The Gun Counter

I just had a thought during a long drive into work that we can divide "superheroes" into 3 distinct categories:

1. Beings with an intrinsic natural ability- Superman, Aquaman, The X-Men, Thor, Hellboy

2. Beings with a gadget or suit that gives them special abilities- Iron Man, Ant-Man, The Falcon, Batman

3. Beings that have had some change that makes them special- Spiderman, The Flash, The Hulk, Wolverine, Green Lantern, Captain America

evan price wrote:I just had a thought during a long drive into work that we can divide "superheroes" into 3 distinct categories:

1. Beings with an intrinsic natural ability- Superman, Aquaman, The X-Men, Thor, Hellboy

2. Beings with a gadget or suit that gives them special abilities- Iron Man, Ant-Man, The Falcon, Batman

3. Beings that have had some change that makes them special- Spiderman, The Flash, The Hulk, Wolverine, Green Lantern, Captain America

Wolverine is (1) and (3). It's only (1) that lets him survive (3).

evan price wrote:I just had a thought during a long drive into work that we can divide "superheroes" into 3 distinct categories:

1. Beings with an intrinsic natural ability- Superman, Aquaman, The X-Men, Thor, Hellboy

2. Beings with a gadget or suit that gives them special abilities- Iron Man, Ant-Man, The Falcon, Batman

3. Beings that have had some change that makes them special- Spiderman, The Flash, The Hulk, Wolverine, Green Lantern, Captain America

In the case of Batman and Iron Man, starting out as #1 is why they act as #2.

Jericho941 wrote:

evan price wrote:I just had a thought during a long drive into work that we can divide "superheroes" into 3 distinct categories:

1. Beings with an intrinsic natural ability- Superman, Aquaman, The X-Men, Thor, Hellboy

2. Beings with a gadget or suit that gives them special abilities- Iron Man, Ant-Man, The Falcon, Batman

3. Beings that have had some change that makes them special- Spiderman, The Flash, The Hulk, Wolverine, Green Lantern, Captain America

In the case of Batman and Iron Man, starting out as #1 is why they act as #2.

Well, no, y'see. Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne are rich geniuses but without their gear they are just normal people.
"Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist" as Stark says in The Avengers.

Greg wrote:

evan price wrote:I just had a thought during a long drive into work that we can divide "superheroes" into 3 distinct categories:

1. Beings with an intrinsic natural ability- Superman, Aquaman, The X-Men, Thor, Hellboy

2. Beings with a gadget or suit that gives them special abilities- Iron Man, Ant-Man, The Falcon, Batman

3. Beings that have had some change that makes them special- Spiderman, The Flash, The Hulk, Wolverine, Green Lantern, Captain America

Wolverine is (1) and (3). It's only (1) that lets him survive (3).

I forgot Wolverine was a mutant first...

1. Beings with an intrinsic natural ability- Superman, Aquaman, The X-Men, Thor, Hellboy

2. Beings with a gadget or suit that gives them special abilities- Iron Man, Ant-Man, The Falcon

3. Beings that have had some change that makes them special- Spiderman, The Flash, The Hulk, Green Lantern, Captain America

4. Beings that are Batman

There, fixed it.

Kommander wrote: 1. Beings with an intrinsic natural ability- Superman, Aquaman, The X-Men, Thor, Hellboy

2. Beings with a gadget or suit that gives them special abilities- Iron Man, Ant-Man, The Falcon, Green Lanterns

3. Beings that have had some change that makes them special- Spiderman, The Flash, The Hulk,[strike]Green Lantern[/strike], Captain America

4. Beings that are Batman

There, fixed it.

The members of the Green Lantern Corps derive their power via their power rings. There are non-human members of the GLC which would fall into category 1 when compared to humans.

I would agree that category 4 is the best.

Side note: I need to try harder not to let my children become comic book collectors like I was, but it's hard when I enjoying watching the new DC/Marvel cartoons more than they do.

Wife and I have slightly different superhero categories, also determined on a car trip:

1. Aliens with superhuman abilities-Superman, Darkseid, Orion, the rest of the New Gods, Galactus, etc.

2. Tech based-Green Lantern Corps, Iron Man, Cyborg, Ant-Man, etc.

3. Mutants (born with their abilities, mostly human)-Wolverine, the X-men, Black Canary, etc.

4. Mutates (changed to get their abilities, still mostly human)-Hulk, Captain America, Flash, etc

5. Supernatural-Hawk and Dove, Specter, Captain Marvel, Hercules, etc.

6. Peak human-Batman, Green Arrow, Mr. Terrific, etc.

Where does the Punisher fit into your taxonomy?

Split from the Does Not Follow thread at OP's request.