Yup, Mormon superheroes. That’s what's on my mind.
What about them, you ask? Well, I think there should bee more of them, or at least ANY of them.
Before you call me crazy, let me explain why I think this could work;
Two words, MORAL CONFLICT.
As a Mormon my self I can tell you, it ain't all fun an' Jell-O. It's tough. There’s allot of things you gotta watch out for and when the world is in danger and you're the only on to stop it that just makes thing worse. Lemme run a few scenarios by you.
1. Say a Mormon get treated to one of the oldest superhero starting points, Someone murdered his family. Normally this would ensue in a personal manhunt, except for one problem; Mormon doctrine ain't to keen on the idea of revenge, but our hero can't just let that killer run free. To through more problems into the mix, what if he suddenly got superpowers? Would he see it as a sign from God to avenge his family's murder? Or would he see it as a temptation straight from Satan?
2. Spandex. Mormon teachings are decidedly against immodest clothing i.e. tight and/or revealing clothes. So, say a hero finds himself battling side-by-side with a scantily clad super heroine. Does he tell her that she needs to put on more armor? And what about his own costume? ‘Cause spandex just won’t cut it
3. Say a Mormon gets a whole friggin’ lot of power, I mean super-strength, Speed, energy-blasts, fight, invulnerability, the works. Then what if then what if one day Mr. powers here starts seeing sin and evil every where and goes on a rampage to 'cleanse' the city and no one can stop him?
4. What if the powers were based on faith? That actually is a common theme in the Book of Mormon (core part of Mormon doctrine). So if our hero finds themselves lacking in faith and therefore power right when doom is a-knocking, what are they gonna do?
5. Part of the Mormon's Articles Of Faith (a summery of what the church believes) is that they must obey the laws of the land; no matter how unjust they may be, including vigilantism. Would they bee honor bound to approach the government to get legal authority? What if the government didn't want to been seen supporting a Mormon superhero?

I really think there should be Mormon superheroes out there, but what about you folks? Do you think it would be a good Idea or not?

Man oh man... I can't wait for the fundamentalists to find this thread. Talk about your fireworks... I foresee this thread getting locked.

um...why does it have to be just mormon?
any superhero of any religious belief system would face those same troubles.
even Atheist Man!

Why would a fundamentalist have an issue with this thread? Sorry, but that's silly. For instance, I'm a fundamentalist, & I see no problems.

In regards to your quirey, Mr M7, I'm of the opinion that you've got an interesting idea, only I'd warn you away from some of the extreme cliches you seem to be leaning toward in your outline. LDS devotees (as I'm sure you know, being one yourself) aren't into beating the tar outta non-believers. In fact, your faith is one of the most patience & unobtrusive I've seen where it comes to dealing with non-believers.

Unless your hero is somewhat unhinged, I don't see how his/her faith would pose a problem. His/her behaviour and such should be fixed previous to gaining whatever powers are involved.

I would warn against basing your premise around your character's faith. You run the risk of creating a cliche. Make a real person, with struggles and joys, who is a member of LDS, who just happens to be a hero. Granted, their faith will dictate how they choose to be a hero, but it shouldn't be the focus. I have fundamentalist characters in my work, but I make them (or at least try to make them) real people who have a fundamentalist approach to their faith. Otherwise, many people (Randal being a great example) will focus on the faith & not the character or your story.

That's my 2 cents.

Later,
Chip

What Midge and Chip said. Mr. M7, you're operating under the assumption that a Mormon superhero would hold fast to every point of doctrine and principle (creating inner turmoil) where another religious superhero would not. That's incredibly elitist thinking.

I think that there are some inherently interesting things that could be done with a mormon superhero, but I think you're looking at those things from the wrong angle. Culturally, Mormons, or LDS, live in a unique world that is both a part of the greater world in which we live and is also very much apart from it. Seeing your hero from that standpoint rather than one of moral superiority would be a track filled with a lot more possibility.

And for the record, I'm Mormon too.

TheMidge28
um...why does it have to be just mormon?
any superhero of any religious belief system would face those same troubles.
even Atheist Man!

That's what I was thinking. For the most part, as far as I know, most superheroes don't have an obvious religious affiliation. (Or at least, it's ambiguous.) So, Mormon, Jewish, Christian or whatever, it'd be interesting to see a superhero that's religious. (Or maybe I just say that because I'm a Christian myself.)

Actually there all ready IS a Mormon superhero. His name is Orgasmo.

phantasmagraph
Actually there all ready IS a Mormon superhero. His name is Orgasmo.

Oh, please. Heaven help us!

Tom Selleck
um...why does it have to be just mormon?
any superhero of any religious belief system would face those same troubles.
even Atheist Man!

I don't think Atheist Man would have any problems wearing spandex, unless he had a lot of modesty issues. Maybe if he read a lot of Ayn Rand, he'd have a moral delemma against using his powers to preserve the peace.

Actually, removed from any theological perspective, that would be interesting to have a character who was totally anti-elitist who also had incredible super powers. If he had the ability to function as a one-man police force, would he? Or would he be Indifferent Man?

Actually, I think a scientologist superhero would be funny.

Would another one of his powers be the inability to shut his kid up inside the wal-mart?

phantasmagraph
Actually there all ready IS a Mormon superhero. His name is Orgasmo.

Yeah...doesn't count. DX

I've seen quite a few religious superhero before and having a religious superhero can be an interesting idea.

To have a superhero that deals with a religion topic, it is important to begin by providing some basic knowledge to the readers the ideology of Mormonism that everyone from different backgrounds could relate to and how Mormon is different from other faiths. Jumping straight to the point by lecturing the readers what Mormon superhero should or should not abide according to his faith only makes the readers hang in doubts that your superhero is just another character with some unusual practices.

And it's important give a reason for his belief and why he needs to stand firm in his Mormon faith. Readers, in general, are more willing to accept a superhero comic with a reason behind his action.

TheMidge28
um...why does it have to be just mormon?
any superhero of any religious belief system would face those same troubles.
even Atheist Man!

That's actually sort of what I'm getting at, not too many superheroes have their religion well known. But they should! When someone's beliefs directly interfere with their job it creates enough problems but when it conflicts with a moral obligation (with great power comes great responsibility) you have a whole jackpot of stories. Doesn't matter if your hero's Mormon, Catholic, Jewish, or even Atheist! Fact is the only reasons I singled out Mormons is because A) I am one and would really like to make that sort of connection with a hero and B ) I have yet to find a real Mormon superhero out there.


Oh and uhhh...

phantasmagraph
Actually there all ready IS a Mormon superhero. His name is Orgasmo.

Yeah, he really doesn't count.
Sorry, but, no...Sweet mercy no!

Ah come on it's a classic...okay maybe not...I like the Badmovies.org review "Probably the only Mormon/Porno/Superhero movie you will ever find."

TheMidge28
um...why does it have to be just mormon?
any superhero of any religious belief system would face those same troubles.

Other people have already quoted Midge on this but I'm quoting him too because it's so spot on. Most religious faiths and certainly all Christian faiths encourage modesty, frown on violence and advocate forgiveness.

The most obvious example of a Christian super hero that comes to mind is Daredevil. A big thing has been made out of his Catholicism but that doesn't stop him dressing in skin-tight leather and pummeling bad guys into a pulp.

Ziffy88
Ah come on it's a classic...okay maybe not...I like the Badmovies.org review "Probably the only Mormon/Porno/Superhero movie you will ever find."

Heh - gotta love those South Park guys! [en.wikipedia.org]

The only superheroes I know for a fact that are not unspecified Christians (aside from the "monk" types) are The Thing and Kitty Pryde, who are both Jewish.

When someone's beliefs directly interfere with their job...

Mr. M7, this comment shows you're either very young or don't understand faith in general.

From the perspective of a person of faith (any faith), their religious beliefs wouldn't *interfere* with any aspect of their life. Their faith is a part of their life. Faith doesn't interfere. It's choice, like choosing to drive a car. When you choose to drive a car, you can't drive anywhere you want (up on side walks, through building, etc), or how fast you drive *without* facing consequences. When you choose to drive, you accept certain "laws" & the consequences of breaking them. Driving isn't an interference.

If your hero feels that his faith is "interfering" with his life, I would question the depth of his faith.

Later,
Chip

To all the naysayers:

Well, why doesn't Orgasmo count?

I think it raises an interesting question about ethics. What if you were given an opportunity or ability to work for the greater good, but that very ability conflicted with your moral or religious beliefs? That makes a much more interesting (and i think more believable) story than a superhero with the awesome power of Jesuslove.

Great premise, phantasmagraph. I could SERIOUSLY sink my teeth into that one.

Later,
Chip

cs3ink
Why would a fundamentalist have an issue with this thread? Sorry, but that's silly. For instance, I'm a fundamentalist, & I see no problems.

Well, while I'm not Mormon or a Fundamentalist Christian, I know a few who have major problems with Mormonism. Especially with them calling themselves "The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints." because they feel Mormons are non-Christians parading as Christians.

One of them off the top of my head is Vindibudd. (I don't know if he's a fundamentalist, but he's very set on that issue. Heh. In those discussions, I took the "sure they are. they say they are." stance just to get him going. Yes, I know... shame on me for getting him riled for the fun of it... )

Inkmonkey
The only superheroes I know for a fact that are not unspecified Christians (aside from the "monk" types) are The Thing and Kitty Pryde, who are both Jewish.

Sabra is also a lesser-known Marvel super hero who is not only Jewish, but an Israeli associated with Mossad.

I think you should try to make your own super hero that is a Mormon. You already know what a Mormon can and can't do, which is really what is needed in a superhero character.
Like in Power Rangers, they aren't allowed to reveal their powers or use them for personal use/profit/ or gain. The kinda dressed a littel modest, but not modest enough to be truthful. But in Big Bad Beetleborgs! the hero's dressed in big armor outfits, didn't act in revenge, and never used their powers for personal gain or profits.

I think your problem is that you're attempting to shoehorn the standard superhero archytype into the Mormon belief system, even though it doesn't fit. What you should actually do is start from a Mormon perspective and consider how a Mormon would use amazing super powers.

That way, he stays true to his faith, but he feels conflicted, because he also sees ways in which his powers can help people. Have him struggle with trying to figure out how to use his powers. Maybe he doesn't even want to be a superhero.

Suppose he works with law enforcement but insists on doing things his way, so as to conform to his faith-based sense of morality.

Mr_M7

TheMidge28
um...why does it have to be just Mormon?
any superhero of any religious belief system would face those same troubles.
even Atheist Man!

That's actually sort of what I'm getting at, not too many superheroes have their religion well known. But they should! When some one's beliefs directly interfere with their job it creates enough problems but when it conflicts with a moral obligation (with great power comes great responsibility) you have a whole jackpot of stories. Doesn't matter if your hero's Mormon, Catholic, Jewish, or even Atheist! Fact is the only reasons I singled out Mormons is because A) I am one and would really like to make that sort of connection with a hero and B ) I have yet to find a real Mormon superhero out there.

Every time I have seen a superhero who wears his religion on his sleeve it has been for the purpose of preaching the beliefs of the comic creator. I, for one, have been turned off by this approach in any medium. It damages the creditability of the artist and his work. People walk away. The comics attempt seems empty and mechanical.
I think of a comic Marvel/Nelson put out back in the early 80's/late 90's called the Illuminator. It was a christian comic book with a christian super hero. Back then it felt fake and forced. It would read the same today.

But the bigger problem with this discussion is not the beliefs themselves that an artist holds but more to extent that the symbols and images and icons already a part of comic history seem to not have any religious context for you. There are many archetypes and themes that run rampant through out comicdom that have their connections to or can be viewed through religious ideologies. Superman and others are rich with religious context and export. Stories of redemption. Stories of revenge. Stories of which every person from any tradition can read and be spiritually inspired. If viewed from their own paradigm. A story doesn't have to be overtly this religion or that to speak to someone. These themes have been around far before comic books and will continue on into all mediums.

Bibleman to the rescue dang was that crappy!

TheMidge28
Every time I have seen a superhero who wears his religion on his sleeve it has been for the purpose of preaching the beliefs of the comic creator. I, for one, have been turned off by this approach in any medium. It damages the creditability of the artist and his work. People walk away. The comics attempt seems empty and mechanical.

I think this is probably true of most "art" that forms part of our pop culture.

Think of the various Christian rock bands. It's very difficult for anyone not already a Christian to accept them as a bona fide rock musicians because their songs are so focused on preaching their message.

Well. I AM mormon. and all I know is if I had superpowers I would totally use them to rule the world 'Nuff said. :D

Oh, by the way Randal, it's "The Church of Jesus Christ OF(not "and") Latter Day Saints", and we call ourselves LDS, not mormon, because there are so many negative connotations associated with the word "mormon" these days. And we ARE actually a christian religion, thank you~ :)