What Defines A Hero?
This is an age-old question that I feel has been clumsily handled by media (especially American media) for years. From what I can tell, most would say heroes are defined by their ability to rescue people, their strength, or their unwavering fight against evil. I don’t think those are bad definitions… they’re just lazy. I can admit that badass heroes who beat every enemy, drop cool one-liners, and have unrivaled powers are easy to like. And as much as I hate power-scaling debates (because who cares if Goku sneezes harder than Superman), I won’t lie, it's fun to pit favorites against each other sometimes.
But let’s be honest: those power fantasy characters and hypothetical brawls mean nothing when it comes to the depth or quality that actually makes a hero. So, what does? Are heroes perfect? Always good? Do they glow with the light of moral certainty at all times?
I’d argue… not only no, but HELL no. I think there’s more substance than what’s in the dictionary or your average MCU script. And there are two characters in recent media who showcase that substance better than most in the last decade. (Spoilers ahead for Superman 2025 and One Piece Episode 1136.)
Superman 2025
Now to be clear I have a very complicated history with this character overall. You’d think my first name (partially inspired by his Kryptonian name) and him being the immediate image everyone thinks of when the term hero comes up would be reason for me to love him, and up until about age 9 that was the case. Then I got older, and the cracks started showing.
I found myself annoyed by his Christlike perfection, how his presence was often treated like a cheat code for plot holes, and how most portrayals made him feel like a smug know-it-all in a cape. I've said more than once that I hated Superman (I’m not sorry). But when my younger brother invited me to go see James Gunn’s new take, I agreed to keep my bias in check. And I left the theater… shocked.
This wasn’t the arrogant Superman I’d grown up side-eyeing. This was a person. Kind, yes. Incredibly powerful, sure. But he was also idealistic to the point of pain. He got petty. He felt rejected, depressed, and conflicted. He made mistakes. He doubted himself. He had moments of emotional weakness and needed help. That clunky monologue to Lex? Kind of beautiful because it was clunky, because it was raw and real. And most importantly, he wasn’t good because he had to be. He was good because he chose to be, even when it didn’t guarantee any victory. Even when it hurt. Even when no one clapped for it. He was, for once, not just Superman. He was Clark Kent and Superman. A man who was cool because he cared, not because he conquered. And honestly? That hit harder than any punch ever could. The movie felt like James Gunn made it specifically with those of us with Lex Luthor’s kind of hate (minus the jealousy part personally) for Superman to enjoy what the character is truly supposed to embody. I loved how well he displayed Superman as being a super human over superhuman.
Bartholomew Kuma
Now here’s a character that did the opposite for me. I started out hating Kuma. The way he was introduced in One Piece? Frustrating. Intentionally dehumanized. Practically a villain. But the more time passed, the more the layers peeled back with each small detail about him and the actions he took… damn, was I unprepared.
Chapter 1102 and by extension the recent episode 1136 hurt in the way only earned heartbreak can. If you’re not caught up, skip this section or, if you don’t care about light spoilers, buckle up. This is a man who was hunted, enslaved, and discarded by society. He rebelled not out of rage or ego, but out of compassion. He took on the pain of others, both figuratively and literally. He lost the love of his life, took in her child as his own, and then gave up his free will to become a human weapon. Not because he thought he’d be remembered. Not because he was promised a legacy. But because it was the only way to secure his daughter’s future and even then, there was no guarantee. What stood out the most to me wasn’t just the tragedy of never seeing the future he fought for, it was the choice.
Kuma embodies a paradox: someone uniquely selfish in his pursuit of freedom, yet selfless in his willingness to surrender it for someone else's. He’s not driven by inferiority like Lex Luthor, nor is he resigned to his fate like Eren Yeager. He doesn’t believe the world owes him justice. He doesn’t know if his sacrifice for Bonney AND Luffy will even work out. He just does it anyway. Because love, in the end, was the point.
Redefining the Question
I want to take a step back. We ask, "What defines a hero?" But maybe that’s the wrong question. Maybe the better one is: What makes someone choose to keep going when there’s no reason to believe it’ll matter? What keeps them kind when no one is watching? What makes them smile when it hurts?
Heroism, to me, isn’t about power. It’s about persistence. Not just the ability to stand up but the refusal to stay down when everything keeps trying to knock you over. And I think that’s why these two characters hit so hard. They’re not symbols of perfection. They’re symbols of commitment. They dedicate themselves to building a better future, one they may never get to see. They’re allowed to cry, to mess up, to be goofy and petty and weird, and all of it makes them heroic. They’re proof that love doesn’t make you weak, it makes you real. And they remind us that freedom isn’t always about doing what you want… sometimes it’s about choosing what’s right when you could walk away. They are not people-pleasers. They’re not trying to earn gold stars. They’re not endorsements for martyrdom or moral perfection. They’re flawed, but they try. That’s what makes them powerful.
More Heroes
Weirdly enough, the day after I started outlining this blog post, Death Battle dropped their episode pitting Miles Morales against Deku. 2 characters I believe are also truly heroic and I didn’t know they were going to fight. It honestly felt like the universe was winking at me.
Those two characters (youthful, awkward, hopeful) represent the idea that anyone can be a hero. But what people often forget is that it takes more than a quirk or a radioactive spider bite. It takes that same choice I’ve been talking about. And the adults who embody that choice? Characters like Clark and Kuma? They show us that the difference between anyone can be and someone is… is their mettle that makes them men stronger than steel.
Of course, there are other characters that represent these traits and others brilliantly (Like Luffy himself), but I really wanted to give these characters their credit. Let me know what characters you think embody that kind of heroism. And if you saw Superman 2025 or One Piece episode 1136, you already know… I’m not okay.
But I am inspired.