Why are superheros always nerds?

Question

Like superman and spiderman, they're nerds. And they're father figures die. Why is that? Why are they nerds?

Answer 1

your definition of a nerd is a decent person, well thats why.

Answer 2

A couple of reasons
First there needs to be a contrast between the normal or secret Identity and the Hero Identity. And not all are nerd. Iron Man/Tony Stark is a wealthy alcoholic, sexy playboy. Batman, he gets a lot of action, and not just because of the car.
Second, it is the hero's journey. He must be normal, be offered the chance to change, usually deny it, face a crisis and then accept the offer to become a hero.
Joseph Campbell, the Gods' gift to understanding mythology talks a lot about this in Myth and Man and n The Hero with a Thousand Faces, both excellent and accessable.
Comic book heros are today's myths. Not in the sense that they are unreal but because they teach us what is best and how to live. Much like The Iliad and the Odessy. Superman is the new Achilles and Batman is the new Odyseus.

Answer 3

Lots of superheroes aren't nerds. Think of all the billionaire playboys in comics, Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark being the most famous. Think of all the tough guys: Wolverine, Nick Fury, Luke Cage, Gambit, the Punisher. And that's not even mentioning the female characters - would you call Black Widow, Dust, X-23, Storm, Wasp, Isis, Meltdown, or Rogue a nerd?

Answer 4

Well now nerds not likely. Peter Parker was a science geek originally, but as he grew up he became a very decent man. There is nothing nerdy about his profession as a teacher or a photographer. Especially when Peter has been sent on job assignements where other men would run away, even when he was at a loss for his spider powers.
Clark Kent in the comics has been portrayed as an introverted man before. But he has also been portrayed as a jock (John Byrne's interpretation of Supes in 1985) Clark is also an investigative reporter which is not nerdy and at times dangerous. Many women (comic characters) who were considered hot (in comics) found Clark hot because he didn't feel the need to drag his knuckles or beat his chest.
As for parents dying.
Superman's did because they sacrificed themselves to send him to earth. Something he later learned and used to help inspire him along with his midwestern upbringing.
Spiderman's parents were missing for years because they were spies. But his uncle died to serve as a catalyst to inspire him to fight crime and evil. Because his inaction is what possibly caused the death of his uncle.

Answer 5

Because they want their identity hidden from the bad guys. I mean come on, Peter Parker is Spiderman? Clark Kent is Superman, who would guess (unless of course you REALLY look at Clark's face)? That's what makes the stories Classics.
They're not nerds they are pretending to be nobodies.

Answer 6

Because most of the time the writers are NERDS. I mean really who the heck has time to sit there and dream about saving the world. Most hot looking people are selfish and they've got to go out on dates, parties, buy clothes to look good. Get their hair fixed, or go get botox injections, nails done(even guys), pedicures...hello who's going to mess up a manicure saving some ugly looser who will probably NOT even care about you if you get hurt. Good looking people don't take those risks. The reason we think that superheros are hot is because of the way Hollywood gets us to WATCH them and think they are cool. The reason the father figure usually dies is maybe that really happened to the creator and they use this character to escape from reality and also a lot of little boys love the stories and many of them are RAISED by single MOMS here in the USA for sure and art must reflect life sometimes

That's my opinion

The PurpleScorpionGoddess

Answer 7

You know why? BECAUSE most of the population on earth are NERDS. To make the majority happy they have to do it and plus we all start out as a nerd at some point and it's good to be a nerd at times.

Answer 8

It is their opposite persona, battle of insecurity. Peter Parker is a nerd, even as Spiderman, and Superman acts nerdy when playing Clark Kent. Notice how mothers and fathers like to die in all Disney films as well? Ultimate loss for a child.

Answer 9

The logic behind this is to totally deter the public away from the alter ego that they could be that hero.

Imagine being a superhero crime fighter, busting up criminal rings, powerful villains, lunatics and everyone knowing where you live.

Look at what the X-Men must go through, with the Sentnels on their every tail.

Who could believe that puny Peter Parker would be Spider-man?

I tell you this he would get mad respect in school, but Doc Ock would make his extistence miserable.

Answer 10

Because you wouldn't think of a nerd to be a superhero.

Answer 11

That's only two guys, not all superheroes. Also Clark Kent isn't a nerd, he's a farm boy.