A superhero is someone who, at some point or in some way, inspires hope or is the enemy of cynicism.
Mark WaidRead
I am just tired of writing about heroes that we're dragging down to our level, and I want to write about heroes that we want to be.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a desire to elevate the portrayal of heroes instead of diminishing their significance.
Mark Waid conveys a deep frustration with the trend of depicting heroes in a way that reduces their larger-than-life qualities. He longs to create narratives that inspire people by showcasing heroic individuals who embody ideals we can aspire to, rather than merely reflecting our flawed nature. This desire highlights the importance of heroism in storytelling and its potential to uplift and motivate society.
Themes
HeroesInspirationWritingAspirationNarrative
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech to encourage creativity in storytelling.
More from Mark Waid
All quotes →I got taught a lot of great lessons by superhero comics as a kid about virtue and self-sacrifice and responsibility. And those were an important part of imprinting my DNA with ethical and moral values.
Mark WaidRead
By coincidence and not design, 'Everstar' is written and drawn by an all-female creative team, and it makes me smile to think that there may be young female readers out there, future writers and artists, who get to see that comics doesn't have to be a 'boys' club.'
Mark WaidRead
Super-heroes were created to represent the best in all of us. We should aspire to match their nobility, not their ability to shoot big chrome guns.
Mark WaidRead
Comics are expensive. Don’t make me resent the money I spend buying yours. Every single moment in your script must either move the story along or demonstrate something important about the characters — preferably both — and every panel that does neither is a sloppy waste of space.
Mark WaidRead
Know what your characters want, know what they need most, know what they fear most, and don't be fearful of facing it, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
Mark WaidRead
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