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comics - Were the -man/-woman/-boy/-girl suffixes of superheroes once considered...erm...goofy?


This is a question which bugged me in my childhood. Being German, I recognized that most of the superheroes names were not translated at all (Superman, Batman) or were translated incompletely. Well, once I translated them, the reason was clear: In German "Batman" is either something which went horribly awry (like the "Fly") or it causes hysterical fits of laughter because it sounds utterly ridiculous (It's like wearing pink leather).


There are other names which are completely ok: Names itself (Thor, Elektro), names of animals (Panther, Scorpion), names of tools or characteristics (Man of Steel, The Claw, Avengers etc.). Only these -man/-woman endings sound...strange.


I know that people are now accustomed to the names of superheroes, but is this simply an oddity of languages or was there a time (especially during the creation) when people did find the names ridiculous and funny and satirized them ?



Just asking.



Answer



Possibly never to the extent you would expect. Yes they are goofy but...


Prior to Superman most proto-superheroes either had over-the-top real names (Flash Gordon, Doc Savage) or descriptive "The" names (The Shadow, The Phantom).


Superman was the first -man superhero and his name is derived from an existing concept/word (with German origins, no less) rather than just being a goofy combination of Super and Man. At the time this would have been no different to the names you find acceptable.


Following Superman it just became a naming convention based on his popularity.


That said, it can be completely absurd (check out the Legion of Superheroes roster some time) and superhero naming has been constantly satirized (even within the comics themselves, see Squirrel Girl). Although I think that's often due to the nature of their powers and inspiration than the name itself.


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