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{{trope}}
{{quote|''"In [[Mutants and Masterminds]] the generic terms 'superhuman' and 'super' are used to refer to people with powers. However, that isn't necessarily what everyone in the setting calls them. Some worlds have their own unique names for superhumans, creating a distinct feel and style to the setting. Possibilities include the following: [[Long List|aberrants, aces, alphas, angels, avatars, awakened, capes, chosen, deltas, deviants, elites, exarchs, extraordinaries, freaks, gammas, geeks, gene-freaks, gifted, godlings, Homo Superior, hyper-humans, incredibles, inhumans, inspired, marvels, masks, metas, metahumans, mutants, nephilim, novas, omegas, paragons, paranormals, post-humans, powers, psis, psions, psychics, psykes, seraphim, specials, stalwarts, superlatives, supernaturals, superiors, talents, übermenschen, ultras, unnaturals, unusuals.]]"''
|'''[[Mutants and Masterminds]]''', ''Second Edition Core Rules''}}
So, what ''do'' you call a superhero? Sure, a lot of individual heroes go by the standard [[Something Person|coupling of noun/adjective with gender]], or an alias [[Steven Ulysses Perhero|cunningly]] related to their real name and/or their powers, or just something that sounds nice and somewhat [[Code Name|appropriate]].
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{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==
* The use of the term "Esper" (see below) in ''[[The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]]'' is used by Haruhi in the context of "has special powers", although the original meaning of [[wikipedia:Alfred Bester|Alfred Bester]] and those he inspired is generally specific to [[Telepathy]] or at least [[Psychic Powers]] in general.
** Of course, this is the result of an unusual translation convention. The original Japanese uses the far-more-generic "chōnōryokusha", which can be broken down literally into "super ability person".
* ''[[
* ''[[Darker
** There are also certain other types of supers: Dolls (who have little personal volition and whose powers usually focus on ESP through a chosen medium), Moratoriums (who have no control over their powers and usually go into [[Superpower Meltdown|trance-like states of destruction]]), and Forfeiters (Contractors who lost their powers and regained their emotions).
* The [[Gorn|graphic]] [[Hentai]] [[Manga]] ''[[Mai-chan's Daily Life]]'' refers to someone with unusual abilities as a "Physical Idiosyncrasy".
* The titular ''[[NEEDLESS]]''-es.
* ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]'' has NEXT. The NEXT that put on costumes and fight crime, however, are still called superheroes (or just heroes).
* ''[[Medaka Box]]'': Those with overpowering abilities (such as killing intent, analysis , and super reflexes) are known as Abnormals, which includes the protagonist as well.
** Later in the story, as more types are introduced (Pluses and Minuses and Not Equals, oh my), they start getting called [[Powers as Programs|Skill Holders]].
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* The [[Marvel Universe]] takes care to distinguish between "[[Mutants]]" (people who develop superpowers through an inherited trait) and "superhumans" (people who gain powers due to exposure of foreign elements), mainly because of the [[Fantastic Racism]] against the former (the pejorative term "[[Fantastic Slur|mutie]]" is quite popular among anti-mutant bigots). "Mutates" can be mistaken for either group (and many supplemental sources outside of the actual comics [[Did Not Do the Research|think superhumans are called mutates]]) but they're former humans [[Lego Genetics|genetically enhanced]] with superpowers by a villain with [[Mad Scientist]] credentials, such as the [http://marvel.wikia.com/Savage_Land_Mutates_%28Earth-616%29 Savage Land Mutates].
** Ironically, many superhumans are still mistaken for mutants, with [[Spider-Man (Comic Book)|Spider-Man]] at the top of the list.
** Mutants can further be broken down into Alpha, Beta and Omega, in reference to how well they can control their power: Alphas are able to turn theirs on or off at will, like Jubilee, Shadowcat or Colossus; while Betas' powers are always active, like Wolverine, Cyclops, or Rogue. Omegas are rare (by which we mean 90% of the main cast are listed as such at one point or another) and are basically some of the most powerful beings in the
** [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in [[Peter David]]'s ''[[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]'' run. Strong Guy gets angry at the media's use of "mutant" as a pejorative buzzword, and says they prefer being called "Genetically Challenged, or GeeCees for short." He later tells Havok he did it to divert the reporters' attention, but much to Havok's dismay, the term stuck (at least, during David's run on the book.)
** "Costume" is sometimes used as a noun to refer to people who dress up in spandex and fight or cause crime, regardless of whether they have powers or not.
*** "Cape" is a similar term in the DCU, and the [[DCAU]] gives us the great line, "Uh-oh. Long-johns at 10 o'clock!"
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* In ''[[Watchmen]]'', they are referred to as "costume heroes", "masked avengers" or "masks", which is appropriate, as most [[Badass Normal|don't have superpowers]].
* In ''[[The New Universe]]'', "paranormals" is the common term.
* [[Warren Ellis]] is fond of the term "underwear perverts". This extends to all [[
* In [[The Golden Age of Comic Books]], before the word "superhero" even existed, costumed adventurers both powered and [[Badass Normal]] were sometimes, on the rare occasions they were called any collective term, referred to as "mystery men". This is a common term in Golden Age throwback series, and the source of the title of ''[[Mystery Men]]''. It's far more common now in [[Retcon]] references to that time than it ever was in the actual Golden Age comics, due to the modern prevalence of the [[The Verse|shared universe]] concept, as opposed to the mostly isolated solo adventures common to the period.
* ''[[The End League]]'' calls people with powers "magnificents".
* The ''Next Men'' were called, well, Next Men. Those "triggered" into mutation — by [[Deus Sex Machina|having sex with Next Men]], or [[Superpowerful Genetics|being descended from those who did]] — were called Halflings in the future prequel/sequel ''2112''.
* In the universe of Paul Dini's ''Madame Mirage'', all enhanced humans, [[Mad Scientist
* [[Alan Moore]]'s ''[[Miracleman]]'' used "Parahuman".
* [[Valiant Comics]]' blanket term was "Harbingers", a term coined by [[Villain with Good Publicity]] [[Knight Templar|Toyo Harada]] as part of his [[Evolutionary Levels|new humanity]] philosophy.
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==
* Doug Sangnoir of ''[[Drunkard's Walk]]'' follows his home timeline's nomenclature and uses "metahuman" for all powered persons (and "metatalents" or "metagifts" for their powers), regardless of what the world he's currently in uses. Interestingly, his native timeline appears to classify most magical abilities (but not [[Functional Magic|theurgy]]) as "metahuman" talents, too. He's also made use of the terms "vig" (from "vigilante") and "costumed extremist" when describing some of those who possess metatalents.
== Film - Animated ==
* ''[[The Incredibles]]'' used the shortened form "Super" for all people with powers. Probably apt, since having powers doesn't necessarily mean you are (or were) a hero.
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** In ''The Tales of Beedle the Bard'', it is explained that "warlock" is a title for a very powerful/accomplished wizard, similar to being given the title of knight.
* The use of the name ''Homo Superior'' goes back at least to the 1930 story "Odd John" by Olaf Stapledon. It's been used everywhere from pulp sci-fi to [[Marvel Comics]] to [[The Tomorrow People]] to refer to superhumans as the "[[Evolutionary Levels|next stage of evolution]]".
* The term
** In ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'', however, due to [[Lost in Translation|loose translation]] in the English-language version of the game, "Esper" refers to the [[Functional Magic|magic]]-wielding [[
* The ''Temps'' shared world of tongue-in-cheek British superheroics used "paranorm". As well as the accepted and standard term, however, it was ''also'' a slur used by [[All of the Other Reindeer]]. The powered individuals themselves preferred "Talented".
* The [[Anne McCaffrey]] ''Rowan'' novel series, and its prequels, the ''Pegasus'' trilogy, used "Talents" for all those born with [[Psychic Powers]], the first story in that Verse having been written in 1959.
* ''[[Graceling]]'' has the titular individuals, blessed or cursed with different-coloured eyes and a superpower.
* The ''Nightfall'' books by Mickey Zucker Reichert feature individuals with "natal talents."
* People with innate superpowers are called Magicals or Actives in ''[[The Grimnoir Chronicles]]''.
* In the ''Shapeshifter'' series by Ali Sparkes, superpowered people are dubbed [[COL As]] or Children Of Limitless Ability due to them all being under the age of fifteen.
* ''[[John Ridley|Those Who Walk in Darkness]]'' and ''[[John Ridley|What Fire Cannot Burn]]'' by [[John Ridley]] call them metanormals.
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* On ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', all supernatural beings are collectively referred to as [[Our Demons Are Different|demons]] regardless of their moral stance. The [[Government Conspiracy|Initiative]] coins the term "hostile sub-t" (for sub-terrestrial), probably because it would not go over well having to tell the Congressional budgetary comittee that they need money to fight "demons"...
** Season 4 also made it clear that the Initiative did not believe in magic or the supernatural, and thus [[Not Using the Z Word|the term "demon" was disregarded for something more scientific]].
* The Showa [[Kamen Rider
* In ''[[Firefly]]'', psychics are informally referred to as "readers." While the term is only used once in the series itself, its apparently common enough that when Mal says he thinks River is a reader, Zoe immediately responds with "Psychic?"
* ''[[Mutant X]]'' uses the slightly strange term "New Mutants". No mention is ever made of "Old Mutants". Maybe it's to distinguish their differences from ''[[Mutants|actual mutations]]''.
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== Tabletop Games ==
* The [[Tabletop RPG]] ''Aberrant'' uses "novas" (a general pop culture term for superhumans) and "aberrants" [[Fantastic Racism|(the superhuman equivalent of the N word)]].
** The powered beings of the ''Adventure!'' game (set decades earlier, when a lesser version of the ''Aberrant'' [[Meta Origin]] kick-starts a [[Golden Age]]) are "stalwarts" or "daredevils". (Daredevils are either [[Badass Normal
** Non-Aberrant [[Psychic Powers|Psychics]] have a separate terminology: they're called "mesmerists" in ''Adventure!'', "psychs" in ''Aberrant'' and "psions" in the future setting of ''Trinity''.
* The superhero RPG ''Brave New World'' uses the term "deltas" to refer to heroes, as delta represents the process of change in scientific formulae. Particularly powerful "[[Evolutionary Levels|evolved]]" delta heroes are called "alphas".
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== Webcomics ==
* ''[[Amya|Amya Chronicles]]'' refers to humans with powers as "spell-touched".
* ''[[The Specialists]]'' features ''ubermenschen''.
* ''[[Blue Yonder]]'' has "capes."
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** It also uses the word 'psychic' to describe everyone with superpowers, whether that accurately describes their powers or not. The word 'descendant' is starting to displace that, though, now that the origins of their powers are confirmed.
* In the [[Whateley Universe]], they're "mutants", unless they're called named by someone who doesn't like them. "Gene filth", "gene deviant", and so on. There are also various types supers who are ''not'' mutants: they're "Imbued" (Think Captain Marvel), "Dynamorph" (An external creature called a dynamorph bonding with you), and"Origin" (Pretty much anything else.),. There are also "mages" who are skilled in the use of magic but not because of a mutation, and ''also'' various supernatural entities such as spirits, gods (apparently), and werewolves.
* ''[http://artificecomics.com/ Artifice Comics]'' uses "Post Moderns".
* ''[[
* In ''[[Super Stories]]'', the narrator Veldron refers to such people as superhumans, but this may not be
* In the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'', the official, scientific term for superhumans is "meta-powered humans". But outside of the scientific journals, you'll generally never encounter the term. Most people just call them "supers".
* The [https://web.archive.org/web/20130531110441/http://www.ironrodstudio.com/sites/omega/default.asp Omega Universe] calls them ... well, omegas.
* The [[Academy of Superheroes|''ASH'' universe]] refers to the most powerful as Supernaturals and the lesser lights as Supernormals.
* ''[[Destine Enormity]]'' uses the phrase "Power Users," although its opposite term, "Normals," is more commonly used. They rarely need to talk about Power Users, in much the same way that fish rarely need to talk about water.
* ''[[Worm]]'' refers to people with powers in general as "parahumans," while those who put on a costume and try to become a villain or hero are referred to as "capes." Parahumans who try to settle down and have a normal life are referred to as "rogues."
== Western Animation ==
* ''[[Static Shock]]'' uses "Bang Baby" to describe humans mutated by the industrial gas explosion known as the [[Mass Super-Empowering Event|"Big Bang"]] and Static himself considers the term ''[[Mutants|mutant]]'' to be degrading ([[Take That|take that, X-Men]]). Eventually they settle on
* In ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'',
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Superhero Tropes]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Name's Not the Same]]
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