Nothing makes a superhero famous like a good catchphrase. The best mottos and slogans are the ones that not only encapsulate the hero’s role, attitude, or sense of humor, but remind audiences around the world of a shared memory. Especially those who may not even read the comics.
Some catchphrases can seem nonsensical to mainstream audiences (who nevertheless know them by heart), while others are so powerful, they end up included in other movies and TV shows, reaching a new level of popularity. Whether it is a statement a hero yells before heading into a fight, or a motto a character lives his or her life by, some superhero catchphrases have a life bigger than those who say them.
“I can do this all day” became not only a major superhero catchphrase in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it also became a funny joke that was pulled out more than once. This is a line Captain America would say to prove he would never stop fighting, regardless of the odds.
In Avengers: Endgame, it was played for comedy when he fought a past version of himself and his line was used against him. The Disney+ series Hawkeye then made it a legendary catchphrase when it was a song in the Captain American Broadway musical, and it even got a full end credit scene with the performance.
Superman has always had one major catchphrase that signified how he lived his life. This was him saying that he stood for “truth, justice and the American way.” That has changed in recent times, but the entire “truth, justice” remains intact, one of the longest-running catchphrases in comic book history.
The saying is now, “truth, justice, and a better tomorrow,” which obviously fits the Man of Tomorrow. In the end, it represents the same values that Superman always stood by: honesty, justice, and doing things the right way.
Robin was the first real sidekick in comic book history and he remains the template for all sidekicks to be judged. DC brought him in to help ease the tension of Batman comics and to give him a younger hero to work with to bring in younger fans. Most writers used his innocence to counteract Batman’s brooding.
When the classic TV show introduced them, Robin’s big catchphrase became as legendary as his tights. Robin would often be astonished at something and exclaim, “Holy” and then add in a pun before finishing with “Batman.” It became a running joke that stuck. It went from common ones, like “holy switcheroo, Batman” to strange ones, like “holy bouncy boiler plate.”
Thor is the prince of Asgard, and he was always rebellious, so it is no shock that his superhero catchphrase would use his father’s name. This catchphrase is “Odin’s Beard,” and it is almost exclusively used by Thor in the comics when he sees something that shocks him.
Thor uses this all the time in the comics and has used it in the MCU movies as well. While it isn’t as cool as other superhero catchphrases, it fits Thor perfectly considering his quaint way of speaking.
In the same way that “Odin’s Beard” is a Godly equivalent to “Oh, God!” in the Marvel Universe, the DC Universe has something similar for the Goddess in Wonder Woman. For Wonder Woman, whenever she calls on the Gods in a moment of being humble or surprised, “Merciful Minerva!” or, most prominently, “Great Hera!” rank up there as some of Diana’s most iconic comic book catchphrases.
It’s a simple notion for Wonder Woman to express, but from a writing perspective, it also serves as a simple means of showcasing to readers just how high the stakes at the center of the story have become. If Wonder Woman pulls out a “Great Hera!” from her vernacular, that is all readers need to see to know that business is about to pick up, and that Diana might be in real trouble.
The newly dubbed Captain still using “Shazam!” as his battle cry has become as defiant as a rallying cry as it is a meta line. What makes the line practically meta at this point is the history revolving around the name. Canonically, Billy Batson was anointed Captain Marvel by the Wizard Shazam after bestowing his powers onto the boy. Of course, due to legal troubles with the company Marvel, a name change was due next.
For years, Captain Marvel was known as just Shazam, which was simpler, but in story, it’s not a name that he could ever introduce himself as. Saying so while powered would take his powers away in an instant. As a compromise in recent memory, DC now calls him The Captain. In canon, it’s a nickname given to him by his siblings in mockery due to a mysterious “maritime” accident that Billy doesn’t want to talk about. “At least it’s [a name] I can say out loud.”
Much like how Billy Batson needs to rally himself into hero mode with his battle cry, the Green Lanterns often find themselves uttering a battle cry of their own before they break into action. It’s hard to think of any Green Lantern in the legendary line-up without thinking of their famous oath. “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!” It’s hard not to read that and not get excited – or at least goosebumps – for what’s to come.
It’s a legendary phrase that in its epicness is enough to make legends of anyone who reps a Green Lantern ring. It’s a legendary phrase that in its epicness is enough to make legends of anyone who reps a Green Lantern ring. The line quickly became a staple of the franchise after being introduced during Alan Scott’s run.
Like many catchphrases on this list, “Cowabunga!” is one that has its roots on the screen rather than any comic origins, but the line onscreen grew so popular that it ended up bleeding into the comics. The phrase was first coined during the 1987 animated series, particularly by Michelangelo, but was one of the catchphrases that all of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would use. It became so beloved by audiences that the comics to this day make reference to it.
Modern TMNT comics take a grittier approach to storytelling compared to the kid-friendly cartoon, but that doesn’t mean that there is not any room for a lighthearted moment. “Cowabunga!” is the best means to lighten the tone, both by introducing some nostalgia and because it’s just a fun word to read, almost as fun as it is to say.
The end of the first MCU movie ends with Tony Stark exposing his superhero escapades by declaring to the world, “I am Iron Man.” Fast forward to Avengers: Endgame and it serves as the perfect bookend to the character’s journey. “I am Iron Man” has become the perfect descriptor for a man who has worked past his ego and self-centered attitude to become one of the greatest superheroes that Marvel has to offer. It’s arguably the most important line to come out of the MCU, and now, the line has become a recurring one for him in the comics.
It should come as no surprise, as the movies were so vital in popularizing the Marvel character. “I am Iron Man” became a definitive line for the character not just on the big screen, but also on-panel.