superhero landing

English

A squirrel appearing to perform a superhero landing.

Etymology

From Deadpool (2016 film).

Noun

superhero landing (plural superhero landings)

1. (comics) An action pose where someone is supported by three limbs — specifically: kneeling with one leg, while only the other foot and one hand are also touching the ground — typically seen when a superhero lands after flying or falling.
   • 2016, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Deadpool, spoken by Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds):

     Superhero landing. She's gonna do a superhero landing. Wait for it. [...] Whoo! Superhero landing! You know, that's really hard on your knees.

   • 2016 March 11, David Betancourt, “‘Captain America: Civil War’: How Marvel Studios just saved Spider-Man”, in Washington Post, retrieved 2023-01-01:

     Then — boom! — Spidey sticks the classic superhero landing.

   • 2021 March 3, Leigh-Ann Jackson, “Teyonah Parris Didn’t Get ‘WandaVision’ at First, Either”, in The New York Times, retrieved 2023-01-01:

     After the revelatory seventh episode aired, showcasing Monica’s newfound powers, fans flocked to Twitter to praise her first official superhero landing — a single mighty fist planted firmly on the ground, eyes forward and fierce.

Synonyms

• three-point landing