Mantles should never be passed down. Period.
Here's why clark kent, bruce Wayne, steve rogers, peter parker and others can never effectively be replaced. Their origin stories are as iconic as their costumes, names or powers. No exceptions. No mantle has ever successfully been transferred in a way that was widely accepted by fans or casual consumers.
Steves connection to ww2 and fighting nazis plus the real life context of his comics beeing used to boost morale irl, plus the super soldier serum, plus the being frozen and brought to the future.. all of this is lost when some other guy puts on the colors and shield. Even bucky doesn't fill those shoes. Some people might think it's an interesting change of pace temporarily, but it never sticks. Ever.
Whenever some other character is bit by a spider and puts on a costume, it is never as interesting as peter. Peter is brainy, anxious, love sick, frought with guilt over his uncles murder, and roasts his enemies in combat to mask his fear. Thats a lot of traits rolled into one character. No other character is given an equivalent combination of factors. Thats why they always feel like a cheap derivative.
Same with batman. I thought dick grayson was lame when he took on the cowl. Bruce has the trauma of watching his parents get murdered, the obsession with vengeance against crime, the life of world travel and training to hone an impossible variety of combat and detective skills. The moment of inspiration to strike fear into criminals by using the iconography of a bat. His alter ego as wealthy playboy business tycoon. Theres like a dozen unique factors that all come together to make bruce the most intersesting character. Making anyone else batman loses most of these factors and the interest along with it.
Tony stark was captured and held hostedge by terrorists using his own weapons. That whole origin gives an added bit of gravity to his adventures in addition to his tech genius, playboy, sarcasm and alcoholism. Riri was super smart and nothing else. I read 2 volumes of ironheart. The writer gave me nothing even remotely compelling. Stuff happened. She did things. It was all forgetable
It always fails. Authors are better off putting effort into giving side kicks and new characters their own distinct identities since the mantle swaps never match the aura of 80 year old classic characters
End of rant
Steves connection to ww2 and fighting nazis plus the real life context of his comics beeing used to boost morale irl, plus the super soldier serum, plus the being frozen and brought to the future.. all of this is lost when some other guy puts on the colors and shield. Even bucky doesn't fill those shoes. Some people might think it's an interesting change of pace temporarily, but it never sticks. Ever.
Whenever some other character is bit by a spider and puts on a costume, it is never as interesting as peter. Peter is brainy, anxious, love sick, frought with guilt over his uncles murder, and roasts his enemies in combat to mask his fear. Thats a lot of traits rolled into one character. No other character is given an equivalent combination of factors. Thats why they always feel like a cheap derivative.
Same with batman. I thought dick grayson was lame when he took on the cowl. Bruce has the trauma of watching his parents get murdered, the obsession with vengeance against crime, the life of world travel and training to hone an impossible variety of combat and detective skills. The moment of inspiration to strike fear into criminals by using the iconography of a bat. His alter ego as wealthy playboy business tycoon. Theres like a dozen unique factors that all come together to make bruce the most intersesting character. Making anyone else batman loses most of these factors and the interest along with it.
Tony stark was captured and held hostedge by terrorists using his own weapons. That whole origin gives an added bit of gravity to his adventures in addition to his tech genius, playboy, sarcasm and alcoholism. Riri was super smart and nothing else. I read 2 volumes of ironheart. The writer gave me nothing even remotely compelling. Stuff happened. She did things. It was all forgetable
It always fails. Authors are better off putting effort into giving side kicks and new characters their own distinct identities since the mantle swaps never match the aura of 80 year old classic characters
End of rant
