Superhero
Whether it's to make a living or make a difference, a superhero is, to put it simply, someone who uses their abilities to take care of the streets. Ever since they first began appearing in the 1930s, superheroes have had a huge impact on history and the world. All superheroes have the option of registering with their government. This allows the government to keep tabs on heroes, but also grants the heroes in question official benefits. Whether or not registration is a good thing, however, remains a hotly debated topic within the superhero community. Generally speaking, heroes fall into one of four categories:
- Full-Time Heroes (registered heroes working for the government) - Make a career out of heroing and don't have a secret identity. Receive government pay and benefits, but often have to deal with a lot of bureaucracy and red tape and don't have the luxury of an average life.
- Part-Time Heroes (registered heroes working second jobs) - Can have a non-hero career as a backup or second job and have some semblance of a normal life. Still receives some benefits, but has less government support and has to juggle two lives.
- Volunteer Heroes (heroes who work for free, registration optional) - Have their own life and career outside of the government and can choose whether or not to register. Don't receive any benefits and have very little support from the government, and have to juggle two lives, but tend to be more popular among the superhero community for their selflessness.
- Vigilante (generally unregistered heroes who act outside normal heroing boundaries) - Take the law into their own hands and don't bother with registration. Unpopular among the superhero community for their often brutal and sometimes murderous methods, and those who go too far risk being hunted down by the government.
Career
Qualifications
In order to become a registered hero in the United States, a person must go to the nearest BASTION office and give their information to a single member of their recruitment team. That member will put their name into the enormous stack of names BASTION wants the FBI to do a background check on. This allows the government to investigate heroes in their true identities while limiting the number of people who know their secret identities. If they pass the background check, they must undergo various physical and written tests until they are fully qualified in BASTION's eyes, and they will receive an official license.
Payment & Reimbursement
Registered heroes that work with the government full-time are entitled to a government salary. Salaries for registered heroes in the United States generally start around $43,000 a year. Part-time registered heroes are payed about half as much, and voluntary heroes don't receive any payment for their work, meaning they must get by on pay from non-hero jobs.
Other Benefits
Full- or part-time registered heroes are entitled to receive insurance, healthcare (including access to mental healthcare), and protection from potential lawsuits. In most cases, it isn't even necessary to work for the government to receive these benefits as long as the hero is registered.
Perception
Social Status
Superheroes are seen in a mostly positive light, with many having large fanbases in the cities where they operate. They still have their share of detractors, especially those who don't work for the government.
History
The rise of superheroes first began in the United States during the 1930s, with heroes like Metropolis Man and the Gotham Guardian making names for themselves in New York. More followed suit in the following years, leading up to and including the formation of the first superhero team, the Samaritan Society. Superheroes were widely liked and popular until the 1950s, when the Red Scare led to the passing of the Chase Act, which forbade costumed heroes from operating openly without revealing their identities and agreeing to work for the government. This ban on heroes lasted until 1975 after the second Samaritan Society in defiance of the Act and public opinion moved to call for a repeal. With the formation of BASTION in the 1990s, superheroes now had the option to choose whether or not to work with the government, with plenty of positive incentives to do so. Debate over whether or not this is a good thing, and whether or not it could lead to a return to the Chase Act era, is still heavily debated.
Operations
Dangers & Hazards
Naturally, being a superhero means putting oneself in harm's way to fight crime and save lives. There's an incredibly high risk of injury, and even death in the most serious cases, especially if the hero in question doesn't have any superpowers that protect them from danger. Mental trauma is unfortunately another common problem superheroes face, and it can be hard for them to get the help they need.
Type
Public Services
Demand
The demand for heroes largely depends on the location, in terms of both crime levels and public opinion of heroes.
Legality
The legality of superheroes varies throughout the world. In some countries it's perfectly legal, in others only those registered with the government can act as heroes, and in still others it's illegal altogether.
Famous in the Field
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