Yuku free message boards

I cited Rick's comment because in a way I know what he means, even though I disagree. It's almost impossible for modern people-- and that includes not just Americans raised on pop culture but any other earthly culture who learn about our history of superhero-making-- not to think of "comic books" and "superheroes" in the same breath. And yet, I think there is a specific "idiom of the superhero," to get real high-falutin' about it, that predates comic books.

One pre-comic-book example would be the Phantom. He certainly wears a bizarre costume, and that aligns him with the visual aspect of all other superheroes, unless your definition is extrteme enough to state that all superheroes must have superpowers or superweapons.

The same goes for the more outre heroes of the pulps and radio (Green Hornet, especially). I've read a book by an academic name of Peter Coogan-- SUPERHERO, THE SECRET ORIGIN OF A GENRE-- in which he attempted to demonstrate that the weird attire of such characters didn't constitute real "costumes." I wonder if he ever read this description of the costume of 1933's pulp hero the Moon Man:

"The Moon Man was so named because he concealed his identity with a spherical helmet of argus glass, which gave a mirrored appearance. He wore a black robe with black gloves."

Maybe it's because I don't think of the "superhero idiom" as being peculiar to comic books that I perceive that a lot of non-comics-types to conform to the idiom even if the man on the street might not tend to class, say, John Carter as a superhero.

You pays your money and you takes your choice.