Time, Space, and Super Heroics
The Doctor is a hero, but is he a super hero?
The eponymous Doctor of BBC’s decades spanning science-fiction series Doctor Who has often been criticized for stepping too far into the realm of super heroics, particularly since the series relaunched in 2005. But is the Doctor befitting of such a title?
The Doctor has no legitimate secret identity. His true name may be an ever-present mystery in the series, but it can never be a more defining characteristic than the name he has chosen for himself. In the same way that Superman, Batman, or Captain America have a public identity that plays a significant role in advertising, a quasi-mission statement for their heroics, the Doctor’s self-proclaimed title tells you everything you need to know about him. He’s here to help, and he knows what he’s doing… most of the time.
It’s worth noting that the Doctor, inherently, has nothing equivalent to a superpower. His Time Lord biology comes close, though the abilities of regeneration, mind links, and the absorption of energy serve more to move the plot forward rather than overcome obstacles or defeat foes.
In this regard, The Doctor is much more like Batman or Iron Man; he relies on little more than his intelligence and a few handy gadgets.
We mustn’t forget that heroes are defined by more than just their potential to be great. It is just as important to analyze a hero’s accomplishments and heroic deeds. Over the years, the Doctor has come to represent a guardian for time and space. He has saved the universe multiple times, in recent years in ways that offered no fame or recognition. The Doctor doesn’t save the world for the glory; he saves the world because no one else can.
Is the Doctor a super hero?
It depends on how lenient you define the term. If you think super powers or superhuman abilities are inherent to the role, then the Doctor is only as much of a super hero as, say, James Bond is. But if you define a super hero by the feats they accomplish and the reputation that precedes them, then perhaps no science fiction character is more deserving of the title than the mad man with a box.