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Why Baroness Orczy’s THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL is the first superhero: a thread breaking down this argument, with pictures and everything 
This topic’s come up in conversation a couple times recently, and I thought it’d be fun for us to run through it and see if I can show my math. I love the Pimpernel and I admit to some bias, but I think my facts are sound. Let’s get into it:
First, my criteria for what a superhero is:
-has a notable power or skill, even if it’s just “good fighter”
-assumes a singular identify distinct from their civilian identity
-confronts injustice for mainly altruistic reasons, rather than for profit, revenge, or under orders
-has a notable power or skill, even if it’s just “good fighter”
-assumes a singular identify distinct from their civilian identity
-confronts injustice for mainly altruistic reasons, rather than for profit, revenge, or under orders
-and lastly, they must be fictional — there’ve been tremendous acts of bravery, skill, and self-sacrifice throughout world history, but I think the superhero has to have an allegorical/metaphorical element to them that can only come from fiction.
This is why I’m in the “the Scarlet Pimpernel is the first superhero” camp. Debuting on stage in 1903 and in print in 1905, the Baroness’ Sir Percy Blakeney is the first character — that I’m aware of — to tick all four boxes.
Here’s my thinking:
Here’s my thinking:
First, some for-instances:
-Sherlock Holmes is a paid private eye with no secret identity
-The Count of Monte Cristo is motivated primarily by revenge
-Robin Hood is arguably a semi-historical figure
-Sherlock Holmes is a paid private eye with no secret identity
-The Count of Monte Cristo is motivated primarily by revenge
-Robin Hood is arguably a semi-historical figure
A case could be made for characters like Duke Vincentio from Shakespeare’s MEASURE FOR MEASURE, who disguises himself as a Friar to learn more about his people, but I don’t know if that counts as “confronting injustice” — and when he does confront Angelo, it’s as himself.
You could likewise argue for Captain Nemo: Prince Dakkar assumes this secret identity, he’s got a whole pile of notable skills, and he attacks the British empire for the love of the game. But rather than altruism, I’d call that another — completely justified — case of revenge.
Whereas Sir Percy Blakeney is (1) fictional, (2) a notable swordsman and master of disguise who (3) rescues people from the guillotine without any motive but altruism, all under the (4) secret identity of The Scarlet Pimpernel. He’s even got sidekicks.
The Pimpernel has no singular mask and costume, it’s true — superhero-wise, that credit belongs to the Phantom when it comes to sequential art, and... the Bat, I think, when it comes to any character in any medium? Could be a little off there, but I don’t think by much.
But the Pimpernel is Sir Percy’s singular assumed identity — a man with a thousand faces but one clear and purposeful persona. You know, like Gossip Girl.
The Scarlet Pimpernel would of course go into inspire the likes of Zorro, the Shadow, the Green Hornet, and ultimately your Batmen and your Tony Starks, particularly concerning the idea of the hero pretending to be a rich airhead to hide their true nature.
Recently, the Scarlet Pimpernel been the principal inspiration for my own comic LAVENDER JACK — a fact that is old news to anyone who’s talked to me for more than ten minutes, but I couldn’t just NOT mention it, could I?
https://www.webtoons.com/en/super-hero/lavender-jack/list?title_no=1410
https://www.webtoons.com/en/super-hero/lavender-jack/list?title_no=1410
So! That’s the skip. I’ve laid out the reasoning here, please feel free to dispute — but I’d bet that any counter example would only be a technicality, ultimately overshadowed by the Pimpernel’s cultural importance.
I mean, did they have a banging Broadway musical I went to when I was ten? No? Then get outta heeeeaaahhh
For a counter argument, check out @jessnevins’ book “the Evolution of the Costumed Avenger,” which I’m sure goes deeper than I have here because (a) it’s a book and not a Twitter thread and (b) Jess Nevins knows literally everything about fiction https://twitter.com/jessnevins/status/1391089315778867202
