What I learned from Superheroes...

So lately I've been watching superhero movies. The Incredible Hulk, Ironman, Dark Knight, etc. What can I say? The bar has been raised and superhero movies are a lot better than they used to be. Well I noticed something that they all have in common...

They are honorable, but they are self-loathing as well. I wonder if their self-loathing is directly related to their honor as a human being.

(Please remember this analysis is based off of the movies I've watched, not the comic books)

The Hulk: An anger induced monster who responds only to the woman he loves when he is in that state. When he isn't busting with rage, Bruce tries to keep calm, keep the monster under wraps. He fights his true nature and focuses on maintaining what he sees as the real him, while denying the rage that lies beneath.

The Dark Knight: Bruce Wayne is a playboy who floats through life, his counterpart fights the evil that lies deep within the city he loves. Batman is his true self in a sense, while Bruce is his cover. I feel with that way that it's portrayed that though he hates his "Bruce Wayne" persona, he maintains it to provide a cover for his true passion.

Ironman: Tony Stark comes to loathe the man he once was. Through his alter ego he realizes that there are more important things in this world than lots of money, fast woman and big guns. He learns to see what's right in front of him and that though there are fun toys, people are what's most important.

There are a few others that have similar themes (The Punisher and X-Men come to mind off the top of my head). So what does this mean as artists? I think for an actor that it is one more thing to look at. What does a character hate about themselves? Does that hatred/self-loathing bring honor or is it a source of shame?

Just one thing to think about.