Is Bizarro more a part of the Super Family or the Super Rogues?

[daBronzeBomma]

Well, do you think he is?

If he is part of the SuperFam, then he is probably most like the Jason Todd of the franchise: not maliciously evil, just recklessly destructive, and understood to mean well.

But that same rationale could put him squarely in the Super- Rogues, with the most direct correlation being that Bizarro is most like the Man-Bat of his alpha's rogues gallery: the twisted reflection of the heroic motif.

Perhaps Bizarro's status is truly most like an even mix of the Jason Todd's Red Hood and Kirk Langstrom's Man-Bat: most sympathetic enemy and most destructive ally in one.

Or maybe you think Bizarro doesn't remotely fit any of these roles at all and have something else in mind for him. If so ... what?

Or maybe you think Bizarro just sucks as a concept in general and should be shelved forever. One complaint I've heard is that Bizarro is a mockery of the mentally challenged/ special needs, which ... I GUESS I could maybe see a little bit, if not given context.


Me: I think Bizarro has become far too sympathetic over the last 3 decades or so to be an outright villain. And his recent stint with RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS as part of the "Wild Trinity" (along with Wonder Woman's Artemis) just further cements that idea for me.

What about you?

Where does Bizarro most closely land for you?

Poll forthcoming.

[Vordan]

With Zod around to be the “evil Superman” foe, I far prefer anti-hero Bizarro in RHatO. However I enjoyed the Boyzarro Redeath arc and wouldn’t mind that villainous Bizarro popping up again.

[Kuwagaton]

If "alpha" is Batman, I think Bizarro is one of the many clear examples of why Superman doesn't defer. He's different from those characters as Langstrom isn't harmless stupidity and Jason isn't a poor idiot, in the respective descriptions of Lois and Clark. His stupidity and selfishness are their own separate traits, even if they still point to him being a reverse Superman.

Making him a hero, IMO, takes away from the fact that he's designed to cause trouble. Making him a villain doesn't work in the sense that his limited intelligence doesn't really let him betray Superman's sympathy. I guess mystery is the closest, though he;s a little too facile for that actual title.

[LordUltimus]

In my opinion, there should be more than one Bizarro: a goofy Bizarro #1 that hangs out on Bizarroworld, Byrne's tragic mute, and a brute that needs to get punched once in a while.

[Kuwagaton]

There have actually been several Bizarros important for the stories aside from just....well, the planet full of them. Also, A. Bizarro was a totally great example of why the Bizarro story is so surprisingly useful to science fiction.

[Jon Clark]

To me Bizarro is a tragic figure. He has the same impulses as Superman, so he should be a hero. But his warped mind makes him a menace. So at the end of the day he isn't a bad guy which keeps him out of the villain's roster but he is more of a threat than a help which keeps him from being an ally. He's the Old Yeller of the Superman Family.

[adrikito]

I am not sure if choose A mystery or A failure: Bizarro is ultimately a mockery of Special Needs(I am agree with this)

[Lightning Rider]

To me Bizarro is a tragic figure. He has the same impulses as Superman, so he should be a hero. But his warped mind makes him a menace. So at the end of the day he isn't a bad guy which keeps him out of the villain's roster but he is more of a threat than a help which keeps him from being an ally. He's the Old Yeller of the Superman Family.

Yeah this.

[Francisco]

To me Bizarro is a tragic figure. He has the same impulses as Superman, so he should be a hero. But his warped mind makes him a menace. So at the end of the day he isn't a bad guy which keeps him out of the villain's roster but he is more of a threat than a help which keeps him from being an ally. He's the Old Yeller of the Superman Family.

I agree with this. But I also believe that more than a threat Bizarro is a "responsibility" that Superman must assume as his. Particularly the Bizarro who is accidentally created by a duplicator ray as he didn't ask to be created.

[KC]

There is more than one Bizzaro, so this question is tricky.

Bizzaro #1 from Bizzaro world is ultimately neither a hero or a villain. He is very unintelligent and that can lead him to do the wrong thing.

The Bizzaro from Red Hood and the Outlaws is a hero. He is unintelligent but because of Jason Todd and Artemis's nurturing of him, he has become a hero.

[JAK]

There is more than one Bizzaro, so this question is tricky.

Bizzaro #1 from Bizzaro world is ultimately neither a hero or a villain. He is very unintelligent and that can lead him to do the wrong thing.

The Bizzaro from Red Hood and the Outlaws is a hero. He is unintelligent but because of Jason Todd and Artemis's nurturing of him, he has become a hero.

Yeah, it definitely depends on which Bizarro we're talking about. My favorites are the one from "Red Hood and the Outlaws," and the one from the 90's "Bizarro World" - who's sympathetic but just doesn't have his head on straight.

To me Bizarro is a tragic figure. He has the same impulses as Superman, so he should be a hero. But his warped mind makes him a menace. So at the end of the day he isn't a bad guy which keeps him out of the villain's roster but he is more of a threat than a help which keeps him from being an ally. He's the Old Yeller of the Superman Family.

Old Yeller! LOL! The "rabid dog" of the Super-verse? I can see that.

I agree with this. But I also believe that more than a threat Bizarro is a "responsibility" that Superman must assume as his. Particularly the Bizarro who is accidentally created by a duplicator ray as he didn't ask to be created.

I see this also. I would say that, in general, nobody "asks" to be created, but definitely agree that Superman sees containing him from a sense of responsibility.

[DrNewGod]

To me Bizarro is a tragic figure. He has the same impulses as Superman, so he should be a hero. But his warped mind makes him a menace. So at the end of the day he isn't a bad guy which keeps him out of the villain's roster but he is more of a threat than a help which keeps him from being an ally. He's the Old Yeller of the Superman Family.

I agree with this. But I also believe that more than a threat Bizarro is a "responsibility" that Superman must assume as his. Particularly the Bizarro who is accidentally created by a duplicator ray as he didn't ask to be created.

Yeah, I think these two opinions nail it for me. A character need not be evil to be an antagonist; it's one of the things that makes me love Biz.

[LordUltimus]

Hey, what are peoples opinions on "Bizarro talk"? Is broken english enough, or should he talk in reverse all the time?

[Jon Clark]

Hey, what are peoples opinions on "Bizarro talk"? Is broken english enough, or should he talk in reverse all the time?

The broken English is easier to understand. The reverse meaning stuff gets too convoluted. Is the opposite of "I am good"- "(Not me) not bad" or "Me are bad"? Would Luthor be Bizarro's son (opposite of father), his destroyer (opposite of creator) or would he use both terms for the same concept?

[JAK]

Hey, what are peoples opinions on "Bizarro talk"? Is broken english enough, or should he talk in reverse all the time?

I like the reverse speak when it has rules - and I don't like when it gets too "into the weeds". The reverse-speak can be a nice parable for language barriers and can be good for all kinds of different mood settings, if used right.