Should superheroes be paid for their services?

[enyawd72]

Interesting thought...

It occurred to me that superheroes take the same risk to life and limb as police officers and soldiers, save as many lives as doctors, nurses, and EMT's yet all of them are PAID for their services while superheroes are not.

Is this fair? Why shouldn't they be compensated as well? Think about it. Spider-Man has probably saved more lives than New York's richest surgeon, yet he lives in a dumpy apartment while the surgeon probably lives in a mansion, drives an expensive car, etc.

Compounding the problem, many superheroes adventures often interfere with their regular jobs, making it even more difficult to earn a paycheck. Wouldn't it make sense for the respective cities in which they live pay them to be "on the clock" complete with medical benefits and pensions?

Seems like a win-win. Superheroes could do a lot more good if they weren't wasting eight hours a day trying to earn a living like the rest of us. I think it would make for some interesting storytelling.

Your thoughts?

[Hedji]

My comic history is sketchy at best. Was that explored in Luke Cage Hero for Hire at all?

[Earth 2 Chris]

I think this has been explored in a few series before. Luke Cage for instance, and I think Infinity, Inc. was on the LA payroll for a time. Folks like Booster Gold definitely did things for profit and gain, and later formed the Conglomerate, which was a super-team that had corporate sponsors. They ran into the same problem every other hero who tried this eventually faced: their sponsors expected them to protect their interests, whether it was right or not.

Chris

[cockyhoskins]

Most do it out of a sense of responsibility. However, that was always the reason why Spidey wanted to be an Avenger. So, he could earn a paycheck.

[LordMudd]

So you would earn a paycheck, you would have to have insurance to cover collateral damage, and the public would have access to your company records which would probably include your identity. Would it be worth it?

CCC.

[johnnystorm]

Funny, I was recently reading the Green Lama Archives book from Dark Horse, and one of the back ups is Lt. Hercules, a character who gets magical Superman like powers then sets up an office to do super deeds for hire. It's a comedy series, so naturally nothing goes right, but it's interesting to see the concept goes back to the Golden Age.

[huedell]

Are there Private Investigators out there who do crime-beating stuff for free?

Sometimes.

The difference with Superheroes is that, apparently, traditionally, superheroes are nobler than your run-of-the-mill private investigator.

To me---that about sums it up.

[TrekStar]

What about health insurance? 401K plan?

[enyawd72]

The Flash could run a delivery service and make a fortune, LOL.

"Need it there in five seconds? No problem!"

[madmarva]

Iron Man was on Stark's payroll alas a body guard before his ID became common knowledge. Didn't Stark pay or extend the regular members of the Avengers a stipend?

Aren't super heroes illegal vigilantes for the most part? If they had a PI license, some of their work could be legal. Any hero that flies is probably breaking all kinds of FAA rules.

[jwyblejr]

The Flash could run a delivery service and make a fortune, LOL.

"Need it there in five seconds? No problem!"

Or if you need your package yesterday.

[LordMudd]

Iron Man was on Stark's payroll alas a body guard before his ID became common knowledge. Didn't Stark pay or extend the regular members of the Avengers a stipend?

Aren't super heroes illegal vigilantes for the most part? If they had a PI license, some of their work could be legal. Any hero that flies is probably breaking all kinds of FAA rules.

Yes, Stark basically bankrolled the Avengers.

CCC.