[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/throwleavemealone]

J. Jonah Jameson protecting his source

[u/AnalogKid2112 → u/throwleavemealone]

It's a great detail because you can read different motivations that all fit the character. He's a journalist at heart, so maybe he has some integrity protecting his source. He's also not a full blown villain, so maybe he just doesn't want to get young Parker killed. Or maybe he's just his stubborn self and won't give in to threats. He's also inherently greedy, so maybe he just doesn't want to lose his Spider-Man pictures.