In the superhero genre, there are certain character archetypes that pop up more than others. TV Tropes tends to call these superhero expies. These are more based on their powers and skills rather than their personalities. Mainly because the powers can change and even be played with. Be advised that race and nationality will not be included in this essay.
The Paradigm (Original Superhero Archetypes)
One major example is The Brick, as in the character who possesses enhanced physical abilities. Super strength, speed, and stamina, is pretty much all in this package. Just about every character who hit hard and take a hit fits into this. It’s also considered the least interesting in terms of powers. Most characters have to make up for this with personalities and story themes.
One of the most famous variants is The Cape archetype with the poster boy being Superman. In addition to super strength and invulnerability, they occasionally have additional powers including but not limited to flight, vision powers, and some form of energy control. A variation of this is the feminine version I will call the The Amazon. Obviously the poster person for this is Wonder Woman. They mainly serve as the usual power set to handle any situation with personalities being the ideal way. Of course this archetype also has the most competition to the point of becoming generic.
Occasionally some of these characters have mythic roots like Wonder Woman and Thor, let’s dub these Godlings.
The Olympics for Supers
Other Bricks include what I like to call Bruisers, characters with enhancements focus more on the strength aspect such as the Incredible Hulk or the Thing. Besides strength there are Speedsters like the Flash who can move at very high speeds.
Then there are characters that best suit different terrains with Flyers like Falcon taking the sky. Meanwhile Amphibians like Aquaman feel at home in water.
All of these abilities are thematically challenged by how well these people can fit in, both in the mundane and the environments they’re meant to thrive in.
What About the Non-Powers?
As for the less “super” heroes well there’s a lot of them. Probably because artists can find ways to tantalize readers a little easier.
Fighters, Not Just Martial Arts
Fighters are a group of archetypes more closely associated with real life humans. These include Martial Artists like Iron Fist who use their martial arts skills and occasionally traditional weapons. To add a fantasy flavor, fictional elements like Chi often intertwines with it.
But the main appeal comes from how these characters apply their fighting skills. The exercises in boxing are highly applicable for endurance, just ask Wild Cat. Wushu fighters mainly dominate this field, mainly because there are so many disciplines. And just as many confusions surround them.
Weapon Masters
Weapon Masters use weapons more often than their fighting skills and further divide by specialties.
These include Archers like Green Arrow and Hawkeye. These range from the normal arrows to the more fantastic trick arrows. A well shot arrow can look amazing with the right artwork. It’s a bit of an accuracy thing.
Swordsmen like Katana usually have to show off absurd skills with their blades. If not they have to rely on high-tech or magic swords. Because just throwing a sword willy-nilly is kind of sad to look at.
Gunmen like the Punisher or various cowboy characters are known for shootouts. These force creatives to think of ways a gun or environment could work in. This leads not only to a number of ways damage is done, but the suspense at work.
Acrobats use their agility and light weaponry in battle, famous examples being Daredevil and Nightwing. These characters thrive in motion scenes as they move with precision that tantalize readers.
Specialties and Improv
Other fighter types include the Barbarian who often wield large swords. Jungle People are hardcore survivors like the classic Tarzan and Ka-zar. These two have appeals mainly in how improvisational their movements feel.
Assassins both old (Lady Shiva) and new (Winter Soldier) are another variant, emphasizing patience and efficiency through suspense.
Soldiers are people with highly advanced training in war zones. Either that or enhancements with some type of super science like Captain America and Valiant’s Bloodshot. Every war is different, and the powers at play represent that.
Gadgeteers are users of portable and concealable equipment with Batman leading the charge. But these are often reusables for any applicable scenario. Unlike Arsenals who use loads of equipment on the fly in improv. Spies like the Black Widow specialize in espionage, sabotage, and acrobatics for quick escapes. Another thing of note is the Detective who either solve things with smarts, wits, and a few gadgets and powers.
Superhero Archetypes That Make Magic
Mystics are another offshoot of regular humans with special powers. This one being versed in magic or power that cannot be explained by modern science with characters like Dr. Fate and Dr. Strange being the epicenter of this archetype. Like martial arts though, the magic goes between hard and soft disciplines. This means chanting or conjuring spells without many requirements in the soft department. The hard disciplines however have more restrictions, many of which make use of artifacts. Or in some cases costs that lead to another story.
Similar to magic, there are Psychics people with telekinetic and telepathic powers such as Jean Grey. Sometimes they’re a group of people like the Harbingers. Demonics meanwhile are beings that have gained terrifying power that are usually derived from taboos like Spawn. They’re all so diverse and surreal with their abilities, it leads to different effects.
The Latest Model
Science Heroes usually revolve around technology. The most visually appealing are science conventions with legs that show off their power for all to see.
The Machine groups deal more in technology including but not limited to giant robots.
Armors are users of powerful suits that protect the wearer and enhanced physical capability while adding firepower and other features. Famous examples include Iron Man, X-O Manowar, and the Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle. These are appealing mainly in building a relationship between the wearer and the suit.
Cyborgs are characters who have received enhancements and other features from bionic implants. Unlike armors, the appeals come from their relationships to society. The inherent humanity comes to be at odds with the technology at their disposal.
Finally there are androids who are able to possess an intelligence bordering on a human. Their appeal is the philosophical look at what it means to be human. Often they have a simple look at things at odds with how they feel about it.
Size Changers are another archetype that will have a highlight by a certain Marvel character. Size changing includes shrinking like the Atom or growing to gigantic size like Giant Man. How that affects the user depends on the writer and how the equipment plays out.
Energy users can control certain types of light or even the elements. Although most of the time it is usually just blasts like lasers, electricity, or most dramatically radiation. Occasionally they can shape them into objects like the Green Lanterns. Their appeals come from the effects they have on people and society.
Are These Superhero Archetypes Mimicry or Physiology?
Animal is another distinct group. These include Beastmen who have traits or similarities between different animals or can even turn into them. One of the most notable members is of course Wolverine. The last bit are Shapeshifters and some can even turn into more than just different animals. Mimicry describes characters who have equipment and powers based on an animal like Spider-Man. Between all three of these comes the trifecta of fitting in, standing out, and carving a niche.
There is one more type in relation to this: Rubbers. Characters like Plastic Man tend to get this typecast for comedy. But he, the Elongated Man, Mister Fantastic, and Ms. Marvel demonstrate that this has more to do with adaptability. It allows the characters and artists to think outside the box with their capabilities and expressions. But also how often their approaches can change.
Superhero Archetypes and Groups
Finally there are groups that are just that, groups. Secret Societies gather like minded people who face similar problems in the outside world like the X-Men. Organization Teams that form as a task force like the Justice League and Avengers. Finally there are Families, groups of characters who share similar origins, powers, and relationships with others including the Batman family.
While there are other powers to consider like heightened intelligence with Living Calculators seeing the world as numbers and equations and Big Heads who have a higher intelligence and possibly other mental powers; these are the most common and there are probably other ideas out there that have not really caught on.
So the ink’s not dry yet. Thanks for coming to end and as always remember to look between the panels.