Normal superheroes are usually cut from a recognizable mold. But some creators throw the mold away and create superheroes different than anything we’ve seen before. Sometimes, they’re just ridiculous—like Super President, who somehow juggles running the country and fighting crime without breaking a sweat. Other times, they’re designed to teach us powerful virtues, like Bibleman, who spreads the good word while battling evil in a full suit of armor.

This list explores ten superheroes who break all the rules, defying expectations in the most unexpected ways. Whether they make you laugh out loud or scratch your head in confusion, one thing’s for sure: These heroes are anything but ordinary. Some hail from the pages of comic books, while others sprang to life on TV screens, but all of them share one thing in common—they’re unlike any superheroes you’ve seen before. So please synchronize your ionic chronometers, and let’s roll!!!

Related: Ten Comic Book Superheroes Based on Real People

10 The Quirky Hero with a Heart of Gold

Madman, or Frank Einstein if you prefer his civilian name, isn’t your average superhero. Brought to life by Mike Allred in the early 1990s, this reanimated corpse with a lightning bolt on his chest quickly made waves in the indie comic scene. His name is a clever mashup of Frankenstein and Albert Einstein, hinting at his strange origins and his internal struggle to find his place in the world.

Madman’s adventures aren’t ordinary. Picture a mix of 1950s sci-fi and pop art with a dash of existential musing thrown in. Whether he’s battling the weirdest villains or just trying to figure out who he really is, Madman stories are always unpredictable. His powers are unique, too—enhanced reflexes, super strength, and a knack for getting out of the strangest situations.

What really makes Madman different, though, is his charm. In a world full of dark and brooding superheroes, his colorful, quirky personality stands out. Being so fundamentally different makes Madman memorable.^[1]

9 The Cartoonist Turned Spy Superhero

Condorman is a unique character born from the mind of a comic book artist who dreams of being a superhero. Woody Wilkins dreams of living out the adventures he draws. When a CIA friend asks for a favor, Woody jumps in, not realizing just how wild things will get. Before long, he’s suiting up as Condorman, a hero who’s suddenly caught up in a wild world of espionage.

With gadgets straight out of his own comic book and a fantastic costume, Condorman boldly flies into his new role. The 1981 Disney film mixes action, comedy, and plenty of slapstick, making Condorman a very unusual entry in the superhero genre. He might stumble and bumble through his missions, but there’s no denying that his heart is in the right place.

Though Condorman didn’t reach the iconic status of other superheroes, he still inspires us. Deep down, everyday people wish that they could live out moments of superhuman abilities and experiences.^[]2

8 The Duck Who Dives into Danger

Darkwing Duck came to life thanks to Tad Stones’s love for Silver Age comics and classic cartoons. Spun off from DuckTales, Darkwing was a mix of bravery and bumbling. By day, he’s just Drake Mallard, an ordinary duck. But by night, he becomes Darkwing Duck, leaping into danger with his catchphrase, “Let’s get dangerous!” The show wasn’t just about action—it had heart, especially in the tender moments between Darkwing and his adopted daughter, Gosalyn.

Unlike other superhero shows, Darkwing Duck didn’t stick to just one origin story. Each episode played by its own rules, keeping things unpredictable and fun. This made Darkwing feel fresh, even as he fumbled through his heroics with a mix of swagger and sincerity. The show wrapped after three seasons, but Darkwing Duck is still a fan favorite. He wasn’t perfect, and that’s part of why people loved him.^[3]

7 The President Who Moonlighted as a Superhero

In the 1960s, cartoons were no strangers to wild ideas, but Super President took things to a whole new level. Imagine a U.S. president who didn’t just lead the country—he also fought crime in his spare time. That’s right, President James Norcross could transform his body into various substances like steel or electricity, making him a one-man army against villains. When duty called, he’d step away from his Oval Office desk, suit up, and save the day as Super President.

The premise of the show was absurd. He was a commander-in-chief juggling political crises and battling supervillains, all while keeping his superhero identity under wraps. The show ran from 1967 to 1968, but it didn’t exactly win over audiences. Mixing politics with superhero antics may have been a bit much, even for the swinging ’60s.

Yet Super President still stands out as a piece of television history that grabs your attention when you watch it. Back in the day, even the leader of the free world could use a cape and some superpowers to get the job done.^[4]

6 The Unlikely Hero with an Insatiable Appetite

Matter-Eater Lad, also known as Tenzil Kem from the planet Bismoll, defies every traditional superhero expectation. In a world where food turned toxic, Tenzil adapted by developing the extraordinary ability to consume anything—from metal to toxic waste. When he joined the Legion of Superheroes, his bizarre talent was met with skepticism and laughter. But when the indestructible needed to be destroyed, Tenzil’s unique ability proved invaluable as he simply chewed through the problem.

His power might seem like the setup to a joke, and it often is, but it’s hard to argue with the results. Whether devouring doomsday devices or chomping down barriers, Matter-Eater Lad turned his unusual skill into a superhero essential. Tenzil’s ability may not have the flash of other powers, but it’s undeniably effective—and undeniably funny.^[5]

5 Mexico’s Unlikely Champion in Red

When you think of superheroes, El Chapulín Colorado might not be the first name that comes to mind, but in Mexico, he’s a cultural icon. Created by Roberto Gomez Bolaños, this red-suited hero with the “CH” on his chest brings more laughs than fear. Unlike the typical muscle-bound saviors, Chapulín is known for his clumsy antics and comedic mishaps. Yet no matter how chaotic things get, he always finds a way to save the day.

The 1970s show, beloved across Latin America, thrives on slapstick humor and clever wordplay. Chapulín’s adventures often see him using his wits to navigate absurd situations rather than relying on superpowers. The name “Chapulín,” inspired by the grasshopper commonly eaten in Mexico, adds a unique cultural flavor, grounding him in the everyday lives of the people.

While Chapulín might seem like a parody at first glance, his appeal runs much deeper. He represents the idea that heroism doesn’t require perfection—just a big heart and the determination to keep trying, no matter how many times you stumble.^[6]

4 Bibleman: the Crusader of Light and Virtue

Bibleman’s mission is spreading the word of faith. Born from a mid-1990s TV series aimed at children, Bibleman follows Miles Peterson, a man who turns his life around after discovering the Bible. Clad in a striking purple and gold suit, Bibleman takes on a different kind of evil, facing off against villains who embody various moral failings.

The show introduces adversaries like the Fibbler, Luxor Spawndroth, and El Furioso, each representing a specific vice or temptation. Armed with a lightsaber-like sword and deep knowledge of scripture, Bibleman’s battles are as much about teaching moral lessons as they are about saving the day. The action may be over-the-top, but the message is always clear: doing what’s right requires more than just physical strength—it takes spiritual courage.^[7]

3 Arm-Fall-Off Boy

Meet Arm-Fall-Off Boy, one of DC Comics’ most offbeat heroes. He first appeared in 1989’s Secret Origins Vol #46 with a power that’s as bizarre as it sounds: He can detach his arms and use them as weapons. Sounds wild, right? Despite his efforts to join the Legion of Superheroes and prove his worth against universe-threatening villains, the Legion wasn’t impressed. They thought his ability was more of a gimmick than a game-changer.

But Arm-Fall-Off Boy didn’t just fade into obscurity. Rebranded as “Splitter,” he continued his quest to make a mark. His ability might be unconventional, but they’re part of the quirky side of superhero storytelling. Even with such an unusual power, he shows that there’s room for every type of hero in the DC universe. The superhero genre is filled with familiar powers and clichés, but Arm-Fall-Off Boy’s funny abilities capture the reader’s attention.^[8]

2 Pootie Tang: The Most Unique Superhero Name of All Time

Pootie Tang is a superhero name that you’ll probably never forget. This early 2000s film stars Lance Crouther as a superhero with a unique style, speaking in an unusual slang and wielding a magical belt. The story revolves around Pootie Tang’s fight against corporate villainy led by Dick Lecter, played by Robert Vaughn. This plot element doesn’t fully unfold until the last twenty minutes, with the majority of the film featuring a series of whimsical, offbeat scenes.

The movie kicks off with a clever twist, showing Pootie Tang’s fictional film, Sine Your Pitty on the Runny Kine. What follows are a variety of amusing and quirky moments that capture the film’s distinctive charm. Although the humor might not always align seamlessly with the storyline, it adds to the film’s offbeat character.

Pootie Tang is so different from a typical superhero movie, and that’s what makes it interesting to watch.^[9]

1 The Tick: A Superhero Ahead of Its Time

Ever heard of The Tick? This early 2000s show featured Patrick Warburton as the hilariously oversized and well-meaning superhero who wore a blue suit and had a knack for stumbling into trouble. Created by Ben Edlund, The Tick was a clever parody of superhero clichés, packed with quirky humor and offbeat adventures. Despite its originality, the show only ran for one season on FOX before it was canceled.

The Tick was ahead of its time, offering a comedic twist on the superhero genre that didn’t quite fit the mainstream mold. While it didn’t make a big splash back then, it’s gained a cult following for its unique take on heroism and its memorable, offbeat style. If you’re into superheroes with a twist, The Tick is definitely one to check out.^[10]

Prometheus, Hercules, Thor, Robin Hood, Superman. From the very beginnings of human history, we have imagined stories about prodigious individuals who were willing to use their divine gifts to fight for the defenseless. As the modern variant of these almighty figures, superheroes invade our culture to the core. Everyone knows about superheroes, welcoming their presence through mass entertainment and cultural globalization.

But as often happens in many other fields, people ignore many details about these iconic characters. The truth is that the story behind the birth and popularity of superheroes is as interesting as the tales that the superheroes themselves can tell. That story is what this list is about. Here we will show you unfamiliar facts about the past, present, and future of superhero lore.

10 What Are The Origins Of Superheroes?

Superhero stories have been around for millennia. For example, the ancient Greeks told stories about characters with extraordinary abilities as a result of their connection with the gods who could bless or doom mankind with their actions.

These myths existed for the purpose of explaining real natural phenomena at a time when knowledge about the world was fairly limited. But what about modern superheroes? What inspired their stories? Well, it may be surprising to find out that today’s superhuman characters and those of ancient times are not so separated from each other.

The Flash, created in 1940, was initially based on the Roman god Mercury, the swift messenger. Wonder Woman was obviously inspired by the Greek legend of the Amazon warriors.

DC’s Aquaman and Marvel’s Namor are based on the Atlantis civilization described by the Greek philosopher Plato. Thor is inspired by the homonym god of Norse mythology. So it is interesting that many of the first created superheroes are inspired by mythological figures and cultures.

Superman, created by the artists Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, is one of the most complex characters when it comes to determining the influences behind his creation. Superman is partially inspired by characters from other stories of the time, such as “John Carter of Mars.”^[1]

As Siegel and Shuster were children of Jewish immigrants, it is also believed that Superman was a reimagining of Jewish myths, especially the myth of the golem. Just as the golem was an unstoppable being created to free the oppressed, Superman is an all-powerful savior who came to rescue the innocent in the midst of a cruel world.

In short, the fictional superheroes of our times are a modernized version of the legends that our ancestors believed were real. But that is not coincidence.

Such myths often used the same narrative model to tell the story of a certain individual destined to become a hero and fight evil. That type of story proved so effective at captivating people that it is still used today on everything from comics to movies, and superheroes are no exception.

9 Superheroes Have Been Used As War Icons

Scientific studies show that modern superheroes have a great psychological impact on people of all kinds and ages. For this reason, these characters are easily seen as pillars of hope and optimism, exponents of great values in our culture.

But when the social situation changes, superheroes also acquire a new purpose. Knowing the potential to influence people, governments have used comic book characters to motivate the population to take action and fight for their country on the battlefield.

The most evident case of this reality is the character of Captain America.^[2] His first comic came out in March 1941, nine months before the United States entered World War II at its most critical point. The idea of a superhero dressed in the American flag while defeating Nazis with his bare hands was what the population needed at that moment.

That is why it is no coincidence that the comics of this character were the most read of the publisher Timely (later Marvel Comics) during the war with a million copies sold per month. Even US soldiers read the stories of the superhero while on the battlefield.

Captain America’s comics included things like patriotic illustrations or moments in the story where the superhero asked the reader to buy war bonds. Meanwhile, Superman was also used to encourage the purchase of war bonds.

In 1969, after soldiers asked for Superman to appear on the battlefield, DC published a comic in which he goes to the Vietnam War. In 2005, Marvel collaborated with the Pentagon to distribute free comics to a million troops under a campaign called “America Supports You.”

In 2011, Legendary Comics released a graphic novel called Holy Terror in which a Batman-esque vigilante fights Islamic terrorists. So, somehow, superheroes are inherently good to be used as war propaganda.

8 They Have Also Been Inspired By Real People

Publishers do not always rely on mythological characters and legends to create their superheroes. For various reasons, these figures are sometimes built around real people. Perhaps, artists see some known person as the ideal model to create a new superhero. Other times, certain individuals in the real world have such outstanding lives that it is easy to give them superhuman features in a comic.

For that last reason, we have the example of Tony Stark/Iron Man whose creation in 1963 was based on the US billionaire Howard Hughes. Artists in DC wanted to make a character that had the carefree, misaligned appearance of the famous musician Sting. Presumably in 1985, that is how the supernatural antihero named John Constantine was born.

It is well-known that the personality of Professor X, the leader of the Marvel’s X-Men, was inspired by the activist and preacher Martin Luther King Jr. But the character is physically based on the Oscar-winning actor Yul Brynner.

Meanwhile, the actor Samuel L. Jackson was taken as the base to remake Nick Fury, the founder of the Avengers and director of the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization. At first, Jackson did not even know that Marvel used him as inspiration to create the character, but he still agreed to play Fury’s movie version.

Real people don’t just serve as inspiration for superheroes, though. The tyrannical Darkseid, one of the most powerful villains in the DC stories, bases his personality on Adolf Hitler, one of the most famous tyrants in recent history.^[3]

7 Superheroes Are Now A University Career

Some have said that superheroes are for children. Others say that superheroes are entertainment that cannot be taken too seriously. But now, that is changing.

With the huge popularity that the superhero genre has today, many academic institutions are starting to adopt these characters as an object of study in their courses. After all, superhero stories are a mix of art, literature, and science from which more than just entertainment can be obtained.

Since 2015, the Smithsonian Institution has offered an online course on superheroes through EdX, a learning platform founded by MIT and Harvard. The course is titled “The Rise of Superheroes and Their Impact On Pop Culture” and covers the entire history of the superhero genre from its origins in 1938 to the present day.^[4]

Two of its teachers are Stan Lee, the well-known artist of Marvel Comics, and Michael Uslan, producer of the Batman films since 1989. Although Lee died in November 2018, his signature is still on the certificate issued at the end of the course.

Meanwhile, among its available disciplines, the University of Oregon has one called “Comic Studies.” It focuses on the technical aspects of comics, such as the drawings and storytelling. On the other hand, the University of Minnesota has a course on “the physics of superheroes”—that is, the scientific facts that writers used to explain the powers of the characters.

It is true that we could doubt how good these courses are in preparing a student to get a job compared to other careers. But after studying these disciplines, you could call yourself a “superhero scholar,” which sounds pretty awesome.

6 The Day Superheroes Faced A Real-Life Enemy

From their beginnings in the late 1930s, superhero comics told simple stories of hope where good always triumphed over evil and the characters did not have complex backgrounds. But at the end of the 1940s, they began to deal with controversial issues for those times in terms of gender and racial diversity. Then horror and gore also entered their stories, and the American people began to see these fictions with bad eyes.

Many parents believed that the comics were harmful to their children, while others maintained that there was a correlation between the content of comic books and the increase in delinquency. Many people even organized public comic book burnings in several cities across the United States.

Meanwhile, psychiatrist Fredric Wertham began giving talks and publishing studies that supported all this collective fear, something that ultimately came to the ears of the US government. Congress held hearings to consider Wertham’s arguments. Although the government did not go beyond that meeting, the event was televised throughout the country.

Many publishers had to close due to the drastic decline in sales. Then the surviving big comic book publishers decided to take measures to protect the industry. In 1954, they joined to form the Comics Code Authority (CCA) which dictated what a comic could and could not show.

For example, comics could not show vampires or werewolves and could not contain sexual references. Good always had to come out victorious, and villains could not be represented in such a way that readers could empathize with them. If a comic complied with these and other conditions, the CCA allowed it to have its stamp on the cover. The truth is that distributors only accepted comics approved by the CCA.

Although these limitations allowed the survival of the industry, sales continued to decline. Then, in the early 1970s, the publisher Marvel challenged the Code by issuing comics with ruthless villains and political references.

In 1971, Marvel editor Stan Lee released several issues of Spider-Man touching on topics such as drug abuse, a movement imitated by DC. These changes were well received at a time when US culture was experiencing a turning point and many taboos were no longer such.

In subsequent years, the Comics Code was rewritten several times. But its implementation gradually collapsed, and publishers sold more and more comics without the Code seal.^[5]

Finally, in 2011, the CCA stopped its functions. So the superhero industry had to face a real-life villain. It turned out to be a joint effort between the authorities and a few people who were full of paranoid fear and blamed the comics for all evils.

5 Superheroes Are The Most Profitable Genre Of All

It is not a surprise that superhero movies are economically profitable. On average, a horror film makes almost $20 million in the domestic box office. In contrast, an average superhero movie can gross up to eight times that amount in the same market.

Undoubtedly, the genre of “supers” is more alive than ever. But it is lesser known that the commercial monster of superhero movies generates more money than almost any other entertainment conglomerate in the world.

In 2017, the superhero genre was the most successful of all, with revenues of $4.8 billion between eight major films of Marvel, DC, and Saban. In 2018, the situation repeated with even greater earnings.

At the end of 2018, the income generated by the eight superhero films with theatrical releases that year was between $7.5 billion and $8 billion. In fact, the genre represented 25.5 percent of total ticket sales in the United States.^[6]

But superheroes are not only winners in the film industry. By 2018, the Marvel Cinematic Universe far surpassed any other movie franchise in terms of revenue. If we combine all the movies about Marvel characters, the brand represents the highest-grossing media franchise in the world, surpassing even the Pokemon franchise and its $59 billion earnings.

With seven major releases of the genre in 2019, experts believe that the situation will only continue to improve for the superhero industry.

4 The North Korean Superheroes

For a country that does not even have light at night, it would be easy to think that North Korea has not been reached by the superhero culture. After all, fictional characters such as superheroes are more typical of Western culture, which North Korea seems to despise strongly.

But the truth is that even North Koreans have been seduced by the idea of having a superhuman figure to admire. Of course, they have to maintain their “anti-imperialist” posture. So, instead of following foreign superheroes, they have decided to create their own.

In Korea, there has been the story of a hero named Hong Gildong for centuries. In short, this is the Korean version of Robin Hood. In 1986, North Korea released its own film about the character set in feudal Korea. In it, Hong Gildong is an alienated man who becomes a vigilante, protecting innocent people from bad guys and even freeing his city from enemy forces.

On the other hand, images of a supposed North Korean film in the works were leaked in 2014. These images show what seems to be an original superhero wearing a military uniform, riding a winged horse, and using a torch as a weapon. The superhero, like a North Korean version of Superman, attacks the “bad guys,” who turn out to be the Americans, by throwing their gold into the sea and thus giving a blow to capitalism.^[7]

We also know of a North Korean comic book from 2001 called Blizzard in the Jungle. In the story, a doctor named Kim Yeong-hwan uses the wisdom of his leader Kim—and the power conferred by a plant grown in Korea—to help the survivors of a plane crash.

But beyond all this, there is no greater superhero for the North Koreans than their own leader, Kim Jong Un. According to local news, the controversial ruler can control climate as well as cure all diseases. Last but not least, he has found unicorns.

3 They Are Everywhere

In recent decades, the superhero industry has been covered by a large chunk of the mass media around the world. Nowadays, it is not difficult to find out about a new release in the genre. The marketing for every new superhero movie goes from television ads to giant billboards on buildings.

But the legacy of superheroes can be found far beyond the entertainment and the publicity that surrounds us. We can say that superheroes are truly everywhere, permeating our culture. Maybe we would do well to see some examples.

Two of Superman’s first published comics, one of which sold for $175,000, were found inside the walls of an old house. There is also the Power Rangers action figure that was blocking sewer pipes in England in 2017 and had to be removed.

Meanwhile, actors disguised as the family of the Japanese superhero Ultraman traveled to a volcano in Hawaii to shoot a promotional video. On a completely different topic, several superhero games from Marvel and DC are on the list of video games that Guantanamo prisoners are allowed to play.

It is interesting to note that superheroes can also be found in space. Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) have a collection of Marvel and DC movies to watch in their spare time. Mission patches featuring Groot and Rocket Raccoon from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy were also sent to the ISS in 2017.

If you consider Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story a superhero character, he also flew into space in 2008. And since we are talking about Buzz Lightyear, a toy of the character was found in a patient’s rectum, which is disgusting, but it proves that superheroes are really everywhere.^[8]

2 Superheroes May Not Be Good For Children

Over the years, there have been multiple debates about whether superheroes are good or bad examples for children. A 2007 study showed that the superhero culture makes children believe that certain risky behaviors are normal, occasionally leading some youngsters to suffer serious physical injuries.

In June 2007, another study on the subject was published, stating that children who liked superheroes said they were more sociable with others. Meanwhile, a more recent study published in 2017 found that superhero entertainment causes children to become more aggressive and less sociable.

Despite the researchers’ statements, some adults have felt that they had to do something to protect the little kids. In May 2013, a preschool from Pennsylvania distributed pamphlets to notify parents that their children could no longer play superheroes in the institution because they apparently hurt each other.

In 2016, Australian childcare centers asked parents not to send their children dressed as superheroes as they were prone to perform self-harming actions. In any case, some decisions of this kind may have gone too far.^[9]

Also in 2013, an elementary school forbade children to wear superhero costumes on Halloween because they could be “scary” for some of their classmates. Two years later, another school prevented a girl from carrying her Wonder Woman lunch box. The institution claimed that it did not admit images of “violent characters” and that “superheroes certainly fall into that category.”

We can agree or disagree with this kind of attitude from adults. But it is clear that more studies are needed to determine the real impact of superheroes on the delicate psyche of little children.

1 Why Are Their Films So Successful?

Superheroes have been portrayed in movies for around a century now, but they have not always been as well received. Just as superhero comics have gone through stages in which they were more or less read, superhero movies have also experienced ups and downs in terms of popularity.

As we previously saw, superheroes are now going through their best moment in the film industry. But what caused this leap in the acceptance of superhero films? Why are moviegoers now receiving superhuman characters better than ever?

Well, we can point to several reasons. First, it is easy to see that the superheroes in today’s movies are much more relatable than those in old films. That is largely because the stories in the movies now show more humanized characters. People tend to be more interested in those heroes who, even with their gifts, must fight against the ordinary problems of life because anyone can identify with them.^[10]

Second, most superhero films in our times are within what is known as a “shared universe.” Brands like Marvel, among others, often tell stories in which the characters interact with each other in the same world throughout different movies. This creates a sense of continuity that makes fans eager to see what the next chapter in the franchise will be about.

Another important point is the improvement that the film industry has experienced in the field of visual effects. For example, director James Cameron waited 15 years before releasing his famous film Avatar because he believed that filmmaking technology was not sufficiently developed before then.

And since we generally do not see people flying or throwing energy beams of their hands in real life, the use of special effects is inherent in the stories of superheroes. That is why superhero movies in past decades had to be limited to stories that did not require too much budget if they wanted to look realistic.

But thanks to today’s technology, directors can unleash their imaginations and create superhero movies with otherworldly stories that appeal to the public.

Brian is an economy student, graphic artist, science enthusiast, and founder of “A Strange Place Called Knowledge.” You can reach the site here

They can lift buildings clean off the ground, take on the force of a dying star, and perfect time travel to bring back half the world’s population. However, their troubles don’t end with the defeat of a purple villain or a spectacular fight against Steppenwolf.

All the awesomeness in the world can’t prevent some superheroes from struggling with more “human” issues such as depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Here are 10 of your favorite heroes who battle “evil” as well as their even darker inner demons.

Warning: Possible spoilers ahead!

10 Of The Creepiest Things Superheroes Have Done

10 Iron Man

Iron Man 3 opens with Tony Stark narrating: “A famous man once said, ‘We create our own demons.’ ” In Stark’s previous outing in The Avengers, which is set six months before Iron Man 3, he comes uncomfortably close to death. This sets up this opening line perfectly, especially considering the issues Stark grapples with during the third Iron Man movie.

We see him changing the subject when Pepper Potts tries to warn him against the dangers he will continue to face as a superhero. He also tries to minimize his night terrors by avoiding sleep as much as possible (which, naturally, does nothing to help the situation). When asked to sign children’s pictures about the battle of New York, Stark has to leave the building to get his emotions under control.

These are sure signs of anxiety. Stark further tries to deal with them while developing new Iron Man technology to avoid certain life-or-death situations in his future. Several online blogs and forums have also discussed evidence that Stark had developed PTSD after the fight against Loki and his minions in The Avengers—hence the anxiety attacks that often overcome Stark.^[1]

Some fans have praised the way the struggle with anxiety and PTSD have been portrayed by the hugely popular Robert Downey Jr. They say that it has helped to minimize the stigma around mental health issues.

9 Thor

Thor wasn’t exactly himself when he appeared on-screen again in Avengers: Endgame five years after he finally chopped off Thanos’s head. When Hulk and Rocket go looking for him in New Asgard, they are shocked to find that Thor has gained weight and apparently forgotten to wash his grown-out hair. He is also sporting a beard that could rival that of ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.^[2]

However, many fans were disappointed by how the film set up Thor’s scenes “for laughs” instead of recognizing that the superhero was suffering from PTSD, depression, and alcoholism. Thor’s mental health decline had been coming for a while, even before Thanos appeared.

Thor had lost his mother, his father, his beloved hammer, and his girlfriend. After the arrival of Thanos, Thor also lost his brother, Loki, and his friend Heimdall in traumatic fashion. Not to mention that Thor felt survivor’s guilt after he failed to stop Thanos the first time around.

Some felt that Thor’s mental health struggle could have been treated with more respect. This also could have led to a lessening of stigma in the same way that the abovementioned Iron Man scenes have done.

8 Spider-Man

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is probably the most relatable Peter Parker we’ve had in years. He openly displays emotion when fading away after The Snap. In heartwarming fashion, he is also happy to see Tony Stark again when the superheroes return for the epic battle at the end of Avengers: Endgame.

Peter’s grief-stricken face when Tony dies had many fans reaching for the tissues. In short, Spider-Man is one of the most “human” superheroes in modern Marvel films.

However, Peter Parker’s humanity also makes him incredibly susceptible to mental illness. Spider-Man: Far From Home sees Spider-Man going up against supervillain Mysterio, played by Jake Gyllenhaal.

Mysterio revels in crushing his opponents psychologically. He convinces Spider-Man that he is schizophrenic and suffers from multiple personality disorder. This leads to Spider-Man seeking help from a psychiatrist and almost losing his mental stability.^[3]

Although this might have been part of Mysterio’s plan to carry out his evil schemes, many fans believe that Peter Parker really does struggle with a form of mental illness. Some believe it to be borderline personality disorder as Parker struggles to accept his responsibilities as both Spider-Man and Peter Parker. He only really “finds himself” when decked out as the superhero. Not to mention possible depression after the deaths of his parents and his uncle Ben.

7 Captain America

Captain America is the quintessential good guy superhero. He always has a ready smile, is willing to help, and doesn’t stop fighting until evil is defeated. Not to mention that he possesses, in Ant-Man’s epic words, America’s ass. However, tragic events in Steve Rogers’s past have led him to become depressed, which is evident in some of the scenes focused on him.

One deleted scene from The Avengers shows Rogers leafing through documents that confirm all his old friends have died. The scene depicts his emotional state by leaving him in darkness and dimming the color surrounding him.

In a scene from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Rogers declines to go out on a Saturday night because he is still grieving the loss of his friends. Later, he states that he doesn’t know what would make him happy and he wouldn’t know what to do with himself if he had to stop being Captain America.^[4]

In addition, Rogers suffers from sleep impairment, guilt over Bucky’s apparent death, and a lack of willpower to save his own life when in mortal danger. This all shows the deep depression that Captain America continuously struggles with throughout several of his films.

6 The Scarlet Witch

Wanda Maximoff (aka The Scarlet Witch) and her brother, Pietro (aka Quicksilver), have a hazy background. Their origin story has been retconned many times and created several conflicting stories about their childhood. What is known, however, is that Wanda and Pietro were often left isolated and starved when they were children. This led to Pietro being cold in character and Wanda being dependent on men who couldn’t fulfill her emotional needs.

Wanda eventually ended up with Vision, an android, who seemed to provide everything she needed. However, their happiness didn’t last. In the comics, Vision and Wanda had two children who were reassimilated by Mephisto. The couple were divorced at this point, and Wanda turned to Agatha Harkness for comfort.

It seemed that all these unfortunate events, coupled with Wanda’s unstable childhood, led to her becoming unhinged and suffering a psychotic break during which she wiped out several mutants. Although the comics would define this as “craziness” or “madness,” the break was a long time in the making. It caused Wanda to break ranks and “go rogue” several times.^[5]

10 Lesser-Known Facts About Superheroes

5 Hulk

“I’m always angry.”

This iconic phrase, together with “Hulk, smash,” is just about the most memorable dialogue when it comes to Bruce Banner and Hulk. The first phrase, however, reveals the most about the angry green hero. Bruce Banner is a notably shy nuclear physics genius. When angered, he turns into Hulk, who smashes everything in his path.

This transformation has led to fans believing that Banner suffers from dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder. They also believe that he had been suffering from the disorder long before he transformed into Hulk. There are several Hulk personas that add weight to the theory, including Professor Hulk and the Green Scar.^[6]

In the comics, Hulk realizes that anger and violence are taking a toll on his mental health. He seeks help from psychiatrist Doctor Leonard Samson and starts on a journey to improve his mental health after a face-off with the Maestro (an alternate evil version of Hulk).

4 Wolverine

In the movie Logan, Wolverine (James/Logan Howlett) suffers from alcoholism, doesn’t care about his own well-being (or anyone’s else’s), and doesn’t want to engage in conversations about mutants.

It soon becomes clear that Logan is grappling with other problems, too. While taking care of an aging Professor X, Logan struggles with PTSD and night terrors. Even before these events, Wolverine had displayed symptoms of bipolar disorder with severe mood swings and depression after witnessing his father’s murder. His rage at the murder led to the accidental death of his mother.^[7]

Sadly, there is no light at the end of the tunnel for Logan. He dies at the end of the film with his restless demons still inside him.

3 The Unstoppable Wasp

In the Unstoppable Wasp #5, Nadia van Dyne is forced to face her own mental health when she realizes that she is bipolar. It seems that she inherited the disorder from her father, Hank Pym, along with the ability to change her size. Nadia’s mentor, Janet van Dyne, lets her friends know that Hank had bipolar disorder and that Nadia’s messed-up chalkboard “looks a lot like a manic episode.”

In #4, Nadia also displayed symptoms when she couldn’t remember whether she was assembling or taking apart a walkie-talkie. She is depicted as being unable to sleep or eat until her work has been done to her satisfaction. She also lashed out at several close friends.

In the #5 issue, she quickly moves into a depressive state after she retreats to her laboratory and faces episodes of bipolar rage.^[8]

Marvel hoped that introducing bipolar disorder into the comic would help to educate readers about the mental illness.

2 Batman

Like many other superheroes, Bruce Wayne suffered a traumatic childhood incident—in this case, seeing his parents murdered in Crime Alley. It turned him toward the fight against crime in Gotham City and made him into an unlikely superhero. Converting his grief into something constructive, Wayne trained himself to be a fighter and uses his skills to rid the streets of criminals while dressed as a bat.

It soon became apparent that Wayne is a high-functioning depressive with persistent depressive disorder. Although he lives a fulfilling life, he is still given to bouts of despair. He uses his depression as motivation to move forward while cutting everything out of his life that doesn’t contribute to his goals.

Fortunately, Batman has a group of people around him who help him to see the light. Notably, this includes Alfred Pennyworth, who acts as Batman’s confidant and occasional amateur therapist.^[9]

1 Daredevil

Matt Murdock (aka Daredevil) also suffers from ongoing depression. His girlfriend Elektra was murdered, and Karen Page, another love, also died. Eventually, his wife, Milla, had a mental breakdown.

Murdock has a Catholic background, and his depression is depicted as a demon that he cannot escape. In the 1986 “Born Again” story by Frank Miller, Daredevil is destroyed by Kingpin. Murdock also loses his job, his house, and the security of a sound mind. His depression threatens to overpower him.

Previously, his mother suffered from postpartum depression. It was so bad that she tried to kill Murdock when he was an infant. This confirmed that Murdock’s depression was inherited.^[10]

His struggle has proven valuable to comic book and superhero lovers worldwide as those who suffer from depression have found a kinship with Daredevil. Matt Murdock is also inspirational in the way he accomplishes various feats despite the crippling disorder.

Top 10 Totally Ridiculous Foreign Superheroes

If you’re anything like anybody, you’re in love with the idea of superheroes. The rest of you are female or adults. In either case, all of us have an innate urge deep inside that makes us want to do good for the people around us, and while some of us are content to read about the super-powered good deeds of others, the people on this list decided to stand up and show the world that crime does not pay. Unfortunately, they chose a route that looks absolutely, thoroughly ridiculous. Here are 10 real-life superheroes who could be behind you right now.

Secret Identity: Roger Hayhurst

Personal Gotham: Salford, Greater Manchester, UK

Gardener by day, masked crime fighter by night—that’s the tagline for Knight Warrior, a 19-year-old in the UK whose self-proclaimed superpower is a “supernatural desire to make the world a better place.” His main target is drunk people who get a little too rowdy as they leave pubs. When there aren’t enough people fighting each other, he hands out food to homeless people in the Greater Manchester area.

Although he doesn’t have any combat training, gadgets, weapons, or identifiable means of protection, he does have a flashy costume, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need to get people’s attention. According to him, “When people see me coming up, it does tend to stun them into silence.” Knight Warrior lives with his mother.

In March of 2013, Knight Warrior announced his retirement after having a run-in with some locals who recognized him and decided to test his fighting skill. On December 19th, 2017, Knight Warrior announced that he was coming out of retirement.

Secret Identity: Secret!

Personal Gotham: San Diego, California

Honestly, if there’s any city that needs a superhero, it’s probably San Diego, especially after the police department was downsized in 2012, leading to an increase in crime. And Mr. Extreme might not be the hero San Diego deserves, but he’s the hero San Diego puts up with. A security guard in the daylight hours, once the sun goes down, he suits up with shin guards, cape, army helmet, and identity-protection goggles, then vigorously strolls into the crime-ridden sidewalks of the East Village.

Mr. Extreme has been working for about seven years now, armed with a taser, handcuffs, three cans of pepper spray, and the conviction that right is always the right thing to do. While he doesn’t get into a lot of action, he has instigated several citizen arrests throughout his career. He founded the Xtreme Justice League and was its leader.

Mr. Xtreme has been a participant at Project HOPE since it first began in 2010. On July 23rd, 2020, the Xtreme Justice League page announced that he was retiring.

Secret Identity: Secret!

Personal Gotham: Perth, Australia

The path of a hero is never black and white. It’s an uncertain world filled with lesser evils and shades of gray because sometimes a man’s duty requires him to go outside the law to prevent a crime. Or commit one. This is the path of Wheel Clamp Man, one of the darker shades of gray in the colorblind spectrum. In fact, his main “heroic” activity is a full-fledged crime—he patrols Perth with an angle grinder and cuts wheel clamps off cars that have been illegally parked.

Dressed in a skintight green leotard, rainbow socks, and a glue-on mustache, Wheel Clamp Man has only been working in the area for a relatively short time, but motorists are grateful for his help in helping them avoid a $135 fine.

Secret Identity: Chris Pollak

Personal Gotham: Manhattan, New York

The people who like superheroes and the people who look like superheroes usually sit on opposite sides of the cafeteria. Still, Chris Pollak’s first major victory was being both of those people at the same time. In a costume reminiscent of a leather biker suit and backed by years of martial arts training, he actually looks the part, and he seems to be making a dent in the crime, at least the obvious crime, around Washington State Park. This video shows him confronting a drug dealer, and it’s actually sort of inspiring.

During his crime-fighting career, Dark Guardian has helped break up fights and prevent muggings. And as that video showed, he’s waging a personal war on the drug dealers in the area in particular. Apparently, one tactic he uses is to scout the area, identify a dealer, then sneak up on them. When he’s close enough, he’ll leap out, beam a flashlight in their face, and shout, “This is a drug-free park!”

In 2017, the Dark Guardian ditched his cape for a red beret. Pollak planned to take on Staten Island’s bad guys as the head of the borough’s Guardian Angels.

Secret Identity: Secret!

Personal Gotham: Brisbane, Australia

With gardening gloves flexed and ampersat blazing, Captain Australia is waging a one-man war against crime in Fortitude Valley. In his day life, he’s a stay-at-home father of two, but a desire to clean up Queensland’s streets has motivated him to put together a makeshift costume and patrol some of the “seedier areas” of Brisbane at night.

Captain Australia takes a preventative approach to crime, figuring that the sight of him will be enough to deter most would-be criminals from acting on their insatiable dark urges. And sometimes it works—he claims to have stopped a rape by showing up on the scene and scaring away two men who had been harassing a drunk woman.

He is no longer active, claiming that Captain Australia is retired—for now!

Secret Identity: Ken Andre

Personal Gotham: Yeovil, Somerset, UK

Eschewing the pomp and flash of a typical superhero costume, 33-year-old Ken Andre took a different approach to vigilante justice: the way of the ninja. He calls himself Shadow and spends up to four nights a week out around his home in Somerset, stopping drug dealers and muggers—in the few years he’s been doing this, he says he’s stopped several dozen crimes. And out of all the people on this list, Shadow is the only real-life superhero with anything even resembling a superpower—a Batman-Esque hearing aid that amplifies sound.

Ken has been studying the martial art Ninjutsu since he was a child and stopped a carjacker one time by literally throwing nunchucks at him. In his own words, “I tied him to the lamppost using his own legs and called the police.”

Secret Identity: Secret!

Personal Gotham: Vancouver, Canada

In Greek mythology, Thanatos was the demon personification of death, a strange name for someone to choose who wants to spend their free time helping others. But that’s what a Vancouver man did three years ago when he decided to become a real-life superhero.

Wearing a black trench coat, black hat, and a green skull mask, Thanatos takes a community involvement approach to vigilante justice, passing out food and clothing to people on the street, even though he still keeps an eye out for any crimes that cross his path.

Unfortunately for those in need, Thanatos has retired from real-life superhero persona.

Real Name: Benjamin Fodor

Personal Gotham: Seattle, Washington

Of all these real-life superheroes, Phoenix Jones has probably received the most media attention, especially after being arrested in 2011 for pepper-spraying two women. He patrols the area around Seattle and claims that he was motivated to don a mask and cape after his car was broken into, and none of the bystanders tried to stop it from happening. Knife wounds, gunshots, street fights—it’s all in a day’s work for Phoenix Jones. The 22-year old is also a professional MMA fighter, which probably comes in handy as he tracks down criminals.

Also, unlike many other people who pretend to be superheroes, Phoenix’s costume actually has a bulletproof vest and armor plating.

While he unofficially retired in 2019, rumors swirled around that he would return in 2021.

Secret Identity: Secret!

Personal Gotham: South Shields, UK

The Flashing Blade has only been involved in one incident so far, but it was definitely bizarre. A gang armed with chains and knives attacked two detectives in South Shields in 2007. The detectives were unarmed, but out of nowhere, a man leaped into the fight, swinging a katana and shouting, “Leave him alone. He’s a police officer!” The sword caught one of the gang members on the arm, and the rest of them turned and ran, according to the report.

After the detectives were safe, The Flashing Blade disappeared and was never seen again. The only description the police got was that he was white, in his 40s, and had a mustache. So, be on the lookout.

Secret Identity: Secret!

Personal Gotham: Beijing, China

There are plenty of female superheroes that were just as deserving of being on this list as any of the people above, but few superheroes, man or woman, paint such a heartwarming picture as the Chinese Redbud Woman. She has been spotted several times in Beijing wearing a mask and cape and handing out food to homeless people on the streets.

Are these people vigilantes putting their lives and the lives of others in danger, or are they actually making a difference in whatever way they can?