Monday, September 30, 2013

And the Best Superhero Is...

Who is the best?

As an active member of the comic book community, I see people arguing about who the best superhero is. People compare Batman and Superman. Green Lantern and the Flash. They even voted for this during the Injustice: Gods Among Us game promos! Now, I am here to tell you that the best superhero is…

All of them. You may say, “Hey, you can only choose one!” but honestly, it’s hard to judge because to everyone, it’s different. You can’t measure the “best” hero on his or her power because each hero has strengths and weaknesses. No hero is unstoppable and every hero has made mistakes. I say that each individual person’s hero is the best because it’s true.

For me, my favorite superhero is Superman. Before you roll your eyes and mutter under your breath, “Of course he is… He’s everyone’s…” I will tell you exactly why: Because I have had a personal experience with Superman. No, I have never met the Man of Steel. However, the first time I had personally encountered Superman was through Smallville in early 2012 when I was a sophomore in High School. Long story short, I had a falling out with a friend that summer and I was able to relate to Clark in the show. The feeling of loneliness… I didn’t fit in and I felt like everyone I cared about was going to leave me. These fears were the story of my life. They still are from time to time. I had moved to 6 different schools and had to start over every time. I suppose I began to develop abandonment issues as every year, my previous friends forgot about me.

The show was the most personal television show I had ever watched. Most people first encounter Superman as Superman. I didn’t. I came to know Clark Kent. I watched as he overcame his insecurities and struggles to become the superhero we know and love today. That’s why Superman is my favorite superhero. My first encounter with Superman was watching the boy (who was like me) become the man (who became role model of others).

My point is that the best Superheroes are the ones we make the best in our minds. To me, it’s Clark Kent the outsider (who became The Man of Steel). To others, it’s Bruce Wayne the orphan (who became The Dark Knight). To some, it’s Barry Allen the forensic scientist (who became The Fastest Man Alive). And the list goes on. In reality, there is no “one best Superhero.” For each person it’s different because every person goes through different struggles and every hero has helped pull them out in some way or given them an ideal to strive towards. The best Superhero… lives in every one of us.


Sunday, September 29, 2013

Character Profile: Cole Cash


Grifter [New 52]


Real Name: Cole Cash
Aliases: Deadeye
First Appearance: Grifter #1 (September 2011)1
Gender: Male
Birthday: September 14, 1980
Citizenship: American
Height: N/A
Weight: N/A
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Created by: Jim Lee (Artist, Co-Writer), Brandon Choi (Co-Writer)

Occupation: Conman, Soldier
Base: New Orleans, Louisiana
Family: Max Cash (brother)
Love Interest: None
Affiliations: [Formerly] Delta Force, Team 7

Powers: Hand-to-Hand Combat, Excellent Marksman with Both Firearms and Thrown Weapons, Possesses Powerful Psi Powers, Accelerated Healing Factor, Longevity, Telekinesis, Telepathy
Weaknesses: Human Susceptibilities

Notes
1: First appearance in DC Comics. First comic book appearance was WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams #1 (August 1992)

Works Cited

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Character Profile: Barbara Gordon


Batgirl/Oracle


Real Name: Barbara Gordon
Aliases: Batgirl, Oracle, Babs, Barb, Nightwing
First Appearance: Detective Comics #359 (January 1967)
Gender: Female
Birthday: N/A
Citizenship: American
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 126 lbs (57 kg)
Hair Color: Red
Eye Color: Blue-Green
Created by: Gardner Fox (Writer), Carmine Infantino (Artist)

Occupation: Adventurer, Detective
Base: Gotham City

Family: James Gordon (father), Barbara Eileen (mother), James Gordon Jr. (brother), Tony Gordon1 (brother, deceased)
Love Interest: Dick Grayson
Affiliations: Batman Family, Birds of Prey, Batman Incorporated

Powers: Martial Arts, Genius-level Intellect, Superb Hacker, Skilled Detective, Photographic Memory
Weaknesses: Human susceptibilities2

Notes
1: Appears only on Earth-One.
2: This is seen all too true after she was bound to a wheelchair after getting shot in Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke.

Works Cited

Monday, September 23, 2013

Character Profile: Oliver Queen


Green Arrow



Real Name: Oliver Jonas Queen
Aliases: Green Arrow, Oliver, Ollie, Queen, The Emerald Archer, Mayor Queen, Robin Hood
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #73 (November 1941)
Gender: Male
Birthday: N/A
Died: Green Arrow #1011
Citizenship: American
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 195 lbs (89 kg)
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Green
Created by: Mort Weisinger (writer), George Papp (artist)

Occupation: Businessman, Mayor, Billionaire
Base: Star City

Family: Connor Hawke (son), Robert Queen (son), Roy Harper (adopted son), Dinah Lance2 OR Chloe Sullivan3 (wife), Robert Henry Queen (father, deceased), Moira Queen (mother, deceased)
Love Interest: Dinah Lance2 OR Chloe Sullivan3
Affiliations: Justice League, Team Arrow, Queen Industries, Justice League of America, [Formerly] Black Lantern Corps

Powers: Agility, Marksmanship, Expert Archer, Tracking, Martial Arts, Recurve bow with a variety of trick arrows
Weaknesses: Human susceptibilities

Notes
1: Green Arrow dies protecting Metropolis, but returns after Hal Jordan revives him from the dead in Green Arrow (vol.3) Quiver #1.
2: Contingent to the traditional comics.
3: Contingent to the Smallville universe.

Works Cited

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Character Profile: Tora Olafsdotter


Ice


Real Name: Tora Olafsdotter
Aliases: Ice, Tora, Ice Maiden II
First Appearance: Super Friends #9 (December 1977)
Gender: Female
Birthday: N/A
Died: Justice League Task Force #14 (July 1994)1 [Currently Alive]
Citizenship: Norwegian
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 136 lbs (62 kg)
Hair Color: White
Eye Color: Blue
Created by: Keith Giffen (writer), J.M. DeMatteis (writer), Kevin Maguire (artist)

Occupation: Royalty2, Model
Base: [Formerly] Manhattan, New York City

Family: King Olaf (father, deceased), Queen Olaf (mother), Ewald (brother, deceased)3
Love Interest: Guy Gardner
Affiliations: Justice League International, [Formerly] Global Guardians, [Formerly] Second Cadre4[Formerly] Black Lantern Corps5, Justice League of America

Powers: Agility, Ice Manipulation (Cryogenesis / Cryokinesis), Flight, Intellect, Strength
Weaknesses: I suppose it would be fire… and other human-killing stuff :P

Notes
1: Tora is brought back to life and returns in Birds of Prey #104. She is found in the Rocket Red Suit by the members of the Birds of Prey.
2: This occupation is from the original comics. In the Justice League: Generation Lost storyline, Tora comes from a tribe of Norse thieves.
3: Tora’s family is from the original comics. In the Justice League: Generation Lost storyline, Tora is not from royalty. She comes from a tribe of Norse thieves.
4: Tora was controlled by the Overtaker, deluded to becoming evil, and was eventually killed (See note 1 for info on her revival).
5: Tora was turned into a Black Lantern as part of the Blackest Night storyline.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Character Profile: Stephanie Brown


Batgirl / Spoiler / Robin

Spoiler                                Robin                                   Batgirl


Real Name: Stephanie Brown
Aliases: Stephanie, Spoiler, Robin, Batgirl, Steph, Stephie, Girl Wonder, Katavi
First Appearance: Detective Comics #647 (August 1992)
Gender: Female
Birthday: August 11, 1992
Citizenship: American
Height: 5’5”
Weight: 129 lbs (59 kg)
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Created by: Chuck Dixon [Writer], Tom Lyle [Artist], Bryan Q. Miller1 [Writer], Lee Garbett2 [Artist]

Occupation: College Student at Gotham University
Base: Gotham Heights, Gotham City

Family: Arthur Brown (The Cluemaster, father), Crystal Brown (mother), unnamed daughter (adoption)
Love Interest: Tim Drake (Robin III / Red Robin)
Affiliations: Batman Family, [Formerly] Birds of Prey

Powers: Martial Arts, Stealth, Acrobatics, Strength Training, Agility, Gadgets, Intellect, Power Suit, Tracking, Stamina, Interrogation, Detective Skills
Weaknesses: … Guns? ._. Whatever humans are vulnerable to! :P

Notes
1: Rebooted Stephanie Brown’s Batgirl with her own series in 2009.
2: Rebooted Stephanie Brown’s Batgirl with her own series in 2009.


Works Cited