Superman was the first?

[LonnieFisher]

[Hector]

Well, I think most intelligent people know Superman was not close to being the first superhero.

Obviously if you go back to ancient mythology, you’d have Hercules, Achilles, Samson, Thor (the original Norse god).

The author mentioned el Zorro...but did not feature him.

I’d consider Popeye a superhero too.

Have been a big fan of Golden Bat (Ogon Bat) ever since I was a kid, loved watching the 60s anime.

[johnnystorm]

I think the first hero is considered to be Gilgamesh.

[Hector]

Good one! ^^^^^^^

[PNGwynne]

I found this interesting, though I didn't agree exactly with its premise. Some of the French heroes are really engaging; there's a great Judex film from the '60s. I'm a Fantomas fan, too. And Golden Bat is cool, I didn't realize he was so venerable.

Isn't The Phantom considered the first costumed adventurer, as opposed to a mystery-man type?

[PNGwynne]

[QUOTE=Hector;1357294]Obviously if you go back to ancient mythology, you’d have Hercules, Achilles, Samson, Thor (the original Norse god).QUOTE]

That's what really engaged me with comics. I'm fascinated by mythology and story-telling tropes and comics seemed modern mythology to me.

[johnnystorm]

Isn't The Phantom considered the first costumed adventurer, as opposed to a mystery-man type?

Correct, the Phantom was the first to wear a costume/ outfit with eyeless mask.

[Hector]

El Zorro was way before the Phantom.

[PNGwynne]

You're right: 1919 for Zorro in print vs. 1936 for the Phantom in comics.

I love Zorro, but I consider Zorro a mystery-man. More dashing, perhaps, than Robin Hood or the Scarlet Pimpernel--and admittedly wearing a mask--but not exactly a costume IMO. I suppose part of it is also the semantics of "costume" in relation to comics heroes vs. pulp heroes.

And I use "mystery men" according to my own taste, for pulp/literary characters--even thought I know early superheroes were sometimes called "mystery-men."

I think the Phantom is the pivot-point towards the circus-inspired, leotard-wearing hero.

[Hector]

I think the Phantom is the pivot-point towards the circus-inspired, leotard-wearing hero.

See, you are being slick now, lol. Now you added the circus inspired leotard-wearing thingie. That was not the original criteria.

El Zorro wears black, mask, and cape...fighting against injustice. Sounds familiar? That’s Batman right there.

If you want to call el Zorro a man of mystery rather than a superhero, then the Phantom is one as well.

Also, the Phantom has a gun, el Zorro a sword. Using a gun is not so heroic.

El Zorro by knockout!

[LonnieFisher]

I think gun trumps sword.

[PNGwynne]

See, you are being slick now, lol. Now you added the circus inspired leotard-wearing thingie. That was not the original criteria.

What criteria lol? That was my concern with the original video, overly broad premises/loose criteria. I'm stating my own criteria.

Of course Zorro inspired Batman, but it's a generational shift and Batman is wearing tights, not black civilian clothing.

[PNGwynne]

I think it was Superman's creators who said his costume was inspired by circus/gymnast attire. I don't know where Falk got the idea, but I think the Phantom is terrific, I love his comics. The dynastic aspect is so engaging.

[YoungOnce]

interesting subject. We are not far enough removed from Action #1 that we can't see that Superman was an act of evolution and not spontaneous creation. So many aspects of Superman were present in other places that really it was just a rearranging of parts.

My opinion about what set his appearance apart was that it was a perfect recipe for the particular medium. What with his fantastic powers and brightly colored costume for the younger demographic that read comicbooks. Superman might not have been new for the pulps or radio dramas who had already seen masked heroes, but he was new for comic books. That's just one component of many I'm sure.

[Hector]

interesting subject. We are not far enough removed from Action #1 that we can't see that Superman was an act of evolution and not spontaneous creation. So many aspects of Superman were present in other places that really it was just a rearranging of parts.

My opinion about what set his appearance apart was that it was a perfect recipe for the particular medium. What with his fantastic powers and brightly colored costume for the younger demographic that read comicbooks. Superman might not have been new for the pulps or radio dramas who had already seen masked heroes, but he was new for comic books. That's just one component of many I'm sure.

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