thumb|upright=1.2|Whiz Comics cover featuring Captain Marvel, published by Fawcett Comics in 1940 A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses superpowers or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their powers to help the world become a better place, or dedicating themselves to protecting the public and fighting crime. Superhero fiction is the genre of fiction that is centered on such characters, especially, since the 1930s, in American comic books (and later in Hollywood films, film serials, television and video games), as well as in Japanese media (including kamishibai, tokusatsu, manga, anime and video games).
thumb|upright=12|Whiz Comics cover featuring Captain Marvel published by Fawcett Comics in 1940 A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses superpowers or abilities beyond those of ordinary people is frequently costumed concealing their identity and fits the role of the hero typically using their powers to help the world become a better place or dedicating themselves to protecting the public and fighting crime Superhero fiction is the genre of fiction that is centered on such characters especially since the 1930s in American comic books (and later in Hollywood films film serials television and video games) as well as in Japanese media (including kamishibai tokusatsu manga anime and video games)