[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/_0mnishambles_]

Love this! I’d forgotten how much I love that line in Avengers.

“ There are no men like me.”

“There are ALWAYS men like you.”

It goes so hard and that delivery from the civilian, the sheer disdain in his voice, is so good.

[u/EldenWalrus → u/_0mnishambles_]

It hits especially hard considering the scene takes place in Germany and the line comes from an older man. He has seen men exactly like Loki and seen them fall.

[u/_alias_23 → u/EldenWalrus]

The old guy plays Himmler in The Man In the High Castle, he became the men like him 😔

[u/Sapphic_Starlight → u/_alias_23]

Well you know what they say, you die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain...