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

[Joccaren]

That would really depend on exactly what my powers can be used for [Though you give a general idea, the level to which I can control each is important], what my mood is at the time and a bunch of other things.

Most likely however I will remain civilian during the day, unless circumstances necessitate it in which case I will use the least conspicuous of my powers to save the day whilst writing off the fact that I have come to no harm as just luck, and during the night, or whenever I'm not in the company of others, I will use my superpowers at will if I feel so inclined, only with my identity kept as hidden as it can be.
Would I use my powers for heroism or villainy? Dependent entirely on my mood. Most of the time I would likely help out where I can. Not necessarily patrolling the streets and hunting down crimes that may or may not be happening at that time, but more finding crimes that are known to be happening and stepping in to stop them. I'd keep out of world politics for the most part, unless there was purposeful targeting of civilians by a given military, in which case I'd do enough to get them to stop targeting civilians and then let them continue with whatever war they're fighting. I do, however, reserve the right to go batshit insane if I so feel like it and begin slaughtering everyone nearby for the simple reason that I am pissed off and want the world to burn so that I don't have to. This, of course, would be done without hiding my identity simply because my mind in that state wants to both scare away the two or three people that could calm me down, and give them a chance to come and calm me down as well. After that I'd largely dedicate myself to ensuring nothing bad happened to those I know as a result of such an outburst, and I would refuse to pay any reparations. I'll help rebuild homes and such in a tenth of the time it'd normally require, but I'm not giving away my money unless you want me to start just taking whatever I want when I want it, which I doubt people do.
So, largely, small scale hero that may or may not turn into a large scale villain with the goal of wiping out every last person on the planet, dependent on my mood. Have fun everyone.

Also, this is independent of which world I live in. In either world this is how it'd go down.

 

[plugav]

I'd remain a civilian in the Real World. Or maybe I'd try to join the police. Vigilantism, while tempting, is a sure way to ruin everything for everyone.

In a comicbook universe, I'd join a crew of Daring Space Explorers! (The phrase would've been incomplete without the exclamation.) I suppose I'd also have to develop a quirkier personality, so that readers would still be interested, despite the fact that I'd basically be a Captain Marvel rip-off.

 

[Starik20X6]

Definitely go Superhero, but with no allegiance to any government, and following my own moral code. Some might say that makes me somewhat villainous...

In the real world: I'd try to keep my identity a secret, though given the age we live in I'd probably be exposed within a week... But then again, it probably wouldn't be that much of an issue. As much as they go on about the necessity of keeping your ID a secret in comics, in reality I'm not sure many people would be stupid enough to try and aggravate someone who could punch them into a lower-earth orbit. Oh, and I'd definitely be subscribing to the Cole MacGrath school of hero costuming; less spandex bodysuit and more jeans and a t-shirt.

In a comic world: What I'd do doesn't change for either Marvel or DC. I'd tell my family and my best friends, and never go hero-ing without a mask on. It makes absolute sense to keep your powers secret from the world at large, but makes no sense whatsoever to keep it from the people closest to you. If you tell your family/friends, they will hopefully be less shocked and unprepared when some whack-job blows up half their house to piss me off. Also, it helps that my alter-ego isn't famous or otherwise noteworthy, making it a lot harder for unscrupulous types to track my civilian self down.

 

[hermes]

It depends on the power, but most likely I would remain a civilian, and use them to help people around me without revealing it was me.

I would not go full superhero mode (thighs and bright colors) and go out of my way to help the world because the colateral would be too great, most cases wouldn't end so "cleanly" as the ones in comics, and other people would try to use me to expand their agenda (like Manhattan in Watchmen or Superman in Dark Knight Returns.

 

[Genocidicles]

Scenario 1: I guess supervillain. Not in like a professional way or anything. I'd just do whatever the hell I wanted to, and it's not like anyone could stop me.

Scenario 2: Mercenary I guess. I make money and I don't piss off any particular factions.

 

[Fappy]

In a comic book universe I'd be a super hero. Plain and simple. Comic book universes operate on weird logic, so it's acceptable.

In a real world setting however, I'd likely be my own thing. I wouldn't use my powers to assert my will or world view on others, but I would use my powers to protect the innocent and help people. I'd do basic stuff like, save people from burning buildings, help people evacuate sinking ships, etc. Disaster relief essentially. I'd also likely go into war zones and rescue civilians, but try not to get in the middle of the actual conflict. I suppose you can call that being a super hero, but I doubt I'd be going around punching people in the face or wearing a spandex.

 

[Ishal]

Aww the powers are the classics? Thats no fun :/

Honestly if left to my own devices my super power would be pretty much what I already am, a nerd. I'd just want to figure things out, I guess like the villain in that "Heroes" show.

Not just your regular nerd, the knowledge seeking nerd, the one who knows every in and out of the Star Wars lore because I feast on knowledge, useful or otherwise. That would be my power, I somehow find my way into a realm where I obtain the ultimate knowledge of everything, literally everything. Do you even know the implications of that? I would be omnipotent, I would be "God".

I'd use the knowledge however I wanted, if there was a way to become immortal I'd know how, and do it. Same with the other superpowers. Finally once I was safe and nobody could just straight up kill me, I'd probably (at first) use my knowledge to fuck with people and become the ultimate troll. I'd go on the news and be like "who wants to know who killed JFK?", "was the moon landing real?", "Does God and Heaven exist? Stay tuned and find out next!! *wink*." I could give the cure for cancer and other deadly diseases at the expense of trillions, or just give it for free to piss off the pharma companies. Really, I'd eventually get bored and just use the knowledge for good, and the only other people I'd screw with are the people who use their powers to be vigilantes because is there anything else more boring than that? C'mon...

"Murderous vigilante" isn't the same thing as superhero, or even anti-hero. In the real world you'd end up more like Light Yagami than Batman.

^ this... there are laws for a reason... and like he says, its kinda disturbing.

 

[FolkLikePanda]

I'd make good things happen by bad ways, basically I'd hold the world ransom unless all great scientists, minds and thinkers come together and cure all diseases, ailments, mental problems, hunger, poverty and find a way to colonise space.

 

[Murais]

Where's the option for deity?

I want to be as elusive but legendary as possible. I would like to bring a good dose of mysticism to the information age.

 

[omicron1]

President.
Who the heck wouldn't vote for a flying, bulletproof gal? It would be like the second coming of Ronald Reagan, only prettier!

 

[kgpspyguy]

I would be a villain because the role of a Hero is to uphold the status quo and right now the status is "NOT" quo, I would be fighting to change the world for the better, The ends justify the means and all that.

 

[Benpasko]

Straight anarchy. Just fuck shit up all the time.

 

[jdogtwodolla]

Scenario #1 has no incentive for me to be good or just well-behaved so I would be evil to the extreme.

Scenario #2 would give me things to do and I like choices so I would be a hero, an anti-hero or a mercenary.

 

[Scarim Coral]

A Mercenary per say depending on the government action toward me. You see when I do get superpowers I probably offer myself to the government. I'm not evil/ joined the dark side to be a villain and I don't like the attention/ ego boost for being a hero (and it's way too complicated to be a superhero in the real world anyway).
I offer myself to the mercenary on the sole condition is that they will pay me for my service to them and they cannot cut me up/ killed me for their experiement but I am willing do be their genie pet just as along it's not painful.
Just because I have superpowers doesn't mean I will get paychecks for it (unless I was a villain and rob cashes).
Oh if they do take me on, I still want a codename and a suit to still feel like being a superhero well a super power being.

 

[game-lover]

Hm... Interesting.

In the Real World, I'm predominantly civilian. With maybe a few heroic attributes. Like if I watch TV and I see the Amber Alert about a kid that just went missing in an area, I will get up, fly all the way the hell out there and help search. As inconspicuously and surreptitiously as possible. If I find the kid, I will either stealthily rescue them and drop them say a block from a police station or beat the shit out of said kidnapper and then rescue the kid. And I could probably get the tyke to swear to secrecy about me because kids love that shit.

Might be harder the older the kid is but still. Or other particular thing. God help the poor bastard who tries to mug me or rob a small little store where I'm the only other customer. You are going down.


Comic book world? I'd maybe be the same but the heroes take notice of me and my arc is all about everyone trying to convince me to do stuff for the good of mankind and all that.

 

[Darren Carrigan]

A Hero, but I would be trying to avoid notice.
Assuming my powers were one of my two favorites - Super Speed or Invisibility.
If a situation arose where I needed to save somone with my power I'd use it to get away from them ASAP to avoid recognition

 

[Souplex]

I'd be a hero, but merchandise my image to pay the bills.

 

[Erja_Perttu]

I'd be a villain. For a bonus, by being the most effective villain, I wold become a symbol for people of all types to gather around in hate.

Nothing brings people together like having someone to hate. World peace, myself being the only exception, here I come!

 

[Ralen-Sharr]

I'd likely start out like Hancock and end up like Rorschach, but with super powers.