HERO OF THE WEEK: HELLBOY (Dark Horse)
Real Name: Anung un Rama
First Appearance: San Diego Comic Con Comics #2 (August, 1993)
Fight Club Ranking: #221

Featured Fights:
- vs GROM: Hellboy: The Corpse and the Iron Shoes (Jan 1996)

There was a bittersweet sense of excitement when a new Hellboy movie was announced to the world earlier this year. The obvious downside was a confirmed closing of the door to the live-action series begun by Guillermo del Toro in 2004.

Star Ron Perlman had done a good job of waving the flag for a trilogy finale, but for one reason or another -- probably budget -- the movie proved a tough sell. Enter Stranger Things hot commodity David Harbour and promotional posters by Mike Mignola for what was then being called Rise of the Blood Queen.

It seemed like a particularly exciting first step for fans who found del Toro's vision typically lacking in the atmospheric, shadow-laden quiet created by Mignola's comics. A commitment to the comic book page is exactly what would get me excited about a new film version. Until last week, when the first look at Harbour as Hellboy threw a right hand of doom at those hopeful expectations.

The prosthetic suit is quite clearly a continuation of what was established by del Toro and Ron Perlman. If you didn't know better, you may actually mistake it for a promotional image of Perlman suiting up for a sequel to The Golden Army.

Distributor Lionsgate may very well be counting on the conceivable confusion, preying on what ever built-in audience remains, despite the film's status as a confirmed hard "reboot".

There's still plenty of time for the movie to reveal hidden strengths, but short of getting it completely wrong, this was one of the most unflattering first impression they could've made.

Big screen monster fights are a standard of Hellboy comics, but the thing that could get me most excited about a new film is the quiet, damp world that exists in parallel to our own.

Del Toro favoured a Hollywood-friendly adaptation that created fairytale romantic sub-plots between main characters, and contrived a public face for the secretive Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD). The comics I've enjoyed never really showed any concern for the outside world. These were strange characters involving themselves in strange goings on. Any human characters encountered were already initiated in the strange, and often isolated by their supernatural experience.

The world of Hellboy and the BPRD stands tall as one of the great independent dynasties in comic book history, and one of the finest contributions to come from the 1990s. I'm always going to be interested in a movie adaptation and that's enough to make a Hero of the Week. I just hope there'll be a movie worth watching when it finally arrives in theatres.

<< Hero of the Week 09/25: Silver Surfer     [Home]     Hero of the Week 09/11: Sinestro >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: SINESTRO (DC)
Real Name: Thaal Sinestro
First Appearance: Green Lantern #7 (August, 1961)
Fight Club Ranking: #102

Featured Fights:
- vs GREEN LANTERN & GREEN ARROW: Green Lantern: Rebirth #4 (Mar 2005)
- vs FREEDOM FIGHTERS: Infinite Crisis #1 (Dec 2005)
- vs GREEN LANTERN & GREEN LANTERN: Green Lantern #25 (Jan 2008)

Earlier in the year Action Comics inspired a closer look at the return of Cyborg Superman and some of the classic villains joining his Superman Revenge Squad. Now the latest issue of Superman is pitting The Man of Steel against an atypical threat that challenges the power of his hope: Sinestro!

CBR featured the issue last week, with writer Jim Johnson speculating about the future rivalry that may emerged from this clash between Superman and Sinestro.

That's the more attractive aspect of the story, which sees the fear entity Parallax briefly possessing a compromised Superman. A little too easy-breezy for my tastes, given the weight of past possessions, most notably Hal Jordan's lengthy fall from grace. The rainbow array of entities and power rings live and die by the key concepts that keep them different. Grafting Parallax to heroes this easily runs the risk of really diminishing the impact of the concept.

Superman's had to weather a rough run in recent years, compromising the bold heroism and hope the character should stand for. Fear eats away at hope, and pitting Sinestro's yellow light against Superman could be a great way of restoring Superman's strength as an inspirational hero!

Sinestro has been much bigger than a mere Green Lantern villain for a long time now, so I think this is one case of cross-pollination that could really give both characters something more.

<< Hero of the Week 09/18: Hellboy       [Home]      Hero of the Week 09/04: Black Manta >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: BLACK MANTA (DC)
Real Name: David Hyde
First Appearance: Aquaman #35 (September, 1967)
Fight Club Ranking: #DNR

Featured Fights:
- Yet To Be Featured on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths.

With so many battles, yet so little time; there are still a few major characters who haven't quite found their way into the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths fight club rankings! Which was one of the reasons Hero of the Week comes in handy, because there are a lot of awesome characters worth noting!

Black Manta originally appeared in Injustice 2 as an interactive background threat in Aquaman's Atlantis stage, but in a very rare case of exquisite taste; players demanded full control of the underwater villain as a playable character. Developers heard fans' cries and last week released the first trailer for their latest downloadable addition!

I love the sheer absurdity of Black Manta's classic bug-eyed helmet, and I love that NetherRealm Studios haven't tried to fix what isn't broken! There's the usual textured irrelevant in the body, but for the most part this is the Black Manta we all know and love!

With the DC fighting game roster climbing deep into the thirties (and beyond), a good visual is all the more important. It looks like he plays pretty well. Special moves include a lot of tech-suit based missiles and flight. Eye-beam lasers will be a favourite. He has a pretty neat harpoon, too.

Aquaman is heading to the big screen in a few months in Justice League, but in 2018 he'll star in his own solo film adventure! As one of the Atlantean's deadliest enemies, I'll be hoping Black Manta not only makes it to the big screen -- but also retains his look as gloriously as he has in Injustice 2.

<< Hero of the Week 09/11: Sinestro       [Home]      Hero of the Week 08/28: Hawkman >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: HAWKMAN (DC)
Real Name: Carter Hall
First Appearance: Flash Comics #1 (Janaury, 1940)
Fight Club Ranking: #31

Featured Fights:
- vs DOCTOR FATE: All-Star Squadron #4 (Dec 1981)
- vs SUPERMAN: Justice League of America #200 (Mar 1982)
- vs SUPERMAN & BATMAN: Superman/Batman #4 (Jan 2004)
- vs MATTER MASTER: Hawkman #23 (Mar 2004)
- vs DEATHSTROKE: Identity Crisis #3 (Oct 2004)
- vs ST. ROCH: Hawkman #31 (Oct 2004)
- vs MORGAUTH: JSA Strange Adventures #1 (Oct 2004)
- vs SOLOMON GRUNDY: Hawkman #33 (Dec 2004)
- vs ELONGATED MAN & SUE DIBNY: Blackest Night #1 (Sep 2009)

Daring feats of escape are an older trope of superhero comics than the recurring villains who started making the deathtraps. For the most part, death was always something superheroes were meant to cheat. It didn't take long before the bad guys were doing it, too. Some ironic fall off a bridge, to a presumed grizzly end down below, was a good way to finish a pulpy story. Yet there's always a reason to explain it away so The Joker can come back. Maybe that's where the problem started...

This time last year we were informed of the impending demise of Hawkman. It wasn't the first time, and it probably won't be the last. He's been "missing" throughout DC's Dark Nights: Metal event, but according to solicitations published by CBR, it looks as if Batman is going to find our missing hero.

What does it all mean? Do readers still have the will to care? The life and death cycle of major characters has become a clichéd test of audience endurance. Hawkman's had it particularly bad, facing what must be at least his third reincarnation of the last decade.

The concept of infinite reincarnation once served to resolve the mind-numbing mess of Hawkman's various published lives. It bolstered a mythology that was needlessly muddied, adding something interesting, while propelling the winged hero into long-awaited adventures in the memorable 2000s. His return as solo hero and chairman of the JSA was a whole lot of fun! It was never meant to install dying as a key feature of the character. Reincarnation should not be an instant process.

Death of Hawkman always seemed designed to usher Hawkman toward something new, but will it be something better? The Bryan Hitch cover art for Hawkman: Found looks suitably exciting, with a relatively classic looking Hawkman. As a temporary predicament, it could be interesting to see Hawkman at odds with Batman. That was certainly a fun match-up in Superman/Batman #4.

It's my hope Hawkman and Batman will be working together before Metal ends. Preferably toward a "Rebirth" of a modern-classic take on the winged hero, and a solo series that will sustain itself. If Hitch's cover is anything to go by, he could be the man to bring Hawkman back to comics. He's certainly been the one to bring him back to Hero of the Week!

<< Hero of the Week 09/04: Black Manta       [Home]      Hero of the Week 08/21: Ghost Rider >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: GHOST RIDER (Marvel)
Real Name: Johnny Blaze
First Appearance: Marvel Spotlight #5 (August, 1972)
Fight Club Ranking: #99

Featured Fights:
- vs TRAPSTER: Marvel Team-Up #58 (Jun 1977)
- vs AVENGERS: Avengers #214 (Dec 1981)
- vs GHOST RIDER: Ghost Rider #29 (Jan 2009)

We've been talking a lot about Injustice 2 in this year's Hero of the Week, but we mustn't forget that there's another superhero fighting game sequel doing the promo rounds! Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite is bringing back the hyper-kinetic action Capcom is famous for, and the latest fighter confirmed in a report by Game Informer is Ghost Rider!

A game themed variant cover for Defenders #4 confirms the spirit of vengeance's return to the MVC series. He battles Darkstalkers' Lilith on the cover -- not to be mistaken with Marvel's Lilith, who caused problems for Dan Ketch and others in the Midnight Sons corner.

Through various fighting game themed HOTW entries I've talked about my preference for visually and functionally unique characters. Fire tends to be a common element in fighting games, see; Street Fighter, where a fighter's spirit often manifests in spectacular fireball attacks. Yet, Ghost Rider's flaming skull and additional gimmicks -- namely enchanted chains -- give some nice variety.

Edit: A new trailer confirms everything you'd like to see in an MVC Ghost Rider. The voice is pretty strange casting. I'm not quite sure what happened there.

The trailer also shows off another returning character from MVC3 -- the former boss level threat of Dormammu. A non-essential, but nice enough reprisal that should give Doctor Strange somebody to spar with. No real complaints, but I'm looking forward to seeing more new additions to the series!

<< Hero of the Week 08/28: Hawkman     [Home]     Hero of the Week 08/14: Domino >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: DOMINO (Marvel)
Real Name: Neena Thurman
First Appearance: X-Force #8 (March, 1992)
Fight Club Ranking: #299

Featured Fights:
- vs IRON MAN: Contest of Champions II #1 (Sep 1999)

The world was shown the first official glimpse of Josh Brolin as Cable last week, and for the most part, it was pretty good! We've already featured Cable as Hero of the Week a few months ago, though, so we double-back to another character set to appear in 2018's Deadpool sequel: Domino.

FOX's early entry into the superhero movie biz with 2000's X-Men meant they had a significant aesthetic deficit moving into the next decade. Spider-man's vivid, iconic palette had arguably outclassed them as a contemporary. 2008's Iron Man proved definitively that four-colour characters could come to life without missing a beat. Matrix black: a thing of the past.

They finally caught-up in a big way with 2011's franchise peak X-Men: First Class, but in terms of costume design, there have been few triumphs in superhero movies as grand and literal as Deadpool!

The accuracy of the Ryan Reynolds worn design was so literal, it was an easy sales point, but it makes everything inaccurate around it a fresh disappointment. Brolin's Cable risks veering into the generic, off-the-shelf designs of earlier X-films, but it's Zazie Beetz as Domino who drops the ball.

Ironically, this is one time an X-Men movie might've been better off adopting a simple black bodysuit. There's a risk it might cause confusion with earlier uniforms of the cinematic X-Men, but it's a small risk. Especially if they explored with a minimalist design and less textured materials.

Although Beetz will retain the character's trademark eye-spot, its been tonally inverted to be a white spot on unaltered skin tone. Which really robs the character of her most defining attribute: deathly chalk white skin with a black spot.

Beetz may look good -- but she doesn't look like Domino in a movie where the lead character has been sold on accuracy. The design sensibility of this Domino seems more in keeping with X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Brolin gets away looking a little more like something out of one of the later X-Men sequels, like Days of Future Past. None of the glorious excesses of the comics, but not terrible.

<< Hero of the Week 08/21: Ghost Rider      [Home]      Hero of the Week 08/07: Shocker >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: SHOCKER (Marvel)
Real Name: Herman Schultz
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-man #46 (March, 1967)
Fight Club Ranking: #620

Featured Fights:
- vs SPIDER-MAN: Spider-man Adventures #9 (Aug 1995)
- vs AVENGERS: Marvel Knights: Spider-man #11 (Apr 2005)

Vulture may've got all the headlines, but could we really let Spider-man: Homecoming pass through theatres without highlighting the glorious ascension of another classic Spidey villain? I speak, of course, about Shocker -- the quilted, vibro-shocking menace you never expected to see on screen!

Keaton menace may've sold the Vulture pretty quick in trailers, but chances are Shocker still elicits a few snickers here and there. Which is kinda unfair, 'cause let's be honest: if you were in the street and some crazy mofo in a yellow quilted insulation suit came up buzzing like a power-line - you'd probably crap your pants. Maybe literally! Those shocker blasts are gonna do things to your body!

Homecoming kinda tries to have it both ways by alluding to the costume of the comics, but rooting it in a slightly depressing pseudo-reality of vests and sweatpants. For some reason, there's a pervasive theory that seams, goggles, and bits of metal make a comic book costume more plausible. I usually prefer when they just invest in the visual hook that makes the character stand-out as unique.

Not that a few intelligent rethinks and some experimentation ever hurt.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'd been re-discovering and enjoying late nineties issues of Spider-man.

A few issues in particular, featuring Shocker, left me tickled pink! Not because they revolutionize the medium, or change the status quo for-EVER, but because they were just nice, modern minded monthly installments that applied a gentle rethink.

John Romita Jr may be one of the best artists to charge with drawing Shocker. His penchant for blocky human figures perfectly adds heft and dimension to the Shocker's outfit, and gauntlets.

Written by Howard Mackie; these issues announce their intent through the voice of the character. Shocker's sick of being laughed at and he's taken action! The conception here is Shocker as a hi-tech powersuit, rather than just a shock-absorbing "quilt-man".

He doesn't abandon the gimmick that makes him unique, or drastically change the classic design - it's just added to. The suit has means of aerial propulsion, increased firepower, and the ability to shock on contact. Nice, intuitive additions that increase the threat of a classic character! That's how it's done!

I'm reminded of a similar revamp around this time for Electro, who briefly ditched the mask, and got juiced up to be more electrifying than ever before. The nineties cartoon did a pretty good job of keeping classic villains in the zeitgeist, but I suppose it's easy to forget the way mid-nineties comics pushed some of the classics to the side. It's nice that these moments of classic reinforcement occur, but I do wish we could perhaps indulge the cycle with fewer deviations here in the 2010s.

Edit: July was supposed to be the month for featuring one of the revamped Shocker's fights from this very period, but 2017 has been unkind to a well planned schedule! Hero of the Week will record the moment Homecoming shocked the world. Keep watching the future for more Shocker goodness!

<< Hero of the Week 08/14: Domino       [Home]      Hero of the Week 07/31: Vulture >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: VULTURE (Marvel)
Real Name: Adrian Toomes
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-man #2 (May, 1963)
Fight Club Ranking: #534

Featured Fights:
- vs AVENGERS: Marvel Knights: Spider-man #11 (Apr 2005)

Spider-man: Homecoming is now in theatres, and most of the world seems to agree that the joint production between Disney and Sony has given Marvel Entertainment one of its most compelling villains to date! Vulture seems an unlikely candidate, but the winning formula was easy to see!

Michael Keaton was always going to be an engaging choice -- not just because of his famous three year reign as the big screen Batman -- or because it played up jokes made in Best Picture Oscar winner Birdman. Keaton is a good actor. A star who brings a lot of character and intensity to even his worst roles. Trailers immediately announced he was taking the role seriously, and the concept as its written gives him plenty to bite into as a regular guy pushed to cruel and unusual action!

The only thing I can't quite get to grips with is the idea that Michael Keaton could be viewed by some of the audience as old. I mean, sure. The Dream Team may be running out of bench, but geez. Marisa Tomei as Aunt May?! Don't get me started, man. Don't get me started!

"Ageism" in the culture, especially Hollywood, isn't exactly breaking news, but it does surprise me that Vulture's age seems to be a tougher sell than the green, fur-lined flying suit. Growing up, I always thought it was kind of a fun distinguishing feature of the character. There was the obvious visual hook of a thin bald man (to look like the bird), but even the idea of an old man pushed to kicking youngster's arse is pretty fun. The more the audience resists, the more it makes sense - to me.

I always thought it would be a lot of fun to see Vulture starring in a Curb Your Enthusiasm type series. A comic that deals with the mundane of the super-villain's existence, and his frustrations in the every day life that push him to criminality. Yes, I rather like the visual of Larry David scowling in the costume, too. It's a thought that's been with me a while, as far back as when Peter Parker unmasked during Civil War. Which struck me as a great premise for comic indignation. Anybody who remembers Peter Parker's late eighties coffee table book, Webs, could understand the humor of a super-villain lawsuit for use of their likenesses without permission.

It's interesting to imagine what might've been had Sam Raimi completed his vision for Vulture in Spider-man 3. Ben Kingsley might not be the cantankerous old man of the comics, but again, I can see a closer visual. I also imagine Raimi's instincts might've veered a little closer to the comics. He certainly went all-in on the memorable image of Sandman. I'd like to think it wouldn't have been another Green Goblin "Power Rangers" suit.

I'm a little disappointed the Homecoming version of the costume veers away from the source, but even the most loyal comics fan probably doesn't demand a green leotard with wings attached.

The vibe of flight jacket is a pretty sympathetic adaptation. I could do without the pseudo-realism of fan-force wings, but what're you gonna do? I have mixed feelings about the helmet, but it's not the worst thing in the world. It's certainly not enough to stop Vulture being our Hero of the Week!

Edit: July was supposed to be the month we built up our fight record with more Vulture action. Sadly, 2017 had a knack for getting in the way of my beautiful, beautiful schedule. With any luck we'll get a chance to dip a toe into the Vulture file again in the future.

<< Hero of the Week 08/07: Shocker       [Home]      Hero of the Week 07/24: Mister Terrific >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: MISTER TERRIFIC (DC)
Real Name: Michael Holt
First Appearance: Spectre #54 (June, 1997)
Fight Club Ranking: #464

Featured Fights:
- vs SOLOMON GRUNDY: JSA #65 (Nov 2004)

It's typical for San Diego Comic-Con International to create a crisis of multiple Hero of the Week contenders, but this year the July stand-outs were few and far between.

Last year Spider-man: Homecoming pipped the competition with a reveal for Michael Keaton's surprising Vulture -- a break-out that lived up to the hype in theatres earlier this month. In 2017: the blockbuster film announcements that typically dominate headlines weren't quite as convincing -- opening the door to another surprising SDCC Hero of the Week: Mister Terrific!

The hi-tech genius is the leader for a newly announced DC Comics team-up called The Terrifics!

Fronting a band that also includes Plastic Man, Metamorpho and Phantom Girl; Mister Terrific is a none-too-subtle surrogate in what is ultimately a nod to another quartet of presently neglected comic book favourites: The Fantastic Four!

It's a pretty cheeky reference, but given Marvel's stubborn neglect toward one of their oldest and most celebrated properties, it may prove to be a rewarding and shrewd choice. Not only does it capitalize on a gaping whole in the market -- it diverts attention from DC's own glaring neglect of their trademarks, throwing shade on Marvel's missteps, whilst subtly addressing their own.

The Terrifics as spin-off from the on-going Dark Metal saga at DC Comics isn't especially thrilling. Their approach to repairing the damage of the New 52 has a clumsiness that feels all too reminiscent of the very events that went horribly wrong. It's getting difficult to remember what was and wasn't explicitly promised for Rebirth, but the implication of iconic reform and unravelling isn't playing out.

Fortunately, The Terrifics appear cut from a cloth more in keeping with Young Animal, where DC have been quietly redeemed under the curation of My Chemical Romance front-man Gerard Way.

There doesn't seem to be any actual connection to Young Animal, where the likes of Doom Patrol and Bug have inspired Heroes of the Week with welcome resurrections. There's just a similar fun, unburdened, comic-pop sensibility. Something that hasn't been seen in the DCU proper for most of the decade!

The character choices alone seem in keeping with Young Animal's liberated choice of third-string icons. Hopefully this team can move forward with a similar sense of whimsical abandon and independence from the grim oppressions of most of the publisher's line-up!

The preview art, with its knowing minimalism, comic book savvy, and pop palette recalls the work of Mike & Laura Allred on Bug, or Nick Derington and colorist Tamra Bonvillain on the new Doom Patrol. It feels as if DC is opening up to the possibility of getting its cool back!

The Terrifics concept seems to lean heavily on the Fantastic Four, with its formally entitled genius, stretchy hero, see-thru girl, and disfigured elemental -- but I'm hoping (and expecting) the series will use this platform to launch into its own brand of fun.

Historically, Doom Patrol were compared to the sci-fi and oddball characters of the Fantastic Four, as well. Yet I'd like to think it proved concept for its own referential touchstone. The Terrifics have a chance to be what the Fantastic Four haven't for quite some time. Let them be Terrific!

Be sure to check out CBR's Terrifics preview for more on the new series. With any luck this signals a trend of fun in superhero comics that sometimes feels missing.

<< Hero of the Week 07/31: Vulture      [Home]      Hero of the Week 07/17: Sabretooth >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: SABRETOOTH (Marvel)
Real Name: Victor Creed
First Appearance: Iron Fist #14 (August, 1977)
Fight Club Ranking: #885

Featured Fights:
- vs IRON FIST: Iron Fist #14 (Aug 1977)
- vs HEROES FOR HIRE: Power Man & Iron Fist #66 (Dec 1980)
- vs JUBILEE: Adventures of the X-Men #7 (Oct 1996)
- vs TEEN TITANS: Unlimited Access #3 (Feb 1998)
- vs WOLVERINE: X-Men (Jul 2000)
- vs WOLVERINE: Wolverine #50 (Mar 2007)

The hits keep on coming! Marvel Legacy is gearing up to get seriously classic on some of your favourite Marvel Comics heroes and series. As Newsarama reports, that means Iron Fist #73 is going to rekindle one of Marvel's forgotten classic rivalries: Iron Fist versus Sabretooth!

Everybody knows there's bad blood between Sabretooth and Wolverine, but not everyone remembers the early days, when mercenary Sabretooth tangled with Iron Fist and Power Man!

It's a good thing the first appearance of Sabretooth in Iron Fist #14 was a featured fight earlier this year! That original cover will be paid homage with an updated variant version, and it's the perfect primer for this newest face-off -- and team-up?!

What ever the case, I'm really enjoying the injection of classic comics into both Marvel and DC's line-ups. It looks like Sabretooth's return to Iron Fist will be a natural, fresh meeting between two characters who have history. By no means regression of forty years, but an encounter that moves forward while getting the most out of their backstory. At least, that's my hope...

If you're a fan of The Comic Book Fight Club rankings, you'll no doubt be glad Sabretooth's keeping relevant while Wolverine remains dead. Secret Wars on Infinite Earths is a constant work-in-progress, and despite several featured fights in the past, Sabretooth is still only ranked #885! A low rung that demands correction at some point in our fighting future! For now, Sabretooth will have to settle for being out Hero of the Week!

<< Hero of the Week 07/24: Mr. Terrific  [Home]  Hero of the Week 07/10: Cyborg Superman >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: CYBORG SUPERMAN (DC)
Real Name: Hank Henshaw
First Appearance: Adventures of Superman #466 (May, 1990)
Fight Club Ranking: #769

Featured Fights:
- vs GREEN LANTERN CORPS & JUSTICE LEAGUE: Green Lantern #25 (Jan 2008)

Man alive! It's comics! DC are playing some familiar old tunes in the latest issues of Action Comics, and it's sweet music to my ears! Dan Jurgens is back, keeping it simple and classic with the formation of an all-new Superman Revenge Squad who represent an all-star line-up of Superman bad guys!

The entire line-up is pretty damn compelling! Mongul, Metallo and Eradicator are seasoned villains with big appeal! General Zod is on the verge of escaping the Suicide Squad, to be their latest star recruit! The one that has me most excited though is the mastermind of the team: Cyborg Superman!

Cyborg Superman is just one of those second-tier villains I get a real kick out of!

He's been sorely displaced since The New 52 reboot, losing the "Cyborg Superman" mantle to Supergirl's dad, Zor-El, who was rescued from Krypton's destruction by Brainiac. The result was a new cyber-organic nasty. A neat concept if you don't mind another survivor from Superman's long dead homeworld, but no substitute for the simple pleasure of Hank Henshaw!

The Henshaw Cyborg is kind of a dunderheaded concept: Astronaut suffers cosmic accident in Fantastic Four pastiche that slowly kills he and his colleagues. Superman is indirectly tied to the solar flare that caused the accident. Henshaw downloads his brain into a computer to become a ghost in the machine. He eventually hacks his way into Superman's birthing matrix and constructs a body of organic and metal components. Briefly impersonates The Man of Steel after his apparent death.

You just can't beat that kind of accumulated history, though. His return gets better, too!

To fight a Revenge Squad you need a Superman Squad, and that means a reformed (yeah, right) Lex Luthor leading a band of heroes that includes another favourite from the early 90s: Steel!

Sometimes it's the simple things in life that are the best. The current run for Action Comics seems to be just that. Don't take my word for it! Check out CBR's May preview for Action Comics #980!

<< Hero of the Week 07/17: Sabretooth    [Home]    Hero of the Week 07/03: Spider-man >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: SPIDER-MAN (Marvel)
Real Name: Peter Parker
First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy #15 (August, 1962)
Fight Club Ranking: #2

Featured Fights:
- vs WIZARD & MYSTERIO: Amazing Spider-man Annual #4 (1967)
- vs DOCTOR DORCAS & TIGERSHARK: Marvel Team-Up #14 (Oct 1973)
- vs TRAPSTER: Marvel Team-Up #58 (Jun 1977)
- vs HULK: Marvel Treasury Edition #25 (1980)
- vs JUGGERNAUT: Amazing Spider-man #230 (Jul 1982)
- vs BLACKLASH: Marvel Team-Up #145 (Sep 1984)
- vs TRI-SENTINEL: Amazing Spider-man #329 (Feb 1990)
- vs CARNAGE: Spider-man Unlimited #2 (Aug 1993)
- vs SCORPION: Spectacular Spider-man #215 (Aug 1994)
- vs SHOCKER: Spider-man Adventures #9 (Aug 1995)
- vs MANTIS & JUGGERNAUT: Unlimited Access #1 (Dec 1997)
- vs SINISTER TWELVE: Marvel Knights: Spider-man #11 (Apr 2005)
- vs BLADE: Ultimate Spider-man #95 (Jul 2006)
- vs MAN-APE: Black Panther #18 (Sep 2006)
- vs SECRET AVENGERS: Civil War #3 (Sep 2006)
- vs MODOK: Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #9 (Mar 2007)
- vs THE HAND: New Avengers #27 (Apr 2007)
- vs VENOM: Spider-man Family #2 (Jun 2007)
- vs GOMDULLA: Spider-man Family #3 (Aug 2007)
- vs MIGHTY AVENGERS: New Avengers #36 (Jan 2008)
- vs THE HOOD/DORMAMMU: New Avengers #54 (Aug 2009)
- vs LUKE CAGE/AGAMOTTO: New Avengers #2 (Sep 2010)

It was tempting to talk about how horrendous Inhumans looks, but I'm not sure dodgy wardrobe and over-lit teevee is really significant enough to warrant Hero of the Week honors! Especially not when the world is looking ahead to the theatrical return of Spider-man this Friday, July 7th!

I say "solo", but marketing has made it abundantly clear that Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man will play a significant role in the formative years of the Disney-influenced big screen Spidey.

I can't say I've ever really dwelled on the issue, but it seems like every time the web-slinger's origin is brought to the masses, there are questions about how he gets his iconic costume. Tech whiz Tony Stark comes with conveniences that allow for mechanical web-shooters, and (unnecessarily) emotive mask lenses, but also unravels the boy's own adventure of Peter Parker's burgeoning genius.

Despite the relative minority of Spider-man's years in high school, there's a determined creative influence that insists he's at his best when he's still a kid. The contemporary youth of Spider-man; Homecoming may prove to be one of its most distinctive details. Star Tom Holland reads very young, and the crossover of Disney star Zendaya seems unlike anything big screen Spidey has seen before.

I've always been pretty comfortable with an adult Spider-man, but in the last twelve months I've been reconnecting with the old favourite through various sources, including the Spectacular Spider-man animated series. In its two seasons, the cartoon repurposed classic characters and stories from the series of the same name, through the prism of a high school Peter Parker. A compelling case for having savvy super-villain battles and high school character dramas.

Another point of pleasure has been (re)discovering, and enjoying immensely, issues of Spider-man from 1997-98. For one reason or another, I wasn't looking in the right direction when Howard Mackie and John Romita Jr were working to re-centre the web-slinger around issues that felt classic in essence, but modern in tone. I think the return of Green Goblin and death of Ben Reilly were still the big stories that overshadowed a welcome return to business closer to usual.

As it happens, both examples feature an iconic Spider-man/Peter Parker confronting the shifting sands of the world around him. They also boast Shocker in a major villain role. Which is something they also have in common with Homecoming. Something we might talk about more in HOTW soon.

I'm given the impression that Marvel crossovers will be a big part of a three act development for Holland's Spider-man. I don't need him to join The Avengers any time soon, but I definitely look forward to some web-swinging fun in the style of Marvel Team-Up! [Not to be confused with last week's spotlight return Marvel Two-In-One!]

The mind boggles at the possibilities for sequel team-ups. Now that Marvel has a live-action Daredevil in its pantheon, the desire to see Netflix TV series matter more to the cinematic universe only becomes greater. Even if the pairing of DD's Charlie Cox and Tom Holland skews the chemistry of the old Marvel buddies.

Naturally I'm still thinking about the mounting options for a big screen version of Maximum Carnage, too! With Tom Hardy on board to star in a Venom film, the relevant characters are getting more compelling!

Just think about teaming Hardy & Holland with the likes of Captain America (Chris Evans), TV's Cloak & Dagger, Netflix's Iron Fist, and rumored spin-off star Black Cat! The basic framework may be a tad ramshackle, but a refined big screen version could be a crazy and fun way to give the Spider-man films their own build-up to an Avengers type climax -- and finally give fans the cohesion of properties they've long been seeking! Throw in Morbius and it'd be tough to look away!

Edit: July was supposed to be the month we featured a whole lot of fresh new Spider-man battles, but 2017 has had a way of putting the kibosh on the best of plans. Be sure to check out the featured links at the top of this post, dive into the Secret Issue Index for more, and keep an eye out for future updates!

<< Hero of the Week 07/10: Cyborg Superman     [Home]     Hero of the Week 06/26: Thing >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: THING (Marvel)
Real Name: Benjamin J. Grimm
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #1 (Nov, 1961)
Fight Club Ranking: #10

Featured Fights:
- vs FRIGHTFUL FOUR: Fantastic Four #129 (Dec 1972)
- vs EGO THE LIVING PLANET: Fantastic Four #235 (Oct 1981)
- vs ULTRON: Marvel Two-In-One #92 (Oct 1982)
- vs AHAB & HOUNDS: X-Men Annual #14 (1990)
- vs DOCTOR DOOM: Fantastic Four #350 (Mar 1991)
- vs JUSTICE PEACE: Fantastic Four #354 (Jul 1991)
- vs PAIBOK: Fantastic Four #358 (Nov 1991)
- vs DOCTOR DOOM: Fantastic Four #361 (Feb 1992)
- vs DOPPELGANGER THING: Fantastic Four #367 (Aug 1992)
- vs ADAPTOID: Fantastic Four: Unplugged #1 (Sep 1995)
- vs MOLEMAN: Fantastic Four #2 (Dec 1996)
- vs SUPER-SKRULL: Fantastic Four #6 (Apr 1997)
- vs ICONOCLAST: Fantastic Four #2 (Feb 1998)
- vs FRIGHTFUL FOUR: Marvel Adventures #12 (Mar 1998)
- vs WOLVERINE: Wolverine #22 (Jan 2005)
- vs SINISTER TWELVE: Marvel Knights: Spider-man #11 (Apr 2005)
- vs GOMDULLA: Spider-man Family #3 (Aug 2007)
- vs SENTRY: Mighty Avengers #10 (May 2008)
- vs LUKE CAGE: New Avengers #2 (Sep 2010)

Joy of joys! Marvel Two-In-One is officially coming back!

Axel Alonso got people talking with a Twitter teaser that implied some version of "Fantastic 2". CBR has since reported the story, revealing cover art with Thing front-and-centre, alongside a cavalcade of prospective Two-In-One allies including his old buddy Human Torch!

Marvel Two-In-One would probably be a welcome classic reference at the best of times, but with Fantastic Four out of print since 2015 -- and many of Marvel's most iconic heroes sidelined in the last twelve months -- it's exactly what weary fans of Marvel Comics should want to hear!

If Marvel Legacy really isn't able to deliver the Fantastic Four; a Thing team-up book is the perfect way to stir up similar feelings. Marvel Two-In-One is the kind of series that really fell out of vogue in the 1990s and 2000s, but has always been a fun concept begging for a revival. The fact that Thing and Human Torch were left displaced in the Marvel Universe after the FF disbanded makes it the kind of intuitive no brainer that's long overdue!

I've found myself revisiting issues of Marvel Two-In-One throughout the year -- not just the classic 1982 Annual -- but non-descript issues, too!

I had particular fun revisiting issue #96, where a variety of heroes attempt to pick up the slack while Thing recovers in hospital from his battles with Champion and Gladiator. A whole lotta bad guys are out causing trouble. There's a particularly nice moment when Sandman manages to slip by the other heroes defenses, only to share a beer with Thing. A very nice, classic Marvel moment!

The possibility of diving back into superhero comics like that is nice, even if a little unlikely. It's presently unclear exactly how the new Marvel Two-In-One will operate, or for how long. Here's hoping we get a lot of fun adventures with the ever lovin' blue-eyed Thing!

If you want to see more of his classic exploits, be sure to follow the featured fights at the top of the post. You can also dive in to the Secret Issue Index for past battles filed by publisher, series and issue number. Follow along on Twitter and Facebook to get daily fight links inspired by the day's topics!

<< Hero of the Week 07/03: Spider-man   [Home]   Hero of the Week 06/19: Wonder Woman >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: WONDER WOMAN (DC)
Real Name: Diana of Themyscira
First Appearance: All-Star Comics #8 (Dec, 1941)
Fight Club Ranking: #14

Featured Fights:
- vs ETRIGAN: The Demon #17 (Nov 1991)
- vs STORM: Marvel versus DC #3 (Apr 1996)
- vs MANTIS & JUGGERNAUT: Unlimited Access #1 (Dec 1997)
- vs MORGAUTH: JSA Strange Adventures #1 (Oct 2004)
- vs SUPERMAN & BATMAN: Superman/Batman #15 (Feb 2005)
- vs ULTRAMARINE CORPS: JLA: Classified #3 (Mar 2005)
- vs MONGUL: Infinite Crisis #1 (Dec 2005)
- vs INJUSTICE LEAGUE: Justice League of America #15 (Jan 2008)
- vs MINOTAUR: DC Universe 0 (Jun 2008)
- vs MARY MARVEL: Final Crisis #3 (Sep 2008)
- vs CHEETAH: Wonder Woman #29 (Apr 2009)
- vs GENOCIDE: Wonder Woman #32 (Jul 2009)

As the world counts down to this week's theatrical release of Wonder Woman, a chorus of voices unites in anticipation of Gal Gadot's solo return to the big screen. Her smile lit up the drab night of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but will it be enough to reverse a trend of disappointing DC Comics movies? If I'm completely honest - I am not sure.

Finding definitive comic book reference for Wonder Woman isn't always the easiest task. Her most iconic villains vary from second-hand mythological figures like Ares, to the tough-sell spectacle of Giganta and Cheetah. For a film adaptation, this could be liberating license to invent an intuitive definitive vision for the character -- or a blank slate that directs a movie on a rudderless course.

The Wonder Woman film immediately takes the unconventional step of shirking the heroine's roots in World War II to extend her lifespan by centuries, repositioning the film's plot in the first World War. As a lover of retro, my heart belongs to the modern world of the 20s-40s, which already makes this movie a little less appealing.

Usually I have some idea of what I'm getting into before I see a film. There've been surprises, pleasant and less so, but superhero movies rarely surprise. So it's curious that Wonder Woman trailers and limited promotional material leave so little an impression.

Warner Brothers have made moves to tell the world Wonder Woman will be fun. The juggernaut of DC productions may roll on, but WB clearly recognize some amount of course correct will be necessary if the audience is to remain interested (hopefully). I'm not sure if I believe them, or not.

As noted last week, my enthusiasm for superhero movies is mostly reserved for Black Panther. As much as I would love to feel otherwise, it's very hard to believe that a compelling Wonder Woman movie exists behind these trailers. The hope is in what they don't show, but my threshold for gambling on joyless, mediocre superhero movies is rapidly eroding. I hope I'm wrong, but my expectations are very low at this point.

There's already a ring of enthusiasm pouring out for the movie, but so far impressions seem more enamored with the gender of the hero, than the quality of her journey. A lot of superhero movies elicit glowing reviews declaring each new release 'the best movie evarrr'. These seem unique only in their emphasis on genitalia. I'm down with woman, but I'd like some wonder too.

I hope this really is the triumph the DC Extended Universe needs. Nothing about Justice League seems likely to turn frowns upside down. Wonder Woman is certainly the best chance of achieving that. I'm not convinced it will, but I hope it does.

Edit: June was supposed to be the month of Wonder Woman comic book battles, but sadly, 2017 had a way of derailing the best of laid plans! Be sure to check out the featured fights listed at the top of this Hero of the Week entry, and keep an eye out for all-new Wonder Woman updates in the future!

<< Hero of the Week 06/26: Thing       [Home]      Hero of the Week 06/12: Black Panther >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: BLACK PANTHER (Marvel)
Real Name: T'Challa
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #52 (July, 1966)
Fight Club Ranking: #127

Featured Fights:
- vs CAPTAIN AMERICA: Tales of Suspense #98 (Feb 1968)
- vs SUPER-SKRULL: Fantastic Four #6 (Apr 1997)
- vs DOCTOR DOOM: Black Panther #19 (Oct 2006)

Black Panther was an early addition to last year's Hero of the Week when Ryan Coogler was announced as director of the feature film. The hero debuted as a major player in that year's Captain America: Civil War, and twelve months on, we're closing in on the long awaited solo abventure! The first teaser trailer and movie poster were released late last week - and they look exciting!

Of all the superhero movies currently upcoming -- this is the one I'm most excited for!

That comes with the knowledge that the more Disney reveal their movies, the less interesting they usually appear. Doctor Strange was the last must-see destination that quickly lost its appeal as more of the Benedict Cumberbatch performance was exposed, and the details of the adaptation emerged.

Fortunately, anticipation hasn't been damaged by this first big trailer for Black Panther! If anything, my hopes for the film are buoyed by what looks like a movie with the potential to live up to the promise of a unique vision of a Marvel hero!

Aesthetics have been one of the most disappointing aspects of Marvel Entertainment. The trailer isn't presenting a perfect image, but so far I love what we've seen of the visual palette and designs! Wakanda is a wonderful blend of nature and engineering, presenting the city as its always been conceived in the comics: a world in touch with the past and the future!

Its warriors add welcome splashes of colour. I think I'm as excited to see Black Panther's guards as I am to see him! Boy, do we see Black Panther in the trailer!

Whether he's lurking in the shadows of Africa's jungles, or leaping across cars in the urban jungle -- this is a movie that's clearly going to give us a man of action! It's not quite the colour popped sci-fi of Tron, but I'm really enjoying the purple and blue hues of the city where the Panther appears to hunt!

I can't help but wish the Panther's suit had the gold highlights the comics added in the 2000s. I think that would've given the visual an attractive highlight in a lot of these images. That's ultimately a small complaint, though. A preference forgotten with so many other things going right.

In 2017, there will be a racial read of the character and film. So far this seems to be a movie that's embracing the established qualities of the comics, creating a world intuitive to itself. Nothing about the production seems contrived or insincere. I see Black Panther as a character who demands a screen presentation in the same way as any other Marvel hero, but if it also supplies heroic images relatable to a diverse audience -- that can't be a bad thing! Actors from around the world may play the parts, but we don't often see international heroes in big American superhero blockbusters. An African hero will hopefully feel refreshing to everyone in the audience.

Sadly, we still have a while to wait: Black Panther won't be in theatres until next year - February 16th, 2017. With any luck it will be completely worth the wait. I'll certainly be looking forward to the opportunity to dig deeper into some of my favourite Black Panther comics!

<< Hero of the Week 06/19: Wonder Woman     [Home]     Hero of the Week 06/05: Red Hood >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: RED HOOD (DC)
Real Name: Jason Todd
First Appearance: Batman #357 (March, 1983)
Fight Club Ranking: #40

Featured Fights:
- vs THE SOCIETY: Batman #647 (Jan 2006)
- vs BRICK: Green Arrow #70 (Mar 2007)
- vs GREEN ARROW: Green Arrow #71 (Apr 2007)
- vs SPEEDY: Green Arrow #72 (May 2007)
- vs ROBIN: Batman: Battle for the Cowl #2 (Jun 2009)
- vs NIGHTWING: Batman: Battle for the Cowl #3 (Jul 2009)

Last month the featured fights were all about the heroes and villains of Injustice 2, but if you thought the DC fighting game sequel was done and dusted now that it's on sale -- you were wrong!

Warner Brothers and NetherRealm Studios have made a fine-art of selling extra content after the initial release of the game. They aren't wasting any time in revealing the next big character coming via download! As MK Online reports, it's one of the fans' most requested characters: Red Hood!

As is monotonously the case; I feel a slight pang of resistance to our first Hero of the Week of June. The cloud of commerce, and an absence of nuance, makes the arrival of Jason Todd a somewhat bittersweet scenario. It's nice to see a character fairly faithfully recreated from the page, but it's the unremarkable off-the-rack aesthetic of jacket and helmet that makes that a low bar to reach.

If you were here in the mid-2000s, you'll know I wasn't particularly opposed to the return of Jason Todd. The basic premise of resurrecting the dead Robin comes with inevitable friction, but the work of creators like Judd Winick and Doug Mahnke made it a pitch with meat on the bone.

The aesthetically pleasing, urban chess board that appeared in Batman comics at that time didn't need a Red Hood to work -- but both character, and scenario, were ultimately enhanced by one another. The dynamic of characters moving through Gotham City to serve distinct motivations was a very enjoyable experience.

I'm not sure Injustice 2 will receive the same enhancement. Last week I talked about the desire to at least see aesthetic and functional distinctions in fighting game superheroes. Red Hood's gun-toting street fighting doesn't exactly offer a whole lot in either department.

In a game that already comes with the likes of Batman, Robin, Catwoman, Black Canary, and Deadshot -- Red Hood isn't exactly bringing a whole lot to the table. Pre-fight character interactions may offer a few nods to character dynamics, but there's no story involvement for DLC fighters, which means any benefit Red Hood might bring is in the eye of the beholder. Which doesn't necessarily mean Red Hood won't find a market.

The last decade or more of gaming has refocused pretty heavily around shooting guns and moving through urban environments. It's no real wonder Red Hood is a popular character amongst the gaming demographics. As time has worn on, the novelty and meaning of his return has faded. In its place has been an adolescent power fantasy with simple cosplay appeal. Guns, a jacket, and a 'tude that pushes against the establishment. Taxi Driver with a silly helmet might be going a bit far, but the character doesn't always come with overly interesting goals or inspiration. He's bratty teen rebellion in an age where that's the beginning and end of a philosophy that will linger much longer in life. The fight against grown ups.

In another time, a character like Red Hood might've stood for the opposite of burning disposable income on the latest tack-on to a finite purchase. He would've been a figure of counter-culture -- but comics and their multimedia tie-ins have left that spirit behind.

There's always something a little bit ugly about the voracious consumption of a demographic spending more than double the value of an all-content-in-one-box "Komplete Edition" just to gobble up the latest shiny bauble, but I wouldn't want to judge too harshly - it's not all bad. In fact, that audience even performs the service of funding more material, which sometimes opens things up to even more interesting extensions. It's just hard to ignore the gluttony of it all.

I'd love to see the Injustice 2 Gear system offer the short-lived Red Hood design that haunted Batman and Robin during Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's memorable 2009-2010 run.

The over-the-top absurdity of the design, and its perversion as a market-minded anti-Batman was a whole lot of fun to groove to!

You'd probably have a tough time conveying the concept through the game, but the thought of such an aggressively comic book aesthetic confronting the overly-seemed, grim 'n' gritty, armor-plated gamer is its own pleasure. These games should dare to be that amazing!

<< Hero of the Week 06/12: Black Panther    [Home]    Hero of the Week 05/29: Gorilla Grodd >>