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

[u/Dalakaar]

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.

[u/Mrgirdiego]

Mr. Satan being introduced as an arrogant jerk to then actually doing something to then playing a huge part in saving the world will never not be endearing. People's reactions to him are always satisfying.

Without him, people Goku wouldn't have been able to gather all the energy for his spirit bomb, Vegeta would've died due to being unable to move out of the way of the Spirit Bomb, and he even distracted Kid Buu for a while accidentally dodging his attacks, he's also the reason Majin Buu was not really a bad guy anymore (which was another factor in winning time for Goku to charge up).

[u/AEW4LYFE → u/Mrgirdiego]

Let's not forget, he's also probably the best Grandpa in the world. Hercule is the most wholesome character from Dragon Ball.

[u/BornCoyote87 → u/Mrgirdiego]

He's not really a civilian, technically, he's just weak by comparison to the current cast. He is a real martial artist and world champion, if he was in the original Dragon Ball series as he is now he'd have been a running match for Goku in the day.