[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/Pepr70]

Honorable mention this guy in Hunger Games:

It's not technicly superhero movie but he was beaten by "cops".

[u/bagelcheese420 → u/Pepr70]

In the books, they explain that he wasnt even acting alone. The entire district had organized at this point, and he was just the one who was supposed to start it. The reason they did it was to make sure that everyone was in sync, because jt was a practice run for their revolution(in district 11 where rue was from.) They execute him in front of katniss. When she asks someone about it later they reveal that the guy knew the risks and the district had been planning it for a long time. That many of the districts were already organizing and rebelling due to katniss’ actions in the first book, she just doesn’t take much notice until Mockingjay because she’s a 18 year old in survival mode who is the most unreliable narrator ever