Off THEIR Minds: Why Don't We See More Superheroes with Beards?

We ask Scott Snyder, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Brian Buccellato, Kyle Higgins, Charles Soule, Peter David, and Jeff Parker what they think.

Embed
Click To Unmute

Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?

Sign up or Sign in now!

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to Comic Vine's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

47 Comments

Avatar image for theheat
TheHeat

712

Forum Posts

6

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

There's no reason why Thor shouldn't be rocking a beard. Even his movie version rocks one.

Avatar image for powerherc
PowerHerc

86191

Forum Posts

211478

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 11

Edited By PowerHerc

So few superheroes have beards because none can rock a beard as well as Hercules.

No Caption Provided
No Caption Provided
That's right.
That's right.

Avatar image for thorson
THORSON

4995

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

because they fear the beard.

unlike THOR.

Avatar image for mucklefluga
Mucklefluga

2653

Forum Posts

3678

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 5

I love the main image haha.

Avatar image for flameboy298
flameboy298

2805

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By flameboy298
@g_leno said:

Ah man, screw beards. Hate facial hair, it annoys the hell out of me. It was such a struggle keeping it for 2 months while I grew mine for Wolverine cosplay.

No Caption Provided

Avatar image for joshmightbe
joshmightbe

27563

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 13

@redmonkeyssj4: Its pretty much only a huge issue for guys with exposed jaws, tho it seems like a beard would have to be fairly short to fit comfortably in a mask.

Avatar image for christianrapper
christianrapper

8540

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

i think another reason is that the whole comic and sci fi industry kind of made beards evil. every time someone came from another dimension with a beard he was evil. every evil twin had a beard back in the day.

Avatar image for redmonkeyssj4
Redmonkeyssj4

1095

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Avatar image for jasonhawke
jasonhawke

3240

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@jasonhawke said:

Because ladies and men like smooth faces.

you haven't met my wife

@husk said:

manliness and tights don't mix

ohh and this

Shave your face now.

Avatar image for pikachumonster
pikachumonster

3123

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By pikachumonster

I can't imagine zach galifianakis without a beard...

Avatar image for bierschneeman
Bierschneeman

4311

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 15

User Lists: 4

Because ladies and men like smooth faces.

you haven't met my wife

@husk said:

manliness and tights don't mix

ohh and this

Avatar image for nightwing4
Nightwing4

395

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

After that Eurovision concert happened, you should start asking why more super HEROINES don't have beards.

Avatar image for jphu8414
Jphu8414

4044

Forum Posts

8566

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

It's hard to draw beards for artists?

Avatar image for stmichalofwilson
StMichalofWilson

5643

Forum Posts

29688

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 107

I could see Batman with a beard. The Bat-Beard...you know there will be memes of that.

Anyways, we don't see more superheroes with beards because they would look too badass.

Avatar image for human_rocket
HumanRocket

11233

Forum Posts

3996

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 1

Superman had one of the best beards ever in the JL episode Hereafter.

Avatar image for bgibs13390
bgibs13390

1168

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@outside_85: Thor has worn a beard in the past an in his ongoing right now old Thor has a beard and even made fun of current Thor for not having one but I agree he should have a beard.

Avatar image for husk
Husk

462

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

manliness and tights don't mix

Avatar image for darthaznable
DarthAznable

16960

Forum Posts

361

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Stubble is what the ladies really like.

Avatar image for monopolyloser
monopolyloser

77

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Maybe they don't have beards, because they're afraid that it'll offend Alan Moore, and he'd accuse them of being unoriginal? Wait... too late.

Avatar image for outside_85
Outside_85

23518

Forum Posts

18735

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 39

User Lists: 1

It is rather perplexing that of nearly all the big name heroes out there, Thor the Norse God, is clean shaven. And I say that because culturally amongst the Norse a beard was a sign of manhood, as in if you didn't have one you were either a child, thrall or a woman.

Avatar image for cobramorph
COBRAMORPH

1884

Forum Posts

650

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By COBRAMORPH

A lot of businesses want a clean shave. Bruce could get by without shaving, but Clark might not.

Avatar image for kennybaese
kennybaese

1241

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

They aren't aerodynamic enough.

Avatar image for joshmightbe
joshmightbe

27563

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 13

It would work against some people's secret identity. Like if Batman grew a grizzly addams people might think something odd about Bruce Wayne suddenly sporting the mountain man look as well.

Avatar image for sighburr_punk
Sighburr_Punk

227

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Sighburr_Punk

Oliver Queen placed a trademark on the beard. The instant Aquaman tries growing one again even the ocean won't save him from the lawsuits. :P

Avatar image for pikachumonster
pikachumonster

3123

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Avatar image for phoenixofthetides
PhoenixoftheTides

4701

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Batman would be way cooler with a beard......

No Caption Provided

That is terrifying. He looks like a cannibal.

Avatar image for phoenixofthetides
PhoenixoftheTides

4701

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Typically, when a hero appears with a beard, it is an easy way for artists to show that they are so stressed that they no longer care how they look. Thematically speaking, I think a beard conjures an image of ruggedness and survival-oriented thinking that is at odds with the preservation of order most heroes typically are associated with. The image of a bearded lumberjack is very different from a shaved soldier, partially because the discipline to shave and maintain a standard has more to do with preserving society according to the last few generations of Western imagery. It is why bad guys in stories have beards, while good guys are often clean shaven.

On a more pragmatic level: I tend to think that artists would hate drawing bears on a regular basis; heck, most artists don't even like drawing the textured hair of african hair types or afros. It is also easier to make clean shaven characters look generically handsome than bearded characters.

Also: Beards are gross. There, I said it. They are called soupcatchers for a reason. Plus the main benefit of frequent shaving is the exfoliation that occurs; men who shave often have better skin because the shaving regiment forces men to take care of their face every day or two, without needing to go to a spa, or even think about it. (Just note that this is a humorous aside).

However, I'll admit that there is a big difference between this:

No Caption Provided

And this:

No Caption Provided

Avatar image for amazing_webhead
amazing_webhead

10761

Forum Posts

1019

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 13

User Lists: 20

It would compromise their secret identities

Avatar image for pikachumonster
pikachumonster

3123

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@judasnixon: I don't know the source of that pic, but he looks straight up confederate. Not saying they're not cool, but that's no batman imo

Avatar image for kleo_94
kleo_94

95

Forum Posts

308

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By kleo_94
No Caption Provided

Maybe Bucky isn't a "Super-hero", but he's certainly a hero. And hey, he often has a beard, and as Captain America, maybe he was shaving more often, but the beard was also visible from time to time (as Winter Soldier he seems not to care that much if he;s shaven or not). So, hurray for the beards!

Avatar image for judasnixon
judasnixon

12815

Forum Posts

699

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Batman would be way cooler with a beard......

No Caption Provided
Avatar image for lurkero
Lurkero

507

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Part of the reason is because Western society has been conditioned to shave off all facial hair. A practical reason is because a person's beard may be shaved a certain way that makes them identifiable and that prevents concealment of a secret identity. Hair and beards can also make you more vulnerable in battle.

Although, Superman and Green Lantern have both proven how little one has to do to have a secret identity.

Avatar image for g_leno
G_leno

1507

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Ah man, screw beards. Hate facial hair, it annoys the hell out of me. It was such a struggle keeping it for 2 months while I grew mine for Wolverine cosplay.

Avatar image for gyardos
Gyardos

30

Forum Posts

5404

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I Love cuddling men with beards, they need to make some new superheroes with a beard.

They also can use the Conchita Wurst to make a woman with beard in comics : ( very good music)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaolVEJEjV4

Avatar image for Feartheliving
FearTheLiving

8837

Forum Posts

125466

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By FearTheLiving
No Caption Provided

Clint's been sporting some stubble in his ongoing. Hope he keeps it cause I always liked the look, so much so it saddens me that I can't grow stubble all over my face (mainly just a goatee).

Avatar image for captainmarvel4ever
CaptainMarvel4Ever

9999

Forum Posts

1337

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Because ladies and men like smooth faces.

Because it's a distinguishable feature that's easily identifiable. Ollie Queen's goatee should've been the first clue that he was Green Arrow; current, clean shaven Ollie has anonymity due to his lack of a beard.

Also because of these reasons.

Avatar image for captainmarvel4ever
CaptainMarvel4Ever

9999

Forum Posts

1337

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

I say it's partly because of anime.

Avatar image for thanosismad
ThanosIsMad

2451

Forum Posts

61

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Because it's a distinguishable feature that's easily identifiable. Ollie Queen's goatee should've been the first clue that he was Green Arrow; current, clean shaven Ollie has anonymity due to his lack of a beard.

Avatar image for pikachumonster
pikachumonster

3123

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Beards... Hair on your face.

Avatar image for jasonhawke
jasonhawke

3240

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Because ladies and men like smooth faces.