Off THEIR Minds: Should Superheroes Form a Union?

We ask Kyle Higgins, Jimmy Palmiotti, Jim McCann, John Layman, Chris Burnham, James Tynion IV, Franco and Art Baltazar what they think.

Embed
Click To Unmute

Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?

Sign up or Sign in now!

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to Comic Vine's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

36 Comments

Avatar image for redheadedatrocitus
RedheadedAtrocitus

6958

Forum Posts

8982

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 3

Palmiotti's answer I wholeheartedly agree with. Right on!

Avatar image for dh69
DH69

4324

Forum Posts

102

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By DH69

"Anybody can be batman" wow...thats just dangerous to say...

Avatar image for roboadmiral
roboadmiral

577

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Well, being a superhero is more of a hobby than a profession. They don't make any money, they just do it because they want to for the most part. That would be like having a model-ship collectors' union. The only ones who could unionize, since it's actually a job, would be the SHIELD stooges, since they're already government employees.

Avatar image for cavemold
Cavemold

1818

Forum Posts

19

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 87

User Lists: 2

No ... Whos going pay for it?

Avatar image for bigboi100000
bigboi100000

224

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

Edited By bigboi100000

Comic creators forming a union. Get on that Jimbo

Avatar image for sinestro_gl
sinestro_GL

3651

Forum Posts

6530

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 8

For what? To negotiate working hours?

:P

Avatar image for dngn4774
dngn4774

5622

Forum Posts

41

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 22

Well, being a superhero is more of a hobby than a profession. They don't make any money, they just do it because they want to for the most part. That would be like having a model-ship collectors' union. The only ones who could unionize, since it's actually a job, would be the SHIELD stooges, since they're already government employees.

this.

Avatar image for bluelantern1995
BlueLantern1995

3237

Forum Posts

7086

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 26

No. As one of the writers said, it involves knowing your secret identity and you know how they like that!

Avatar image for cap10nate
Cap10nate

3629

Forum Posts

164

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 2

No they should not. Then the best super heroes would have to reduce their quality and efficiency so the lesser super heroes would not look bad.

Avatar image for rich711
Rich711

264

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 1

Edited By Rich711

Wow, so now we can watch Superheroes sit around and do nothing at tax payers expense. Sounds exciting, where do I pay $3.99 to read about THAT!?

Avatar image for mucklefluga
Mucklefluga

2653

Forum Posts

3678

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 5

Aw man every time Franco cracks me up. "I'm gonna change my answer and say..."

Avatar image for blackkitty
blackkitty

449

Forum Posts

1552

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Exactly. Unions had their reason for being and back in the days of Rockerfeller and Carnagie I can see how they were vital. Even through the civil rights acts etc, but in this day and age I almost feel Unions do more harm than good. They've become political entities and makes getting bad workers almost impossible to remove from companies. I guess that could be funny, could have a slacker hero in there doing nothing and the heroes are unable to get rid of him. But no, no unions.

Avatar image for gmanfromheck
gmanfromheck

42524

Forum Posts

259238

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 472

User Lists: 2

Aw man every time Franco cracks me up. "I'm gonna change my answer and say..."

I seriously think I have to do a 'best of' video with all their clips in one vid. I was actually holding the camera for them and was worried it'd be all shaky from laughing so much. There's two more questions/videos coming. We'll have to see how they answer them!

Avatar image for evilvegeta74
evilvegeta74

4674

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

It would lead to Civil War all over again.

Avatar image for mucklefluga
Mucklefluga

2653

Forum Posts

3678

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 5

@g_man said:

@mucklefluga said:

Aw man every time Franco cracks me up. "I'm gonna change my answer and say..."

I seriously think I have to do a 'best of' video with all their clips in one vid. I was actually holding the camera for them and was worried it'd be all shaky from laughing so much. There's two more questions/videos coming. We'll have to see how they answer them!

They are brilliant. A 'best of' video would so cool and hilarious!

Avatar image for pissedoff
SolthesunGod

324

Forum Posts

12097

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

I just watched this. I have a game show on in the background called Pointless and just after the video finished they announched next catergory and it was about trade unions. Creepy.

Avatar image for gmanfromheck
gmanfromheck

42524

Forum Posts

259238

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 472

User Lists: 2

@solthesungod: IT's all connected. We are all part of the Matrix.

No Caption Provided

Avatar image for phoenixofthetides
PhoenixoftheTides

4701

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Well, being a superhero is more of a hobby than a profession. They don't make any money, they just do it because they want to for the most part. That would be like having a model-ship collectors' union. The only ones who could unionize, since it's actually a job, would be the SHIELD stooges, since they're already government employees.

Agree w/this.

Avatar image for phoenixofthetides
PhoenixoftheTides

4701

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@cavemold said:

No ... Whos going pay for it?

The taxpayers. Just kidding.

Avatar image for hermatt
Hermatt

90

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Superhero unions would eventually lead to superhero strikes. so no

but picture that:

"Help The Skrulls are attacking!!"

"Sorry we're on strike to get health insurance and I'm not going to be a scab"

Avatar image for chasereis
chasereis

802

Forum Posts

8

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Superhero unions? Who's gonna run it the Illuminati? The Kingpin? Hey Daredevil you didnt pay for your haircut. Luke cage you owe some dues... Spidey them tights ain't regulation. Whoops accident at Stark industries every body take a month off with pay. Oooo let's go on strike until people gives us more money. Or maybe we can influence government regulations to our benefits? Yea more like convincing short term heroes to become long term villains.

Avatar image for askanison295
AskaniSon295

453

Forum Posts

65

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Union was already formed by image comics under the the homage imprint.

Avatar image for vesavius
vesavius

61

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

An official body that could lobby on behalf of an established group in society, protecting their ability to do their jobs? Providing health care and training to it's members? Protecting them from proven ongoing abuse from their own government and corperate sector? That would communicate on their behalf to the public so that situations and motivations were clearly understood? Yeah, why not? I am suprised that something like The FF dosen't operate like this already tbh. A way of identifying themselves could be used that didn't compromise secret I.Ds... I have a feeling all the guys saying 'no' here would have been on Stark's side in the Civil War ;)

Avatar image for deactivated-627010180bd2d
deactivated-627010180bd2d

10091

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Occupy Metropolis.

Avatar image for redhood21
redhood21

833

Forum Posts

4700

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By redhood21

@cavemold said:

No ... Whos going pay for it?

@blackkitty said:

Exactly. Unions had their reason for being and back in the days of Rockerfeller and Carnagie I can see how they were vital. Even through the civil rights acts etc, but in this day and age I almost feel Unions do more harm than good. They've become political entities and makes getting bad workers almost impossible to remove from companies. I guess that could be funny, could have a slacker hero in there doing nothing and the heroes are unable to get rid of him. But no, no unions.

these! Nowadays unions mostly bully new workers into joining or quitting and send union dues to political groups you may not necessarily like or agree with. Join the avengers or dont be a hero at all!!!!

Avatar image for fps_dean
fps_dean

279

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

I don't think say Batwing deserves the same pay as Superman, so I guess that makes me anti-Union.

Avatar image for bluelantern1995
BlueLantern1995

3237

Forum Posts

7086

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 26

@hermatt said:

Superhero unions would eventually lead to superhero strikes. so no

but picture that:

"Help The Skrulls are attacking!!"

"Sorry we're on strike to get health insurance and I'm not going to be a scab"

LOL! Hadn't thought of that! That's perfect! I LOVE IT!

Avatar image for molotovzav
molotovzav

41

Forum Posts

15

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Unions usually lead to people being overpaid for something that's not even worth the price. But in the case of superheroes you can't really put a price tag on what they're doing, I mean you can but it will be hard and even then you're underselling em. So would a union even work towards superheroes getting paid, and if superheroes are paid, doesn't that kind of ruin their heroicness?

Avatar image for isaac_clarke
isaac_clarke

5998

Forum Posts

12

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I was under the impression most superhero teams are more or less unions.

Avatar image for rayolight
RayOlight

8

Forum Posts

501

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Wow, there's so much anti-union sentiment here, and also a lot of misunderstanding

Superhero teams like the Justice League or the Avengers are essentially superhero unions. When a threat appears that's too big for just one hero to take on, then the team comes into play, combining their skills and powers for the greater good. Also if a hero was targeted by a villain then the team would be there to back them up, a form of collective security. It doesn't have to be about pay.

Everyone's ranting about how terrible unions are, but when they're gone (which is likely to happen) everyone will realise how valuable they really were, unions aren't about inflating pay, they're about worker's representation, about collective security, 10, 000 voices will always be more powerful than 1 lone voice. Union's are a vanguard of human rights, and the right wing media's crusade against them is a form of oppression, don't be fooled.

Avatar image for capfan80
capfan80

363

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Generally speaking, if you have skill sets that are difficult or impossible for most of the work force to obtain, and the demand for your skills far outstrips its availability, you do not need a union. So, NO!

Avatar image for dngn4774
dngn4774

5622

Forum Posts

41

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 22

Edited By dngn4774

@capfan80: That's great if you're the one extremely skilled worker, what about all of the others? Unions exist to protect workers rights for employees who can be replaced. It doesn't mean union workers are incompetent at their jobs, it's just to secure some basic collective bargaining rights without immediately being fired. I'm not pro-union, almost all of the arguments I've heard against them on this thread are valid, but they are a necessary evil. If you get rid of unions we might as well go back to Feudalism.

Avatar image for deactivated-5a162dd41dd64
deactivated-5a162dd41dd64

8662

Forum Posts

2294

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 100

User Lists: 6

To answer the title, no.

Avatar image for agypt2020
Agypt2020

60

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Agypt2020

A Super Heroes Union is not a bad thing as registration act, their secret identities should be protected to protect the innocents that bad people may use to get to heroes.

A union is a democratic organization of employees in a workplace who choose to join together to achieve common goals. By forming unions, employees can work collectively to improve working conditions, including wages and benefits, hours and job safety, to resolve disagreements of employees and employers and to find the best ways to get the work done.Unions also represent members and all people who work by advocating working family-friendly laws and policies through legislative and political action.

Who do heroes work for? The General Public as servants and Good Samaritans, so yes if heroes can be publicly sponsored without divulging secret identities, it would show a level of appreciation as heroes not by their secret identities.

Avatar image for deadpool25mm
deadpool25mm

864

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@dh69 said:

"Anybody can be batman" wow...thats just dangerous to say...

^ This

Avatar image for mebaz
mebaz

15

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I think the teams (JLA, Avengers) very loosely serve as a form of union.