ACTION/ADVENTURE GENRE

Superhero Sub-genre

Classic Adventure StoryPLOTHuman against NatureHuman against HumanPlot is dominantHas a goal, but not the same steps as a quest More episodic Less revelation/change Not so much about a character

changing their own consciousness

Lots of chases—often the climax is the biggest chase of all

CHARACTER

Hero is courageous and perseveres

Usually succeeds against dangerous villains

Hero may change a little but does not undergo a radical transformation as in the Hero’s Journey of the quest

SETTING

Often exotic

Dangerous

Changes as pursuits of the plot continue

Not crucial to the story except to allow for exciting/thrilling/dangerous situations

THEME

Courage and integrity is best (even if it doesn’t win)

But most of the time, the courageous hero does win – good triumphs over evil

SUPERHERO SUB-GENRE

HERO – extra-ordinarysecret identity/costume

Bruce Wayne

Peter Parker

Clark Kent

ARCH-ENEMYoften a human gone bad

Joker/ Penguin

Octopus/Green Goblin/Venom

Lex Luthor

CONFIDANTSidekick

Jimmy OlsenAlfred

Robin

Authority

Commissioner Gordon

LOVE INTEREST

Vicky Vale

Gwen Stacey Lois Lane

ORIGIN STORIES

BATMANBruce Wayne avenges his parents’ murder—no superpowers—intellectual/physical perfection –wealthy industrialist

SPIDERMANTeenager bit by radiated spider—given speed/agility/stickiness/spider sense

SUPERMANSent to earth as Krypton planet dies/has supernatural skills-can fly

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