Hollywood superheroes and their babies

Oh, how we love thee, Chris "Thor" Hemsworth! So much so, we could spend all day staring at photos of you carrying your beautiful baby in those powerful arms of yours....

Chris, 28, is dad to India Rose, born May 2012.

Tobey Maguire, 37, will always be Spider-Man in our hearts. But, in all fairness, we haven't seen the newest Amazing Spider-Man yet — maybe we should ask Amy Poehler's kid how young Andrew Garfield fares as Spidey. Hmmm....

Tobey is dad to Ruby, 5.5, and Otis, 3.

Everyone's talking about dark, mysterious, bad-boy Christian Bale, 38, right now. His latest portrayal of Batman in The Dark Knight Rises, is already generating Oscar buzz.

Christian is dad to Emmeline, 7.

Aww, Iron Man's a favourite in my house. My 3-year-old nephew has been known to show up to Friday night dinner in full Iron Man costume — mask and all! Needless to say, unlike Amy Poehler's kid, he's not quite ready to go to superhero movies; but he loves the books!

Robert Downey Jr. is dad to Indio, 18, and baby Exton, born February 2012.

Hugh Jackman, 43, is practically synonymous with X-men's beloved Wolverine. And because Hugh's portrayal of Wolverine made the character the clear fan favourite, dude's got his own spin-off: The Wolverine movie is due out in theatres next summer. Rawr!

Hugh is dad to Oscar, 12, and Ava, 7.

Of course, Halle Berry, 45, is also famous for her role as Catwoman. But Catwoman really isn't a superhero (plus, the movie was an epic flop). The "mutant" known as Storm, however, whom Halle played — with glowing eyes and swirling white hair — in the X-Men movies sure is. And she is awe-some!

Halle is mom to Nahla, 4.

Gosh, I still have to go see The Avengers, if not just to see handsome Mark Ruffalo, 44, as The Incredible Hulk..., and Chis Evans, of course, and Robert Downey Jr.... *Swoon!*

Mark has a son, Keen (born in 2001), and two daughters, Bella Noche (born in 2005) and Odette (born in 2007).

Remember back in the day when Jennifer "Elektra" Garner was an action hero? Now she's one of our favourite supermoms — and her acting career is still thriving. 

Jennifer is mom to Violet, 6, Seraphina, 3, and new baby Samuel, born February 2012.

Ohh, Ben Affleck in his Daredevil tights.... It's no wonder Jennifer Garner fell for him on the set, married him and had his adorable superbabies. H-ho-hot!

Ooo, look! It's a Ben Affleck sandwich! (Bygones....)

Ben is dad to Violet, 6, Seraphina, 3, and new baby Samuel, born February 2012.

Of course, best known these days as Sookie Stackhouse from True Blood, Anna Paquin, 29, will always have a place in comic-lovers' hearts as Rogue in X-Men, who will involuntarily suck out all your power if you touch her. In fact, I hear Rogue will have her own movie in the near future. I'd go see that...!

Anna is pregnant with twins, and stepmom to hubby Stephen Moyer's kids, Lilac, 10, and Billy, 12

Although he was just as much a superhero in Mr. Mom, we loved Michael Keaton, 60, as Tim Burton's enigmatic Caped Crusader — just as much as Christian Bale and George Clooney, right?

Michael is dad to Sean Maxwell, 29.

Wouldn't you love to be invisible sometimes? You could keep an eye on the kids without them even knowing you're there. Spy on their hilarious imaginary play, or maybe catch some zzzzz's while your kids act like perfect little angels, you know, because they think you're not there! Know what I mean? Well, Jessica Alba, 31, had the power to make herself invisible in Fantastic Four. But that was before she had kids....

Jessica is mom to Honor, 4, and Haven, born August 2011.

There's a bit of a debate going on here at Today's Parent headquarters: Is The Mask a superhero or not? According to my trusty secret sources, The Mask is, indeed, a superhero derived from comic books — Dark Horse Comics, to be precise (though it seems he was more a villain than a superhero in the original comics). I loved The Mask when I was a kid. Jim Carrey, 50, is arguably the funniest of all the superheroes, no? And we bet his li'l grandson thinks so too.

Jim is dad to Jane Erin Carrey, 24, and grandpa to 2-year-old Jackson Riley Santana.

And why not call Buffy the Vampire Slayer a superhero, too? After all, she has divine, superhero strength, leads a double life, uses her power for good, and now has her own comic-book series. Were you, like me, a die-hard Buffy fan back in the day? Indeed, as smart, feisty, super-fierce Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar, 35, totally empowered young female fans everywhere. Love!

Sarah, 35, is mom to Charlotte, 2.5, and has another baby on the way!