Verified answer

I think you could get away with The Doctor as a super hero.

Here is why; I like to formulate my arguments with comparisons.

The Doctor vs. Superman

Simlarities:

Both are the (supposed) last of their kind.

Both have an affinity for defending earth and humanity.

Both have been comic book characters.

Both Kryptonians and Time Lords live for a very long time.

Both have the ability to travel through time. (T.A.R.D.I.S. / Superman 2 earth spinning)

Neither of them can die. (Evidence)

Time Lord when mortally wounded regenerates creating a new persona, or if DNA is available repairs the existing body)

Superman when mortally wounded slips into a state that appears as death to normal people. The body then begins to absorb nearby yellow light to boost regeneration of the damaged body. (Death and Return of Superman)

There have been both multiple Supermen, and multiple Doctors

Superman (E1), Superman (E2), Superman Red, Superman Blue, (Just to name a few)

William Hartnell (D1), Patrick Troughton (D2), Jon Pertwee (D3), Tom Baker (D4) etc etc etc

Both characters use technology and gifts from their extinct people to benefit humankind.

Both have a rule about killing, but have been forced to do so in the past.

They both FIGHT ALIENS!!!!

Need I say more?

The Doctor is a Super Hero. He is Sci-Fi's longest running tv program in the world.

I could compare him to Batman also. He has no powers and is still considered a super hero.

Long Live David Tennant!

Hope this helps and good luck with the contest.

-- JF

Oh quick addition:

When Superman hides he becomes a passive aggressive mild mannered reporter, Clark Kent.

When David Tennant needed to hide he became John Smith, a passive aggressive mild mannered school teacher.

Both wore thick rim glasses. CASE DISMISSED!!!

1

I can honestly see both sides of the issue.

At heart, The Doctor is merely a tourist. One that gets involved in the difficulties of others. The only things he has that could conceivably be called superpowers would be his remarkable mind and his regen ability.

On the other hand, he does wear a costume (even if that does change with each new persona he morphs into). He does have a vehicle that one could say is like having the batcave inside your batmobile. He does, more often than not, have sidekicks. His sonic screwdriver is analogous to a utility belt. He can fight, both barehanded and with weapons. He does have a rogue's gallery of villains that he does battle with time and again. He does have a theme song. He has appeared in the comics.

A normal hero mostly only has one or two instances that he can point at in his life that actually define him as a hero. The Doctor has saved so many beings and planets throughout time and the Universe, that the simple word "hero" no longer suffices.

I'm sure if you went as The Master, no one would argue that you're dressed as a supervillain. Wouldn't The Master's chief nemesis count as a superhero, then? It would seem terribly wrong, if the answer was no.

So, while The Doctor's "profession" can be debated until the cows come home, and this can provide an easy out to the prize holders should they choose to be dorks, I personally lean more towards the side of OF COURSE he is a superhero. Even if he doesn't plaster his initial on his chest.

Technically speaking he's the protagonist/hero of the show, not a super hero (he lacks a costume, secret identity, base of operations, or origin story) but considering he is heroic and has 'super human' abilities, and even travels with a side kick, you could make it fit your essay/contest if you wanted. In the same way, you could make the Master fit the super villain concept. He's probably not the sort of super hero they're thinking of, but you may get points for originality/creativity.

Definition of Superhero

a hero, especially in children's comic books and television cartoons, possessing extraordinary, often magical powers.

I think he's bordering a line there.. I mean compared to a human you could say that he has the super power of regeneration but compared to other Timelords he's not got any 'powers'. A hero he definitively is.. I don't know it's a tough one.

Personally though I'm a bit of a jerk I'd do it anyways and if they say you don't count ask them if Batman counts, and if so why Batman counts and The Doctor doesn't since Batman doesn't have any powers either just neat gadgets like hmm i dunno.. the TARDIS and Sonic Screwdriver. :)

Good luck whatever you chose

Even if you do enter...do you think you'll actually win?

Doctor Who wears regular street clothes.

The traditional superheros and supervillains have complex costumes of spandex, multitude of colors, and odd accessories & props.

Those would be worthy of a prize if executed properly. Not something you can just buy from a store. Hence why a Doctor Who cosplay would never win.

you could try it by all means but i believe he wont be a 'super' hero being that he is a time lord and that is kind of his job. also... depending on who's viewpoint you look from is whether is he good or bad. for humans, he is great! but he has caused a great deal of destruction in other regions of the universe. also, has had many companions die for what they believed a noble cause but he could not save them. just a thought.

love him all the same :D

by the by, which Doctor do you intend on being?

I would say definitly, the Doctor is a hero ... .But i wouldnt say the doctor is a SUPER-hero as IMO a superhero is someone who goes out of their way to fight crime and evil and do this as if it were their destiny.

..and as mentioned by someone else....who is a flawed hero...which is what makes him so perfect

And then again.. I would say the fact that the doctor saves lifes and never asks for anything in return makes him a HERO but i dont think hes a SUPERHERO

Doctor Who is beyond superheroes.

You mean Gordon Brown isn't Britain's superhero? (Jk)

I would say yes, the Doctor is a superhero ... but I'm not sure how comfortable he is with that accolade. But super or not ... he's certainly a Hero.