Comments on: Interactive Quiz: Is Your Hero a Homo Superior?

By: Ragged Boy

Ragged Boy — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:56:19 +0000

Well it won’t be anytime soon, but it’s good to know that’s there when I am ready.

By: Cadet Davis

Cadet Davis — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:45:16 +0000

I’m available. As soon as you’re ready, please e-mail it to superheronation-at-gmail and I will begin shortly.

By: B. Mac

B. Mac — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:40:25 +0000

Jacob and I are queued until late December/early January. I think Davis probably could if you’re OK with a slightly less diplomatic approach.

By: Ragged Boy

Ragged Boy — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:28:32 +0000

The Critters queue is ridiculously long, I didn’t want to post anything I just wanted to check it out, how long is y’all’s list of beta reviews?

By: Cadet Davis

Cadet Davis — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:32:34 +0000

The final question (“is this character a government employee?”) was astute. Far too often, authors write government characters that can do pretty much whatever they want, like Captain America and often Nick Fury.

That’s problematic for two main reasons.

1: A government agent accountable to no one but his own whims (Captain America!) probably gives off an authoritarian vibe. Real government agencies (at least in theory) guarantee that everyone is accountable with hierarchies and independent oversight.

2: Concrete rules are dramatic, but for government characters one set of rules (the law) pretty much doesn’t apply. For example, a cop generally has far more authority to break into someone’s house than a civilian. In place of the regular laws for civilians, you have to establish that there are distinct laws for cops. For example, a cop can only break into a house if he has a search warrant. If he does so without a warrant, he will face retribution. That will help make the character feel more accountable and like less of a Mary Sue/homo superior.

By: B. Mac

B. Mac — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:43:57 +0000

One thing I didn’t like about this quiz was that my questions mostly aimed at nonhuman homo superiors, like Superman and Legolas. But I think that humans like Captain America, Nick Fury and many cyborgs have proven just as vulnerable to homo superior problems.