Sunday, November 01, 2009

Hero of the Week #22: Solomon Grundy

SOLOMON GRUNDY (DC)
Real Name: Cyrus Gold
First Appearance: All-American Comics #61 (October, 1944)
Group Affiliation: Black Lantern Corps
Gaming Credentials: DC Universe Online (TBR)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: #327



Y'know, in the course of the past twenty-plus weeks, I've really begun to appreciate how absent the DC Universe has been in video games. Between Batman and Superman they certainly have the number of games to rival the competition, but it's a pretty narrow view of things. Perhaps that's part of the reasoning behind the upcoming release of DC Universe Online -- the long coming MMO representative of the entire DC universe of comics.

Solomon Grundy might be the type of character you'd go straight to when thinking about the heroes and villains who've never made the transition to video games, but after fifty-five years as a regular bruiser for some of the most prominent characters (and some not so), you'd kinda figure he might factor in somewhere into the production of a video game. I mean, when it comes to villains who take a poundin' but keep on reboundin', Grundy's right up there with zombies and Eggman!

Rising from Slaughter Swamp, Solomon Grundy began his career bedevilling the Golden Age Green Lantern, whose vulnerability to wood was exploited by a monster made of the bark and marsh of the swamp. Since then, Grundy has become a sparring partner for the A-list of DC comics, regulary clashing with the Justice League, Justice Society, Batman, Superman, and the modern Green Lantern.

The origins of the villain were even recently explored in a seven-issue mini-series where Cyrus Gold - the man cursed to die and rise again as Solomon Grundy after his murder in the 1890s - raced the calendar to escape his curse. The story also featured the likes of Poison Ivy, Bizarro, and The Demon, Etrigan! After battling for seven days toward the truth, Cyrus Gold appeared free from his curse, only to rise the next Monday courtesy of a Black Lantern powerring! The saga continues in upcoming Blackest Night issues of Superman/Batman!

Solomon Grundy is also among the confirmed heroes and villains featuring in the superhero MMO, DC Universe Online. He'll no doubt be ready to bruise with your playable character as you navigate the ranks of heroism (and villainy) in the game. Grundy is also our Halloween Hero of the Week!

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Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9008491

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