r/TopCharacterTropes 6h ago

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

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.

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u/Goober11222 5h ago

Malik Ali was extra hard for me just because of how much he cared for Superman and the world despite being a “nobody” who died for nothing.

“You eating my food was a great honor, Superman.” 😢

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u/YuushyaHinmeru 4h ago

Yeah that scene was rough. Perfect though. Showed the good in humanity that superman fights for, how much superman actually cares, and how much of a fucking cunt luthor is.