Super Folks: Difference between revisions

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("tanto"=Japanese short sword, not an Indian sidekick.)
 
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''Super Folks'' is a 1977 book by Robert Mayer, parodying the [[Superhero]] genre in general with a middle-aged, retired superhero. The plot follows [[Named After Somebody Famous|David Brinkley]], once a superhero [[Captain Ersatz|eerily similar to]] [[Superman]], who lost his powers and settled down to be [[Jaded Washout|cynical, jaded and world-weary]]. A resurgence in crime causes him to come out of retirement and try being a superhero once more.
''Super Folks'' is a 1977 book by Robert Mayer, parodying the [[Superhero]] genre in general with a middle-aged, retired superhero. The plot follows [[Named After Somebody Famous|David Brinkley]], once a superhero [[Captain Ersatz|eerily similar to]] [[Superman]], who lost his powers and settled down to be [[Jaded Washout|cynical, jaded and world-weary]]. A resurgence in crime causes him to come out of retirement and try being a superhero once more.


Lots of gratuitous cameos ensue.
Lots of gratuitous cameos ensue.
{{tropelist}}
----
=== This book provides examples of: ===
* [[Ambiguous Gender]]: Subverted with [[Peter Pan]], who is almost always referred to as a male, until the ending, when Brinkley considers whether or not he may be a girl. The issue is never really addressed, and written off as [[Stupid Sexy Flanders|wishful thinking]].
* [[Ambiguous Gender]]: Subverted with [[Peter Pan]], who is almost always referred to as a male, until the ending, when Brinkley considers whether or not he may be a girl. The issue is never really addressed, and written off as [[Stupid Sexy Flanders|wishful thinking]].
* [[Brother Sister Incest]]: {{spoiler|Between Captain and Mary Mantra, resulting in the birth of Demoniac.}}
* [[Brother-Sister Incest]]: {{spoiler|Between Captain and Mary Mantra, resulting in the birth of Demoniac.}}
* [[The Cameo]]: This book's got everyone, from Kojak to [[Peter Pan]] to [[Looney Tunes|Elmer Fudd]]. But the ultimate example of a character who appears, onscreen, and has no place in the story except for shits and giggles, is [[The Catcher in The Rye (Literature)|Holden Caulfield]]. The book is even quoted when describing him!
* [[The Cameo]]: This book's got everyone, from Kojak to [[Peter Pan]] to [[Looney Tunes|Elmer Fudd]]. But the ultimate example of a character who appears, onscreen, and has no place in the story except for shits and giggles, is [[The Catcher in The Rye|Holden Caulfield]]. The book is even quoted when describing him!
* [[Captain Ersatz]]: All over the place.
* [[Captain Ersatz]]: All over the place.
** The hero himself = [[Superman]].
** The hero himself = [[Superman]].
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** Pxyzsyzygy = Mr. Mxyzptlk
** Pxyzsyzygy = Mr. Mxyzptlk
** Also, numerous characters who are mentioned but don't appear resemble classic Superman villains, if only in name. These include Logar, the mad scientist ([[Cut Lex Luthor a Check|Lex Luthor]]), Oreo (Bizarro) and numerous others.
** Also, numerous characters who are mentioned but don't appear resemble classic Superman villains, if only in name. These include Logar, the mad scientist ([[Cut Lex Luthor a Check|Lex Luthor]]), Oreo (Bizarro) and numerous others.
* [[Everybodys Dead Dave]]: The book starts off listing superheroes and how they died. Superman? Kryptonite meteor landed on Metropolis. [[Batman]] and Robin? Batmobile crashed into a bus. [[The Lone Ranger]]? Shot in the back after Tanto joined the [[Malcolm Xerox|"Red Power movement"]]. [[I Am Not Shazam|The Marvel family]]? [[Death By Irony|Struck by lightning]]. Only [[Wonder Woman]]'s still alive, and [[Straw Feminist|no one really likes her anymore]]. Even ''[[Peanuts|Snoopy]]:'' shot down by the Red Baron and [[Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated|missing in action]] over France.
* [[Everybody's Dead, Dave]]: The book starts off listing superheroes and how they died. Superman? Kryptonite meteor landed on Metropolis. [[Batman]] and Robin? Batmobile crashed into a bus. [[The Lone Ranger]]? Shot in the back after Tonto joined the [[Malcolm Xerox|"Red Power movement"]]. [[I Am Not Shazam|The Marvel family]]? [[Death by Irony|Struck by lightning]]. Only [[Wonder Woman]]'s still alive, and [[Straw Feminist|no one really likes her anymore]]. Even ''[[Peanuts|Snoopy]]:'' shot down by the Red Baron and [[Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated|missing in action]] over France.
** Extended by the fact that the hero's name is David, so the line could actually have been said to him.
** Extended by the fact that the hero's name is David, so the line could actually have been said to him.
* [[Fantasy Kitchen Sink]]: [[In a World]] where Batman, Peter Pan and Porky Pig can coexist, there can be only one explanation...
* [[Fantasy Kitchen Sink]]: [[In a World]] where Batman, Peter Pan and Porky Pig can coexist, there can be only one explanation...
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* [[Improvised Parachute]]: The skirt of a female character acts as one when she is thrown off a skyscraper.
* [[Improvised Parachute]]: The skirt of a female character acts as one when she is thrown off a skyscraper.
* [[Jaded Washout]]: David Brinkley, who was practically Superman before settling down.
* [[Jaded Washout]]: David Brinkley, who was practically Superman before settling down.
* [[Power Perversion Potential]]: Whenever David uses his "[[X Ray Vision|Gamma-eye vision]]" for the "[[The Peeping Tom|wrong purpose]]", he is [[Laser Guided Karma|punished immediately]] by tripping or bumping into something. His high school yearbook picture was labelled [[The Klutz|clumsiest boy in class]].
* [[Power Perversion Potential]]: Whenever David uses his "[[X-Ray Vision|Gamma-eye vision]]" for the "[[The Peeping Tom|wrong purpose]]", he is [[Laser-Guided Karma|punished immediately]] by tripping or bumping into something. His high school yearbook picture was labelled [[The Klutz|clumsiest boy in class]].
* [[Really Gets Around]]: David's boyhood crush turns into a superhero prostitute. More than [[Anything That Moves]], she seems to opt for [[Subverted Trope|Anything That Shoots Lazer Beams Out Of Its Eyes]].
* [[Really Gets Around]]: David's boyhood crush turns into a superhero prostitute. More than [[Anything That Moves]], she seems to opt for [[Subverted Trope|Anything That Shoots Lazer Beams Out Of Its Eyes]].
* [[Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated]]: {{spoiler|Snoopy}}
* [[Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated]]: {{spoiler|Snoopy}}
* [[Sleeps With Everyone but You]]: David's boyhood crush and former next-door neighbor turns out to have become a superhero groupie, sleeping with every known superhero, including Superman, Batman and Robin<ref>(at the same time!)</ref>, and is implied to have particularly enjoyed her time with [[Les Yay|Wonder Woman]]. David alone has never slept with her, and feels left out.
* [[Sleeps with Everyone but You]]: David's boyhood crush and former next-door neighbor turns out to have become a superhero groupie, sleeping with every known superhero, including Superman, Batman and Robin<ref>(at the same time!)</ref>, and is implied to have particularly enjoyed her time with [[Les Yay|Wonder Woman]]. David alone has never slept with her, and feels left out.
* [[You Know the One]]: To avoid saying the hero's codename.
* [[You Know the One]]: To avoid saying the hero's codename.


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[[Category:Superhero Literature]]
[[Category:Superhero Literature]]
[[Category:Super Folks]]
[[Category:Super Folks]]
[[Category:Trope]]

Latest revision as of 00:45, 15 April 2016

Super Folks is a 1977 book by Robert Mayer, parodying the Superhero genre in general with a middle-aged, retired superhero. The plot follows David Brinkley, once a superhero eerily similar to Superman, who lost his powers and settled down to be cynical, jaded and world-weary. A resurgence in crime causes him to come out of retirement and try being a superhero once more.

Lots of gratuitous cameos ensue.

Tropes used in Super Folks include:
  1. ↑ (at the same time!)
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