it’s a bird it’s a plane it’s a cliche I know welcome to watchmojo.com and today
know welcome to watchmojo.com and today
know welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the
we’re counting down our picks for the
we’re counting down our picks for the top ten superhero cliches before we
top ten superhero cliches before we
top ten superhero cliches before we begin we publish new videos every day so
begin we publish new videos every day so
begin we publish new videos every day so be sure to subscribe for more great
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be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’re looking at
content for this list we’re looking at
content for this list we’re looking at the tropes cliches and other recurring
the tropes cliches and other recurring
the tropes cliches and other recurring elements that make up superhero stories
elements that make up superhero stories
elements that make up superhero stories these will apply to stories of every
these will apply to stories of every
these will apply to stories of every medium and because a few entries might
medium and because a few entries might
medium and because a few entries might enter spoiler territory proceed with
enter spoiler territory proceed with
enter spoiler territory proceed with caution
caution
caution spunk loosen your bullshit long conical
spunk loosen your bullshit long conical
spunk loosen your bullshit long conical number 10 from selfish individual to
number 10 from selfish individual to
number 10 from selfish individual to selfless hero peril is now officially
selfless hero peril is now officially
selfless hero peril is now officially compared to lose a few with you many a
compared to lose a few with you many a
compared to lose a few with you many a hero to be has been a real jerk before
hero to be has been a real jerk before
hero to be has been a real jerk before donning the spandex or cape when we
donning the spandex or cape when we
donning the spandex or cape when we first meet the individual heroes they’re
first meet the individual heroes they’re
first meet the individual heroes they’re often characterized by their
often characterized by their
often characterized by their self-centered behavior only developing
self-centered behavior only developing
self-centered behavior only developing into better people over the course of
into better people over the course of
into better people over the course of their journey to superheroism laurels
their journey to superheroism laurels
their journey to superheroism laurels gonna kill me she’s so gonna kill me yes
gonna kill me she’s so gonna kill me yes
gonna kill me she’s so gonna kill me yes you’ll never know
you’ll never know
you’ll never know good here’s one possible explanation for
good here’s one possible explanation for
good here’s one possible explanation for the tropes popularity is the fact that
the tropes popularity is the fact that
the tropes popularity is the fact that depicting someone developing from
depicting someone developing from
depicting someone developing from selfish to selfless is a simple but
selfish to selfless is a simple but
selfish to selfless is a simple but effective way to demonstrate a
effective way to demonstrate a
effective way to demonstrate a character’s personal growth everyone
character’s personal growth everyone
character’s personal growth everyone likes a tale of redemption right it’s
likes a tale of redemption right it’s
likes a tale of redemption right it’s also a handy way of defining what makes
also a handy way of defining what makes
also a handy way of defining what makes a hero first showing the character as
a hero first showing the character as
a hero first showing the character as obviously unheroic and then having them
obviously unheroic and then having them
obviously unheroic and then having them discover their own inner bravery and
discover their own inner bravery and
discover their own inner bravery and nobility Oh
nobility Oh
nobility Oh seize everything number 9 a personal
seize everything number 9 a personal
seize everything number 9 a personal connection to the villain in a comic you
connection to the villain in a comic you
connection to the villain in a comic you know how you can tell who the odds
know how you can tell who the odds
know how you can tell who the odds villains going to be
villains going to be
villains going to be he’s the exact opposite of the hero and
he’s the exact opposite of the hero and
he’s the exact opposite of the hero and most times good friends like you remain
most times good friends like you remain
most times good friends like you remain keep your friends close and your
keep your friends close and your
keep your friends close and your villains closer while by no means
villains closer while by no means
villains closer while by no means limited to superhero stories this cliche
limited to superhero stories this cliche
limited to superhero stories this cliche does feature in them heavily having the
does feature in them heavily having the
does feature in them heavily having the villain be someone close to the hero
villain be someone close to the hero
villain be someone close to the hero allows the writers to inject some more
allows the writers to inject some more
allows the writers to inject some more drama into the story very nervous with
drama into the story very nervous with
drama into the story very nervous with coming speak there’s a sense of betrayal
coming speak there’s a sense of betrayal
coming speak there’s a sense of betrayal when the bill one is finally revealed as
when the bill one is finally revealed as
when the bill one is finally revealed as well as the tantalizing possibility that
well as the tantalizing possibility that
well as the tantalizing possibility that the foe will redeem themselves somehow
the foe will redeem themselves somehow
the foe will redeem themselves somehow plus a villain with a personal
plus a villain with a personal
plus a villain with a personal connection to the hero offers great
connection to the hero offers great
connection to the hero offers great stakes and more emotional investment
stakes and more emotional investment
stakes and more emotional investment from the hero as well as the audience
from the hero as well as the audience
from the hero as well as the audience I’m always loved turn pain you know
I’m always loved turn pain you know
I’m always loved turn pain you know number eight intelligence is the
number eight intelligence is the
number eight intelligence is the defining characteristic if you ask me
defining characteristic if you ask me
defining characteristic if you ask me again and I’m not on fire I’m donating
again and I’m not on fire I’m donating
again and I’m not on fire I’m donating Univ city college in general superhero
Univ city college in general superhero
Univ city college in general superhero IQs tend to be on the high side of the
IQs tend to be on the high side of the
IQs tend to be on the high side of the scale capes often work as scientists
scale capes often work as scientists
scale capes often work as scientists engineers savvy businessmen or you know
engineers savvy businessmen or you know
engineers savvy businessmen or you know all-around problem-solving super
all-around problem-solving super
all-around problem-solving super geniuses he’s one of the Midtown
geniuses he’s one of the Midtown
geniuses he’s one of the Midtown Sciences best and brightest seconds
Sciences best and brightest seconds
Sciences best and brightest seconds classes oh thank you then again that
classes oh thank you then again that
classes oh thank you then again that technically makes sense as such minds
technically makes sense as such minds
technically makes sense as such minds are more likely to find themselves in
are more likely to find themselves in
are more likely to find themselves in situations that would result in a
situations that would result in a
situations that would result in a superhero origin be it a science
superhero origin be it a science
superhero origin be it a science experiments gone awry or access to
experiments gone awry or access to
experiments gone awry or access to next-level tech even those without
next-level tech even those without
next-level tech even those without explicitly brilliant minds are typically
explicitly brilliant minds are typically
explicitly brilliant minds are typically more clever than your average Joe or
more clever than your average Joe or
more clever than your average Joe or chain to be fair however any heroes on
chain to be fair however any heroes on
chain to be fair however any heroes on the dummer side of things or who rely on
the dummer side of things or who rely on
the dummer side of things or who rely on guts alone and who aren’t entirely
guts alone and who aren’t entirely
guts alone and who aren’t entirely invulnerable probably don’t last long
invulnerable probably don’t last long
invulnerable probably don’t last long enough to become very popular it’s a
enough to become very popular it’s a
enough to become very popular it’s a whole new way of looking at physics it
whole new way of looking at physics it
whole new way of looking at physics it will literally change the way that we
will literally change the way that we
will literally change the way that we think about everything you gotta get
think about everything you gotta get
think about everything you gotta get yourself a contract number seven
yourself a contract number seven
yourself a contract number seven exorbitant wealth facilitates their
exorbitant wealth facilitates their
exorbitant wealth facilitates their mission it is not a question of money
mission it is not a question of money
mission it is not a question of money see under – and setting some new rules
see under – and setting some new rules
see under – and setting some new rules about the pool there there are plenty of
about the pool there there are plenty of
about the pool there there are plenty of superheroes that struggle to make ends
superheroes that struggle to make ends
superheroes that struggle to make ends meet but let’s face it being rich makes
meet but let’s face it being rich makes
meet but let’s face it being rich makes being a superhero that much simpler it’s
being a superhero that much simpler it’s
being a superhero that much simpler it’s hard enough trying to fight crime in
hard enough trying to fight crime in
hard enough trying to fight crime in foil your nemesis as is it becomes a lot
foil your nemesis as is it becomes a lot
foil your nemesis as is it becomes a lot more draining if you have to worry about
more draining if you have to worry about
more draining if you have to worry about getting fired as a result of missing a
getting fired as a result of missing a
getting fired as a result of missing a shift to save the city plus rich
shift to save the city plus rich
shift to save the city plus rich superheroes just have access to that
superheroes just have access to that
superheroes just have access to that many more resources whether it’s loyal
many more resources whether it’s loyal
many more resources whether it’s loyal skilled helpers money for supplies and
skilled helpers money for supplies and
skilled helpers money for supplies and equipment or a secret property they own
equipment or a secret property they own
equipment or a secret property they own that they can use as a headquarters the
that they can use as a headquarters the
that they can use as a headquarters the 1% have a leg up in most things and
1% have a leg up in most things and
1% have a leg up in most things and being a superhero is no exception
being a superhero is no exception
being a superhero is no exception big man in a suit of armor take that off
big man in a suit of armor take that off
big man in a suit of armor take that off what are you genius billionaire playboy
what are you genius billionaire playboy
what are you genius billionaire playboy philanthropist number 6 police
philanthropist number 6 police
philanthropist number 6 police resistance stance the Law & Order Sun
resistance stance the Law & Order Sun
resistance stance the Law & Order Sun that’s what I stand for ok I wear a
that’s what I stand for ok I wear a
that’s what I stand for ok I wear a badge
badge
badge this guy wears a mask like a you know
this guy wears a mask like a you know
this guy wears a mask like a you know like a like an outlaw vigilante ISM in
like a like an outlaw vigilante ISM in
like a like an outlaw vigilante ISM in the real world is a complex issue with
the real world is a complex issue with
the real world is a complex issue with many factors and argument to consider in
many factors and argument to consider in
many factors and argument to consider in a universe where genuine superheroes
a universe where genuine superheroes
a universe where genuine superheroes exist though you think that the cops
exist though you think that the cops
exist though you think that the cops would be a little more welcoming no no
would be a little more welcoming no no
would be a little more welcoming no no it’s a pretty common cliche though for
it’s a pretty common cliche though for
it’s a pretty common cliche though for the police to be critical of superheroes
the police to be critical of superheroes
the police to be critical of superheroes if not outright hostile to them sure
if not outright hostile to them sure
if not outright hostile to them sure superheroes perform a similar function
superheroes perform a similar function
superheroes perform a similar function to the cops but they’re almost always
to the cops but they’re almost always
to the cops but they’re almost always just as well if not better equipped to
just as well if not better equipped to
just as well if not better equipped to deal with the criminals particularly if
deal with the criminals particularly if
deal with the criminals particularly if the criminals have superpowers of their
the criminals have superpowers of their
the criminals have superpowers of their own you know no matter how well arms
own you know no matter how well arms
own you know no matter how well arms they are we doubt that many police men
they are we doubt that many police men
they are we doubt that many police men are up to facing some of the threats
are up to facing some of the threats
are up to facing some of the threats dealt by the superheroes right
how did you lose it got a lot of
how did you lose it got a lot of firepower
firepower
firepower what nu number five a younger sidekick
what nu number five a younger sidekick
what nu number five a younger sidekick Bonita
Bonita
Bonita no speedy Green Arrow’s sidekick well
no speedy Green Arrow’s sidekick well
no speedy Green Arrow’s sidekick well that makes no sense
that makes no sense
that makes no sense holy kid companion plenty of superheroes
holy kid companion plenty of superheroes
holy kid companion plenty of superheroes fight crime with the help of younger
fight crime with the help of younger
fight crime with the help of younger partners whose comedy can rain from
partners whose comedy can rain from
partners whose comedy can rain from complimentary and genuinely helpful to
complimentary and genuinely helpful to
complimentary and genuinely helpful to an outright liability the popularity of
an outright liability the popularity of
an outright liability the popularity of the kid sidekick in superhero stories is
the kid sidekick in superhero stories is
the kid sidekick in superhero stories is likely due to kids being the primary
likely due to kids being the primary
likely due to kids being the primary demographic for superhero comics hey
demographic for superhero comics hey
demographic for superhero comics hey don’t freak out at least at one time by
don’t freak out at least at one time by
don’t freak out at least at one time by including characters closer to the age
including characters closer to the age
including characters closer to the age of their target demographic comic
of their target demographic comic
of their target demographic comic creators hopes to give children somewhat
creators hopes to give children somewhat
creators hopes to give children somewhat more relatable than these superheroes
more relatable than these superheroes
more relatable than these superheroes themselves who were good role models but
themselves who were good role models but
themselves who were good role models but generally older than the target audience
generally older than the target audience
generally older than the target audience kid sidekicks sometimes go on to become
kid sidekicks sometimes go on to become
kid sidekicks sometimes go on to become superheroes in their own right or else
superheroes in their own right or else
superheroes in their own right or else take up the mantle previously held by
take up the mantle previously held by
take up the mantle previously held by the elf partner in those case nothing is
the elf partner in those case nothing is
the elf partner in those case nothing is certainly something Robin
certainly something Robin
certainly something Robin let’s see zero zilch goose egg precisely
let’s see zero zilch goose egg precisely
let’s see zero zilch goose egg precisely number four a secret identity to protect
number four a secret identity to protect
number four a secret identity to protect a staple of the superhero mythology is
a staple of the superhero mythology is
a staple of the superhero mythology is there’s the superhero and there’s the
there’s the superhero and there’s the
there’s the superhero and there’s the alter ego creating another persona is
alter ego creating another persona is
alter ego creating another persona is put us among superheroes the idea is to
put us among superheroes the idea is to
put us among superheroes the idea is to keep their identity a secret from their
keep their identity a secret from their
keep their identity a secret from their enemies society and if need be the
enemies society and if need be the
enemies society and if need be the police they’re selfless acts of heroism
police they’re selfless acts of heroism
police they’re selfless acts of heroism often come with reprisals either against
often come with reprisals either against
often come with reprisals either against them or worse their loved ones and so
them or worse their loved ones and so
them or worse their loved ones and so preserving their anonymity is paramount
just kid a superhero name a special
just kid a superhero name a special costume equipment or a mask are all
costume equipment or a mask are all
costume equipment or a mask are all popular ways of maintaining that secret
popular ways of maintaining that secret
popular ways of maintaining that secret identity
identity
identity this convention also helps create plenty
this convention also helps create plenty
this convention also helps create plenty of drama particularly if the hero
of drama particularly if the hero
of drama particularly if the hero struggles to eat their activities hidden
struggles to eat their activities hidden
struggles to eat their activities hidden from their friends and loved ones this
from their friends and loved ones this
from their friends and loved ones this is one cliche that’s probably here to
is one cliche that’s probably here to
is one cliche that’s probably here to stay but there are still some
stay but there are still some
stay but there are still some superheroes that we feel could stand to
superheroes that we feel could stand to
superheroes that we feel could stand to up their disguise game number three
up their disguise game number three
up their disguise game number three death and the inevitable resurrection
they all come back eventually
they all come back eventually superheroes just don’t stay dead no
superheroes just don’t stay dead no
superheroes just don’t stay dead no matter how long or how ironclad the
matter how long or how ironclad the
matter how long or how ironclad the certainty of the death was writers will
certainty of the death was writers will
certainty of the death was writers will always find a way to bring popular
always find a way to bring popular
always find a way to bring popular characters back whether it’s explained
characters back whether it’s explained
characters back whether it’s explained by introducing another version of the
by introducing another version of the
by introducing another version of the character from a parallel universe magic
character from a parallel universe magic
character from a parallel universe magic or an elaborately faked death or
or an elaborately faked death or
or an elaborately faked death or something killing off a superhero is a
something killing off a superhero is a
something killing off a superhero is a good way to create drama as well as
good way to create drama as well as
good way to create drama as well as illustrate the impact of the characters
illustrate the impact of the characters
illustrate the impact of the characters loss on those around them
loss on those around them
loss on those around them however if a superhero remains dead no
however if a superhero remains dead no
however if a superhero remains dead no more stories can be told about them Ange
more stories can be told about them Ange
more stories can be told about them Ange to borrow a phrase from another genre
to borrow a phrase from another genre
to borrow a phrase from another genre dead men tell no tales so the cycle
dead men tell no tales so the cycle
dead men tell no tales so the cycle continues for thy jus
continues for thy jus
continues for thy jus is like the dew of the morning and the
is like the dew of the morning and the
is like the dew of the morning and the earth shall give birth to her dead
earth shall give birth to her dead
earth shall give birth to her dead number two dead parents
finding a superhero with two parents is
finding a superhero with two parents is kind of like finding someone who doesn’t
kind of like finding someone who doesn’t
kind of like finding someone who doesn’t like chocolate they’re out there but
like chocolate they’re out there but
like chocolate they’re out there but they’re just kind of hard to find
they’re just kind of hard to find
they’re just kind of hard to find having dead or absent parents is a
having dead or absent parents is a
having dead or absent parents is a pervasive trope among protagonists of
pervasive trope among protagonists of
pervasive trope among protagonists of all kind but superheroes especially
personal tragedy is a powerful way to
personal tragedy is a powerful way to inspire someone towards a life of
inspire someone towards a life of
inspire someone towards a life of heroism and losing my parents is a very
heroism and losing my parents is a very
heroism and losing my parents is a very popular and direct method of
popular and direct method of
popular and direct method of illustrating just that besides acting as
illustrating just that besides acting as
illustrating just that besides acting as a motivator being an orphan is also
a motivator being an orphan is also
a motivator being an orphan is also narrative ly convenient since parents
narrative ly convenient since parents
narrative ly convenient since parents would be much more likely to discourage
would be much more likely to discourage
would be much more likely to discourage dangerous super heroics at least in the
dangerous super heroics at least in the
dangerous super heroics at least in the case of younger heroes classic or
case of younger heroes classic or
case of younger heroes classic or overdone or materials will promptly
overdone or materials will promptly
overdone or materials will promptly remain the norm to teddy today number
remain the norm to teddy today number
remain the norm to teddy today number one abilities be a freak accident I feel
one abilities be a freak accident I feel
one abilities be a freak accident I feel fear for the last time
fear for the last time
fear for the last time [Music]
[Music]
[Music] as William Shakespeare once wrote some
as William Shakespeare once wrote some
as William Shakespeare once wrote some are born great some achieve greatness
are born great some achieve greatness
are born great some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them
and some have greatness thrust upon them
and some have greatness thrust upon them superhero stories have explored all
superhero stories have explored all
superhero stories have explored all three but the third is easily the most
three but the third is easily the most
three but the third is easily the most prevalent the genres writers love to
prevalent the genres writers love to
prevalent the genres writers love to show what happens when ordinary people
show what happens when ordinary people
show what happens when ordinary people have their bodies altered to become
have their bodies altered to become
have their bodies altered to become extraordinary and these sudden
extraordinary and these sudden
extraordinary and these sudden transformations are frequently the
transformations are frequently the
transformations are frequently the result of an accident often of the
result of an accident often of the
result of an accident often of the scientific and or radioactive variety
scientific and or radioactive variety
scientific and or radioactive variety sometimes the villains will also receive
sometimes the villains will also receive
sometimes the villains will also receive powers at the same time allowing the
powers at the same time allowing the
powers at the same time allowing the writers to show the contrast between
writers to show the contrast between
writers to show the contrast between hero and villain in terms of what they
hero and villain in terms of what they
hero and villain in terms of what they choose to do with those powers say it
choose to do with those powers say it
choose to do with those powers say it with us Uncle Ben great power comes
with us Uncle Ben great power comes
with us Uncle Ben great power comes great responsibility do you agree with
great responsibility do you agree with
great responsibility do you agree with our picks check out these other great
our picks check out these other great
our picks check out these other great clips from WatchMojo and subscribe for
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new videos every day
new videos every day [Music]
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