Poll: Would you be a super hero/villain/civilian if you had superpowers?

[Basement Cat]

The title says it all.

Say you were a generic superhuman--basically a low powered Superman or someone with Ms. Marvel's powers--super strength, bullet proof etc, fast healing, capable of flight, plus the ability to shoot plasma energy blasts from your hands. The classics basically. You got your powers when you were struck by lightning one day.

For the Poll give your general answer, but in posts below there are two different scenarios for you to explore:

1. You do not live in a comic book world but in the Real World. There are no other super humans on earth except you but things are real world complicated.

2. You DO live in either the Marvel Universe or the DC Universe (take your pick).

Also NOBODY but you knows that you have these powers--unless you are inclined towards letting them know you do.

Personally I would be inclined towards being a civilian--especially if I lived in a comic book universe! My choice for universes would be Marvel--I read very little DC. Also I would want to keep my powers secret from everybody.

I've read enough comic books over the years to know that when you get into the superhero/supervillain business no one you know or love is EVER safe. I'd look after my own loved ones (as quietly and surreptitiously as possible, but everyone else can look out for themselves.

Selfish? Insensitive? Arguably yes. Frankly I've always hated violence, and donning a skintight suit (which I would look spectacular in as a side effect of being in perfect physical condition) is an invitation for your life to go to hell in a basket.

 

[Thaluikhain]

In the real world? Civilian, hiding my powers in case people want to disect me. If that's not an issue...not a hero as such, but I'd be working in some weird military/police role.

Comic books? Yeah, everyone I know will die horribly whatever I do. Luckily, I'm in a demographic that isn't too likely to get offed straight away, I'd probably be the one who complains that their token minority friend get eaten by giant wasps, and how much terrible it is for them. And them forget all about them.

 

[shrekfan246]

If I lived in the Real World[sup]TM[/sup], then I would probably use superpowers for my own selfish purposes. I'd probably end up like the "bad guy" from Chronicle in the end. Either that or Ozymandias.

If I lived in a comic book world, I'd say screw that, develop myself some plot-convenient comic-book-escaping powers and leap out to the Real World[sup]TM[/sup]. Comic book worlds are messed up, man. Either that or I'd be some cameo that only shows up in one issue and is never seen again, so I get to be lazy for the rest of my comic-book life.

 

[Vault101]

hero

no justification for villany

 

[Basement Cat]

hero

no justification for villany

I love your new avatar! But why didn't you vote in the poll?

 

[Neonbob]

I'd love to have superpowers in the Real World. Depending on what they were, and the degree to which I had them, I'd probably wind up being a lazy hero. If I got irked enough to do something, I'd just do it as quickly as possible and then move on.
Mind you, this is only if I had top-tier powers. Something akin to superman. I'd want to keep my identity secret, of course, because the things that irk me are overly violent, complicated problems like drug lords even existing and lovely things of that nature.
Of course, I'd probably wind up fucking it up somehow. When that happened and my loved ones were put in danger, then the violence on my part would escalate, and if they didn't learn from the first incident(which would probably end in lots of tears and unhappiness on my part), then life would end up being a revolving mess. The real world is too damn complicated to just punch all the people causing issues into pieces with immense strength and be fixed.

 

[Dark Knifer]

Somewhere in between a superhero and civilian. I'd only want to intervine when absolutely necessary and try to keep my id secret.

 

[uzo]

Real world civvie. I'd be happy going through life knowing I am, essentially, invulnerable to the plebs around me. Perhaps in time I'd come to be a slight vigilante, but only low level stuff. Mess up thugs who randomly attack people in bars, wander the streets at night looking for ne'er-do-wells, that kind of thing. Probably take public transport, follow vandals/abusive dicks off the train at their station, and proceed to beat the bejeezus out of them once away from security cameras, because nothing pisses me off like the fucktards you see on public transport making it uncomfortable/dangerous for everyone else on board.

In comic book world, I'd probably become an anti-hero due to some other vigilante deciding arbitrarily that what I do is 'wrong', and that the way they beat up crims is the 'right' way. Or I'm just cutting in on their local superhero turf. Whatever happens that'd probably polarise me and I'd become one of those characters that brutalizes criminals and will gladly kill a vigilante that gets in the way of his own brand of 'justice' (which involves, among other things, lots of broken bones).

EDIT: Although, on review of my post, it's clear I have superiority issues that will likely lead me rapidly to the 'dark side', as far as comic book morality is concerned. Heroes and vigilantes have to be humble ... I don't eat that pie. For, like Ozymandias, I'm FAAAAHBULOUS baby.

 

[bastardofmelbourne]

I don't know. If we're talking real world, I would probably try to be a hero (who wouldn't?) and fuck it up. You need all kinds of training to actually do the emergency services work that Superman does, and not only is none of that training predicated on the person having superpowers, if I went public and tried to work emergency services I'd get drafted by the military into fighting terrorists or something. And even if I didn't people would constantly be asking me why I hadn't punched Osama bin Laden in the face or something.

As for crime fighting - it's a hell of a lot more complicated. Batman, if he existed, would be awful at fighting crime. I've only ever seen one crime in action, and it was a fight in a train between two methheads, neither of whom was really in the right. What do I do? Punch both? What if I kill them? Do I have to testify to send them to prison? Will going to prison even help them?

I actually think having superpowers in the real world would be the worst thing ever. You'd be constantly plagued by the knowledge that you have these fantastic powers, all this potential, but ultimately being able to fly and bench-press a truck doesn't mean you're capable of solving people's problems. I'd just fuck it up if I tried, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I sat there and did nothing while people get drowned by tsunamis or lynched by racists or blown up by landmines. It'd drive me crazy. I mean, I'd probably end up being a fucking supervillain.

 

[Kae]

Hero/vigilante/anti-hero?
I know I'd do something, I mean I don't have super powers and am pretty damn weak but I've already tried that whole vigilante thing, I'm pretty sure that if I had super-powers I'd be more inclined to do it, speaking real world of course, comic-book wise, eh don't really care.

 

[D Moness]

In the real world. My intention would be to try and do good but will end in me being a villain.

In a comic book world i would keep it a secret.

 

[Aris Khandr]

In the real world, I'd be a hero/villain, depending on who you asked. To Christians, I'd likely be the anti-Christ, for example. Palestinians would probably have a different opinion, depending on whether or not they could get over having an atheist lesbian telling the Israelis to back off. The real world is far too complicated to simply say "I'd be a hero/I'd be a villain." I'd do what I felt was right, and let people judge me on their own. If too many people didn't like what I felt was right, what do I care? I'm super strong and invulnerable. Suck it, peons.

In a comic book world, I'd go with Marvel. Mostly because that's what I always used to read. I'd probably sign up as a reserve Avenger, and otherwise go about my normal life. That way, when Really Bad Stuff(TM) is going down, I'll be there to help. But for day-to-day things, I'd leave it to the people who are out there every single day. Ending up with my own rogues gallery and people wanting to off me/my loved ones just doesn't sound like that much fun. At least in the real world, I'd have the advantage of being more powerful than they ever could be. In a comic world, not so much.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

I'd want to do both, depending on my mood

I could be a dastardly villain, stealing tens of dollars from supermarkets...

Then be a dashing rogue and stop criminals in cities...

Then do the dirty work for the second highest bidder...

Then stay at home and wave my fist at all the super-powered escapades...

 

[Doclector]

1. You do not live in a comic book world but in the Real World. There are no other super humans on earth except you but things are real world complicated.

I'd probably tell a few trusted friends, but nobody else would ever know unless I got a situation where a person was in danger and I could save them. I wouldn't go looking for trouble, but in that situation with me having such powers to help, I couldn't live with myself if I didn't. That would be when things get complicated.

2. You DO live in either the Marvel Universe or the DC Universe (take your pick).

The same, but I'd look for others. Sort of a superpowers anomynous type thing.

Thing is, keeping a secret sucks, and so does being looked up to as a hero, even a god, when you personally can't live up to that hype. Some people may have the confidence to pull a Tony Stark "I am iron man" routine, but I don't think I do.

 

[aba1]

I would use mine for good but I would not use them to be a hero mostly because in the real world you can't just run around the roof tops at night in a huge city and expect to actually catch people committing crimes. How I use my powers would drastically change depending on the power.

In the Marvel or DC Universe I might try and help the other heroes depending on my power.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

I'd be a superhero in the real world, and focus mainly on national disasters and problems like that, helping out with aid relief when the times are quiet.

Use my superpowers to bring water and naturally fertile soils to famine areas, stop flooding with my heat vision, clean up the seas, plant rainforests, purify the air, and convince Lucasarts to release Battlefront 3.

Fly out into space to meteorites and take the ones full of valuable minerals back to earth, convince the nations to pour research into nuclear fusion, Date Taylor Swift, then break up with her and write a hit song about it using my super hearing to get the pitch perfect. Disarm all nuclear powers, tickle a penguin, run a luxury VIP intercontinental lightspeed travel service for extortionate amounts of money, Attend Prince Harry's parties.

The list is endless, and you could do so much good.

 

[Ryotknife]

hmmm.

villian, but one whose intent is to fail like in Code Geass. Besides, in this world a superhero will either turn into a villian because of society, or society will view s/he as a villian regardless if the superhero is actually evil.

 

[The Pumpkin Witch]

Sign me up to be a merc!

In the real world I'd be able to make millions upon millions hiring my services (no jokes) to petty governments. Licensed to kill I'd be able to wipe out entire armies by simple brute force and cunning. I'd be the first billionaire merc the world has evern know.

In a commic book world I'd probably keep a low profile as a civilian. Comic book worlds are crazy!

 

[Dangit2019]

It would depend on the superpower. If I could hide it and live the rest of my life with it opening doors with me (good example would be controlling time), than I would take that route instantly.

However, if I have some Hulk-esque power that I have no control or concealing method over, I won't even try to live normally. I guess I would just agree to be a superhero, because why not?