Is New Avengers a book about heroes?

[gregyo]

They don't seem to be doing anything heroic.

[Rheged]

They don't seem to be doing anything heroic.

Decompression and hand wringing makes it hell for anyone to do anything.

[RobinFan4880]

They are saving their Earth from destruction. To do that, they have to compromise their ethics. That doesn't mean they are not heroes, just not Superman/Captain America style heroes who have no sins.

[Alvarez]

They don't seem to be doing anything heroic.

Attempting to save the multiverse and their own earth from dying is pretty heroic to me.
The only difference is that these men are willing to do the unthinkable and cross the line.

Yeah you can debate on what it means to be a hero and how you shouldn't cross the line.
But in this case I think the ends really do justify the means.
For worlds to live, for life to go on sacrifices need be made.

[hawkeyefan]

The question seems to be the essential theme of the book, no? I'm reasonably sure that Hickman wants us to ask this type of question.

[Alvarez]

The question seems to be the essential theme of the book, no? I'm reasonably sure that Hickman wants us to ask this type of question.

Pretty much.

Much of the conflict comes from the internal struggle to make moral sacrifices.

[gregyo]

I think once they do "the unthinkable," they cease to be heroes at all. They become well-intentioned villains, i.e. High Evolutionary.

[hawkeyefan]

I think once they do "the unthinkable," they cease to be heroes at all. They become well-intentioned villains, i.e. High Evolutionary.

Perhaps. Or maybe in a setting where we are usually assured of exactly who is good and who is evil, Hickman is trying to tell a more nuanced story, where things like good and evil aren't so clear cut.

I actually find the fact that this is being written without the traditional perfect way out for the antagonists to be refreshing.

[gregyo]

I don't think that things like good and evil are clear cut either, but I do think that killing billions is pretty clearly-cut evil.

[Alvarez]

I don't think that things like good and evil are clear cut either, but I do think that killing billions is pretty clearly-cut evil.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or one.
Killing billions to save an entire multiverse would indeed be a worthy sacrifice.

[gregyo]

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or one.
Killing billions to save an entire multiverse would indeed be a worthy sacrifice.

Again with the twisted "murder is ok" logic.

[Rheged]

I don't think that things like good and evil are clear cut either, but I do think that killing billions is pretty clearly-cut evil.

How about killing one guy to save billions? Is that evil?

[gregyo]

I would say so, yeah.

Either all life is sacred, or none of it is. *shrug*

[Rheged]

I would say so, yeah.

Either all life is sacred, or none of it is. *shrug*

Well, then Cap is evil.

I know the three kings have killed people, so they're evil.

Not so sure about Tony and Reed. Have they killed anyone? Wait, yeah, in one of the Invasions, I'm sure they have.

[Alvarez]

Again with the twisted "murder is ok" logic.

I'm not saying murder is okay, I'm saying that sacrifices have to be made sometimes for the greater good.
Would you argue that the men who fought and killed during world war II were evil?