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Super (Literary) Hero

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What is a Superhero?: Ozymandias

In Alan Moore’s Watchmen, Adrian Veidt turns his real-world superhero into a cash-cow of action figures, costumes, toys, comic books, pajamas, and other commodities.

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Why?

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What is a Superhero?: Ozymandias

  • What does “Ozymandias” represent as a superhero?

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  • Good/Bad?

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  • How does it differ from the other “heroes” in Moore’s graphic novel?

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  • What does Ozymandias’s superhero disguise look like?

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What is a Superhero?

  • Now, answer the question: “What is a superhero?”

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Note: You may draw on what we discussed in class about the difference between “costumed heroes” (e.g., the Minutemen) and “superheroes” (e.g., Dr. Manhattan). But remember, a “superhero” is different from a “hero” because it adds to the original definition:

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Super + Hero

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What is a Super + Hero?

  • What does Super add to the original definition of a hero?

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What is a Super + Hero?

  • In modern fiction, a superhero is a type of heroic character who

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1. possesses extraordinary talents,

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2. supernatural phenomena, and/or

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3. superhuman powers.

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What is a Super + Hero?

  • Superheroes are dedicated to a moral goal or protecting the public.
  • Super = Superior?

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Ozymandias: Action Figure?

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Action Figure

  • Action figure (n.)—poseable figurine made of plastic or other materials, often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program.

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Action Figure

  • What does it mean to become an “action figure” if you are a real-life superhero?

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  • Accessories

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  • “Poseable body”

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  • Geared towards children

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Action Figure Appropriation

  • Today, anyone can be an action figure!

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  • Large and positive impact on the world = instant superhero

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Action Figure �Appropriation

  • Politicians:
    • Barack Obama

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Action Figure �Appropriation

  • Politicians:
    • John McCain

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Action Figure �Appropriation

  • Authors:
    • Jane Austen

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Action Figure �Appropriation

  • Authors:
    • William Shakespeare!

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    • Now with removable quill!

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Action Figure�Appropriation:�Vincent Van Gogh

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Action Figure�Appropriation:�Snobby Art Critic

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Action Figure�Appropriation:�Rosie the Riveter

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(Alexander the Great)

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The following are some other examples of history and contemporary action/superheroes.

  • You can also do a Google images search:

“action figure packaging”

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Directions:

  • You will be creating a Literary Superhero, including the packaging for a literary figure or character – but as a superhero.
  • You will make your hero’s packaging colorful and eye-catching
  • You will work as part of a small group
  • Our class will vote on a winning hero. This winning entry will be 3-D printed into an actual superhero action figure!
  • There will be a BRIEF presentation done on the due date.
  • So – how do we go about showing and voting on the submissions???

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  • Uses the power of knowledge to defend the emerging modern world,
  • But is also ready to use both contemporary and future weapons (designed by da Vinci, of course) if need be.
  • His companion is a rat—intelligent, loyal—but brings back the Bubonic Plague when fighting enemies.

PREVIOUS WINNER:

Renaissance Man

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  • His emblem is the world proven by Magellan—all of humanity together at last through the advancement of truth, justice, and the educated way!
  • The grid lines on which he stands represent the perspective Renaissance Art brought to the world.
  • Allies: Michelangelo, Galileo, Ben Franklin

PREVIOUS WINNER:

Renaissance Man

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Arch Enemy: Pope Alexander VI

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These were created using:

http://www.heromachine.com/heromachine-3-lab/

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PREVIOUS WINNER:

The Pope

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Rules for today

  • Please treat my “toys” with respect – they are my personal property
  • Take no more than 15 minutes to gather information on your person.
  • Have fun
  • Due date: next Friday
  • Use Hero Machine (http://www.heromachine.com/) if you don’t want to draw
  • Extra credit for creating 3-D packaging

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Expectations

  • All historical, biographical, and literary information must be accurate and detailed (e.g., “Renaissance Man”).
  • Drawings cannot be stick figures – put in the effort.
  • Everything MUST be colored in.
  • Use the links on the following slide as your templates. Feel free to alter them – but make sure to put in the same information.
  • There cannot be any duplicate figures in class.
  • Feel free to choose any author, fictional character, poet, or figure about which you have read
  • Your work can be done on the computer, hand-drawn, or a combination of the two.

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Do Now:

  • Handout Worksheets Literary Superheroes and Packaging Instructions
  • Brainstorm possible characters
  • Pick a person (fictional or real) to become your Literary Superhero
  • Fill out worksheets with detail

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Links to the packaging directions

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