Comments on: Thoughts on super heroes … https://www.jenniferestep.com/the-trouble-with-super-heroes/ New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:25:46 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 By: Jennifer Estep https://www.jenniferestep.com/the-trouble-with-super-heroes/#comment-18405 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:25:46 +0000 https://www.jenniferestep.com/?p=2262#comment-18405 In reply to Tia Nevitt.

I like to see some character growth too and amen about the Plum series. I quit reading that series around book 9 or so. I wanted her to get just a LITTLE bit smarter and pick either Joe or Ranger. How many times can you screw up before you wise up just the tiniest bit? But it seems like Stephanie never does.

I plan to do another post later on about heroes who never grow/change/learn … and Stephanie Plum is a prime example.

]]> By: Tia Nevitt https://www.jenniferestep.com/the-trouble-with-super-heroes/#comment-18404 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:04:54 +0000 https://www.jenniferestep.com/?p=2262#comment-18404 For me, if I don’t see character growth, it kills the book for me. I can understand the author getting in a bit of a funk, but the readers shouldn’t suffer for it.

For this reason, I think an author can only take a series so far. For example, the Stephanie Plum series is getting stale for me, because Stephanie doesn’t seem to be growing. And if she grows too much, then the joke of the inept bounty hunter will be over. So I left the series behind at book twelve or so.

]]> By: Jennifer Estep https://www.jenniferestep.com/the-trouble-with-super-heroes/#comment-18396 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:23:40 +0000 https://www.jenniferestep.com/?p=2262#comment-18396 In reply to Carla Polly.

Exactly. Being able to relate with the hero/heroine in some way is what can take a book from average to something special. It’s that connection to the hero/heroine that really makes some books works, at least to me as a reader. You want to feel like you’re a part of the hero/heroine’s journey.

I’m glad you are liking Gin so far, and I hope you enjoy VENOM even more. 😉

Plus, to me, writing someone who was unstoppable and invincible would get boring after a while. I like writing a good fight scene, but I’m going to make Gin work for her victory — even if she’s barely breathing at the end. LOL.

I haven’t seen Hancock, but your description makes me curious. That does sound like an interesting twist on superheroes. I may have to catch it on cable sometime.

]]> By: Carla Polly https://www.jenniferestep.com/the-trouble-with-super-heroes/#comment-18393 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:22:40 +0000 https://www.jenniferestep.com/?p=2262#comment-18393 I agree with you. I would be bored out of my mind, if nothing ever effected a hero or heroine. Whether it’s emotionally, physically, or supernaturally, they have to have a setback or challenge. Reading a Hero/Heroine that couldn’t be touch, would be pointless because a reader likes to relate on some level with the character. Same goes with movies. I want to be effected by their struggles, challenges, and heart breaks. That’s why I love Gin so much. You have done a brilliant job hitting all aspects with Gin. She is cocky in her craft but never underestimates who she’s up against. She knows that she isn’t unstoppable, elemental powers or not, she could be the one that dies. She doubts herself when it comes to her powers, self confidence with her powers is low. She has struggled with it. She is smart and makes her brilliant plans previous to doing a job, which she does flawlessly. Though when she is facing a challenge it’s always a snap decision. She puts out there that she has a heart that is made of stone and ice, which in most cases she is and has to be, but she haunted and tormented by losing the people she loved. Even though, there is very few she does love, she would lay her own life down to save them. She can also fall in love and be hurt. Just because she has stone and ice running through her veins, doesn’t make her so. I’ve cried with Gin’s loss and heartache. I feel the rush of adrenaline when she is fighting. And I’ve worried about her when she has struggled. I’m a fan of the hero/heroine that is least likely to be one. Gin is one, even if, she’s an assassin. She saves lives of the innocent, pro-fucking-bono or not.

One Superhero that comes to mind, that has interesting story, was Hancock (movie).

Spoiler:

He was irritable, spiteful, done things his way, and unstoppable. The people didn’t like him at all, because he damaged everything and thought of him as a asshole. Which was undisputed, but he has a reason. He has amnesia, woke up from a hospital, not know anything about himself or what had happened to him. Just that he was alone and confused on how he has powers. He saves a guy from death and in return the guy becomes a friend and wants to help Hancock become a lovable Superhero, which he does. Hancock meets the guy’s family. Kid thinks he’s cool, but the wife gives him the cold shoulder. The wife tells Hancock to leave her family alone. Hancock is drawn to the wife and they end up fighting. She also has powers and tells Hancock that she was the one that dropped him off at the hospital when he was hurt. She tells him that they are last Gods, that they are suppose to be mates. Every God has a mate. HERE is the draw back. Them being mates, no matter how much they love each other, they couldn’t be together. If they’re together for a short time, they began to lose their powers. Become mortals. In the end it happens, Hancock is fighting the bad guys and gets shot numerous times. Once bulletproof, now bullets slam into him, not only dropping him, it drops her as well. She flat lines. Hancock knows now that the only way to save her was to get away from her. He starts bounding away, faster and faster. Each bound makes her heart start beating again. He saves her life as well as his own.

It’s an interesting twist to Superheroes. Normally, it’s the Superhero, themselves that have the draw back.

Hope all is well!
Carla

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