Goku a Superhero?

[caejones]

Wikipedia has Superhero as a strictly American concept based around Marvel and DC. And lists Goku in its examples of Superheroes.

The idea of what a superhero is is pretty vague. So... nyah. Goku has a distinctive outfit, superhuman abilities, fights evil when convenient... Is that enough to qualify him as a superhero? I dunno.

[NeoKING]

I believe he is. Not all Super Heroes have secret identities. Everyone knows Tony Stark is Iron Man. He's a hero, at least. Japanese Super Heroes IMO are guys like Joe the Condor or Yatterman, etc...

[TripleRach]

He is the Hero Guy. And he's pretty super, too.

But really, I don't see why he wouldn't quality as a superhero. Maybe he's not a justice nerd that patrols the streets for jerks, but the definition of a hero goes way beyond that (especially outside of comic books). He's done countless heroic things, including sacrificing his own life twice. And he has more actual superpowers than Batman or Iron Man do, if only because of Oozaru and SSJ.

Also, I'm surprised no one has posted this yet:

[NeoKING]

Marvel should do a reversal of what they did in the 70s-80s. They allowed mangaka to do adaptions of their series like Spider-Man: the Manga. Lol, a Marvel version of DB would be interesting. No doubt they'd expand on Bardock's story; it seems like something Stan Lee would think of.

[Herms]

But really, I don't see why he wouldn't quality as a superhero. Maybe he's not a justice nerd that patrols the streets for jerks, but the definition of a hero goes way beyond that (especially outside of comic books).

You're switching your terms around. Yes, the definition of "hero" goes well beyond being "a justice nerd that patrols the streets for jerks", but what about the definition of superhero? I know technically "superhero" would just mean a hero who happens to be "super", but in actual usage the term invokes various fairly specific elements (a secret identity separate from the heroic persona; a costume worn to conceal this secret identity; a commitment to fighting crime; etc), none of which apply to Goku at all. I don't see what's wrong with saying that Goku is a hero but not a superhero.

If Goku's a superhero, then are the characters from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon superheroes? Is Hercules a superhero (well, I know there's the Marvel character, but the original mythological figure)? Is the archangel Michael a superhero? Who wouldn't you consider a superhero?

[Hellspawn28]

Lol, a Marvel version of DB would be interesting. No doubt they'd expand on Bardock's story; it seems like something Stan Lee would think of.

A american comic book series of Dragon Ball from Marvel, DC, and Image comics would be cool to see. They would end up adding their own versions of the Zetto Senshi in the 616 universe similar what they did with Godzilla over 30 years ago back in the 70's.

I think a American comic book series of Dragon Ball was made then it will likely end up being made by IDW since they are known to make comics based on popular series like Transformers, Star Trek, GI Joe, Doctor Who, and Jurrasic Park.

[NeoKING]

Lol, a Marvel version of DB would be interesting. No doubt they'd expand on Bardock's story; it seems like something Stan Lee would think of.

A american comic book series of Dragon Ball from Marvel, DC, and Image comics would be cool to see. They would end up adding their own versions of the Zetto Senshi in the 616 universe similar what they did with Godzilla over 30 years ago back in the 70's.

I think a American comic book series of Dragon Ball was made then it will likely end up being made by IDW since they are known to make comics based on popular series like Transformers, Star Trek, GI Joe, Doctor Who, and Jurrasic Park.

Marvel once had a line called Mangaverse which were manga versions of their popular series. They made the Fantastic Four one a homage to NGE, I don't see why they couldn't make the X-Men or Spider-Man one(where Spidey's a ninja!) a DB homage somehow.

[TripleRach]

But really, I don't see why he wouldn't quality as a superhero. Maybe he's not a justice nerd that patrols the streets for jerks, but the definition of a hero goes way beyond that (especially outside of comic books).

You're switching your terms around. Yes, the definition of "hero" goes well beyond being "a justice nerd that patrols the streets for jerks", but what about the definition of superhero? I know technically "superhero" would just mean a hero who happens to be "super", but in actual usage the term invokes various fairly specific elements (a secret identity separate from the heroic persona; a costume worn to conceal this secret identity; a commitment to fighting crime; etc), none of which apply to Goku at all. I don't see what's wrong with saying that Goku is a hero but not a superhero.

If Goku's a superhero, then are the characters from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon superheroes? Is Hercules a superhero (well, I know there's the Marvel character, but the original mythological figure)? Is the archangel Michael a superhero? Who wouldn't you consider a superhero?

Well, yes, I do have a pretty broad definition of a superhero. "Superhero" doesn't invoke such a specific definition to me beyond a hero with superpowers. Maybe I am just a crazy person who uses words wrong, but I honestly don't see what's wrong with calling him a superhero. To me, he just invokes the same kind of general ideas of a powered/skilled good guy as most American comic heroes.

As for your examples, I don't remember enough about Crouching Tiger or Michael to give much of an opinion, but for Hercules, sure, why not?

[TonyTheTiger]

Yes, the definition of "hero" goes well beyond being "a justice nerd that patrols the streets for jerks", but what about the definition of superhero? I know technically "superhero" would just mean a hero who happens to be "super", but in actual usage the term invokes various fairly specific elements (a secret identity separate from the heroic persona; a costume worn to conceal this secret identity; a commitment to fighting crime; etc), none of which apply to Goku at all. I don't see what's wrong with saying that Goku is a hero but not a superhero.

The issue is that while the term "superhero" is relatively new, the concept it invokes can extend pretty far back. Superman may have inspired the term but a lot of older characters like The Phantom and Zorro have been retroactively absorbed into it. Kind of like how while Elvis inspired the concept of Rock and Roll he wasn't technically the first to do it. Or how Street Fighter II gave birth to the fighting game genre but older games like Karate Champ (originally categorized as action games) were retroactively adopted into the genre.

The take away is that some people even go so far as to say the ancient Greek heroes like Hercules (admittedly not very heroic by today's standards) could qualify as superheroes. So it's pretty broad.

[Super Sonic]

He is the Hero Guy. And he's pretty super, too.

But really, I don't see why he wouldn't quality as a superhero. Maybe he's not a justice nerd that patrols the streets for jerks, but the definition of a hero goes way beyond that (especially outside of comic books). He's done countless heroic things, including sacrificing his own life twice. And he has more actual superpowers than Batman or Iron Man do, if only because of Oozaru and SSJ.

Also, I'm surprised no one has posted this yet:

Looking at that reminded me of how friend and me are gonna try to make a video of various cosplayers to the Justice League theme.

[Kendamu]

Goku. Not a superhero.

Gohan. Also not a superhero.

Great Saiyaman. Superhero.

Simple enough!

[caejones]

So, before this thread started, I brought up this idea to my dad, and mentioned that Great Saiyaman is the actual Superhero of the main cast. He brought up the question of Videl.
Now, yeah, Videl becomes Great Saiyaman#2. But before that, did she qualify as a Superhero? Her father certainly was a superhero in the minds of the general public, but what about Videl herself?

*Imagines Trunks and Goten trying to be superheroes and only causing more harm as a result*

[Piccolo Daimao]

Goku. Not a superhero.

Gohan. Also not a superhero.

Great Saiyaman. Superhero.

Simple enough!

I'm sure someone's going to turn round and disagree with you, so don't drag it on.

[TonyTheTiger]

If having a secret identity or otherwise alternate persona is required to be a superhero then I guess Jean Grey, Luke Cage, and Emma Frost aren't superheroes.

Just Saiyan...

[Kendamu]

Goku. Not a superhero.

Gohan. Also not a superhero.

Great Saiyaman. Superhero.

Simple enough!

I'm sure someone's going to turn round and disagree with you, so don't drag it on.

I said it one time and kept it short. I'm sure dragging it out is the least of your worries.

On Videl and Mr. Satan, their fighting to uphold justice is superheroic, but they're not superheroes in the traditional sense (costumes and such). They're more like... champions of the people. Both are very similar, but Batman wouldn't be a Superhero if he snuck around beating up crooks as Bruce Wayne. It's being Batman that sets him apart from just being some guy who beats up crooks.

[Rocketman]

Superhero is a trademark of Marvel and DC. If Goku doesn't resemble what they call superheroes, then he's not one.

[Piccolo Daimao]

Goku. Not a superhero.

Gohan. Also not a superhero.

Great Saiyaman. Superhero.

Simple enough!

I'm sure someone's going to turn round and disagree with you, so don't drag it on.

I said it one time and kept it short. I'm sure dragging it out is the least of your worries.

On Videl and Mr. Satan, their fighting to uphold justice is superheroic, but they're not superheroes in the traditional sense (costumes and such). They're more like... champions of the people. Both are very similar, but Batman wouldn't be a Superhero if he snuck around beating up crooks as Bruce Wayne. It's being Batman that sets him apart from just being some guy who beats up crooks.

I share your opinion that Goku isn't a superhero, but it looks like this thread is going round in circles over what is a superhero and what is not.

[Kendamu]

I share your opinion that Goku isn't a superhero, but it looks like this thread is going round in circles over what is a superhero and what is not.

That's because some people don't know what a superhero really is and the people who do know keep arguing with the people who don't know. I just felt like simplifying things a bit since, really, the answer is extremely simple if you just step back and take a look at the overall picture.

[caejones]

Superhero is a trademark of Marvel and DC. If Goku doesn't resemble what they call superheroes, then he's not one.

Thus, we have the sollution...

Get Marvel/DC representatives to osay what they think.

[TonyTheTiger]

That's because some people don't know what a superhero really is and the people who do know keep arguing with the people who don't know. I just felt like simplifying things a bit since, really, the answer is extremely simple if you just step back and take a look at the overall picture.

That's a pretty bold statement considering your presumed definition of a superhero is narrower than Marvel's. I guess Thor isn't a superhero? How many prominent Avengers and X-Men do I have to go through?