Main Entry: com·pa·tri·ot

Pronunciation: k&m-'pA-trE-&t, käm-, -trE-"ät, chiefly British -'pa-

Function: noun

Etymology: French compatriote, from Late Latin compatriota, from Latin com- + Late Latin patriota fellow countryman -- more at PATRIOT

1 : a person born, residing, or holding citizenship in the same country as another

2 : COMPEER, COLLEAGUE

I was going by the second definition. In which case the League counts as "compatriots". And since we were talking about "superheroes", the context led me to that.

I now see that you meant the first definition.

That's because he's an ass.

Heh. And there's a commentary on super-herodom, right there.

Still -- Storm, Jean, Beast, Colossus -- heroes all, no?

Certainly.

I always felt comic Hellboy was a hero. But my heroimeter is a bit broken.

Hellboy? Maybe, maybe not. He's kind of more of a good-natured paranormal cop. He's a good guy, and heroic, certainly, but at the end of the day, it's mostly just a job.

Not as big an asshat, certainly. Namor's a prick; Aquaman's only a tool.

Hee! Can't really argue that.

Still loved how Aquaman beat Namor in the Marvel vs. DC cross-over.

Huh. Did not know about that second meaning.

I mean, I did know that Aquaman could do things the other Leaguers couldn't, what with the Aqua- and all. But I do wonder about aliens, et al. Do other Tamaranians just not care about heroics? Or Earth? That sort of thing.

Certainly.

Then why are the X-Men a grey area (no pun intended) if most of their members are superheroes?

Do other Tamaranians just not care about heroics? Or Earth? That sort of thing.

Good question. I'm not sure why Starfire would want to fly around and save people. But she does.

One of the (many and conflicting) Hawkman origins had Hawkie as a Thanagarian cop who came to Earth as a spy or something and fell in love with Earth and humanity and vowed to blah blah hero blah blah cookies.

Then why are the X-Men a grey area (no pun intended) if most of their members are superheroes?

Perhaps it's public perception (in their comic world) putting them in the role of outsider (mutant) and therefore not to be trusted.

I'm not sure why Starfire would want to fly around and save people.

When in Rome...

She's hanging out with the people/beings who are the closest thing to her peers on Earth. Maybe she's just trying to fit in?

Hellboy? Maybe, maybe not. He's kind of more of a good-natured paranormal cop. He's a good guy, and heroic, certainly, but at the end of the day, it's mostly just a job.

I think the tell for Hellboy is that he LIKES to go it alone. At least he did in the movie. Also, with the above statement I'm still not seeing a whole lot of difference from Wolvie.

Not as big an asshat, certainly. Namor's a prick; Aquaman's only a tool.

Hey! No dissing on Aquaman!

Then why are the X-Men a grey area (no pun intended) if most of their members are superheroes?

Good question, and one I may well be prepared to eat crow on.

I think, looking at the X-Men, it's an organization that was built to do several things--be a school, mutant rights activists, etc.--that happens to be filled with super-heroes. It wasn't what they were really intended to be, but it happened anyway.

Does that make sense?

Perhaps it's public perception (in their comic world) putting them in the role of outsider (mutant) and therefore not to be trusted.

What's the current public perception of Batman? Crazy vigilante, or hero making the streets safe?

I know Marvel bet the house (and won) on "the excluded saving the majority," but I remember even the Titans getting slagged as aliens and kooks.