Heroic Dimples: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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(Created page with "{{trope}} {{trope workshop}} {{tropestub}} For centuries, cheek dimples have been seen as a reflection of the ultimate heroism in a person by many cultures. This is no different in fiction. In the same way high cheekbones clue the audience that a character is sinister or not to be trusted, cheek dimples tell them there is goodness in this character. Dimples can show the character's innocence (especially if they're young), their positive morals,...")
 
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== [[Film]] ==
== [[Film]] ==
* 1978's ''[[Superman (film)|Superman]]'' ironically lampshades the dimples the eponymous character had in the comics (albeit [[Depending on the Artist]]). When [[Lex Luthor]]'s assistant/henchwoman Miss Teschmacher describes their enemy by pointing them out and calling him cute, it seems to convince Lex Luthor to begin Superman's torturing.


== [[Literature]] ==
== [[Literature]] ==


== [[Live-Action TV]] ==
== [[Live-Action TV]] ==
* Al the hero cop from ''[[Unforgettable]]''. In the episode "True Identity", his dimples are mentioned by Gwen when she convinces him to attend a mixer where a duchess will be. Later in the episode, Gwen refuses to hand over her company's client list, so Al tries to convince her by telling her to "look at my dimples", implying he looks innocent enough to get what he wants, regardless.
{{quote|'''Al:''' Oh, come on. Play nice. Look at my dimples. You know we'll just get a subpoena anyway.}}


== [[Music]] ==
== [[Music]] ==

Revision as of 18:48, 27 September 2022

For centuries, cheek dimples have been seen as a reflection of the ultimate heroism in a person by many cultures. This is no different in fiction. In the same way high cheekbones clue the audience that a character is sinister or not to be trusted, cheek dimples tell them there is goodness in this character. Dimples can show the character's innocence (especially if they're young), their positive morals, or Anti-Hero roguishness.

Examples of Heroic Dimples include:

Advertising

Anime and Manga

Art

Ballads

Comic Books

  • Shazam is almost never seen without his cheek dimples, as well as his alter ego Billy Batson. Other superhero characters vary on whether the comic artist had time/remembered to draw the dimples in, but Shazam's are common enough to be a trademark of his.
  • Desperate Dan in The Dandy is a giant, intimidating-looking cowboy, but his cheek dimples highlight his good faith—especially because he's extremely clumsy.

Fan Works

Film

  • 1978's Superman ironically lampshades the dimples the eponymous character had in the comics (albeit Depending on the Artist). When Lex Luthor's assistant/henchwoman Miss Teschmacher describes their enemy by pointing them out and calling him cute, it seems to convince Lex Luthor to begin Superman's torturing.

Literature

Live-Action TV

  • Al the hero cop from Unforgettable. In the episode "True Identity", his dimples are mentioned by Gwen when she convinces him to attend a mixer where a duchess will be. Later in the episode, Gwen refuses to hand over her company's client list, so Al tries to convince her by telling her to "look at my dimples", implying he looks innocent enough to get what he wants, regardless.

Al: Oh, come on. Play nice. Look at my dimples. You know we'll just get a subpoena anyway.

Music

New Media

Newspaper Comics

Oral Tradition, Folklore, Myths and Legends

Pinball

Podcasts

Professional Wrestling

Puppet Shows

Radio

Recorded and Stand Up Comedy

Tabletop Games

Theatre

Video Games

  • Police detective Sebastian Castellanos in The Evil Within has dimpled cheeks that add to his heroism, especially in the sequel. He doesn't smile much because he's a serious man (and a tortured alcoholic much later), but they're deep enough to crease his cheeks as he talks.

Visual Novels

Web Animation

Web Comics

Web Original

Western Animation

Other Media

Real Life