vesicles
Colonel
Which is exactly the same as those superheroes in American comic books, yes?
Star Wars & Sc-Fi Talk
- Thread starter bd popeye
- Start date
Which is exactly the same as those superheroes in American comic books, yes?
solarz
Brigadier
Yes, in this respect, they are very similar, and Wuxia is definitely a good basis from which to draw inspiration for a potential Chinese superhero franchise.
However, we also have to be aware that Wuxia and the American Superhero genre deals with different themes.
Superheroes deal with contemporary society, Wuxia deals with historical societies. Superhero stories are set in a bleaker-than-reality dystopianesque world, while Wuxia is set in a romanticized world. Superheroes deal with moral dilemmas on how to fight monsters without becoming a monster, while Wuxia deal with familial (clan) ties, conflicting loyalties, and True Love.
So Wuxia-with-guns are not superhero stories. The God of Gambling series are very much like Wuxia-with-guns (and poker!), but they're nothing like Superhero movies. On the other hand, "Vampire Warriors" (2010) and the "My Date with a Vampire" series are much more like Superhero movies.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
American Comic book Superhero Characters often dabble in Politics, and have on many occasions been pitted against government agencies. the Whole point of the Original Civil war Saga in Marvel was Hero registration, The X-Men battling for Mutant rights, Superman and Batman vs President Lex Luthor.
vesicles
Colonel
The same is also true with the Chinese Wu xia stories. Fighting corrupted officials, foreign invasions, etc. no matter which country we are talking about, these icons, role models, superheroes are all loyal to their own countries. They may need to go up against some weird and crazy characters / agencies in the government, that does not change their loyal to their countries. Cap America will always wear his red, white and blue, no matter how much he doesn't like the Hero registration. The same is also true with Chinese superheroes.
Loyalty to your country and to your people is the number 1 criteria for being considered a superhero. No exception.
No matter which country we live in, almost all cultures on this planet share a same set of moral values considered to be righteous. And these superheroes have been created to represent these values. So it is not surprising that these superheroes all behave in a similar manner.
vesicles
Colonel
Wuxia with guns? Can you tell me how many American superheroes use guns? I can probably count them with one hand. Punisher loves guns. Anyone else? They have super powers. They don't need guns. I can't even imagine Wolverine has a gun in his hand... And Peter Parker holding a gun??? Oh the horror!!! In fact, most American superheroes make a point NOT to use guns.
The same issues and problems that those ancient Wuxia face also exist today. Many of the powers wielded by Wuxia rival those of the American superheroes. If spiderman can fight gun-wielding baddies with his web, i don't see why Wuxia with the power of Yang Guo or Guo Jing can't fight Chinese baddies. BTW, not many Chinese baddies have guns since it is so much harder for Chinese to get hold of guns... Those Wuxia have a much easier job than their American counterparts...
AssassinsMace
Lieutenant General
The lack of gun availability is it's own power when you're the only one that has one. No different from people with supernatural powers. Mortal villains have to have guns for the dramatic threat they represent. The question is are Chinese audiences flexible for modern sensibilities especially if the want global success? To me when you see people jumping from rooftop to rooftop on wires these days it looks cheap and looks like someone on wires. It has to be like how John Woo turned chaotic gun battles into a ballet. Turn Wuxia into a chaotic hardcore battle.
solarz
Brigadier
I would say it's an unwritten rule in Wuxia that no matter how powerful your kung fu is, you cannot defend yourself against guns. So having the likes of Yang Guo dodging bullets matrix-style is a major breach of conventions.
However, Superheroes operate under different conventions, and these heroes have no problem dodging bullets, even Captain America, who is only peak human.
vesicles
Colonel
Actually it's quite the opposite.
Not all superheroes can dodge bullets. In fact, most cannot. Wolverine can't dodge bullets, although he heals fast. And I don't think the Captain can dodge bullets at all. That's why he has the shield. Only a very select few, like Superman (DC), the Flash (DC) and the Quicksilver (Marvel), can actually dodge bullets.
I don't know where you got the idea that there is actually a rule in Wuxia world about dodging bullets. Overwhelming majority of the Wuxia stories occurs well before guns. The likes of Yang Guo would never worry about such things like guns.
Despite that, many superheroes in Wuxia world do operate devices that act like guns, like mini crossbows and devices with powerful springs that shoot out needle-like projectiles. These devices would be just as lethal as guns in close range, which is the usual condition during any fight or duel. And I would say most of the top-tier Wuxia masters can dodge these projectiles with ease. In fact, many of them make a habit of catching these projectiles in mid air with their only index and middle fingers. It's an intimidation thing, most of the time.
from what you have written in the past couple days, I have a feeling that you are not that familiar with either Wuxia or comic books. It seems that you are pulling things out of thin air now...
vesicles
Colonel
Stop focusing on the little details. Look at the big picture. The Chinese are just as acceptable to the idea of people with supernatural abilities as the Americans. In fact, the Wuxia world is much more elaborate than comic books in the States. That's the big picture.
All the little details would be small obstacles along the way when the Chinese establish their own superheroes. Do we actually expect that we can accomplish anything without facing any obstacles at all? Overcoming obstacles is a key component of any success. Something as massive as coming up with new superheroes world would be filled with obstacles.
Do you believe that establishing superhero culture in the US was easy? Before the Superheroes in the 1940's and 1950's, the only supernatural beings familiar to Americans and most Westerners are evil beings, like vampires, zombies and witches. I can't think of any traditional supernatural being that is actually good, except God and angels of course. But definitely no such thing as actual humans possessing supernatural abilities. So how do you think the Americans would accept that someone with supernatural abilities is actually on he good side? That would be an even bigger obstacle than the Chinese have to face now. Yet, that didn't stop the Americans from establishing the elaborate superheroes culture.
So yes, there are obstacles. Plenty. But none unsurmountable.
All the little details would be small obstacles along the way when the Chinese establish their own superheroes. Do we actually expect that we can accomplish anything without facing any obstacles at all? Overcoming obstacles is a key component of any success. Something as massive as coming up with new superheroes world would be filled with obstacles.
Do you believe that establishing superhero culture in the US was easy? Before the Superheroes in the 1940's and 1950's, the only supernatural beings familiar to Americans and most Westerners are evil beings, like vampires, zombies and witches. I can't think of any traditional supernatural being that is actually good, except God and angels of course. But definitely no such thing as actual humans possessing supernatural abilities. So how do you think the Americans would accept that someone with supernatural abilities is actually on he good side? That would be an even bigger obstacle than the Chinese have to face now. Yet, that didn't stop the Americans from establishing the elaborate superheroes culture.
So yes, there are obstacles. Plenty. But none unsurmountable.
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Actually, a lot of it depends on the writer as well. Even Batman is a "bullet-timer" in some of his depictions. It's pretty crazy if you think about it.