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Jesus Ruvalcaba
Professor Haas
Writing 37 Intensive Writing
12 December 2014
Superhero vs. Detective Genre Mash Up
The detective genre, and the original conventions which were established during the
Victorian Era by Conan Doyle, have been recently upgraded in a way that makes it similar to the
superhero genre. For example, as stated by TV Tropes, Joe Gardner and scholarly writers Leroy
Panek and George N. Dove, the detective genre has characteristics that make it what it is and
makes it stand out from all the other genres. These characteristics may include making the main
character really intelligent (as Conan Doyle did with Sherlock Holmes), which in some ways can
be seen in some modern day superhero films. Another characteristic may include always giving
the solution at the end of the film. These ideas can be seen in both BBCs Sherlock and Guy
Richies 2009 film Sherlock Holmes. These films clearly depict how the detective genre has been
evolving into a faster paced genre (like the superhero genre). Overall, the original conventions of
the detective genre, which were established during the Victorian era, have been kept but new
conventions have been added in a way that makes the detective films appear more like the
superhero genre.
The detective genre has adopted many characteristics, which make it feel more like a
superhero film. These characteristics can include rescue scenes, which create suspense within an
audience. In the superhero genre, the superhero, or in this case Sherlock Holmes, possess
superhuman abilities relative to a normal person and are dedicated to protecting the public (1).
This is shown with Sherlock Holmes when how intelligent he is and its also shown in the rescue

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scenes that directors of the detective genre are now adding into their films. For example, in
minuet 88:00 from the BBC televisions series Sherlock season 2 episode 1 A Scandal in
Belgravia, one can see Sherlock Holmes rescuing Irene Adler as she thinks she is going to be
executed. In this scene you can see show Sherlock Holmes uses his intelligence and strength to
get to where Irene Adler is and to get her out of the situation she is in. Though this scene doesnt
depict the fight clip and how Sherlock Holmes got Irene Adler out of this situation, the audience
knows what had to happen to accomplish this task. Cinematic elements were also used in this
scene in order for the director to convey the feeling he is trying to convey. For example, zoom
shot was used when closing up into Irene Adlers face. This is used to convey the emotion within
her and to show the facial characteristics she has at that specific time. The director uses this
technique in order to delete all background images and therefore force the audience to look at
what he is trying to make them see.
As stated by TV tropes, not all superheroes are super-powered; Batman is often
considered a superhero despite having nothing but training, intelligence, willpower, minor
gadgetry and the writers on his side (1). As seen in Guy Richies 2009 movie Sherlock Holmes
at minuet 82:00, the detective genre has begun to make the detective work in dangerous life or
death situations, which make the detective seem like a superhero. Cinematic elements were also
used within this scene in order to create a more suspenseful environment. Extreme close up was
used when Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes were in the jacket, which protected them from not
getting burnt. This extreme close up shows them talking and displays exactly what they are going
through during this dangerous situation. A short example of montage was used in order to let the
viewer see exactly what Sherlock Holmes was thinking during that scene. As the audience can
see, Sherlock thinks really fast and therefore the camera has to move really fast with his thoughts

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as well. Jump cut was also used in this scene to cut back into the present moment after all of
Sherlock Holmess thoughts were done and were about to be put into action. The fast
music/sounds in this scene were also important as they create the feeling that the director wanted
to create. Overall, all of these cinematic elements are used by the director in order to create the
fellings/thoughts he wants to create for his audience. This scene really shows the conventions of
the original detective genre and how the detective is always the smartest individual and always
the person who everyone relies on for a solution. But contrary to the original convention of how
Holmes feels impelled to point out Watson's errors and to show him how to do the thing
correctly, (Panek 86) this scene shows Sherlock working closely with Watson to get Irene Adler
out of this trouble that she is in. This difference is huge because Sherlock Holmes was always
seen as the person who wants to take the credit for all the investigations and the person who
solves everything on his own. This convention of working together to rescue an individual has
been seen in the superhero genre and now can be seen in detective films. This shows how the
detective genre has mashed up with the superhero genre.
The superhero genre based its characters off the detective genre and therefore, after
seeing the success of the superhero genre, the detective genre directors have decided to integrate
the superhero characteristics into their movies. Batman can be seen like Sherlock Holmes
because of all the similar characters that have been created. As stated by Joe Gardner, despite
there many differences, 'Batman' and 'Sherlock Holmes' have more in common than it appears
(Gardner 1). For example in the BBC show Sherlock and Guy Richies 2009 movie Sherlock
Holmes, it can be seen how Irene Adler is really close to Sherlock Holmes almost to the point of
love. These characteristics of Irene Adler were not in the original versions of Sherlock Holmes
by Conan Doyle and are now adaptations, which can relate to the ideas of the Superhero Genre.

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In comparing the detective genre with the superhero genre, Irene Adler can be in a way related to
Catwoman. These two characters ultimately feel love for the main character (in this case
Sherlock Holmes or Batman). Watson can be closely related to Robin, Batmans (Sherlock)
sidekick. Moriarty can be closely related to the Joker, or in both cases, the villain. The idea of the
sidekick and the super villain can be traced back to Conan Doyle and therefore the mash up
between the superhero and detective genre should be in a way accredited to the detective genre.
These stories are closely related as both of these characters are detectives and need the help of
their sidekicks at some point or another. For example, Sherlock Holmes needs Watson in his life
in order to have a companion and keep him away from trouble and harms way; this is the same
thing for the superhero genre. This idea can be seen in the scene from Guy Richies movie
Sherlock Holmes where it is seen how Sherlock Holmes and Watson work together to rescue
Irene Adler.
Overall both of these films are aimed at different audiences. For example BBCs Sherlock
is mostly aimed at the audience in London while the movie Sherlock Holmes by Guy Richie is
aimed at a more American audience. The things they talk about in both of these films appeal to
different groups of people and therefore become more popular within specific areas. Guy Richie
is known for his action films and when he directed Sherlock Holmes he incorporated new
superhero qualities into his movie in order to appeal to a greater audience. These qualities can be
seen in the scene from his movie and how Sherlock Holmes and Watson rescue Irene Adler; this
is related to the conventions of the superhero genre. The scenes I chose are related in the fact
they are both show examples of how the detective genre is closely related the superhero genre.
These scenes are both fast paced and show Sherlock Holmes doing extraordinary things. Both of
these films show similar conventions of the detective genre, which are slightly changed from

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what was originally established by Conan Doyle during the Victorian Era. Both of these films
depict Irene Adler as a lover to Sherlock Holmes and both also depict how the detective genre
can now be strongly relatable to the superhero genre. Older conventions are also kept though. As
stated by scholarly writer George N. Dove, the detective genre has similar conventions, first, the
main character is a detective; this person may be male or female, professional or amateur, public
or private, single or multiple, but there is an identifiable detection role. Second, the main plot of
the story is the account of the investigation and resolution; there may be love themes, ghost
themes, social themes, or others, but the detection retains precedence. Third, the mystery is no
ordinary problem but a complex secret that appears impossible of solution. Finally, the mystery
is solved; the solution may be unknown to the detective- protagonist, the official police, or
anybody else in the story, but it must be known to the reader (10). These conventions that were
established by Conan Doyle are sill kept in all the new films that relate to the detective genre.
Even though there are many new conventions that are created to make the detective seem a little
more different and appealing for the 21st audience, these original conventions are kept the same
and are pretty much the basis for the detective genre.
All in all, the detective genre and the conventions that were created within during the
Victorian Era have been modified but have kept the original conventions. The detective genre
has adopted many of the characteristics that are included in the superhero genre. These new fast
paced characteristics that have added by the directors to the detective genre have made this genre
more exciting for some of its new audiences and have made the detective genre accumulate some
new conventions. These new characteristics could also be used because they want to appeal more
to the 21st audience who have now been exposed to the superhero genre. The detective genre
though, will always include the basic conventions that Conan Doyle created and that have stayed

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alive for so long. Even though the detective genre has been adopting new characteristics and can
be compared to the superhero genre, the basic principles set up by Conan Doyle will always be
present and will always make the detective genre one of a kind.

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Works Cited
Leroy,Lad Panek "Read An Introduction to the Detective Story" 1987. Web. 23 Nov.
2014.
"Superhero". Tv Tropes. N.d.Web. 15 November 2014.
Gardner, Joe. "The Great Detectives - Sherlock Holmes/Batman Comparison." The Great
Detectives. 3 Jan. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
McGuian, Paul, dir. Sherlock: Season 2 Episode 1: A Study in Belgravia. BBC. 1 Jan. 2012.
Television.
Dove, George N. The Different Story. The Reader and the Detective Story. Bowling Green,
OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997. PDF File.
Wikipedia contributors. "Superhero film." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The
Free Encyclopedia, 5 Dec. 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.