Week Four - The Problem of Being a Superhero

        In this week's reading, The Definition of a Superhero by Peter Coogan, we were faced with a list of characteristics describing a superhero. Coogan argues that the central markers of the superhero are “mission, powers, identity and generic distinction” (Coogan 90). When we then applied this paradigm to the characters in Agents of Atlas, we found that perhaps Coogan's definition may need further refinement. In particular, we compared Coogan's paradigm to the character of Jimmy Woo, though we did examine the remainder of the team as well. We then examined alternative definitions of a superhero and concluded that the Agents are simply a different breed of hero to those Coogan describes. Without further ado, let us examine and criticize Coogan's paradigm.

A generic superhero.

        The first marker that Coogan gives is the mission of the superhero. While each member of the Agents has their own reason for joining up with Jimmy Woo, the mission itself is to find and bring down the Atlas Foundation. Coogan says that “the superhero's mission is pro-social and selfless” (77), which would seem to be a common thread for certain amongst the superhero genre. As a matter of fact, we can see the application of this principle in the Agents original mission. Storming a heavily guarded fortress in order to save the President of the United States is, indeed, pro-social and selfless. In pursuing the Atlas Foundation, however, we see a side to Jimmy Woo that is consumed with the need for revenge and a thirst to prove himself. In this sense, Woo's mission is not so much about stopping crime, but rather catching the criminal. We see this attitude reflected in Dick Tracy. While Tracy is indeed attempting to rid the city of crime, he is doing so by relentlessly pursuing one man: Big Boy Caprice. Tracy's mission, therefore, is not in fact to uphold pro-social and selfless ideals, but rather to selfishly pursue one man, his nemesis. While both Caprice and “Yellow Claw” are criminals in their respective plots, the hero characters associated with them see them as nemesis first and foremost. The idea of defeating one's nemesis becomes the mission of both Jimmy Woo and Dick Tracy.

Jimmy's need to capture "Yellow Claw" exceeds even his love for Suwan.

        Coogan's second marker is the presence of powers. He cites Judge Leaned Hand in suggesting that superpowers are “extraordinary abilities, advanced technology, or highly developed physical, mental, or mystical skills” (Coogan 77). Once again, we can look at the Agents to find these characteristics. Venus certainly does have extraordinary abilities, the ability to control men through song for one. Marvel Boy has access to highly advanced technology, his spaceship among other things. And characters like Jimmy, M-11 and Namora seem to exemplify the highly developed physical, mental and mystical skills suggested. So far, this marker seems to be holding up. However, we are missing one key character in our comparison. Ken “Gorilla Man” Hale, is, quite simply, unexceptional. Aside from having the mystical imposed upon him, he is no smarter than the average human nor any stronger than the average gorilla. He is an example of the everyman in gorilla form. This again relates back to Dick Tracy. The titular character, like Ken, has no exceptional abilities. He is the everyman in a world that begs for the exceptional. What Jeff Parker may have been doing in writing Agents of Atlas is in fact suggesting this very thing. While Ken Hale is not a superhero in terms of powers, the group collectively contains all types of powers, and thus his association gives him powers. Likewise, Tracy is considered powerful only by his need to stop the city's crime. Both Ken and Tracy are called to action, rather than given the responsibility.

Ken is just like one of us!

        Coogan's third marker, and the final one we will be discussing, is identity. Coogan suggests that “the identity element comprises the codename and costume, with the secret identity being a customary counterpart to the codename” (78). Here again the Agents seem to fall out of the category of superhero. Several of our team have code-names, but prefer to be called by their proper names. Ken Hale is known as Gorilla Man, but is rarely called that name. The same pattern is seen in “Marvel Boy” Bob Grayson. Then there are characters who simply have no codename. Jimmy Woo, M-11, Namora and Venus all go by their “real” names. I use real in parentheses simply to cover the fact that M-11 and Venus have back stories that concern the truth behind their identities, which is an entirely different matter. Once again we can look to Dick Tracy and see the same pattern. The closest thing that we have in Dick Tracy to a hidden identity is “The Man With No Face,” and even that character is not a superhero.

        By way of a conclusion, we can say that the idea of a superhero is still a concept that is being shaped and molded into different forms. We are willing to assert whole heartedly that each member of the Agents is in fact a superhero, though the generic markers suggested by Coogan may say otherwise. While mission, powers and identity so play a key role in most superhero narratives, it is folly to suggest that they are central to the entire genre.

Coogan, Peter. "The Definition of a Superhero." Coogan. Definition of a Supehero.pdf. Web. 02 Feb. 2011.

Dick Tracy. Dir. Warren Beatty. Perf. Warren Beatty, Madonna, Al Pacino. Touchstone Pictures, 1990.

Parker, Jeff. Agents of Atlas. New York: Marvel, 2009. Print.