Given that pedophilia is considered by most of modern society as the most heinous sin imaginable, with pedophilia responded to with even more vitriol than towards murderers or terrorists or genocidal dictators, is it not unusual that there are no depictions of any prominent super-villains as being pedophiles? This would seem and easy way for a writer to paint the villain as evil or a menace. In fact, the only paedophile in superhero comics whom I can think of is Charles Xavier (he had amorous feelings towards Jean Grey since she was eleven), and he's regarded as, after Superman, maybe the most moral hero of all (he's essentially the mutant equivalent of Martin Luther King Jr. or Gandhi).
Most villainly traits can have a certain degree of cool to them. Or they can be understood without being condoned. Child molesters have absolutely none of that. There is no way to construe a child molester as interesting, cool, or understandable. Magneto's a mass murderer, but you can understand the reasons he is the way he is. The Joker's absolute insanity is interesting in its own way. People don't mind wearing shirts with Magneto or Joker on them. You will not sell a single t-shirt with the face of a child molester on it. There is no way to find that character as anything more than absolutely repugnant, and that doesn't really work for comic villains.
In fact, the only paedophile in superhero comics whom I can think of is Charles Xavier (he had amorous feelings towards Jean Grey since she was eleven)
@Jonny_Anonymous:I agree. There are some one-dimensional villains that are still pretty cool. Even the run-of-the-mill 'take over the world' villains can be pretty cool.
The answer to the invisible question is no. The newly appointed hero will not engage in illicit activities with the love interest of the late, former superhero. There I said it.
@TheCrowbar: What prepubescent girl did Hal Jordan ever hit on?
@roboadmiral and @Jonny_Anonymous: You both make a good point; there was nothing obviously redeeming about Darth Vader in the original Star Wars movie. He was a simple, archetypal villain, yet no one would deny that he was absolutely cool.
@roboadmiral: well I read a lot of horror/thriller, for instance The Poet is one of my favourite books and I think the the Poet is a pretty good protagnest yet not once have I ever thought that a paedophilic serial killer was cool or understanding.
@RideASpaceCowboy: Probably the most prominent villain (at the time anyway) with pedophilic overtones was Deathstroke in The Judas Contract story. His involvment with Terra was dubious at best and was never really picked up upon. Regarding your question though, i think that it is a line that the comic world is scared to cross and probably with good reason. Brad Meltzer's Identity Crisis featured Dr Light raping a prominent support character and though the story was well written, it left a bad taste in the mouth and, for me anyway, changed the way i saw these heroes and villains for the worst. I don't know if mainstream comics is the place for such things and, after all, a succesful villain has to be relatable in some way and has to have some form of reader support. We love the Joker because, let's face it, the Joker is ultimately cool and part of us would like to have the freedom he has. We respect Doom and Magneto's nobility, no matter how askew it is. Personally, i don't think any of us want to be the Mad Hatter, no matter how well writen he is, and the ultimate testimony to this is that he has forever been a third tier villain.
I know Manga and more adult oriented comics like the Vertigo line have dealt with pedophilia and i think that is fine. But personally, i don't ever want to see Batman and Spider Man team up to fight Super-Pedo :)
@Jonny_Anonymous: I know. That's my point. There is no cool or understandable aspect to child molesters which is why they don't pop up very often in comics.
Oh I don't know, Doc Ock has that air about him, or at least has done for a very long time. The dodgy clothing, the massive glasses and the bowlhead haircut. They all add up to a very sick and creepy look. I could say the same for Norman Osborn too when he was still Green Goblin, coming and going like a goddamn Chitty Chitty Bang Bang nightmare!
In fact, the only paedophile in superhero comics whom I can think of is Charles Xavier (he had amorous feelings towards Jean Grey since she was eleven)
From my understanding this is referenced in X-Men (vol. 1) #3 and again in the Onslaught saga, as well as parodied in Warren Ellis' The Boys.
@roboadmiral: I disagree with the notion that a villain needs to have a degree of understanding or coolness
@SpectroRaphael said:
@Jonny_Anonymous:I agree. There are some one-dimensional villains that are still pretty cool. Even the run-of-the-mill 'take over the world' villains can be pretty cool.
this.
but mainly what Jonny Anonymou said. I dont like villains. at least, when I see villains Im not supposed to like them. they're villains. You'd never see ME wearing a villain on a shirt. but I know that's me, other people relate or like certain villains. I just dont think it' necessary for villains to be relatable or anything like that at all since the main reason I like (as in love to hate him/her) a villain is when they are despicable or really piss me off.
so yeah i disagree with the notion that good villains need to have a reason behind what they do or a degree of understanding or coolness or whatever you wanna call it. they're villains, not anti heroes.
PS: although every villain is the hero of his/her own story... but that's another point
ON the subject of the OP, I don't remember pedophile villains, except maybe in Indie comics? I think I've heard something like that, but i wouldn't mind existing one like that. It exists in the real world, and every crime perpretated here is done in comics with the aid of supe powers super tech or magic so why are certain crimes not perpretated by super villains?
PS: and this is not only concerning pedophily, there's a lot of crimes we don't see much around comics, like white collar crime and stuff. I think that could be interesting
Under the specific circumstances, I would say Hal Jordan is only amorously attracted to adult women, as he was able to resist Arisia's advances until her appearance changed to that of a woman, as opposed to preferring her pubescent body.
Looking at the other entries in the article, however, it would appear that Ultimate Wolverine and Silver-Age Superman both have some Ephebophilic, possibly even Hebephilic, tendencies (and Superman incestuous ones at that).
It appears that mainstream comics aren't afraid to depict parahphilia, but for some reason only the super-heroes are allowed to be paedophiles.
In fact, the only paedophile in superhero comics whom I can think of is Charles Xavier (he had amorous feelings towards Jean Grey since she was eleven)
From my understanding this is referenced in X-Men (vol. 1) #3 and again in the Onslaught saga, as well as parodied in Warren Ellis' The Boys.
Yeah, I remember that panel but she was 16 at the time, not 11 (there's a difference).
He knew it was wrong and repressed this memory though so we can't label him as a pedophile because of a single fleeting thought.
Yeah, I remember that panel but she was 16 at the time, not 11 (there's a difference).
He knew it was wrong and repressed this memory though so we can't label him as a pedophile because of a single fleeting thought.
Xavier here is calling Jean the one he loves, suggesting an ongoing disposition, not a single, fleeting thought. And while she's sixteen when she first joins the team, she was several years younger when her powers first began to develop and Xavier first began to train her. Thus, I always interpreted that panel to suggest that he's been in love with Jean for some time, and continues to love her now when she's sixteen.
Yeah, I remember that panel but she was 16 at the time, not 11 (there's a difference).
He knew it was wrong and repressed this memory though so we can't label him as a pedophile because of a single fleeting thought.
Xavier here is calling Jean the one he loves, suggesting an ongoing disposition, not a single, fleeting thought. And while she's sixteen when she first joins the team, she was several years younger when her powers first began to develop and Xavier first began to train her. Thus, I always interpreted that panel to suggest that he's been in love with Jean for some time, and continues to love her now when she's sixteen.
Wow... I'm pretty sure Stan Lee didn't mean that when he wrote that piece of dialogue! ;p
It's possible that another writer hinted at something like that but I doubt Marvel would allow it to be canon, at least I hope so!
@Onemoreposter said:
Banging a 16 year is hardly pedophilia. Wrong and/or illegal? Quite possibly.
Agreed.
And what, your telling me you don't want to be a G-Man? ;)
F*ck no! And I ain't gonna see any film with the G-Wiz either. I still remember the look on Wee Hughie's face!
In fact, the only paedophile in superhero comics whom I can think of is Charles Xavier (he had amorous feelings towards Jean Grey since she was eleven)
LOL!!
This made be laugh!
I think we can consider that guy in Watchmen who gets his head chopped by Rorschach.
Max Damage plowed 15 year old Jailbait nightly before reforming.
however Jailbait looks like this
Shes underage, but I definitely don't think he qualifies as a pedofile.
Hal Jordan use to stick it to 14 year old Arisa before it was retconned.
The correct term for that is hebephile
Alot of comics and manga go between that and ephebophilia that's why for over 50 years the comic characters never age. Or if setting from future, always revert back to present past. If or when Jean Grey comes back she's going to look as young as her daughters. lol.
Two villains come to mind, tough they're not your "super spandex type". Billy Kincaid from the Spawn series was a child molester and killer. Also Sin City's Roark Jr. (aka the Yellow Bastard) had a similar pathology...
Max Damage plowed 15 year old Jailbait nightly before reforming.
however Jailbait looks like this
Shes underage, but I definitely don't think he qualifies as a pedofile.
Hal Jordan use to stick it to 14 year old Arisa before it was retconned.
The correct term for that is hebephile
Alot of comics and manga go between that and ephebophilia that's why for over 50 years the comic characters never age. Or if setting from future, always revert back to present past. If or when Jean Grey comes back she's going to look as young as her daughters. lol.
also, Jailbait was the one who went after him and after the happening in Irredemable, when Max Damage starts to reform, he waits for her, until she reaches 18 of age
(and wasn't she 16-17? at least when Incorruptible begins, IIRC)
btw I don't know how the heck I forgot about this case. I recently just read both Incorruptible and irredemable and they are awesome, one of my favorites. I guess that the case was so well presented, and their relationship evolved so dearly that one even forgets that it was illegal! xD
also the thing with Hal was a misunderstanding, although he did try to hit on Supergirl IIRC, when she was like 16 (although technically she is was over 16 because of the trip from Krypton to Earth but whatever)
Max Damage plowed 15 year old Jailbait nightly before reforming.
however Jailbait looks like this
Shes underage, but I definitely don't think he qualifies as a pedofile.
Hal Jordan use to stick it to 14 year old Arisa before it was retconned.
The correct term for that is hebephile
Alot of comics and manga go between that and ephebophilia that's why for over 50 years the comic characters never age. Or if setting from future, always revert back to present past. If or when Jean Grey comes back she's going to look as young as her daughters. lol.
also, Jailbait was the one who went after him and after the happening in Irredemable, when Max Damage starts to reform, he waits for her, until she reaches 18 of age
(and wasn't she 16-17? at least when Incorruptible begins, IIRC)
btw I don't know how the heck I forgot about this case. I recently just read both Incorruptible and irredemable and they are awesome, one of my favorites. I guess that the case was so well presented, and their relationship evolved so dearly that one even forgets that it was illegal! xD
also the thing with Hal was a misunderstanding, although he did try to hit on Supergirl IIRC, when she was like 16 (although technically she is was over 16 because of the trip from Krypton to Earth but whatever)
he did not try and hit on Supergirl, he was attracted too he but restrained himself even though she spent their entire encounter trying to get a little of his Emerald Might.
@Avenging-X-Bolt: sorry, but what he did was hit on her, from my POV, that's what hitting on means. Unless I read the scan wrong. but yeah he wasn't trying anything since he immediatly thought to himself in the panel that she was too young IIRC
In fact, the only paedophile in superhero comics whom I can think of is Charles Xavier (he had amorous feelings towards Jean Grey since she was eleven)
@Avenging-X-Bolt: sorry, but what he did was hit on her, from my POV, that's what hitting on means. Unless I read the scan wrong. but yeah he wasn't trying anything since he immediatly thought to himself in the panel that she was too young IIRC
you read the scan wrong and id suggest you read the actual story
Flirting or coquetry is a social and sometimes sexual activity involving verbal or written communication as well as body language by one person to another, suggesting an interest in a deeper relationship with the other person. In most cultures, it is socially disapproved for a person to make explicitly sexual advances, but indirect or suggestive advances (i.e., flirting) may at times be considered acceptable. On the other hand, some people flirt playfully, for amusement. A female, especially a young one, who flirts playfully is sometimes called a coquette or in slang a cock tease; while a male flirt may be called a womanizer or player.
I don't even want to imagine what the G-Men would do...
lol. Ah man, the Boys was great. Too bad it's over now. *raises pint* Here's to that movie they've been talking about making for years now.
@Avenging-X-Bolt said:
no. he didnt "like to beat her". he smacked her because she was going into hysterics.
If you say so.....
@7am_Waking_Up_In_The_Morning said:
The correct term for that is hebephile
Alot of comics and manga go between that and ephebophilia that's why for over 50 years the comic characters never age. Or if setting from future, always revert back to present past. If or when Jean Grey comes back she's going to look as young as her daughters. lol.
Hmmm. Actually sort of interesting once I looked up the definitions. So I guess Hal is a heb and Max's an Epheb.
I don't even want to imagine what the G-Men would do...
lol. Ah man, the Boys was great. Too bad it's over now. *raises pint* Here's to that movie they've been talking about making for years now.
@Avenging-X-Bolt said:
no. he didnt "like to beat her". he smacked her because she was going into hysterics.
If you say so.....
@7am_Waking_Up_In_The_Morning said:
The correct term for that is hebephile
Alot of comics and manga go between that and ephebophilia that's why for over 50 years the comic characters never age. Or if setting from future, always revert back to present past. If or when Jean Grey comes back she's going to look as young as her daughters. lol.
Hmmm. Actually sort of interesting once I looked up the definitions. So I guess Hal is a heb and Max's an Epheb.
Yup!
The only pedophile I recall in comics is that yellow guy from Sin City.
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