Voluntaring to be a superhero, would you do it?

[darkwingdork]

One thing that struck me about my characters is that they have chosen of their own volition to fight against dangers and evil. They're not part of some powerful police force (like the Green Lanterns), nor is there some sort of ancient prophecy or magical decree requiring them to do so (like in the show "Charmed.")

They're basically vigilantes, when you get down to it, though not nearly as violent as say, the Punisher. Most superheroes are, when you think about it. I'm curious about what drives people to risk their life for the common good, especially without pay.

Graphic novels like "Watchmen" and "The Dark Knight Returns" have gone into great detail about this phenomenon, suggesting that most superheroes are either psychotic, looking for publicity for personal gain or pawns of the powers that be.

Seemingly, the girls are neither of these. They seem to fight crime for purely altruistic reasons. I'm curious if that would be enough for anyone to really do so.

Or... would this be... fun? Maybe the girls are a little psychotic after all, though not in a way that is dangerous to the general public. I'm not sure here.

[cubist]

I don't see the problem, myself. Some people do help old ladies across the street, you know? And other people volunteer to be firemen, and still others choose to be Guardian Angels, and so on and so forth. All you really need is a strong sense of altruism, or perhaps just enlightened self-interest.
I'm not sure how much weight should be put on Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns. The former was written by Alan Moore, a man who has a rather jaundiced concept of "heroism", and the latter was more a response to, and reaction against, certain then-current trends in comicbooks than anything else.

[darkwingdork]

Hmmm, good point. Alan Moore and Frank Miller weren't just deconstructed the superhero myths, they were displaying this dislike of different aspects as well.

I guess the girls like Earth. I mean, they like the people, they like society, and their relations with their husbands give them a personal stake. It's their second home, and in a way, they're protecting it from intruders.

[cubist]

Two words: Yakov Smirnov...
...and two more words: "Going native"...

[darkwingdork]

In Soviet Union, four arms are on YOU?

[Kaotix]

With great power comes great responsibility.... and FRIGGIN' SWEET costumes!