Across
- 3. This is a place where a superhero (or sometimes the supervillain) can have their base of operations. These places are often disguised, so they can avoid detection from the general public or even their enemies! The superheroes will often deck out this place with top of the range/alien technology. However, some superheroes do not have a permanent base, but rather a mobile base of operations where they can store their costume, information etc.
- 4. This is also known as the superhero's specific weakness and is an important plot device, which the supervillains use to unhinge the superhero.
- 10. Often independent wealth (Batman or Iron Man), or having an occupation that requires minimal supervision (Clark Kent is a reporter).
- 11. A superhero will almost always hide who they truly are (like Superman's alias is Clark Kent), to help protect their close friends and family. The superhero will often have a confidant who they will have sworn to secrecy.
- 12. When a superhero has a willingness to risk their safety for another person/group of people, without having a reward. It often means they won't kill, or use lethal weapons against another person.
- 13. A wide selection of superpowers including flying, super strength, x-ray vision or even unnatural animal powers (such as Spiderman's uncanny ability to climb walls and shoot webs out of the palms of his hands). However, a person does not need superpowers to become a superhero. Instead they could have special items (such as Wolverine's claw or Captain America's shield). Or a superhero might not even have a special item, but may just be incredibly skilled (like the Black Widow for instance).
- 14. A brief period (usually in the second film) where the superhero rejects his hero status. May or may not include a Beard of Sorrow!
Down
- 1. A major battle in a public place, with the super-villain. The super-villain is, of course, defeated (and often killed – for which the superhero will never have to endure due process of the law).
- 2. A backstory will often add depth to a superhero's personality and usually explains how the superhero got their powers (usually in a tragic/freak accident), or how they got spurred onto wanted to become a superhero.
- 5. The superhero must normally fight a set of villains (known as rogues), on a regular basis. Often a superhero has an arch enemy who is more troublesome than the other criminals and will often be the doppelganger to the superhero's personality (e.g. Batman is silent and dark, whereas the Joker is flamboyant and garrulous).
- 6. A series of scenes where the hero gets accustomed to his (and it is usually his), powers. These scenes are often played for comic effect, as when Superman sprints past a train in order to casually lean against a fence to impress a girl.
- 7. A superhero may have a sidekick (for instance Batman and Robin), but this may become a complicated relationship due to the superhero's dual lifestyle.
- 8. A recurring image or symbol will be individual to a superhero and this will distinguish them from a different superhero. It can become their signature trademark and will often affect their lifestyle in some shape or form.
- 9. The superhero rarely gets to be with the girl he loves, although he often gets to save her.