowed them to introduce a line of comics that included characters of many ethnic minorities. Milestone's initial run lasted four years, during which it introduced ''[[Static (superhero)|Static]],'' a character adapted into the [[WB Television Network|WB Network]] [[animated series]] ''[[Static Shock]]''.
In addition to the creation of new minority heroes, publishers have filled the identities and roles of once-Caucasian heroes with new characters from minority backgrounds. The African-American [[John Stewart (character)|John Stewart]] appeared in the 1970s as an alternate for Earth's Green Lantern [[Hal Jordan]], and would become a regular member of the [[Green Lantern Corps]] from the 1980s onward. The creators of the 2000s-era [[Justice League (animated series)|''Justice League'' animated series]] selected Stewart as the show's Green Lantern. In the [[Ultimate Marvel]] universe, [[Miles Morales]], a youth of [[Puerto Ricans|Puerto Rican]] and African-American ancestry who was also bitten by a genetically-altered spider, debuted as [[Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man|the new Spider-Man]] after the [[List of Ultimate Spider-Man story arcs#Death of Spider-Man (#156-160)|apparent death]] of [[Ultimate Spider-Man|the original Spider-Man, Peter Parker]]. [[Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan)|Kamala Khan]], a [[Pakistani-American]] [[Islam|Muslim]] teenager who is revealed to have [[Inhumans|Inhuman lineage]] after her [[shapeshifting]] powers manifested, takes on the identity of [[Ms. Marvel]] in 2014 after [[Carol Danvers]] had become Captain Marvel. Her self-titled comic book series became a cultural phenomenon, with extensive media coverage by [[CNN]], the [[New York Times]] and [[The Colbert Report]], and embraced by anti-[[Islamophobia]] campaigners in [[San Francisco]] who plastered over anti-Muslim bus adverts with Kamala stickers.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/25/feminist-superheroes-she-hulk-ms-marvel-thor | work= [[The Guardian]] | ___location = UK | title=Kapow! Attack of the feminist superheroes| first=Dorian |last=Lynskey| date= March 25, 2015 | archive-date= August 19, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150819145647/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/25/feminist-superheroes-she-hulk-ms-marvel-thor | url-status=live}}</ref> Other such successor-heroes of color include [[War Machine|James "Rhodey" Rhodes]] as [[Iron Man]] and to a lesser extent [[Ironheart (character)|Riri "Ironheart" Williams]], [[Atom (Ryan Choi)|Ryan Choi]] as [[Atom (character)|the Atom]], [[Jaime Reyes]] as [[Blue Beetle]] and [[Amadeus Cho]] as [[Hulk]].
Certain established characters have had their ethnicity changed when adapted to another continuity or media. A notable example is [[Nick Fury]], who is reinterpreted as [[Ultimate Nick Fury|African-American]] both in the Ultimate Marvel as well as the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] continuities.
===Sexual orientation and gender identity===
{{Main|LGBT themes in comics}}
{{See also|List of LGBT characters in comics}}
In 1992, Marvel [[the closet|revealed]] that [[Northstar (Marvel Comics)|Northstar]], a member of the [[Canada|Canadian]] mutant superhero team [[Alpha Flight]], was [[homosexuality|homosexual]], after years of implication.<ref>{{cite web |first=Anton |last=Kawasaki |title=Northstar |website=Gayleague.com |url=http://www.gayleague.com/wordpress/northstar/ |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=November 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141126015159/http://www.gayleague.com/wordpress/northstar/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This ended a long-standing editorial mandate that there would be no homosexual characters in Marvel comics.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hick |first1=Darren|title=The Comics Journal Performs a Public Service |url=http://www.tcj.com/3_online/f_nuremburg.html|website=The Comics Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005234302/http://www.tcj.com/3_online/f_nuremburg.html|archive-date=October 5, 2009}}</ref> Although some minor secondary characters in [[DC Comics]]' mature-audience 1980s miniseries ''[[Watchmen]]'' were gay, and the reformed supervillain [[Pied Piper (DC Comics)|Pied Piper]] [[coming out|came out]] to [[Wally West]] in an issue of ''[[The Flash (comic book)#Volume 2 (1987–2006, 2007–2008)|The Flash]]'' in 1991, Northstar is considered to be the first openly gay superhero appearing in mainstream comic books. From the mid-2000s onward, several established Marvel and DC comics characters (or a variant version of the pre-existing character) were outed or reintroduced as LGBT individuals by both publishers. Examples include the [[Starman (Mikaal Tomas)|Mikaal Tomas incarnation of Starman]] in 1998; [[Colossus (character)#Ultimate Marvel|Colossus]] in the [[Ultimate X-Men]] series; [[Renee Montoya]] in DC's ''[[Gotham Central]]'' series in 2003; the [[Kate Kane|Kate Kane incarnation of Batwoman]] in 2006; [[Rictor]] and [[Shatterstar]] in an issue of [[X-Factor Investigations|X-Factor]] in 2009; the Golden Age Green Lantern [[Alan Scott]] is reimagined as openly gay following [[The New 52]] reboot in 2011;<ref>{{cite news |title=Entertainment | Batwoman hero returns as lesbian |work=BBC News |date=May 30, 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5030518.stm |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307084732/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5030518.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Neuman |first=Clayton |title=Caped Crusaders |url=http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1200745,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628142225/http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1200745,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 28, 2006 |magazine=TIME |date=June 4, 2006 |access-date=March 26, 2016}}</ref> and in 2015, a younger time displaced version of [[Iceman (Marvel Comics)|Iceman]] in an issue of ''[[All-New X-Men]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hanks |first=Henry |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/21/entertainment/ice-man-gay-feat-xmen/ |title='X-Men' character Iceman outed as gay |publisher=CNN.com |date=April 22, 2015 |access-date=March 26, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-date=October 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027064456/http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/21/entertainment/ice-man-gay-feat-xmen/}}</ref>
Many new openly gay, lesbian and bisexual characters have since emerged in superhero fiction, such as [[Gen¹³|Gen<sup>13</sup>]]'s Rainmaker, [[Apollo (DC Comics)|Apollo]] and [[Midnighter]] of [[The Authority (comics)|The Authority]], and [[Wiccan (character)|Wiccan]] and [[Hulkling]] of the [[Young Avengers]]. Notable [[transgender]] or [[gender bending]] characters are fewer in number by comparison: the alter ego of superheroine [[Zsazsa Zaturnnah]], a seminal character in Philippine popular culture,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/32539/the-return-of-zsazsa-zaturnnah |title=The return of Zsazsa Zaturnnah | Inquirer lifestyle |publisher=Lifestyle.inquirer.net |date=January 27, 2012 |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308163125/http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/32539/the-return-of-zsazsa-zaturnnah |url-status=live }}</ref> is an effeminate gay man who transforms into a female superhuman after ingesting a magical stone. [[Desire (DC Comics)|Desire]] from [[Neil Gaiman]]'s [[The Sandman (Vertigo)|''The Sandman'']] series, Cloud from [[Defenders (comics)|Defenders]], and [[Xavin]] from the [[Runaways (comics)|Runaways]] are all characters who could (and often) change their gender at will. [[Alysia Yeoh]], a supporting character created by writer [[Gail Simone]] for the [[Batgirl]] ongoing series published by DC Comics, received substantial media attention in 2011 for being the first major transgender character written in a contemporary context in a mainstream American comic book.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kane |first=Matt |url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/batgirl-comic-introduces-transgender-character |title='Batgirl' Comic Introduces Transgender Character |publisher=GLAAD |date=April 10, 2013 |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308173753/https://www.glaad.org/blog/batgirl-comic-introduces-transgender-character |url-status=live }}</ref>
The ''Sailor Moon'' series is known for featuring a substantial number of openly [[LGBT]] characters since its inception, as [[Japan]] have traditionally been more open about portraying homosexuality in its children's media compared to many countries in the West.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wwwsshe.murdoch.edu.au/intersections/issue3/mclelland2.html |title=Intersections: Male Homosexuality and Popular Culture in Modern Japan |publisher=She.murdoch.edu.au |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=March 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327222910/http://wwwsshe.murdoch.edu.au/intersections/issue3/mclelland2.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040923091132/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2003_Oct_14/ai_110809191 Anime, mon amour: Forget Pokémon – Japanese animation explodes with gay, lesbian, and trans themes – video] – Charles Solomon</ref> Certain characters who are presented as homosexual or transgender in one continuity may not be presented as such in others, particularly with dubbed versions made for international release.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sara-ronceromenendez/kissing-cousins-viz-wont-_b_5353859.html?ir=Australia | work=Huffington Post | title=Sailor Neptune and Uranus Come Out of the Fictional Closet | date=May 21, 2014 | access-date=August 26, 2015 | archive-date=September 25, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925005744/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sara-ronceromenendez/kissing-cousins-viz-wont-_b_5353859.html?ir=Australia | url-status=live }}</ref>
An animated short ''[[The Ambiguously Gay Duo]]'' parodies comic book superheroes and features Ace and Gary (Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell). It originated on ''[[The Dana Carvey Show]]'' and then moved to ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.
===Language minority===
In 2017, Pluin introduced ''[[Sign Gene]]'', a film featuring a group of [[deaf]] superheroes whose powers derive from their use of [[sign language]]. The film was produced by and with deaf people and deals with [[Deaf culture]], history and language.<ref name="ASVOFF I"/><ref name="Corriere della Sera">{{cite news|last=Trigari|first=Michela|url=http://www.corriere.it/salute/disabilita/17_settembre_12/sign-gene-cinema-arrivano-supereroi-sordi-mutanti-92d2f6a2-97cb-11e7-8ca4-27e7bbee7bdd.shtml|title=Sign Gene è il nuovo film di supereroi sordi|newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]]|date=September 12, 2017|language=it|access-date=December 13, 2017|archive-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705204134/https://www.corriere.it/salute/disabilita/17_settembre_12/sign-gene-cinema-arrivano-supereroi-sordi-mutanti-92d2f6a2-97cb-11e7-8ca4-27e7bbee7bdd.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Avvenire">{{cite web|url=https://www.avvenire.it/agora/pagine/sordo|title=Quando il super eroe è sordo|publisher=[[Avvenire]]|date=September 10, 2017|language=it|access-date=December 13, 2017|archive-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017090052/https://www.avvenire.it/agora/pagine/sordo|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Subtypes==
*[[List of metahumans in DC Comics]]
==See also==
{{Portal|Speculative fiction}}
*[[
*[[:Category:Superhero crossover fiction]]
* [[Real-life superhero]]
* [[List of comic book and superhero podcasts]]
* [[
* [[List of superhero films]]
* [[List of superhero teams and groups]]
* [[List of Latino superheroes]]
* [[List of superhero television series]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
* William Irwin (ed.), ''Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture'', Wiley, 2011.
*Etienne F. Augé, Barry F. Fitzgerald ''Superheroes: A scientist and a historian debate the biggest movie genre of today'', Bot Uitgevers, 2024.
==External links==
*{{wiktionary-inline|superhero}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Superheroes}}
{{Comics}}
{{Stock characters}}
{{Superhero fiction}}
{{Speculative fiction all|state=expanded}}
{{Narrative}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1910s neologisms]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Superheroes| ]]
[[Category:Stock characters]]
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