Current Events > Why are people saying Mario is not a superhero.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Many claim he has no superpowers, but what about his super strength, enhanced speed, extraordinary endurance, and and super jump?!?

Also, he can survive in outer space, and indefinitely hold his breath under water, except on a bad day here or there.

Is he a hero?!? Well, considering he saves the Mushroom Kingdom with no selfish desires, and even the universe a few times, I'd say yes.

He is super, and he is a hero, therefore he is a superhero.
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He is...

Super Mario.
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Chaosmaster00 posted...

He is...

Super Mario.

I believe he is, but I have been reading around, and the general consensus is that he is a hero, but there is not a super in him.
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Superhero identification is weird.

Batman is a superhero despite not having super powers.
Mario isn't a superhero despite having super powers.

It is what it is.

Skye Reynolds posted...

Superhero identification is weird.

Batman is a superhero despite not having super powers.
Mario isn't a superhero despite having super powers.

It is what it is.

Mario is as superhero as they get.

From a characteristic point of view, he also is pure of heart, and is extremely courageous. If he was in Hyrule, I would bet he is just as worthy of the Triforce of Courage and the Master Sword as Link.
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His super power is getting high
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Because he's the hero the Mushroom Kingdom deserves, but not the one it needs right now, so we'll hunt him. Because he can take it, because he's not a hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector, a Super Mario Bros.
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Because superhero is a genre and not a class. It's pretty easy to define. This topic comes up every few months. "How is X not a superhero?". It basically boils down to two things; does it check most of the boxes (ie; not just super powers or heroic acts) and does it self-identify as a superhero character. Mario has neither of those.

Agreed TC.

In his base form alone, Mario posseses the ability to destroy solid bricks with a single fist, can jump like 10x his own height, strength to lift up gigantic creatures that dwarf him, superhuman acrobatics, extreme endurance that lets him survive multiple attacks that would be fatal against normal humans, and the ability to survive in outer space.

In all honesty Super Mario could fucking solo an entire village if he had to.
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Dash_Harber posted...

Because superhero is a genre and not a class. It's pretty easy to define. This topic comes up every few months. "How is X not a superhero?". It basically boils down to two things; does it check most of the boxes (ie; not just super powers or heroic acts) and does it self-identify as a superhero character. Mario has neither of those.

I mean, the merriam-webster dictionary would disagree, but okay.
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Dash_Harber posted...

Because superhero is a genre and not a class. It's pretty easy to define. This topic comes up every few months. "How is X not a superhero?". It basically boils down to two things; does it check most of the boxes (ie; not just super powers or heroic acts) and does it self-identify as a superhero character. Mario has neither of those.

This response is so nerdy that other posts beat it up and take its lunch money.
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If Mario is a superhero maybe we'll get a gritty origin story. Him and Luigi see their parents get gunned down by Bowser.

Or maybe we'll get Old Mario who's tired of this shit and is going on one last adventure.
"Letsa Go you piece of trash"
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PiOverlord posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

Because superhero is a genre and not a class. It's pretty easy to define. This topic comes up every few months. "How is X not a superhero?". It basically boils down to two things; does it check most of the boxes (ie; not just super powers or heroic acts) and does it self-identify as a superhero character. Mario has neither of those.

I mean, the merriam-webster dictionary would disagree, but okay.

The merriam-webster dictionary defines Mario as a superhero?

ForestLogic posted...

This response is so nerdy that other posts beat it up and take its lunch money.

I'm a geek. I'm not smart enough to be a nerd.

Mario has the powers of super strength, pyrokinesis, and superhuman jumping abilities, and that's without a powerup.
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Super heroes save people. Mario just saves his piece of ass.
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Garioshi posted...

Mario has the powers of super strength, pyrokinesis, and superhuman jumping abilities, and that's without a powerup.

Hmmm?

Comics have superheroes. Video games have heroes.
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Dash_Harber posted...

Garioshi posted...

Mario has the powers of super strength, pyrokinesis, and superhuman jumping abilities, and that's without a powerup.

Hmmm?

Firebrand
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https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superhero

R-r-r-r-r-r-reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkt.
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I guess he is, I mean Superman ain't got no raccoon tail.
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Eh Mario is missing a lot of key superhero tropes. But not every superheto has all of them, so it can get fuzzy.

Some of those tropes off the top of my head:
1. Most superheroes have an alternate "superhero name" like Superman or Wolverine.2 Mario just goes by his real name.
2. Most superheros have a unique outfit that they use to distinguish themselves. Mario's red shirt, overalls and red hat have become iconic (and no doubt heavily overdesigned) but face it, it's a hat, a shirt and overalls.
3. Most superheroes have a large rogues' gallery or face off against other heroes' rogues. Mario mostly has Bowser. Donkey Kong might have a claim too. Almost all of his remaining foes are fundamentally related to Bowser. He has had a few oneshot villains, though.
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Sonic would kick Mario's butt.
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AlisLandale posted...

Sonic would kick Mario's butt.

Lololololol, nice trolling kid.
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PiOverlord posted...

AlisLandale posted...

Sonic would kick Mario's butt.

Lololololol, nice trolling kid.

Nothing personell, kid.
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PiOverlord posted...

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superhero

R-r-r-r-r-r-reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkt.

So Jesus, Mohammed, Thomas the Train Engine, Barney, The Teletubbies, James Bond, Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, etc are all superheroes?

Because they all have extraordinary powers.

If we water down the definition, the genre loses all meaning.

Unless you're trolling, there's no need to classify religious figures as superheroes.