batman

Has there ever been one? I can't think of any?



Bats.

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

Steve Crook

Superheroes are generally an American invention. We just make do with regular people like Bulldog Drummond or Miss Marple.

Apart from the likes of SuperTed and Danger Mouse
When it's done in Britain it's usually with tongue firmly planted in cheek

Steve

Joenoir

Dick Barton and James Bond spring to mind, but you mean someone who dresses up in funny clothes like whatsisname, the one with a butler and a friendship with a young ....

Wolfgang

Modesty Blaise probably comes closest.

penfold

Biggles??

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

penfold

Hang on, there's always the shape-shifting, cape wearing, time travelling Doctor Who....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

batman

That's what I had in mind.

Some interesting names proposed here but they're not what I would 'super heroes'.

Dr Who is a good shout, and perhaps the 'indestructible' Captain Scarlet too.

Bats.

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

dylan

Adam Adamant?

D

Hanseat

"V for Vendetta" by Alan Moore and David Lloyd comes to mind (and James McTeigue's strangely distorted film version of it); V, though, is more in the Batman vein, as he does not possess any superpowers.

Alan Moore und Dave Gibbon's graphic novel "Watchmen", and the upcoming film version, is about superheroes in the "true sense" - although the story is set in (an alternate version of) the US.

It seems, British "superheroes" are decidedly darker, more flawed and far less heroic. But at least they usually wear their pants under their tights.

penfold

I have to say the lack of British Marvel-style superheroes hadn't occurred to me...in terms of 'Super abilities' we have Wells' Invisible Man, and that's about it. We do have the 'Man out of time' type of Adamant, Doctor Who, Adam Eterno (If anyone else but me remembers him) but otherwise we seem happier with exceptional, heroic, human heroes, whether Holmes, Biggles, Drummond, Barton, Robin Hood or Beowulf....it goes back a long way in our literature.

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

batman

Perhaps this is because the Yanks do not have any really old 'legendary' heroes of their own (Robin Hood, Beowulf, King Arthur) that they have invented a particular brand to suit their own needs. Their own real life heroes (Crockett, Custer, Buffalo Bill etc) all seem to be from 'the old west', with the exception of some movie stars and the late Audie Murphy.

I have never heard of 'Adam Eterno', please tell me more.

Bats.

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

Hackett

Is it significant of the way Americans have portrayed that side of thier history that you have exampled Crockett, Custer and Buffalo Bill and not native Americans like Sitting Bull or Geronimo ect?.

christoph404

The Green Cross Code Man starring Dave Prowse, he was offered the role on the basis of his superb performance as Darth Vader!! and he did wear his underpants over his tights. Sadly he lost the role in the sequel to Alvin Stardust!!

christoph404

talking of villainous Darth Vadar, though there are not many british superheroes that spring to mind, lots of Brit actors get to play superbaddies in big US superhero films, Ian McKellen as Magneto in X Men, Alfred Molina as Doc Ock in Spiderman, Terence Stamp as General Zod in Superman, and the late great George Sanders as Mr Freeze in the original Batman TV series with Adam West!!thought you would like that one Bats! there must be a few others.

christoph404

there was the TV series, "The Champions" they had superpowers for sure, telepathy, speed and superhuman strength etc.