Chapter 5: All Access Action Heroes – Between Cyberpathy and New Media

A young man plucks information from digital data streams; a woman leaves digital clues about herself online – no screen, keyboard, or cable in sight. Characters found in TV series like Alphas and Heroes offer only two examples for a (fairly) new superpower that has been added to the catalogue of abilities for action heroes: that is, they have the power to manipulate digital information, and hacking into systems without using any kind of device.

This chapter analyses which visual mechanisms are used to convey these ‘new (media) superpowers’ by focusing primarily on Alphas and Heroes and considers them important predecessors for filmic examples. Such analysis will examine ideas about their transmedia extension as well as real-life developments in the field, such as specific hand movements that remind the viewer of the ‘Apple Swipe’ or social media trends. Combining theoretic approaches of cultural, television and media studies, this chapter discusses the ‘wireless’ connection between the new (super)heroes, their televised abilities, and the (online) audience, which also allows for a projection of (possible) future developments.