8 ms·

"The best heroic journey is not the story of an incredible person doing incredible things. It is the story of a flawed, ordinary person who—when called upon—ris

"The best heroic journey is not the story of an incredible person doing incredible things. It is the story of a flawed, ordinary person who—when called upon—rises to an incredible challenge and finds within themselves something truly extraordinary." This is the main reason I don't like superhero films. There is no sense of danger or vulnerability. It's just people in fancy jumpsuits doing acrobats around explosions till they win the day. I prefer main characters dying / at severe risk of dying. Give me tragedy. Show me vulnerable people who grow and become stronger.

poulpy123 4y ago
I have 3 problems with comics books super heroes: - their flashy costumes - their boringness - the inconsistency in their powers that one day is godlike and the next morning is mundane
moritonal 4y ago
Trying to think of examples: A Quiet Place, Day after Tomorrow, Lord of the Rings.
- ascar 4y ago
  Even Harry Potter matches his description. Harry's vulnerability, courage and personal growth even though the odds are stacked against him is a big part of what made it so good. It's actually a very common pattern. Might even be Shonen manga 101.
  - oneoff786 4y ago
    Though it’s odd that one of the first things to happen is to establish that he was rich, famous, and popular. Not that this mattered too much along the way.
    - krapp 4y ago
      The "chosen one" archetype in a nutshell. Luke Skywalker learns he's part of a royal bloodline, a child of prophecy and a super-powerful space wizard. One of the (few) things I respect the sequel trilogy for was trying to deconstruct this, showing how disillusioned Luke then became with his legendary in-universe celebrity status.
  - krapp 4y ago
    And as far as Marvel movies go: Iron Man, Spider Man, Doctor Strange. Even Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Thor:Ragnarok.
BrandoElFollito 4y ago
This is exactly the reason why I like superhero movies. I go to the cinema to relax, switch off the rationale part of my brain and have fun. I liked very much the Marvel movies that were fun (Guardians of the Galaxy for instance) and did not rewatch the sad and heavy ones. It is of course a matter of personal taste. My wife terrorized me a few times into going with her to movies where I either had to take notes to follow the narrative, wonder about the mental sanity of the script writer and the director, wonder whether the movie froze when people were looking at each other for 5 minutes without saying anything, or simply trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. Some of these movies left a trace, though, but maybe not a very good one (usually Almodóvar movies)
- andrepd 4y ago
  Definitely different strokes for different folks, but I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone can watch and rewatch 30+ movies which are completely interchangeable. Generic villain wants to do generic bad thing and generic hero saves the day in generic action sequences while making generic quips. Yawn. They are bad even as "low-effort movies" to relax.
  - macintux 4y ago
    I cannot for the life of me understand why people feel compelled to jump on the Internet to denigrate others’ taste in movies.
    - gilleain 4y ago
      But they are not? They are expressing their opinion on a type of movie. Why is that 'denigration'?
      - macintux 4y ago
        “You can watch what you want, but they’re obviously pablum and my taste is superior to yours.”
Poppys 4y ago
I had a discussion about epic stories and a friend said that there are only two good stories: * A ordinary person has to cope with an extraordinary situation, or * An extraordinary person has to cope with an ordinary situation. While we didn't feel it was a great fit for some stories, it definitely applied to a few of the greats.
jpmoral 4y ago
This is why I'm moving to different systems. Rules-as-written D&D is essentially a power fantasy.
- ticviking 4y ago
  The rules of the game have evolved to push things that direction. If you buy the reprints of 1st edition and play them you’ll find that for the first several levels characters are basically normal people, or a bit stronger fighting against overwhelming odds to seek glory and treasure. The power fantasy comes as a reward for those early phases of the game where characters build their careers up in those editions.
  - jpmoral 4y ago
    Sure, that's fine if you want to tell a (nearly)zero-to-(overpowered)hero story. Which I did for some time (played a bit of 1e, 2e, and DMed a lot of 5e). But, genre aside, for any other kind of story you're better off finding something else. e.g. trying to do https://bullypulpitgames.com/games/grey-ranks/ https://bullypulpitgames.com/games/grey-ranks/ in any edition of D&D won't work well.
- thisjustintime 4y ago
  Which system are you moving to? I've been enjoying Savage Worlds and Call of Cthulhu.
  - Multicomp 4y ago
    Not OP but Genesys helps me emphasize narrative play over just battles fwiw
  - jpmoral 4y ago
    I've GMed one-shots of Spire: The City Must Fall, Night's Black Agents, and Lady Blackbird, and Honey Heist (Lasers and Feelings hack). Running one-shots of Trophy Dark and Night Witches soon. Haven't decided on a system for the next campaign, maybe Spire, Night's Black Agents (or other Gumshoe system), or one of the many excellent PbtA games.
magic_hamster 4y ago
This resonates strongly! The predictability and cookie cutter stories of today's superhero movies made them into an unengaging, boring waste of time. I assume they work for younger viewers but I really can't understand how any adult who respects their own time can enjoy these. There is never anything on stake, there's no danger, there's never a chance for the bad guys to ever win. You know even if some superheroes die, they will either come back or another way to win the day will emerge. So what's the point? Martin Scorsese expressed a very similar thought(1) for which he had to answer later on. He then explained exactly this: nothing is at risk. I think that's why shows like The Boys do so well, because besides the bloody visuals they offer the chance that some characters might just not make it, anyone can meet their end at any point. You can't kill US superheroes because then how will you continue monetizing them? In that regard you can really appreciate the approach they have in the UK where they just end a franchise when they feel they told its story even if it became very popular. I am just sitting here for an entire decade waiting for great, engaging movies to make a comeback. 1: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/opinion/martin-scorsese-marvel.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/opinion/martin-scorsese-m...
- gilleain 4y ago
  Most hilariously (to me) is the vast difference in 'powers' between superheroes. There are the 'Gods' - some literal, like Thor, or godlike otherwise - and the 'normals'. Gods can fly, shoot lasers from their eyes, or call down lightning. Normals can, well, shoot bows or kick really well. So in the ensemble movies (like Avengers) you get teams where some of the members are in no danger at all - the Gods - while the others are very much in danger! Except of course, the viewer knows that none of the good guys are really at risk of serious injury. I'm sure directors try to avoid or work around this, but fundamentally if the big bad guy can knock out the strongest god (eg Thanos vs Hulk) then if they so much as strike one of the normals, they should really be dead. Finally, it's very funny to me that Scorsese got criticised for expressing an opinion on movies. I mean, I've watched a lot of these crappy superheor movies, and they are enjoyable enough at times, but it's not great cinema ...
  - magic_hamster 4y ago
setr 4y ago
I don’t think we need tragedy, or really most personal drama arcs. They’re usually so basic as to just be filler. I want more Jackie Chan — always on the back foot, always struggling against unfair odds (and usually a bit confused), usually the reluctant/accidental hero — and somehow succeeding anyways, usually through a combination of grit, talent and ingenuity. And that struggle and growth is often best encapsulated in the fight sequences themselves. Honestly I’m beginning to despise character drama. Superhero movies have tons of drama — the whole storyline typically lives solely to create character growth and personal shifts, and otherwise is largely irrelevant (if the characters don’t learn some lesson, they’ll never succeed). I want it to favor the other way; the story/fights exist, and the characters happen to grow through that experience.
- WastingMyTime89 4y ago
  > I want more Jackie Chan I too want more Jackie Chan: long take highlighting the actions, extremely skilled performer, large budgets spent on retakes until the shot is perfect. But that’s Hong Kong Jackie Chan. Apart from a brief stint in the 70s, Hollywood has never been keen on making interesting movies. They are first and foremost a money making machine. With Disney having consolidated so much of the production market, I fully expect formulaic movies to be released ad nauseam and to be honest as much as it pains me that’s what the general public wants. Thankfully things get better as soon as you leave the American market.
- jeltz 4y ago
  As someone who loves character drama I have to agree with you about the drama in super hero movies. My issue is that I feel like there are no stakes or consequences. The drama is just manufactured filler on an inevitable road. The characters do not actually grow, they will be reset to the same state once they have cleared the obstacle the growth was necessary for.
- gigaflop 4y ago
  My favorite sources of drama and tension come form horror and thriller movies. Something that gets me to pay attention, and get that feeling of *what happens next? When I was watching the final episode of Stranger Things, there was a minutes-long sequence flashing between almost all of the characters, showing their struggles. I didn't feel engaged, because I didn't feel like the characters were actually at risk.
langsoul-com 4y ago
I think modern hero movies don't follow the Hero's journey any more. Most times heroes in the heroes journey always loses something, a part of them dies off. Or when going back, it's never the same any more. See Lord of the Rings for the best example. Not sure if there's another modern one?
michaelcampbell 4y ago
This is a ... theory in why some of the earlier MMORPG's (OSRS, Everquest, ...) have nostalgia, yes, but something more than that. Newer versions play the "You're the chosen one, seek your destiny..." game. Guild Wars 2 is exactly this, but the older ones were way more, "You're a character, like every other character in the world. Prove yourself."
oneoff786 4y ago
Many superhero films, especially marvel films, are not heroic journeys. They’re entirely different concepts entirely. To pick the most recent one, Dr strange and the multiverse of madness, his (imo awkwardly executed) character arc is trying to figure out if he’s happy with his life and what superhero’ing has gained and lost him. The latest Spider-Man certainly had a great deal of personal loss if that’s what you must have. Risk of personal death is tough to pull off convincingly. Risk of death to those they’re trying to protect is much better. And happens pretty frequently.
hutzlibu 4y ago
I thought this was funny to read, because lately there was here a post by someone complaining about, why superheros are not fun and easy anymore. Too much tragedy. Too many doubts and dark moments. Simple black and white setting missing, now all is grey. So you maybe could give it a try again, as they try to reach more depth. (but those I have seen, were mostly still pathetic)
lelanthran 4y ago
> This is the main reason I don't like superhero films. There is no sense of danger or vulnerability. It's just people in fancy jumpsuits doing acrobats around explosions till they win the day. I prefer main characters dying / at severe risk of dying. Give me tragedy. Show me vulnerable people who grow and become stronger. It's hard to pull off: you kill off the main character in a series, and the show can go on. You kill off the protagonist in a movie and it's the end of the movie, and the entire franchise. Watchmen followed the graphic novel very closely, so maybe you might enjoy those super heroes.
GuB-42 4y ago
I think there is a cycle. We are now in the "happy" cycle. Entertaining movies, small problems, jokes, flashy effects just because it is cool, and the good guys win. I don't think it make inferior movies. Making a good joke is hard, and so is making the right jumpsuit, the right acrobatics and the right explosions at the right time. Then, there is the "drama" cycle. No more jokes, this is serious business. People die, heroes are not so heroic, expect Pyrrhic victories if they win, actors get Oscars. Personally, I like both, though I have my phases too.
corrral 4y ago
> This is the main reason I don't like superhero films. There is no sense of danger or vulnerability. It's just people in fancy jumpsuits doing acrobats around explosions till they win the day. I prefer main characters dying / at severe risk of dying. Give me tragedy. Show me vulnerable people who grow and become stronger. I watched a YouTube video recently (forget which one, or I'd link it) that claimed this is the reason all the Marvel superheroes are so quippy—it's a cheap way to get us to like them when the usual tool of making them relatable through vulnerability isn't available. That's also easier (so, cheaper). It's easier to write that kind of thing than to write real characters. Less chance of a dud, quicker writing process, lower risk.
kbenson 4y ago
For many superhero characters, a flawed ordinary person rising to the challenge is exactly their origin story. It's compelling, so of course it's used. Whether they pull it off convincingly or if it's just given lip service is another thing, but ostensibly just because it's a super hero movie doesn't mean it doesn't apply (at least for the first movie for a character).
buscoquadnary 4y ago
Great book by Orson Scott Card, called "Characters and Viewpoints" its a book all about writing, and he points out that it seems to be a regular cycle where stories are created and become popular that are about normal people doing amazing things, and then the power level gets amped up, and moves to super powers and super threats, and things keep growing until everyone starts to suffer from fatigue at seeing super powered people do super things, and then normal stories about normal people came back into vogue and then things repeat.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
rcurry 4y ago
There’s a really fun movie out there called Special. It’s about an everyday Joe who participates in a clinical drug trial and starts to think he has super powers. He crafts a super hero outfit but he puts the drug company’s logo on his back and so the big drug company sends hitmen out to assassinate the poor guy because he’s bringing them all sorts of bad publicity. I guess I’d characterize it as Limitless meets Kickass. I love movies like that where the whole genre is turned completely upside down.
tpoacher 4y ago
The reverse strategy also works, and is particularly common in anime. Namely an insanely overpowered character who otherwise leads an ordinary, mundane life (to them, at least), until the right circumstances arise to accidentally and effortlessly showcase their abilities to others. A good example is one punch man. While everybody around him obsesses about the secret to his power, the main character is mostly concerned about not missing the 50% off mushrooms sale at the supermarket. There's something about this plot that appeals to people. Perhaps the whole "how i feel inside but keep quiet" introvert personality pitted against "loud incompetents". Dunno. But it works great.

poulpy123 4y ago

I have 3 problems with comics books super heroes: - their flashy costumes - their boringness - the inconsistency in their powers that one day is godlike and the next morning is mundane

moritonal 4y ago

Trying to think of examples: A Quiet Place, Day after Tomorrow, Lord of the Rings.

ascar 4y ago
Even Harry Potter matches his description. Harry's vulnerability, courage and personal growth even though the odds are stacked against him is a big part of what made it so good. It's actually a very common pattern. Might even be Shonen manga 101.
- oneoff786 4y ago
  Though it’s odd that one of the first things to happen is to establish that he was rich, famous, and popular. Not that this mattered too much along the way.
  - krapp 4y ago
    The "chosen one" archetype in a nutshell. Luke Skywalker learns he's part of a royal bloodline, a child of prophecy and a super-powerful space wizard. One of the (few) things I respect the sequel trilogy for was trying to deconstruct this, showing how disillusioned Luke then became with his legendary in-universe celebrity status.
- krapp 4y ago
  And as far as Marvel movies go: Iron Man, Spider Man, Doctor Strange. Even Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Thor:Ragnarok.

BrandoElFollito 4y ago

This is exactly the reason why I like superhero movies. I go to the cinema to relax, switch off the rationale part of my brain and have fun. I liked very much the Marvel movies that were fun (Guardians of the Galaxy for instance) and did not rewatch the sad and heavy ones. It is of course a matter of personal taste. My wife terrorized me a few times into going with her to movies where I either had to take notes to follow the narrative, wonder about the mental sanity of the script writer and the director, wonder whether the movie froze when people were looking at each other for 5 minutes without saying anything, or simply trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. Some of these movies left a trace, though, but maybe not a very good one (usually Almodóvar movies)

andrepd 4y ago
Definitely different strokes for different folks, but I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone can watch and rewatch 30+ movies which are completely interchangeable. Generic villain wants to do generic bad thing and generic hero saves the day in generic action sequences while making generic quips. Yawn. They are bad even as "low-effort movies" to relax.
- macintux 4y ago
  I cannot for the life of me understand why people feel compelled to jump on the Internet to denigrate others’ taste in movies.
  - gilleain 4y ago
    But they are not? They are expressing their opinion on a type of movie. Why is that 'denigration'?
    - macintux 4y ago
      “You can watch what you want, but they’re obviously pablum and my taste is superior to yours.”

Poppys 4y ago

I had a discussion about epic stories and a friend said that there are only two good stories: * A ordinary person has to cope with an extraordinary situation, or * An extraordinary person has to cope with an ordinary situation. While we didn't feel it was a great fit for some stories, it definitely applied to a few of the greats.

jpmoral 4y ago

This is why I'm moving to different systems. Rules-as-written D&D is essentially a power fantasy.

ticviking 4y ago
The rules of the game have evolved to push things that direction. If you buy the reprints of 1st edition and play them you’ll find that for the first several levels characters are basically normal people, or a bit stronger fighting against overwhelming odds to seek glory and treasure. The power fantasy comes as a reward for those early phases of the game where characters build their careers up in those editions.
- jpmoral 4y ago
  Sure, that's fine if you want to tell a (nearly)zero-to-(overpowered)hero story. Which I did for some time (played a bit of 1e, 2e, and DMed a lot of 5e). But, genre aside, for any other kind of story you're better off finding something else. e.g. trying to do https://bullypulpitgames.com/games/grey-ranks/ https://bullypulpitgames.com/games/grey-ranks/ in any edition of D&D won't work well.
thisjustintime 4y ago
Which system are you moving to? I've been enjoying Savage Worlds and Call of Cthulhu.
- Multicomp 4y ago
  Not OP but Genesys helps me emphasize narrative play over just battles fwiw
- jpmoral 4y ago
  I've GMed one-shots of Spire: The City Must Fall, Night's Black Agents, and Lady Blackbird, and Honey Heist (Lasers and Feelings hack). Running one-shots of Trophy Dark and Night Witches soon. Haven't decided on a system for the next campaign, maybe Spire, Night's Black Agents (or other Gumshoe system), or one of the many excellent PbtA games.

magic_hamster 4y ago

This resonates strongly! The predictability and cookie cutter stories of today's superhero movies made them into an unengaging, boring waste of time. I assume they work for younger viewers but I really can't understand how any adult who respects their own time can enjoy these. There is never anything on stake, there's no danger, there's never a chance for the bad guys to ever win. You know even if some superheroes die, they will either come back or another way to win the day will emerge. So what's the point? Martin Scorsese expressed a very similar thought(1) for which he had to answer later on. He then explained exactly this: nothing is at risk. I think that's why shows like The Boys do so well, because besides the bloody visuals they offer the chance that some characters might just not make it, anyone can meet their end at any point. You can't kill US superheroes because then how will you continue monetizing them? In that regard you can really appreciate the approach they have in the UK where they just end a franchise when they feel they told its story even if it became very popular. I am just sitting here for an entire decade waiting for great, engaging movies to make a comeback. 1: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/opinion/martin-scorsese-marvel.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/opinion/martin-scorsese-m...

gilleain 4y ago
Most hilariously (to me) is the vast difference in 'powers' between superheroes. There are the 'Gods' - some literal, like Thor, or godlike otherwise - and the 'normals'. Gods can fly, shoot lasers from their eyes, or call down lightning. Normals can, well, shoot bows or kick really well. So in the ensemble movies (like Avengers) you get teams where some of the members are in no danger at all - the Gods - while the others are very much in danger! Except of course, the viewer knows that none of the good guys are really at risk of serious injury. I'm sure directors try to avoid or work around this, but fundamentally if the big bad guy can knock out the strongest god (eg Thanos vs Hulk) then if they so much as strike one of the normals, they should really be dead. Finally, it's very funny to me that Scorsese got criticised for expressing an opinion on movies. I mean, I've watched a lot of these crappy superheor movies, and they are enjoyable enough at times, but it's not great cinema ...
- magic_hamster 4y ago

setr 4y ago

I don’t think we need tragedy, or really most personal drama arcs. They’re usually so basic as to just be filler. I want more Jackie Chan — always on the back foot, always struggling against unfair odds (and usually a bit confused), usually the reluctant/accidental hero — and somehow succeeding anyways, usually through a combination of grit, talent and ingenuity. And that struggle and growth is often best encapsulated in the fight sequences themselves. Honestly I’m beginning to despise character drama. Superhero movies have tons of drama — the whole storyline typically lives solely to create character growth and personal shifts, and otherwise is largely irrelevant (if the characters don’t learn some lesson, they’ll never succeed). I want it to favor the other way; the story/fights exist, and the characters happen to grow through that experience.

WastingMyTime89 4y ago
> I want more Jackie Chan I too want more Jackie Chan: long take highlighting the actions, extremely skilled performer, large budgets spent on retakes until the shot is perfect. But that’s Hong Kong Jackie Chan. Apart from a brief stint in the 70s, Hollywood has never been keen on making interesting movies. They are first and foremost a money making machine. With Disney having consolidated so much of the production market, I fully expect formulaic movies to be released ad nauseam and to be honest as much as it pains me that’s what the general public wants. Thankfully things get better as soon as you leave the American market.
jeltz 4y ago
As someone who loves character drama I have to agree with you about the drama in super hero movies. My issue is that I feel like there are no stakes or consequences. The drama is just manufactured filler on an inevitable road. The characters do not actually grow, they will be reset to the same state once they have cleared the obstacle the growth was necessary for.
gigaflop 4y ago
My favorite sources of drama and tension come form horror and thriller movies. Something that gets me to pay attention, and get that feeling of *what happens next? When I was watching the final episode of Stranger Things, there was a minutes-long sequence flashing between almost all of the characters, showing their struggles. I didn't feel engaged, because I didn't feel like the characters were actually at risk.

langsoul-com 4y ago

I think modern hero movies don't follow the Hero's journey any more. Most times heroes in the heroes journey always loses something, a part of them dies off. Or when going back, it's never the same any more. See Lord of the Rings for the best example. Not sure if there's another modern one?

michaelcampbell 4y ago

This is a ... theory in why some of the earlier MMORPG's (OSRS, Everquest, ...) have nostalgia, yes, but something more than that. Newer versions play the "You're the chosen one, seek your destiny..." game. Guild Wars 2 is exactly this, but the older ones were way more, "You're a character, like every other character in the world. Prove yourself."

oneoff786 4y ago

Many superhero films, especially marvel films, are not heroic journeys. They’re entirely different concepts entirely. To pick the most recent one, Dr strange and the multiverse of madness, his (imo awkwardly executed) character arc is trying to figure out if he’s happy with his life and what superhero’ing has gained and lost him. The latest Spider-Man certainly had a great deal of personal loss if that’s what you must have. Risk of personal death is tough to pull off convincingly. Risk of death to those they’re trying to protect is much better. And happens pretty frequently.

hutzlibu 4y ago

I thought this was funny to read, because lately there was here a post by someone complaining about, why superheros are not fun and easy anymore. Too much tragedy. Too many doubts and dark moments. Simple black and white setting missing, now all is grey. So you maybe could give it a try again, as they try to reach more depth. (but those I have seen, were mostly still pathetic)

lelanthran 4y ago

> This is the main reason I don't like superhero films. There is no sense of danger or vulnerability. It's just people in fancy jumpsuits doing acrobats around explosions till they win the day. I prefer main characters dying / at severe risk of dying. Give me tragedy. Show me vulnerable people who grow and become stronger. It's hard to pull off: you kill off the main character in a series, and the show can go on. You kill off the protagonist in a movie and it's the end of the movie, and the entire franchise. Watchmen followed the graphic novel very closely, so maybe you might enjoy those super heroes.

GuB-42 4y ago

I think there is a cycle. We are now in the "happy" cycle. Entertaining movies, small problems, jokes, flashy effects just because it is cool, and the good guys win. I don't think it make inferior movies. Making a good joke is hard, and so is making the right jumpsuit, the right acrobatics and the right explosions at the right time. Then, there is the "drama" cycle. No more jokes, this is serious business. People die, heroes are not so heroic, expect Pyrrhic victories if they win, actors get Oscars. Personally, I like both, though I have my phases too.

corrral 4y ago

> This is the main reason I don't like superhero films. There is no sense of danger or vulnerability. It's just people in fancy jumpsuits doing acrobats around explosions till they win the day. I prefer main characters dying / at severe risk of dying. Give me tragedy. Show me vulnerable people who grow and become stronger. I watched a YouTube video recently (forget which one, or I'd link it) that claimed this is the reason all the Marvel superheroes are so quippy—it's a cheap way to get us to like them when the usual tool of making them relatable through vulnerability isn't available. That's also easier (so, cheaper). It's easier to write that kind of thing than to write real characters. Less chance of a dud, quicker writing process, lower risk.

kbenson 4y ago

For many superhero characters, a flawed ordinary person rising to the challenge is exactly their origin story. It's compelling, so of course it's used. Whether they pull it off convincingly or if it's just given lip service is another thing, but ostensibly just because it's a super hero movie doesn't mean it doesn't apply (at least for the first movie for a character).

buscoquadnary 4y ago

Great book by Orson Scott Card, called "Characters and Viewpoints" its a book all about writing, and he points out that it seems to be a regular cycle where stories are created and become popular that are about normal people doing amazing things, and then the power level gets amped up, and moves to super powers and super threats, and things keep growing until everyone starts to suffer from fatigue at seeing super powered people do super things, and then normal stories about normal people came back into vogue and then things repeat.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

rcurry 4y ago

There’s a really fun movie out there called Special. It’s about an everyday Joe who participates in a clinical drug trial and starts to think he has super powers. He crafts a super hero outfit but he puts the drug company’s logo on his back and so the big drug company sends hitmen out to assassinate the poor guy because he’s bringing them all sorts of bad publicity. I guess I’d characterize it as Limitless meets Kickass. I love movies like that where the whole genre is turned completely upside down.

tpoacher 4y ago

The reverse strategy also works, and is particularly common in anime. Namely an insanely overpowered character who otherwise leads an ordinary, mundane life (to them, at least), until the right circumstances arise to accidentally and effortlessly showcase their abilities to others. A good example is one punch man. While everybody around him obsesses about the secret to his power, the main character is mostly concerned about not missing the 50% off mushrooms sale at the supermarket. There's something about this plot that appeals to people. Perhaps the whole "how i feel inside but keep quiet" introvert personality pitted against "loud incompetents". Dunno. But it works great.