What Your Favorite Hero Says About You
From superheroes, video game characters, and literary classics, we all have a favorite hero. What does your favorite mean about you?
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We are surrounded by amazing and fantastical heroes in our modern lives, from movies, books, and games. These larger-than-life characters are the embodiment of super-strength and magical abilities. And we watch in awe as they repeatedly save their fantasy realms from ultimate destruction, time and time again. Most of us have one or two that rise about the rest to become our favorites. We feel some personal connection to these special heroes. And for those few, they are more than just entertainment; they are our inspiration.
What is a hero?
The heroes that we watch or play as characters have many extraordinary abilities. Merriam-Webster defines a hero as “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability.” But they can be so much more than just a figure with divine traits that we view for entertainment.
These fictional beings can serve as role models for their exceptional but more humanist traits. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a hero is “a person admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” Our modern heroes can be a guide or a teacher, showing us what greatness in our own lives could look like through their actions.
“Another definition of a hero is someone who is concerned about other people's well-being, and will go out of his or her way to help them -- even if there is no chance of a reward. That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.”
- Stan Lee
What are the traits of a hero?
From The Witcher’s sword-wielding Geralt of Rivia to the unlikely comic heroine of Squirrel Girl, our modern-day heroes vary significantly in appearance, abilities, and personality. But throughout history and across multiple genres, many heroes share similar personality traits despite their other differences. These characteristics are a community, whether looking at superheroes, video game characters, or even our own Dungeons and Dragons creations. (Read more about Marvel’s unlikely heroine in The Real Superpower of Marvel’s Squirrel Girl.)
Courage and Bravery
The traits of courage and bravery are some of the most defining hero traits. From comic superheroes to classic literature, true heroes are brave. They do not back down even when facing difficult situations and even world-ending events. Instead, they hold their heads high and fight back, even against unimaginable odds.
When we play heroes in games, courage is often a defining characteristic as well. As players, we will take our characters through dungeons and battlefields against horrific monsters and dangerous terrain. We know that if a character perishes, we may need to reload or create an entirely new character to keep playing. But still, we push them forward. We find courage in these digital worlds or from the luck of dice rolls. Whether a tabletop role-playing game or a video game, gaming characters often have the same courage and bravery as superheroes and great literary figures.
"A sword wields no strength unless the hands that holds it has courage."
- Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Determination
Many of our modern heroes are driven to incredible feats in order to save the day and complete their quests. They will push themselves against the odds, never giving up until they have completed their journey. Unwavering determination is a mark of a true hero.
There are many examples of this across modern genres. Such as Batman, who is determined to hold his own against supervillains and alien threats, despite that he lacks any superpowers and has only his gadgets and physical training to protect him. Or Harry Potter’s journey through repeated dangers to find the horcruxes and defeat Voldermort. And even the less serious, but no less heroic, Mario, who never gives up, no matter how many times he succeeds on a mission, only to find his princess in another castle. (Read more about How to stay motivated when your princess is in another castle.)
"If history only remembers one in thousands of us, then the future will be filled with stories of who we were and what we did."
- Battlefield 1
Protecting Others
Part of being a hero is protecting others. It may be about fighting off an attack, rescuing someone from danger, or putting others above oneself to defend them. Whether it’s a legendary hunter, action star, or superhero, a hero’s main quest is often about saving or protecting others.
Superman can fly and is super fast, but those abilities don’t make him a hero. It’s that he saves others. One of the main dilemmas for King T’Challa was protecting the kingdom of Wakanda versus using its technology to protect the larger world.
Sometimes this trait becomes a defining moment of truth when a hero makes the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of others. In stories, this self-sacrifice may reveal a hero’s true nature, showing their bravery and determination as greater than previously imaginable.
Examples in modern stories range from small screen heroes to those of blockbusters. From Buffy the Vampire, who sacrificed herself in The Gift, to Tony Stark’s universe saving decision in The Avenger’s Endgame. Even heroes that we may see as indestructible such as Superman, who made this ultimate sacrifice to save the people of Earth against Doomsday.
“I Will Fight For Those Who Cannot Fight For Themselves.”
- Wonder Woman
Moral Integrity
Heroes are traditionally the good guys. They are fighting on the right side, the side of goodness, honesty, and truth. Take Superman with his catchphrase of truth and justice. Or Star Wars with the light and dark side of the force. While fear and hate lead to the dark side, the hero, Luke Skywalker, walks the path of knowledge as a Jedi.
Sometimes it may appear that the moral integrity of modern-day heroes is not as clear. In Avengers, Civil War, superheroes on both sides felt they were fighting for the right ideal. And some characters, such as Deadpool, do questionable actions that many would consider morally grey. But when it comes to protecting those important and loved, even the antiheroes become heroes. They fight against tyranny and brutality and work to create a better world for others. In these moments, the truth and heart of their integrity shine through.
“I didn’t ask to be super, and I’m no hero. But when you find out your worst enemy is after your best girl, the time has come to be a f***ing superhero.”
- Wade Wilson, Deadpool
Helpful
Many heroes make a name for themselves by helping others. While there are pivotal moments of climatic rescues and fight scenes, their day-to-day actions still often revolve around helping others.
There may be village quest boards in many RPG games to complete minor tasks for locals. From fishing to gathering ingredients, these missions are hardly about saving the world. But they do allow the hero to serve and help others in more minor ways.
Much of the stories based quests in the Legend of Zelda games start with Link assisting villagers with minor requests. And except for his pot-breaking behavior, the character always happily does what he can to help the townspeople. Even the brooding hero of Geralt of Rivia takes on helpful quests for those in need.
Watching cartoons, heroes from She-Ra to GI Joe regularly perform minor tasks to help their friends and support their cause. From setting up camp and moving supplies and even participating in social event planning, these less dangerous tasks are no less important than being a hero to friends and loved ones.
And the most popular of all superheroes, Spider-Man, his very catchphrase is all about being the friendly neighborhood hero.
Strong Sense of Self
Heroes often know who they are and have a strong sense of self. Their actions may be humble or overly proud, but they know their place as heroes, and their actions speak accordingly.
Heroes do not apologize for who or what they are. Instead, they embrace and find ways to live to their potential. And while they use a secret identity to live a mortal life, their personal story is often about how they learned to embrace who they really are.
For example, in Clark Kent’s journey, he changed from a scared, unsure boy that transformed and gained self-confidence as he eventually accepted his place as Superman. This embrace of his truth helped to solidify his position as a hero.
Some famously self-aware heroes are so intuned with who they are that they are themselves their catchphrase. From “I am Batman” and “I am Iron Man,” there is no mistaking these heroes’ strong sense of self. (Read more on knowing yourself and finding your purpose.)
“It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.”
– Batman
They’re Like Us
While heroes may have super-strength or magical powers, one of their most notable characteristics is that they are also relatable. Whether they are an alien from another world or have been granted extraordinary powers at birth, heroes are also like us. They have struggles. They make mistakes. They’re fallible, and we see their true humanity in those moments.
Batman and Iron Man struggle with trust issues. Spider-Man still has homework and problems with relationships. King T’Challa’s original decision to hide his kingdom put the world at risk.
In video games, heroes may use questionable means to achieve victories. Ezio in Assassin’s Creed destroys town defenses, potentially putting many civilians in harm’s way. Even games for children have characters arguing and fighting with their siblings.
And in tabletop RPGs, an essential part of character creation is identifying their flaws. And despite leveling up to amazing strength and skills, these flaws often continue to be a defining characteristic through which we role-play them throughout the campaign.
To be impactful, heroes must be relatable. Even with extraordinary powers and immortality, our heroes are not perfect individuals. Their flaws make them human like the rest of us.
“Even heroes make mistakes.”
- Killian Jones, Captain Hook
What does your favorite hero say about you?
Who is your favorite hero? The one you can relate to, who inspires you, who makes you want to be better?
While many people can like the same hero, each does for our own reasons. Watching Wonder Woman, one may feel empowered, another may be encouraged by her ideals and fighting for what you believe in, and a third may just be motivated to get to the gym more. For different people, the same hero can bring us comfort, remind us of ideals, motivate, encourage, or inspire us.
Our favorite hero is the one we connect to—that combination of their relatability and core values. We hold a mirror up to their stories and actions to see ourselves in their struggles and beliefs.
As a student, perhaps we see ourselves in the stories of Teen Titans or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Or, facing our own mental struggle, we connect with Moon Knight on a deeper level. Or they may be relatable in that they achieve something that we wish for in our own lives—the true friendships of Harry Potter or the adventure tales of Lara Croft.
But beyond the initial relatability in actions or struggles, our favorite heroes speak to our core values.
“We have not even to risk the adventure alone for the heroes of all time have gone before us. The labyrinth is thoroughly known … we have only to follow the thread of the hero path.”
- Joseph Campbell
What do you like most about Spider-Man? His honesty, determination, positivity, helpfulness, or humility? Playing your D&D character, what hero traits do you most give them through roleplay?
These hero traits that we connect with are the source of a hero’s power. We see their courage and wish we were braver. We see their confidence and wish we believed in ourselves more. We see their determination and want that in our lives as well.
Our favorite hero speaks to something within us. They serve as a mirror of who we wish that we could become. More than magical abilities or superpowered strength, their hero traits are what connect us. They inspire us to embrace these values in our lives. Their true superpower is their ability to inspire us to become heroes ourselves.
So what does your favorite hero say about you? The answer is the real-life hero that they have inspired you to become.
Who is your favorite hero? Please share in the comments!
Author:
Laurie Trueblood is a writer and life coach that enjoys fantasy, science, psychology, and everything nerdy. As the founder of Adventures to Authenticity, her mission is to help others level up and become the best versions of themselves.
Read more on becoming a hero: Check out the Journey Page and How to Be a Hero and our Unlock Your Inner Hero Coaching Program.
