As previous posts about the differences between superheroes and supervillains have shown, the most important distinguishing aspect of superheroes is their code of honor and their devotion to protecting the free will and free existence of humanity. Superheroes observe and uphold a moral code that privileges humankind, reinforcing humans’ right to freedom and free will as a natural right. Accordingly, superheroes believe in something that the Vulcans of Star Trek live by: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one” – the many being humankind, and the “one” or the few being those select individuals, the superheroes, whose combination of superhuman abilities and a human-centered moral code leads them to sacrifice their own needs and desires for the good of the many.
Now, forget all of that, because this isn’t the moral code explored in Joss Whedon’s Doctor Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog (2008). This short and quirky anti-superhero film explores moral issues at the personal level and, more importantly, from the aspiring supervillain’s point of view. Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris) wants to join the Evil League of Evil, the baddest-of-the-bad association of villains…the only problem is, our dear Dr. Horrible isn’t very good at being bad. His applications to join the Evil League of Evil keep getting rejected. As he continues his attempts to gain membership, Dr. Horrible documents his exploits as a video blog, with the promised “sing-a-long” elements appearing as spontaneous musical numbers.
Meanwhile, Dr. Horrible’s nemesis, Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion), gets in our supervillain’s way at every opportunity. Superhero and supervillain end up falling for the same girl, Penny (Felicia Day), a social activist whose gentle personality and compassionate concern for others echoes the conventional superhero’s personality and moral code. Dr. Horrible is inspired by Penny’s generous and compassionate nature, despite the fact that following her example would deny him entrance to the Evil League of Evil. Captain Hammer, on the other hand, is too self-obsessed and concerned with his public image to think of Penny as anything other than another romantic conquest.
Dr. Horrible wants to be evil because that’s what supervillains do. Captain Hammer, despite his public bravado and popularity, is really a coward and a jerk. Penny is the only truly decent and sincere character in the story.
It’s a blast to see Joss Whedon’s reworking of superheroic conventions break down the moral expectations attached to these character types, a rearrangement that follows through to the film’s conclusion.
The boundaries between superhero and supervillain blur as we realize that Dr. Horrible is actually a decent guy beneath his attempted supervillain facade. Likewise, we see that Captain Hammer is not a real superhero but a self-centered, ego-driven character who plays at being a superhero in the same way that Dr. Horrible plays at being a supervillain. The film allows viewers to explore the true nature of the superhero, culminating in the recognition that there is an outward appearance to both superhero and supervillain that does not necessarily imply the presence of the relevant character qualities within. A character’s identity as superhero or supervillain depends on their moral code, an inward and intangible quality, rather than their outward presentation.
This concept should be familiar to fans of the Dark Knight trilogy: Batman does not cease to be a superhero simply because Gotham’s people believe he has murdered Harvey Dent – Batman’s identity as a superhero goes deeper than his public image, being something that rests on the foundation of his moral code.
Beware a few SPOILERS on the way…
So, technically, we can recast Dr. Horrible as the superhero and Captain Hammer as the supervillain, despite both characters’ outward claims to the contrary. However, the blurred lines persist, meaning that these reclassifications aren’t as clear and solid as they appear here in writing. Dr. Horrible does, by the end of the film, engage in behavior worthy of a supervillain. The loss of Penny and Captain Hammer’s failure to prevent Dr. Horrible’s supervillainous plot end in the film’s morose conclusion: “I won’t feel a thing,” Dr. Horrible concludes in the final musical number, suggesting the disastrous personal consequences of a supervillain’s behavior.
The unconventional ending to DHSAB results not just from the action but also from the unusual exploration of a superhero story from the not-very-villainous supervillain’s point of view. DHSAB denies Dr. Horrible both a sense of fulfillment in finally joining the Evil League of Evil (supervillain aspect) and his companionship with Penny (superhero aspect). The traditional view of the supervillain’s failure being a good thing (for humanity at large) is recast as a poignant, sorrowful moment in Dr. Horrible’s personal life.
In terms of morality, DHSAB concludes on an ambiguous note: Dr. Horrible has failed the moral test necessary to a superhero, but we can tell from the final shot that he feels remorse for what he has done. Can he take back his supervillainous deeds? The film does not answer this question but forces us to wonder. If this were Thor or The Dark Knight, we might predict that Dr. Horrible could embark on a journey of redemption…but as a supervillain (officially established now), would Dr. Horrible feel compelled to or even capable of this journey? What would a journey of redemption look like for a character classified as a supervillain?
On Friday: These questions lead aptly into Friday’s post on Elektra (2005), which follows Elektra Natchios (Jennifer Garner) on her journey of redemption as she abandons her career as a high-profile assassin in order to save her latest targets. Adding the element of a prophecy that Elektra may be the hero to tip the balance in the war between Good and Evil, Elektra explores the answers that DHSAB leaves untouched.
Time Lords, Superheroes, and Brave New Worlds 