Why do we read superhero comics as opposed to Star Trek?

[Green Lantern wannabe]

I sorta know the answer, but I'm hoping others can elaborate it for me, so I can get it clear in my head.

I'm a long time member of this forum, and I like my DC comics, especially Batman, Green Lantern and, after the Robert Downey Jr movies, Iron Man. But I'm more a hard-core science fiction fan than a superhero fan, and I like the intellectual concepts inherent in that genre. Star Trek, of course, is the leading mass media example of that, when the writers ask, "What If?" as in, what if there was an alternate universe (the dark mirror episodes), or what if we had genetically-engineered humans (Khan Noonian Singh).

Yes, superhero comics can also deal with serious issues, like arms dealing (Iron Man 1) or the corruption of the military-industrial complex (the original Robocop movie). But, while we can accept ourselves in a starship warping at faster-than-light speeds, we cannot accept a person putting on a cape and flying, or, for that matter, women showing cleavage and beating up on the bad guys. And yet we like them.

I'm asking because I'm thinking of doing some writing, which I've been wanting to do for many years, and, yes, I'm thinking of the superhero genre.

So why do we like superheroes in tights and capes?

[jwatson]

I sorta know the answer, but I'm hoping others can elaborate it for me, so I can get it clear in my head.

I'm a long time member of this forum, and I like my DC comics, especially Batman, Green Lantern and, after the Robert Downey Jr movies, Iron Man. But I'm more a hard-core science fiction fan than a superhero fan, and I like the intellectual concepts inherent in that genre. Star Trek, of course, is the leading mass media example of that, when the writers ask, "What If?" as in, what if there was an alternate universe (the dark mirror episodes), or what if we had genetically-engineered humans (Khan Noonian Singh).

Yes, superhero comics can also deal with serious issues, like arms dealing (Iron Man 1) or the corruption of the military-industrial complex (the original Robocop movie). But, while we can accept ourselves in a starship warping at faster-than-light speeds, we cannot accept a person putting on a cape and flying, or, for that matter, women showing cleavage and beating up on the bad guys. And yet we like them.

I'm asking because I'm thinking of doing some writing, which I've been wanting to do for many years, and, yes, I'm thinking of the superhero genre.

So why do we like superheroes in tights and capes?

I love Star Trek personally but i wouldn't buy a star trek comic because for me the amount of information and data given in the shows just does not translate well and the visuals are not as exciting as what can be done in other mediums. So in terms of comics i usually steer clear of space stuff besides this latest GOTG run but i've watched all the Star Treks including Picard, Below Deck, and Discovery and loved them all. I have also watched Far Scape and use to like Star Wars but the prequels ruined it for me, i couldn't get past the idea that the past had way better tech than the future and then all of a sudden it was back to how it use to look (which was the right choice) but with no real expectation.

As far as super hero comics i am not particularly tied to them besides mutants i guess which would be more of a personal connection as my 5th grade art teacher was obsessed with the xmen and had a huge banner he drew in our class. But as far as what they got on it doesn't matter to me if it's tights or not that is just simply how it is presented for the most part. I also feel super hero comics tend to be more visually appealing. I guess if space shows spent more time on planets rather than on ships i wouldn't get bored with seeing the same visual repetitively on panel.

[Killerbee911]

American comics at some point became seen as kid thing, And industry hasn't full break that stigma.This is important because scifi gets complex and mature and doesn't fit age bracket/audience comics are going after. Whereas Manga in Japan isn't aimed at specific audience and doesn't have stigma like the US. So all sorts of genre and content are available in comic form and read by adults.

American Comics can deal with serious issue but the American market has been train view to comics for kids, So you will never get push for that type of content(scifi) until American market makes serious turn at adults. That said the american indie market supports wider variety of subject matter so if you are thinking of writing comic and doing scifi you actually have place for that.

Why do we like Superhero comics? Great wish fulfilment with fantastic things happening and they have really good stories of good versus evil in this format

[Green Lantern wannabe]

Why do we like Superhero comics? Great wish fulfilment with fantastic things happening and they have really good stories of good versus evil in this format

Thanks for your input. I think this has a great deal to do with it, because, when I was in my teens - a long time ago - I had the fantasy of going out and being a superhero after school. And this would be different from most sci-fi because a super hero has powers that typically come from his body, as opposed to a sci-fi hero using a spaceship.

Yes, there are exceptions, like, say, Batman, but, even then, his utility belt is with him at all times, and his adventures often don't center around the Batmobile. Star Trek, by contrast, center around a space ship while Babylon 5 center around a space station. Again, there are exceptions, like the Matrix, but the best sci fi involve a universe or surrounding, where there is a scientific or technological difference from our world.

I'm fleshing out the answer, which I've an intuitive sense of, so, everyone, please chime in.

[KyCoo]

Personally, I never was a big fan of the Star Trek universe. I started reading the DC comics and my all-time favorite superhero is The Flash. So I never really thought of reading Star Trek. I've watched the series though.

[Green Lantern wannabe]

Personally, I never was a big fan of the Star Trek universe. I started reading the DC comics and my all-time favorite superhero is The Flash. So I never really thought of reading Star Trek. I've watched the series though.

Thanks, my friend. I think the idea of wish-fulfillment is central to why we read comics, but why do you like the Flash?

[BruceWayneJr.]

I like them both but there's just more volume with superheroes. If I don't like the one Star Trek comic put out that month, I have 50 some-odd new superhero books as an alternative.

[Xheight]

American comics at some point became seen as kid thing, And industry hasn't full break that stigma.This is important because scifi gets complex and mature and doesn't fit age bracket/audience comics are going after. Whereas Manga in Japan isn't aimed at specific audience and doesn't have stigma like the US. So all sorts of genre and content are available in comic form and read by adults.

American Comics can deal with serious issue but the American market has been train view to comics for kids, So you will never get push for that type of content(scifi) until American market makes serious turn at adults. That said the american indie market supports wider variety of subject matter so if you are thinking of writing comic and doing scifi you actually have place for that.

Why do we like Superhero comics? Great wish fulfilment with fantastic things happening and they have really good stories of good versus evil in this format

Well let us not forget that US comics were for a long time policed as being kids content after a horrid period of controlling content from becoming adult. Starlin for one is able to write what he did as the code became less enforced and that stigma began to wane.