Every movie/book/comics hero has dead parents.

[Deleted]

Almost every made up hero is from incomplete family. For example: Spider-man, Batman, Iron Man, Frodo, Picard, Hellboy and much much more.

Why is it so important for a hero to have dead parents?

[Aristeia]

I guess no one wants to read about a super hero who still calls mom up.

[ralphie]

I think it's part of somewhat outdated character development....all that these guys are is a product of their own work and drive to do something with their lives. You know, as opposed to having mommy and daddy telling them what to do or taking care of them.

[Ynna]

It's easy character development. By having your character doesn't have parents you can easily blame flaws on issues with that. Sometimes it's important for the way the character, like with Batman or Harry Potter.

[GennGreymane]

mulon(sp, that chinese disney movie)
both her parents are alive



also light yagami has both parents (until he kinda kills his dad)

but yes overall almost all of them have 1 or no parents.

[Sunseeker]

I suppose that goes about how you look at things.

For all Clark Kent knew, the Kents were his parents.
Peter Parker's parents are never really talked about, but he had a good home-life with his Aunt and Uncle.
Bruce Wayne's really one of the few who actually experienced the death of his parents.
Harry Potter's parent's were killed when he was very young, and to be honest the fact that he's so obsessed with them is rather strange given he was like, 1.
Most of the X-men's parents abandoned them 'cause of the whole mutant thing, I don't know if any of them were explicitly dead.
Bruce Banner had daddy issues, but really what superhero doesn't?
Tony Stark doesn't become a hero until he's in his 30's I think, so it's realistic that his parents are dead, though they did die comparatively young(in his 20's).
Picard's family was actually solidly in one piece until sorta half-way through his career when they all died horribly in a train accident.
Hellboy is a demon who well...is a demon, demons aren't exactly big on parenthood.

Really I guess it just all depends on how count "dead parents".

[GennGreymane]

oh and Hercules in the Disney version at least (actually in the myth i think his mother is actually still alive for the entire length of it)

he had both sets of parents, he even bought his mortal parents a nice house.

[Deleted]

Harry Potter's parent's were killed when he was very young, and to be honest the fact that he's so obsessed with them is rather strange given he was like, 1.

Probably because his foster parents were absolute gits

I have no answer for the OP's question though.

[Deleted]

It might have something to do with realism.

Parents would hardly ever allow their child to do things like saving the world, getting themselves in danger etc

However, if the parents are dead , the child suddenly has a lot more freedom.
(( Aunts and uncles can be taken as substitute parents because they tend to be less protective ))

---------- Post added 2012-02-20 at 09:49 PM ----------

mulon(sp, that chinese disney movie)
both her parents are alive



also light yagami has both parents (until he kinda kills his dad)

but yes overall almost all of them have 1 or no parents.

Both of those ''heroes'' ( mulan and Yagami )
are anti-heroes. They do things that are seen as bad within their world. In such a case the rebellious-child has a different
purpose.

[Powerogue]

people like an angsty character with a backstory, nothing is an easier source of angst than dead parents.

[jackofwind]

Many of the men who have held the mantle of Turok have taken that mantle upon themselves while their parents were still living.

[Tradewind]

Thor has parents...though I can't think of many more.

[Kathoris]

This is why, basically every hero character has to follow this line either tight or somewhat loose.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth

[GennGreymane]

It might have something to do with realism.

Parents would hardly ever allow their child to do things like saving the world, getting themselves in danger etc

However, if the parents are dead , the child suddenly has a lot more freedom.
(( Aunts and uncles can be taken as substitute parents because they tend to be less protective ))

---------- Post added 2012-02-20 at 09:49 PM ----------



Both of those ''heroes'' ( mulan and Yagami )
are anti-heroes. They do things that are seen as bad within their world. In such a case the rebellious-child has a different
purpose.

how is mulan an anti hero

[Deleted]

how is mulan an anti hero

Back then woman werent really allowed to join the army ...
Back then she broke the law

Seems pretty anti-hero


PS: With anti-hero Im not just talking about murderers etc , Im talking about the heroes who are seen as the bad guys within their story, not necessarily by the viewers

[GennGreymane]

Back then woman werent really allowed to join the army ...
Back then she broke the law

Seems pretty anti-hero


PS: With anti-hero Im not just talking about murderers etc , Im talking about the heroes who are seen as the bad guys within their story, not necessarily by the viewers

but i dont think she was arrested for it.

[Aristeia]

Mulan isn't an anti-hero...

[Bane Falcon]

The Young Avengers' parents were still alive. Hells, when discovered, the Avengers even threatened to call their moms and tell them that they were being superheroes.

...So, yeah, take that into consideration. You can read about dead parents, or the villain calling the hero's parents and tattling.

[raist474]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...entsAreTheBest

Comic book writers aren't exactly the most creative/original bunch.

[Sivick]

have you seen the super heroes who's parents are still alive? so lame. no tension, no drama, no angst ridden past. yawn