Irrational Body Image Ideals

In the past 7-10 years there has been an explosion of live action comic book super hero movies, and I’m loving it!

Which one looks more impressive?

But the celebrities that are chosen to play the super heroes never quite measure up to the expectations I have in my mind.

Many guys who grew up reading comic books (or even glanced through them from time to time) have an idea of what they think a super hero should look like…and they’re always larger than life.

Believe it or not some guys actually set these cartoon images of their favorite super hero as their mental image of the ideal body. This of course is a completely unrealistic ideal but it’s part of what drives some guys to use steroids…the need to be something special/bigger/different/to stand out in a crowd.

This is partly why many of us are left unimpressed when we see a celebrity depicting the image of our favorite hero.

Hugh Jackman is in great shape and was a great pic for wolverine, but have a look at the picture above comparing the cartoon image of wolverine to Jackman…

A real person with a realistic body is never as impressive as what a cartoonist can do.

Superheroes are just supposed to be different, larger than life…so unless every superhero is computer generated we’ll have to go with what hollywood has to offer.

I suppose we have to look at these movies with the following mindset: “This is what wolverine (or any superhero) might have looked like if he were a real person”

John

Posted by johnbarban in Muscle Building, steroids
Tags: celebrities, Muscle Building, superheroes |18 Comments

18 Responses to “Irrational Body Image Ideals”

  1. Keith Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    I agree, look at ryan reynolds in blade 3 or christian bale in batman. All in great shape but no where near looking like superman

  2. anthony Ramos Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 1:16 pm

    I notice ppl can get as lean as superheroes (Reynolds) but they can’t get as big as them. This should tell us something, if these guys with tons of trainers can’t do it naturally, then you likely can’t either

  3. Alexander Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    As a lifelong comic book fan and reader of both Marvel and DC, Ive noticed that the depiction of Super Heroes has been directly tied into the trends in bodybuilding.

    Look at 1950′s era comics, Batman and Superman, they are shorter in stature and more resembled strong men. In the 1960s they began to get more muscular and cut.

    In the 1970s-1980s, we start seeing the Arnold-esque bodybuilders and superheroes. Batman and Superman get V Tapers and chiseled abs and back and legs.

    In the 1990s they get HUGE. If you look at 1990s Superman to 1970s, the difference is enormous. All the heros and villains take on Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman type proportions. Vascularity becomes absolutely insane as well.

    And I still think Wolverine is modeled on Lee Priest. The proportions are uncanny.

    I could give more specific examples, but its definitely notable. Its only now in the 2000′s that its started to level off just a little bit. Bodybuilders today are shorter, and superheroes are almost always drawn tall.

  4. anthony Ramos Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    I’ve noticed that V taper (narrow waist) makes you appear taller

  5. Andrew Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 3:30 pm

    I don’t think a lot of people realize that guys have just as much pressure on them to look like G. I. Joe and comic book heroes as girls do to look like Barbie dolls. No one ever really talks about it, though.

  6. G.I Joe Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 4:17 pm

    yeah they do, google “bigorexia” and check out the research. You can also check out Adonis Complex, good read.

  7. Andrew Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 6:02 pm

    When I said “not talked about,” I meant in the mainstream. Of course SOMEONE is talking about, and with the internet, it’s easy to find that research. But as far as it being a real mainstream issue, it’s not. But that’s just because the perception isn’t as negative as it is with female body image issues.

  8. Alex P. Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 8:57 pm

    Hugh Jackman himself is a tough model for anyone. Did you see him in Wolverine? Good Lord. I think we’re the same height (6’2″), but I would have a long way to go to get to that point. He’s also more than 15 years older than me, but I’m thinking he’s a different somatotype than me.

  9. tom Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 10:16 pm

    How much do you think ryan reynolds and hugh jackman weigh in both of there roles?

  10. Chris R Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    @ Anthony. I doubt it these guys (Jackman & Reynolds) are doing it naturally either. Jackman maybe, he’s older and potentially has been training for many years. Reynolds? He was just a skinny ‘normal’ dude a few years back, then suddenly got jacked. I’m guessing he had some help, based on how cut he is and how quickly he changed his body. Of course, just speculation, but steroids and HGH are pretty rampant in Hollywood circles. I heard Brad Pit had some ‘help’ for Troy as well. I’m not suggesting these guys use like bodybuilders and fitness models, but there’s no reason to think they won’t take drugs to enhance their physiques if the role calls for it.

  11. Donatello Says:
    April 15th, 2010 at 1:51 am

    There was an article mentioning the brief use of steroids Hugh Jackman had to take before becoming that size. Has anyone heard of it? Also, Daniel Craig worked his body hard for his James Bond movies, but it seems believable that he did it without steroids because his body didn’t look too “artificial”, if you get what I mean. What do you guys think?

    Also, I asked John if he could find photos of models/people with different body somatotypes that are in terrific shape that we should aspire to. It will greatly help with correcting the “body images” we have in our minds to aspire to and help make things a little bit more realistic. For example, for an ectomorph, this guy would be one to aspire to, wouldn’t he?

    http://yfrog.com/bcectomorph3byfnufflehj

    What do you guys think?

  12. pierre Says:
    April 15th, 2010 at 9:08 am

    http://12bx.wordpress.com/ Hey Don,
    this Guy Ed in my is as good as it gets for a drug free guy.

  13. pierre Says:
    April 15th, 2010 at 9:12 am

    Don i saw the pictured do you know how tall is this guy?

  14. Donatello Says:
    April 15th, 2010 at 10:15 am

    Actually on the topic, does anyone have access to “Hardgainer Project X” for ectomorphs? Apparently it’s been out in the market for some time and a lot of reviews from people claim that it works wonders for the ectomorph, as fast as 3 months. I wonder if anyone has seen/read the manual of this exercise regime. Comments?

    pierre, i don’t know how tall he is but his name is Roger Holen.
    if you can find out more about him let me know! :D

  15. Jonathan Says:
    April 15th, 2010 at 10:25 am

    Personally, I prefer the look of the ‘non-steroided’ superheros that have been coming out of Hollywood the last 5-7 years in the non-cartoon movies. The cartoons look ridiculous to me…why the heck would Wolverine need claws if he’s got that many muscles? Couldn’t he just pummel any threat with his fists? I agree with Alexander above…the superheros of the cartoon pages seem to follow the proportions of bodybuilders. Just look at the link posted yesterday of Sean Connery in the 1950s Mr. Universe contest. Those guys all look natural and their results achievable for any of us. I bet their AIs are pretty close to the golden ratio too.

  16. pierre Says:
    April 15th, 2010 at 11:09 am

    Hey Don,
    i have not read the program you mention but i went to the web site and saw the ad in my book the Adonis Build program is just better product without all the bullshit advertising i have used this program and i have build muscle,Don for a true ectomorph to build muscle it takes time and patience that is the way it is for people that have this genetic type and are drug free.

  17. Donatello Says:
    April 15th, 2010 at 12:58 pm

    If one is on the build, can you merely just keep doing Cycle 3 (ie Size) after finishing the program’s 3 cycles? I was thinking of probably maintaining my exercise on Cycle 3 (aka Size) and putting in a Rage week in between the Cycle 3s. Is that the best way to keep building size?

  18. pierre Says:
    April 15th, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    Don, the key to building size is to do as much work as possible without breaking down just like barban saids,keep doing the build just like is instructed because in ach cycle you work on different rep ranges and exercises insted of just doing just size cycle and you add the rages everthy 4-8 weeks if you can manage the intensity,bro experiment trying to add more volume to your routine i true ectos need to perform more work than other types,try to do more sets or another extra day insted 4 days do 5 days a week and see how your body responds,the bottom line is that us true ectos it takes time and lots of work to get the gains but dude keep on doing the program and you will see results there is no better program than this from my experience,all these internet fitness guys only interested is to sell you products but the Adonis gang only goal is for us to archieved our goals.

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