Comments on: “Superhero” http://www.afburns.com/2008/08/06/superhero/ Alexander Burns's writing sketchbook Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:11:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Sylvia http://www.afburns.com/2008/08/06/superhero/comment-page-1/#comment-143 Sylvia Sat, 09 Aug 2008 22:40:44 +0000 http://afburns.wordpress.com/?p=151#comment-143 Definitely agree - well put! Definitely agree – well put!

]]> By: Alexander Burns http://www.afburns.com/2008/08/06/superhero/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Alexander Burns Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:51:23 +0000 http://afburns.wordpress.com/?p=151#comment-142 Thanks for stopping by, Gay! I find superhero spoofs funniest when they intersect with the real world. There was a classic Saturday Night Live sketch about the casting of the original Superman (one of the early seasons, obviously). The audition was the producer shooting you; if you survived, clearly you were invulnerable and right for the part. :) Sitcom humor works well, too. Misunderstandings and euphemism can work great when people are in tights and often found in compromising positions with villains or sidekicks. I think you're on the right track. Power not quite working the way the hero expects is always great. Someone underestimating how strong they are, or the petite little female bucking expectations and throwing a guy twice her size, that sort of thing. Let me know what you come up with! Thanks for stopping by, Gay!

I find superhero spoofs funniest when they intersect with the real world. There was a classic Saturday Night Live sketch about the casting of the original Superman (one of the early seasons, obviously). The audition was the producer shooting you; if you survived, clearly you were invulnerable and right for the part. :)

Sitcom humor works well, too. Misunderstandings and euphemism can work great when people are in tights and often found in compromising positions with villains or sidekicks.

I think you’re on the right track. Power not quite working the way the hero expects is always great. Someone underestimating how strong they are, or the petite little female bucking expectations and throwing a guy twice her size, that sort of thing.

Let me know what you come up with!

]]> By: Gay Degani http://www.afburns.com/2008/08/06/superhero/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Gay Degani Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:10:36 +0000 http://afburns.wordpress.com/?p=151#comment-141 Just found your blog Alex. Good superhero stuff. I've been thinking about writing a superhero skit (vacation place that asks for Friday night skits. I know. Corny, but...) and your discussion makes me want to explore it further. I want to exaggerate the stereotypes, you know something corny like Superman's x-ray vision blasting the girls bunkhouse when he all heated up. Any thoughts? Just found your blog Alex. Good superhero stuff. I’ve been thinking about writing a superhero skit (vacation place that asks for Friday night skits. I know. Corny, but…) and your discussion makes me want to explore it further. I want to exaggerate the stereotypes, you know something corny like Superman’s x-ray vision blasting the girls bunkhouse when he all heated up. Any thoughts?

]]> By: Living the Fictional Dream » Waiting and Seeing http://www.afburns.com/2008/08/06/superhero/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Living the Fictional Dream » Waiting and Seeing Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:47:41 +0000 http://afburns.wordpress.com/?p=151#comment-138 [...] all the baggage that term implies (Alex wrote a really interesting post about that recently… read it!). It’s more that she happens to have this amazing power — the term superhero seems to [...] [...] all the baggage that term implies (Alex wrote a really interesting post about that recently… read it!). It’s more that she happens to have this amazing power — the term superhero seems to [...]

]]> By: Alexander Burns http://www.afburns.com/2008/08/06/superhero/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Alexander Burns Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:07:30 +0000 http://afburns.wordpress.com/?p=151#comment-137 Oh, sure, it’s fine in dialogue. I just don’t like it as a quick and easy adjective. Though I probably take it too seriously. I just cringe when I see it is all. Oh, sure, it’s fine in dialogue. I just don’t like it as a quick and easy adjective.

Though I probably take it too seriously. I just cringe when I see it is all.

]]> By: Ben http://www.afburns.com/2008/08/06/superhero/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Ben Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:37:23 +0000 http://afburns.wordpress.com/?p=151#comment-139 Agreed Alex. Though there are exceptions like, "Who do you think you are, some kind of superhero?" Something like that is probably acceptable, when it is used in more of a derogatory form and not as an adjective of your main character. Agreed Alex. Though there are exceptions like, “Who do you think you are, some kind of superhero?” Something like that is probably acceptable, when it is used in more of a derogatory form and not as an adjective of your main character.

]]> By: Erin http://www.afburns.com/2008/08/06/superhero/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Erin Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:59:10 +0000 http://afburns.wordpress.com/?p=151#comment-140 Interesting thoughts, Alex. I hadn't really considered the term in quite that way before. Makes sense. In general, I agree that specific adjectives or showing/illustrating something with action is better than using a generic term, even one as fun as "superhero." :-) Interesting thoughts, Alex. I hadn’t really considered the term in quite that way before. Makes sense. In general, I agree that specific adjectives or showing/illustrating something with action is better than using a generic term, even one as fun as “superhero.” :-)

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