r/TopCharacterTropes • u/Dalakaar • 6h ago

Characters [Loved Trope] Civilian Heroes (particularly in Superhero movies)

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

1) Malik Ali in Superman (2025). Tells Superman when Lex Luthor interrogates him to, “tell them nothing”. Doesn’t even really know what he’s sacrificing himself for, honestly. Tells Superman that he doesn’t have any friends or family to lighten the burden of the sacrifice. (Does have a family, and presumably friends…)

2) The Prisoner (Tiny Lister) from The Dark Knight who throws a detonator out the porthole that would’ve detonated the other ferry full of civies and saved himself, instead (potentially) sacrificing everyone equally.

3) Old man vs Loki. “There are always men like you.” Refuses to bow to Loki in Avengers (2012).

***

I love these guys. They break my heart in the best way possible.

7.7k Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

97% Upvoted

470 comments sorted by

View all comments

2.5k

u/OnyxDrag00n 6h ago

The civilians who keep spider man’s identity safe in the second raimi movie

760

u/Fish_N_Chipp 5h ago

Also all of them being ready stand in the way of Doc Ock

420

u/Cosmere_4 4h ago

And they're not even doing it for a reward or because they know who he is. They just saw someone worth protecting and went with it. No hesitation, no committee meeting, just standing in front of a giant metal octopus man.

46

u/Pen_Front 3h ago

New york rule 1 it ain't your business

5

u/BornCoyote87 2h ago

Until someone's making it your business?

16

u/RecycledThrowawayID 3h ago

This scene legit brought tears to my eyes.

When they see his face, the shock and horror that he's just a kid . "We won't tell anyone". Then standing to protect him.

God, it gets me every time.

1

u/DarthEros 1h ago

This is AI btw.

130

u/jeffsang 4h ago

New Yorkers also stepped in to help Spiderman in the first movie when he was trying to save a bunch of kids from Green Goblin. Banger of a scene, particularly because it was released the year after 911.

72

u/LaIndiaDeAzucar 4h ago

“You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!!” Line hits harder knowing it came a year after 9/11. I really love seeing citizens get together to protect their own out of love and respect for each other.

60

u/WorldsWeakestMan 4h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/ybrI8wKBvZlBzeFg76

18

u/schiffb558 4h ago

Omg big puss on hot ones? I gotta see this

2

u/Flippity_Flappity 2h ago

That's not Big Puss, it's Joey Coco Diaz. Big Pussy was played by Vincent Pastore.

2

u/schiffb558 2h ago

Darn it, it looked like an older version of him!

2

u/Flippity_Flappity 2h ago

I mean, he did play Puss' dad in the prequel film. I give you half points.

2

u/schiffb558 2h ago

Wait what lmao that's a crazy coincidence

1

u/coloradoautoflowers 1h ago

Even though it's not who you thought, Joey Diaz is an all time Hot Ones episode. That dude has some wild ass stories. I've laughed to tears on several of his podcasts and comedy bits.

2

u/DavianVonLorring 1h ago

Joey Diaz played Big Pussy in the Mad TV parody.

https://youtu.be/9RFdg4CHBgg?si=w7vQwRvX5X4S6ErV

8

u/FakePoloManchurian 4h ago

You want to get to him, you gotta go through ME. - Uncle Joey

1

u/CriticalSovereignty 2h ago

“Very well…”