Superhero Packing Heat: Difference between revisions

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[[File:the-punisher_8707.jpg|link=The Punisher|right]]
[[File:the-punisher_8707.jpg|link=The Punisher|right]]


{{quote|'''90s Kid:''' "And one of them has the greatest superpower of all, [[Big Word Shout|GUUUUUUNS]]!"|''[[Atop the Fourth Wall (Web Video)|Atop the Fourth Wall]]''}}
{{quote|'''90s Kid:''' "And one of them has the greatest superpower of all, [[Big Word Shout|GUUUUUUNS]]!"|''[[Atop the Fourth Wall]]''}}


For various reasons, [[Doesn't Like Guns]] is a common thing with comic book style superheroes and supervillains (whether it's ethics, style, or something else). Even before the comics code was written, it was rare to see heroes with guns. Then some heroes who broke this rule caught on, and soon more and more heroes and villains began using guns. This soon became closely associated with the [[Nineties Anti-Hero]], and therefore also [[Discredited Trope|fell out of favor]] when that trope did.
For various reasons, [[Doesn't Like Guns]] is a common thing with comic book style superheroes and supervillains (whether it's ethics, style, or something else). Even before the comics code was written, it was rare to see heroes with guns. Then some heroes who broke this rule caught on, and soon more and more heroes and villains began using guns. This soon became closely associated with the [[Nineties Anti-Hero]], and therefore also [[Discredited Trope|fell out of favor]] when that trope did.
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# The guns have to be one of the prominent "powers" of the character, ''not'' one of the character's lesser-used weapons.
# The guns have to be one of the prominent "powers" of the character, ''not'' one of the character's lesser-used weapons.


Compare [[The Gunslinger]], [[Girls With Guns]], [[Heroes Prefer Swords]].
Compare [[The Gunslinger]], [[Girls with Guns]], [[Heroes Prefer Swords]].
{{examples}}
{{examples}}
* The earliest comics featuring [[Batman]] had him using guns. This got retconned moderately quickly once writers realized that having Batman kill all of his adversaries in one issue meant that he'd have no one to fight later and they'd have to rack their brains thinking up new ones too often. Once he started hanging around with Robin and it was revealed his parents had been killed by a gunman, it went away entirely.
* The earliest comics featuring [[Batman]] had him using guns. This got retconned moderately quickly once writers realized that having Batman kill all of his adversaries in one issue meant that he'd have no one to fight later and they'd have to rack their brains thinking up new ones too often. Once he started hanging around with Robin and it was revealed his parents had been killed by a gunman, it went away entirely.
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* [[The Punisher]]. This is what tends to make him stand out among the pack, as a gun-toting vigilante who fights like a soldier contrasted with a world of spandex-clad weirdos.
* [[The Punisher]]. This is what tends to make him stand out among the pack, as a gun-toting vigilante who fights like a soldier contrasted with a world of spandex-clad weirdos.
** Not so much in the MAX series, which lacks superheroes.
** Not so much in the MAX series, which lacks superheroes.
* Cable of ''[[X Force]].'' His guns in particular can go [[Serial Escalation]] in size and improbability of design. How about one barrel the size of his head, and ''several smaller barrels beneath?'' (This from Phalanx Covenant.)
* Cable of ''[[X-Force]].'' His guns in particular can go [[Serial Escalation]] in size and improbability of design. How about one barrel the size of his head, and ''several smaller barrels beneath?'' (This from Phalanx Covenant.)
* Bishop of the [[X-Men]], as a cop from future not unlike that of [[Judge Dredd]], used guns when he first arrived, and an ongoing [[Character Development]] plotline for him was learning to tone it down and not use lethal force. He also had the power to shoot energy rays, but used guns frequently as his power depended on external sources of energy to redirect.
* Bishop of the [[X-Men]], as a cop from future not unlike that of [[Judge Dredd]], used guns when he first arrived, and an ongoing [[Character Development]] plotline for him was learning to tone it down and not use lethal force. He also had the power to shoot energy rays, but used guns frequently as his power depended on external sources of energy to redirect.
** One version of his guns actually channeled his own powers.
** One version of his guns actually channeled his own powers.
* [[The Nineties|90s Kid]] of ''[[Atop the Fourth Wall (Web Video)|Atop the Fourth Wall]]'' parodies this, saying the coolest superhero ever would be named "Bloodgun", and he'd be a man made out of guns, even his head.
* [[The Nineties|90s Kid]] of ''[[Atop the Fourth Wall]]'' parodies this, saying the coolest superhero ever would be named "Bloodgun", and he'd be a man made out of guns, even his head.
* All versions of [[DC Comics]]' The Vigilante, except the original singing cowboy from ''[[Seven Soldiers]]''.
* All versions of [[DC Comics]]' The Vigilante, except the original singing cowboy from ''[[Seven Soldiers]]''.
** Actually the singing cowboy version did pack a pair of six shooters, but was very much a fan of [[Blasting It Out of Their Hands]].
** Actually the singing cowboy version did pack a pair of six shooters, but was very much a fan of [[Blasting It Out of Their Hands]].
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'''Mr. Furious:''' Weak.<br />
'''Mr. Furious:''' Weak.<br />
'''The Blue Raja:''' At best. }}
'''The Blue Raja:''' At best. }}
* ''[[The Phantom (Comic Strip)|The Phantom]]'': While he [[Blasting It Out of Their Hands|tries to avoid]] actually killing people, he's very much willing and able to if necessary. [[Legacy Character|Previous incarnations]] gladly used swords in the same capacity.
* ''[[The Phantom (comic strip)|The Phantom]]'': While he [[Blasting It Out of Their Hands|tries to avoid]] actually killing people, he's very much willing and able to if necessary. [[Legacy Character|Previous incarnations]] gladly used swords in the same capacity.
* ''[[City of Heroes]]'' has the [[Guns Akimbo|Dual Pistols]] and Assault Rifle powersets for ranged archetypes (blaster, corruptor, defender). Also, Thugs masterminds lead a group of gun-wielding henchmen and have their own pistol attacks.
* ''[[City of Heroes]]'' has the [[Guns Akimbo|Dual Pistols]] and Assault Rifle powersets for ranged archetypes (blaster, corruptor, defender). Also, Thugs masterminds lead a group of gun-wielding henchmen and have their own pistol attacks.
** The Masterminds also have the Mercenary powerset, which works like Thugs, but with assault rifles.
** The Masterminds also have the Mercenary powerset, which works like Thugs, but with assault rifles.
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** And now they have just introduced the Beam Rifle powerset.
** And now they have just introduced the Beam Rifle powerset.
* Why [[Badass Normal]] [[Strawberry Death Cake|Jessica]] is so [[Badass]].
* Why [[Badass Normal]] [[Strawberry Death Cake|Jessica]] is so [[Badass]].
* [[Captain America]]'s original incarnation had him using guns in addition to his famous shield, since he was a [[Super Soldier]] fighting the Nazis during [[World War II]]. [[Captain America the First Avenger|His movie]] also aims in this direction(Justified, since it's [[During the War]]). As you can well imagine, fan reactions are...somewhat mixed.
* [[Captain America]]'s original incarnation had him using guns in addition to his famous shield, since he was a [[Super Soldier]] fighting the Nazis during [[World War II]]. [[Captain America: The First Avenger|His movie]] also aims in this direction(Justified, since it's [[During the War]]). As you can well imagine, fan reactions are...somewhat mixed.
** [[Bucky]] also used a gun when he took up the identity of Cap.
** [[Bucky]] also used a gun when he took up the identity of Cap.
** Steve has started packing heat again as Commander Steve Rogers, Head of S.H.I.E.L.D.
** Steve has started packing heat again as Commander Steve Rogers, Head of S.H.I.E.L.D.
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* Big Daddy and Hit Girl from ''[[Kick-Ass]]''. Of course in the comic Big Daddy is not technically a superhero - just a psycho with lots of guns.
* Big Daddy and Hit Girl from ''[[Kick-Ass]]''. Of course in the comic Big Daddy is not technically a superhero - just a psycho with lots of guns.
* While most [[Power Rangers]] teams have sidearms of some kind, it's the more officially-sanctioned ones that make extensive use of them, like the [[Space Police]] [[Power Rangers SPD|SPD]] and [[Time Police]] [[Power Rangers Time Force|Time Force]]. The [[Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue|Lightspeed Rescue]] team in particular has a reputation for favoring their blasters.
* While most [[Power Rangers]] teams have sidearms of some kind, it's the more officially-sanctioned ones that make extensive use of them, like the [[Space Police]] [[Power Rangers SPD|SPD]] and [[Time Police]] [[Power Rangers Time Force|Time Force]]. The [[Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue|Lightspeed Rescue]] team in particular has a reputation for favoring their blasters.
* ''[[Champions Online (Video Game)|Champions Online]]'' contains the Munitions powerset. This includes everything from dual pistols as the lowest level attack (and several higher level ones), through submachineguns, shotguns, assault rifles, a minigun, a rocket launcher, and more.
* ''[[Champions Online]]'' contains the Munitions powerset. This includes everything from dual pistols as the lowest level attack (and several higher level ones), through submachineguns, shotguns, assault rifles, a minigun, a rocket launcher, and more.
* The Scarlet Spectre of ''[[Freedom City]]'''s Time of Vengeance campaign, is a B-Level vigilante who, lacking superpowers or [[Crimefighting With Cash|much money]], fought crime with her father's .45 pistol.
* The Scarlet Spectre of ''[[Freedom City]]'''s Time of Vengeance campaign, is a B-Level vigilante who, lacking superpowers or [[Crimefighting with Cash|much money]], fought crime with her father's .45 pistol.
* This is of the most obvious ways ''[[The Twelve]]'', a random group of [[Fish Out of Temporal Water]] from the last days of World War II, illustrate the [[Values Dissonance]] between their time and ours. A full half of them carry guns, from the [[Badass Normal|Badass Normals]] like Mr. E, the Witness, the Laughing Mask, and the Phantom Reporter, to [[Flying Brick]] Captain Wonder and powerful psychic Mastermind Excello.
* This is of the most obvious ways ''[[The Twelve]]'', a random group of [[Fish Out of Temporal Water]] from the last days of World War II, illustrate the [[Values Dissonance]] between their time and ours. A full half of them carry guns, from the [[Badass Normal|Badass Normals]] like Mr. E, the Witness, the Laughing Mask, and the Phantom Reporter, to [[Flying Brick]] Captain Wonder and powerful psychic Mastermind Excello.
* The Crimson Avenger in [[The DCU]]. Both the original in his [[Coat, Hat, Mask]] phase and the [[Nineties Anti-Hero]] successor. The legacy character takes this further, claiming that the original CA's chest emblem during his superhero days wasn't a sun - it was a bullet hole.
* The Crimson Avenger in [[The DCU]]. Both the original in his [[Coat, Hat, Mask]] phase and the [[Nineties Anti-Hero]] successor. The legacy character takes this further, claiming that the original CA's chest emblem during his superhero days wasn't a sun - it was a bullet hole.
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* Tombstone from ''[[Freedom Force]]'' has a pair of magical guns as his primary weapons. They fire bolts of electricity to symbolize his death by electrocution in the electric chair.
* Tombstone from ''[[Freedom Force]]'' has a pair of magical guns as his primary weapons. They fire bolts of electricity to symbolize his death by electrocution in the electric chair.
* Grifter of the [[Wild CATS]] and [[Wildstorm]] Universe, although sometimes possessing psychic powers, usually favoured [[Guns Akimbo]], switching between his [[Ray Gun|VADs]] and a variety of mundane pistols.
* Grifter of the [[Wild CATS]] and [[Wildstorm]] Universe, although sometimes possessing psychic powers, usually favoured [[Guns Akimbo]], switching between his [[Ray Gun|VADs]] and a variety of mundane pistols.
* In season one of [[Who Wants to Be A Superhero]], the Iron Enforcer's gimmick was a [[BFG|incredibly huge cannon]] mounted on his arm. Subverted in that [[Stan Lee|Stan the man]] was never really all that excited over superheroes with guns, let alone huge ones like that, and between his gruff attitude and less than stellar challenge performances he ended up getting the boot. Then on the way out (portrayed as him literally walking out a back alley, when a nearby TV suddenly comes to life) Stan said that he finally figured it out: Iron Enforcer made a lousy hero, but [[Meaningful Rename|DARK Enforcer]] made a ''great'' [[Face Heel Turn|villain]]!
* In season one of [[Who Wants to Be a Superhero]], the Iron Enforcer's gimmick was a [[BFG|incredibly huge cannon]] mounted on his arm. Subverted in that [[Stan Lee|Stan the man]] was never really all that excited over superheroes with guns, let alone huge ones like that, and between his gruff attitude and less than stellar challenge performances he ended up getting the boot. Then on the way out (portrayed as him literally walking out a back alley, when a nearby TV suddenly comes to life) Stan said that he finally figured it out: Iron Enforcer made a lousy hero, but [[Meaningful Rename|DARK Enforcer]] made a ''great'' [[Face Heel Turn|villain]]!
* ''[[Moon Knight]]'' has on ocasion used weapons. But then again, he is a former mercenary and soldier (And in the Ultimate Universe, a former Navy Seal), and is known to be a dark subversion of [[Thou Shall Not Kill]], so its not exactly out of place. Its also one of the characteristics that seperate him from [[Alternate Company Equivalent|that other]] [[Batman (Comic Book)|Knight.]]
* ''[[Moon Knight]]'' has on ocasion used weapons. But then again, he is a former mercenary and soldier (And in the Ultimate Universe, a former Navy Seal), and is known to be a dark subversion of [[Thou Shall Not Kill]], so its not exactly out of place. Its also one of the characteristics that seperate him from [[Alternate Company Equivalent|that other]] [[Batman|Knight.]]
* [[Savage Dragon]] has superhuman aim that allows him to [[Blasting It Out of Their Hands|shoot without killing]], although he has done so when pressed.
* [[Savage Dragon]] has superhuman aim that allows him to [[Blasting It Out of Their Hands|shoot without killing]], although he has done so when pressed.
* Eldritch of the [[Whateley Universe]]. The fact that she is [[Nigh Invulnerable]] and has magical abilities doesn't stop her from packing heat. In the Team Tactics course at [[Super-Hero School]] Whateley Academy, she shows up carrying an M16 with an M203 grenade launcher slung underneath. The course is taught by a Gunnery Sergeant and a retired admiral with Spec Ops experience: neither of them are surprised.
* Eldritch of the [[Whateley Universe]]. The fact that she is [[Nigh Invulnerable]] and has magical abilities doesn't stop her from packing heat. In the Team Tactics course at [[Super-Hero School]] Whateley Academy, she shows up carrying an M16 with an M203 grenade launcher slung underneath. The course is taught by a Gunnery Sergeant and a retired admiral with Spec Ops experience: neither of them are surprised.
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* [[The Shadow]] is either a superhero or a proto-superhero depending on who you ask, but he wields a pair of automatics.
* [[The Shadow]] is either a superhero or a proto-superhero depending on who you ask, but he wields a pair of automatics.
* Orson Randall, the former [[Immortal Iron Fist]], uses a pair of handguns, for which Danny Rand, the incumbent, gives him grief. "So you learned your kung-fu from Lei Kung and ''Smith & Wesson''?"
* Orson Randall, the former [[Immortal Iron Fist]], uses a pair of handguns, for which Danny Rand, the incumbent, gives him grief. "So you learned your kung-fu from Lei Kung and ''Smith & Wesson''?"
* One of [[Iron Man]] armors, the Variable Threat Response Battle Suit (A.K.A. [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|War Machine]]), used a minigun and a chain gun as main weapons. Jim Rhodes will be the main user of this armor, with successive iterations including [[More Dakka|increasingly heavy gun-based firepower]].
* One of [[Iron Man]] armors, the Variable Threat Response Battle Suit (A.K.A. [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|War Machine]]), used a minigun and a chain gun as main weapons. Jim Rhodes will be the main user of this armor, with successive iterations including [[More Dakka|increasingly heavy gun-based firepower]].
** This carries over into [[Iron Man (Film)|the movies]]: during the final fight when they're being attacked by drones in [[Power Armour]], Iron Man punches them or uses his repulsors while War Machine just unloads with the cannons.
** This carries over into [[Iron Man (film)|the movies]]: during the final fight when they're being attacked by drones in [[Power Armour]], Iron Man punches them or uses his repulsors while War Machine just unloads with the cannons.


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Superhero_Packing_Heat"