Besides often being misunderstood by the general public, that is. Short answer: they must have a weakness, and they are condemned to solitude.

Let’s start with monsters:

  • Frankenstein’s monster (movie variety) was slow-moving and afraid of fire.
  • Vampires have many powers, but are adversely affected by sunlight, crosses, wooden stakes/implements, and garlic.
  • Zombies (canonical variety) are slow, clumsy, and incapable of thinking ahead.
  • Mummies are basically walking tinder (19th C. British colonists used the non-walking variety to fuel their trains).
  • Werewolves are vulnerable to silver bullets (and, presumably, silver-coated knives or spears).
  • Ghosts often have a hard time affecting the material world.

Now, let’s move on to superheroes. We can start with the most iconic of all, Superman. He can fly, he’s bulletproof and invulnerable to just about everything; even hard vacuum has no effect on him (comics often show him looking down on Earth from orbit, or even the Moon). But the remnants of his home planet are literally his Kryptonite.

How about Batman? He’s hardcore, to be sure, but he’s still just a dude who can afford the best gadgets. He could be overwhelmed, given enough opponents, and a bullet to the face would put him down at least for a while. I always felt the Batman vs. Superman movie had to stretch both characters’ abilities to the breaking point to make it an even match.

But I digress, especially since I’m not here to deconstruct someone else’s artistic license. The point is, a hero (or monster) that can’t be beat makes for a rather short and unsatisfactory story. Beyond that, a good writer matches the abilities of heroes and villains. Thus, Superman is often faced with saving the entire human race, while Batman is “merely” trying to clear Gotham City’s streets.

So… what about the other part? Solitude?

A long time ago, I read a Superman comic in which he admitted that he could never have a wife (or even a girlfriend), because the bad guys could easily use her to blackmail him. It must have been nearly 50 years ago, and it stuck with me to this day. (Not to mention the sex/procreation issues Larry Niven pointed out in excruciating detail, ironically back in ‘69.)

Likewise, Batman’s personal demons would preclude long-term relationships. Bruce Wayne might have the starlet of the year clinging to his arm, but he would never have more than the most superficial hookup (I guess he’s better off than Superman, at least in that regard).

In my own superhero stories, Blink understands that he can’t have a girlfriend who doesn’t get superpowers. That’s one reason he can’t quit his on-again, off-again relationship with Sarika (the daughter of Devis)—she gets it. After all, she’ll be a Devi herself some day. True, Lizz (aka Siren Girl) understands at least as well, but he’s not romantically attracted to her… at least for now.

Turning from superheroes to monsters, only zombies travel in packs. The others—even werewolves—tend to be solitary creatures. Vampires are the closest to having some kind of social life, but (given their longevity) even they are alone most of the time. Being a monster can really crimp your style, at least if you want to live and continue doing your monster things.

What other weaknesses are common to superheroes and monsters? Sound off in the comments!