NighTforce
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
First Appearance: NighTforce # 1, January 2008
Members:
NighTrain
Dennis Holman
Julie Sasso
Gerry Powers
Paula Sherman/Zap Mom
Joey Powers
Powerman/Jonathon Stanford
Kelly O'Connell
Victoria-21
Frankie McKenzie
The Fallen
Jen Holman
Sam Donnelly
Zap, Master of Power
Biography:
When former vigilante Phil Sherman learned the New Power, one of the most dangerous groups of villainy, has reformed, he recruited a team of experts in crime fighting and the occult to combat the threat. He called this new team NighTforce.
As NighTrain, Phil led the team, that was headquartered in a facility located beneath a store owned by Sherman.
The team was funded by billionaires Michael Bossman and Dennis Holman, who ironically both turned out to be high ranking members of the New Power.
After this revelation, the team's funding was provided by Michelle Wrigley, who had legally obtained Bossman's company after his evil was revealed, and Jen Holman, Dennis Holman's sister.
When it appeared the New Power was defeated, the team redirected it's efforts to catching demons that had been set free upon Earth. But when it was revealed that the New Power was still active, the team split its efforts to both missions.
Eventually, Phil Sherman stepped down as leader to devote more time to family, and Gerry Power, an ex-cop who was a founding member of the team, took over as leader.
Comments:
NighTforce was a series that debuted as part of my recent Super Comics resurrection. The team is inspired by a real life paranormal investigation team that I belonged to, but there was no evil terrorist cults or demon hunting involved in the true exploits.
The series is still ongoing, though is slated for cancellation in May 2012 as the world as we know it comes to an end.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
NighTrain
NighTrain
Created by Phil Sheridan
Real Name: Philip Sherman
Alias: Zap, Master of Power II
Current Occupation: Store Owner
Parents: Richard Sherman (aka Pac Man) and Pauline Sherman (aka Zap Mom)
Siblings: None
Spouse: Patience Glenndale Sherman
Children: Tara (aka Zap, Master of Power IV), Alison, and Carter Sherman
Group Affiliation: Super-Trio, Powerkid Police, Zap Family, Heroes of Earth, Champions, NighTforce
Place of Birth: Paradise City
Current Place of Residence: Paradise City
First Appearance: Powerkid # 1, September 1982
Biography:
In the 1960s, three cosmic beings decided to create three champions to protect Earth from their evil brothers. The three decided that three sisters would bear the children who would be those champions. One of the three, Zeus, then chose to create his champion by visiting Pauline Hasser in the form of a leaky roof to impregnate her.
Pauline found herself an unwed pregnant teen, and was kicked out by her mother. Pauline left her home city of Worcester and moved out west to Paradise City, where she met and married a political intern, Richard Sherman. They decided to let the public think that the child was his.
The child born was Phil Sherman. Phil grew up with a fairly normal childhood, even though his father, who became mayor, would disappear occasionally (because he unexplainably transformed into a monster from time to time) and his mother maintained no contact with her family, thus Phil didn't know he had cousins.
When Phil was 10, however, he started developing abilities like super-strength. He started secretly using his powers to fight crime, and his powers continued to increase and evolve. Over a three year period, he became super-strong, nearly invulnerable, super-fast, able to fly, and even shape shift. He did also develop strange weakness to cheese, that was never explained.
When Phil was 13, he was visited by a Venusian named Ooga Booga, who claimed to be responsible for giving Phil his powers. Ooga Booga was actually acting under the instructions of Zeus, who did not wish his son to know his true origins. Shortly after, his cousin (though he didn't know they were related at the time), Chris Kowalki, had publicly debuted as the hero Powerkid. This inspired Phil to do likewise, and he became the hero called Zap, Master of Power.
Zap decided to meet Powerkid, and the two became great friends and allies, eventually sharing secret identities and learning of their relationship. Phil and Chris eventually met another cousin, Shon Crest, aka Speedy, and the three created a super-team called the Powerkid Police.
Zap became a celebrated hero in Paradise City, and set up a headquarters underneath his home. He eventually discovered he could bestow some of his powers on others, and eventually a Zap Family was formed, with Pac Man, Zap Mom, Zappette, Girl Zap, and Zap Dog.
When he turned 16, Phil's mom told him the truth about his true father and the source of his powers. Phil lost those powers in 1988 when Zeus was killed by a time renegade named Cronstar. He spent a few years living the life of a normal college student, but in 1991, Allorin Vonski gave Phil a portion of his cousin Chris' power in order to aid him in a battle with Krusher. However, a few months later, Vonski took the powers away in order to use them to create a new replacement hero for Powerman in the form of Chris' sister Michelle.
Less than a year later, during a War of the Gods, Phil found his powers restored. At ths time, there was another hero now calling himself Zap, and Phil fought the newer hero to reclaim the title, but lost. Phil chose to then operate without the title, and went to work for the government as an agent briefly. But once again, he found his powers faded away.
Phil opened up a convenience store in Paradise City, but working for the first time as an ordinary guy in his city, he realized that there was a serious crime problem, even without the super-villains, mad scientists, and alien invasions. Paradise was overrun by gang violence and corporate greed. Phil decided to create a new identity as a masked vigilante to fight crime. He took the name NighTrain, as he was "Loaded like a freight train with power, and flyin' like an aeroplane at the enemy...".
During this time he became an ally of a local gang called the Illusions and a major adversary of Mr. Brownstone, who ruled the town. He also met and fell in love with Patience Glenndale, who turned out to be a member of the Interstellar Peace Organization, assigned to monitoring and protecting Earth.
Created by Phil Sheridan
Real Name: Philip Sherman
Alias: Zap, Master of Power II
Current Occupation: Store Owner
Parents: Richard Sherman (aka Pac Man) and Pauline Sherman (aka Zap Mom)
Siblings: None
Spouse: Patience Glenndale Sherman
Children: Tara (aka Zap, Master of Power IV), Alison, and Carter Sherman
Group Affiliation: Super-Trio, Powerkid Police, Zap Family, Heroes of Earth, Champions, NighTforce
Place of Birth: Paradise City
Current Place of Residence: Paradise City
First Appearance: Powerkid # 1, September 1982
Biography:
In the 1960s, three cosmic beings decided to create three champions to protect Earth from their evil brothers. The three decided that three sisters would bear the children who would be those champions. One of the three, Zeus, then chose to create his champion by visiting Pauline Hasser in the form of a leaky roof to impregnate her.
Pauline found herself an unwed pregnant teen, and was kicked out by her mother. Pauline left her home city of Worcester and moved out west to Paradise City, where she met and married a political intern, Richard Sherman. They decided to let the public think that the child was his.
The child born was Phil Sherman. Phil grew up with a fairly normal childhood, even though his father, who became mayor, would disappear occasionally (because he unexplainably transformed into a monster from time to time) and his mother maintained no contact with her family, thus Phil didn't know he had cousins.
When Phil was 10, however, he started developing abilities like super-strength. He started secretly using his powers to fight crime, and his powers continued to increase and evolve. Over a three year period, he became super-strong, nearly invulnerable, super-fast, able to fly, and even shape shift. He did also develop strange weakness to cheese, that was never explained.
When Phil was 13, he was visited by a Venusian named Ooga Booga, who claimed to be responsible for giving Phil his powers. Ooga Booga was actually acting under the instructions of Zeus, who did not wish his son to know his true origins. Shortly after, his cousin (though he didn't know they were related at the time), Chris Kowalki, had publicly debuted as the hero Powerkid. This inspired Phil to do likewise, and he became the hero called Zap, Master of Power.
Zap decided to meet Powerkid, and the two became great friends and allies, eventually sharing secret identities and learning of their relationship. Phil and Chris eventually met another cousin, Shon Crest, aka Speedy, and the three created a super-team called the Powerkid Police.
Zap became a celebrated hero in Paradise City, and set up a headquarters underneath his home. He eventually discovered he could bestow some of his powers on others, and eventually a Zap Family was formed, with Pac Man, Zap Mom, Zappette, Girl Zap, and Zap Dog.
When he turned 16, Phil's mom told him the truth about his true father and the source of his powers. Phil lost those powers in 1988 when Zeus was killed by a time renegade named Cronstar. He spent a few years living the life of a normal college student, but in 1991, Allorin Vonski gave Phil a portion of his cousin Chris' power in order to aid him in a battle with Krusher. However, a few months later, Vonski took the powers away in order to use them to create a new replacement hero for Powerman in the form of Chris' sister Michelle.
Less than a year later, during a War of the Gods, Phil found his powers restored. At ths time, there was another hero now calling himself Zap, and Phil fought the newer hero to reclaim the title, but lost. Phil chose to then operate without the title, and went to work for the government as an agent briefly. But once again, he found his powers faded away.
Phil opened up a convenience store in Paradise City, but working for the first time as an ordinary guy in his city, he realized that there was a serious crime problem, even without the super-villains, mad scientists, and alien invasions. Paradise was overrun by gang violence and corporate greed. Phil decided to create a new identity as a masked vigilante to fight crime. He took the name NighTrain, as he was "Loaded like a freight train with power, and flyin' like an aeroplane at the enemy...".
During this time he became an ally of a local gang called the Illusions and a major adversary of Mr. Brownstone, who ruled the town. He also met and fell in love with Patience Glenndale, who turned out to be a member of the Interstellar Peace Organization, assigned to monitoring and protecting Earth.
In 1992, it appeared that Mr. Brownstone had shot NighTrain to death, but in fact, the hero had been not died. He managed to escape after being left for dead, and for months hid while recovering from his wounds, only to re-emerge and take the villain down.
Shortly after, the government imposed a ban on vigilantes. NighTrain refused to stop his activities and was arrested.
After his arrest, an alien invasion taking advantage of the act caused the government to reverse its decision to allow the heroes to return to duty and save Earth. However, NighTrain was not retroactively pardoned, and was forced to serve his sentence.
Bitter about being confined with the scum he helped put away, NighTrain was visited by Satan, who offered to restore Sherman's former Zap powers. Sherman accepted and used his powers to escape. He now became a wanted man, and clearly with his new powers was being swayed by it's demonic source. His own friends, such as Powerman and Patience, tried to convince him to turn himself in, but he chose instead to fight them and flee.
However, when the villain Continuity almost destroyed reality, NighTrain sacrificed his life by using his power to stop the time wave that was erasing history.
Because NighTrain was a demigod of Greek heritage, when he died he went to Hades, where he challenged the prince of the underworld and won, regaining his life.
When Sherman returned from the dead, he was without his Zap powers, but had gained some dark abilities, which he generally only used subtly and didn't reveal to others. He returned to operation as NighTrain. Shortly after this, Phil married Patience.
About a year later, a mutant named Adam used his ability to take control of Earth, creating a new society where mutants and metahumans were of a higher class of citizenry. He maintained a police force of metahumans who were under his mental domination. He also forced aliens off the planet, as well as humans associated with the IPO, such as Patience.
NighTrain led an underground resistance, though he was unsuccessful for three years until Powerman, who had been in a self-imposed exile, returned to free the metahumans from Adam's control and defeat the villain.
After Adam's defeat, Powerman spoke to Earth's heroes. He told them that he had traveled to the future often, and in the future, there are no super-beings or costumed vigilantes. Humanity achieves great things on their own. To establish this future, with the consent of the heroic community, Allorin Vonski uses his magic to remove all super-powers on Earth and remove any memories of super-powers except from a very select few who chose to retire or leave Earth.
Allorin also did one other act. He sensed that Patience was pregnant with Phil's child. He took the powers from Keith Sheridan, the hero who had been operating as Zap using the original Zap powers and placed them within the unborn child.
NighTrain was among those to leave Earth, boarding a spaceship with Patience (who he had married during the rebellion) and their unborn child. The others were Powerman and his alien bride Yana Oo, the hero Marvel, and some comrades of Powerman called the Group.
Those who left Earth explored the galaxy for some time, and Tara Sherman was born in space (though her powers wouldn't surface until years later.) In 2000, the group found a rift in space and wound up in an alternate reality where the Justice League had become the lead heroes of Earth. They lived there for a year, but eventually left and found their way back to their own Earth.
Returning home, Phil and Patience quietly retired to have a normal family life, opening a new store in Paradise City. The couple had two more children, Alison and Carter.
But in 2007, the machinations of the evil god Morgoth caused the world to remember metahumans, and the evil terrorist occult cult called the New Power Organization was revived. When Phil learned of this, he gathered together a team of crime investigators and paranormal experts and created NighTforce, dedicated to taking down the New Power.
At the same time, Tara's powers surfaced. Rather than prohibit her from taking on the mantle of Zap, Master of Power, he instead trained her so she would use them as safely as possible.
Eventually, the New Power was defeated, and NighTforce rededicated itself to hunting demons, as an after effect of the defeat of the New Power was a release of demons upon Earth.
Sherman, meanwhile, was transported for a year to an alien planet along with his daughter and several other heroes and villains in order to do battle for the amusement of a god-like being.
Upon their return, Phil left NighTforce to devote more time to his family, though he didn't fully uninvolve himself, as their headquarters was under his store.
Recently, Phil and Patience had more trouble with their children. It turned out that Alison was a slayer, part of an ancient order of chosen girls who inherit natural abilities to fight vampires. And Carter was abducted by a time travelling villain named Cronstar. Seconds after he disappeared, Carter returned, now in his 30s, having lived his life in the 22nd century.
The Shermans had to accept having one child out battling super-villains, another being trained by a Watcher to kill demons, and another who had aged 30 years and had an unpleasant personality.
Eventually, Carter returned to the future, and moments later, young Carter returned, having been rescued by his older self, thus negating his own existence in the hopes that he could grow up to be a better person if raised by his parents.
Comments:
Phil Sherman aka Zap, Master of Power and NighTrain, is the creation of Phil Sheridan. He first appeared in a cameo in Powerkid # 1.
Though Super Comics has many characters not created by me, most fall into two categories. Either they are characters created by my friends specifically for the purpose of Super Comics, thus giving me ownership of the characters to use as I wish. The other are unlicensed properties which I have adapted, such as Lord of the Rings or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which I use without permission under the laws regarding fan fiction.
But there are two characters (and affiliated supporting characters) that are actually owned by the creators but in which I have permission to use for Super Comics. Phil Sheridan's Zap, Master of Power is one of them. John C. Barstow's The Misadventures of Captain Zippy in the 24 1/2 Century is the other.
As I said, Phil's Zap first appeared briefly mentioned in Powerkid # 1, and became a regular recurring character in that series. At the same time, he was a member of the Powerkid Police, appearing regularly in that title as well.
A year after his debut, Phil launched Zap, Master of Power in his own title. This was the first Super Comics title that I had no creative input in at all. But it still fell within the Super Comics reality.
Phil's series, a brilliant satire of the super-hero genre, lasted for two years. After this, Phil retired from writing the character, but allowed me to keep using him. However, I soon after retired the character, relegating him to a non-powered supporting cast member for Powerkid/Powerman. Meanwhile, Bill Nault had created a new character using only the "Zap, Master of Power" name, but redefining everything else about the character.
In 1992, the character was officially licensed under a formal contract between myself and Phil Sheridan.
However, I chose to pass the Zap title onto a younger generation hero, and turned Phil Sherman into NighTrain, in a series that played tribute to the band Guns'n'Roses (a favorite band of both Phil and myself at the time). This series lasted a few years, but in 1995 was cancelled with the entire Super Comics line.
The character appeared in the 1998 mini-series Timeline, and then became a regular in Powerman for a few years. In 2001, he disappeared into comic book limbo until the revival of the Super Comics. He appeared in the initial 2007 storyline that spanned both Powerkid and Powerman, and then in 2008 became the lead character in NighTforce and a supporting character in the new Zap, Master of Power.
Phil currently appears in both those series. NighTforce is slated for cancellation in May 2012. Zap, Master of Power will be continuing, but and Phil Sherman will be appearing, though there is a dramatic change that I am not planning on revealing just yet.
Batman II
Batman II
Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane
Real Name: Richard Grayson
Alias: Robin I
Current Occupation: Deceased, former Attorney
Parents: John and Mary Grayson (natural, deceased), Bruce Wayne (adoptive, deceased)
Siblings: Bruce Wayne Junior (adoptive brother), Helena Wayne (adoptive sister, deceased)
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: All-Star Squadron, Justice League of America
Place of Birth: Unknown
Place of Death: Gotham City
First Appearance: Detective Comics # 38, April 1940
Biography:
Richard Grayson was part of a circus acrobat family. His parents were murdered in the 1930s, and he was adopted by Bruce Wayne, was as Batman trained Dick to be his sidekick Robin.
Dick served as Robin throughout the 1940s, but retired in 1949 to go off to college. A decade later, however, he took over as Batman when Bruce retired, and Bruce's son, Bruce Junior, became the new Robin.
Dick was a founding member of the Justice League of America. In the 1980s, he died during the Crisis on Infinite Earths, when a building fell on top of him.
Comments:
The generational Batman legacy comes from some 1950s/1960s imaginary stories, which were then adapted by John Byrne, Dennis Power, and myself.
As Robin, Dick's canon Wronskiverse appearances are all golden age/Earth-2 stories, and anything mentioned in Win Scott Eckert's crossovers. Additionally, he was seen in Mystery Men.
Dick Grayson was also the Batman seen in the 1960s Batman TV series and Super Friends. This is the Batman that met Super-Bob in the early 1980s.
Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane
Real Name: Richard Grayson
Alias: Robin I
Current Occupation: Deceased, former Attorney
Parents: John and Mary Grayson (natural, deceased), Bruce Wayne (adoptive, deceased)
Siblings: Bruce Wayne Junior (adoptive brother), Helena Wayne (adoptive sister, deceased)
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: All-Star Squadron, Justice League of America
Place of Birth: Unknown
Place of Death: Gotham City
First Appearance: Detective Comics # 38, April 1940
Biography:
Richard Grayson was part of a circus acrobat family. His parents were murdered in the 1930s, and he was adopted by Bruce Wayne, was as Batman trained Dick to be his sidekick Robin.
Dick served as Robin throughout the 1940s, but retired in 1949 to go off to college. A decade later, however, he took over as Batman when Bruce retired, and Bruce's son, Bruce Junior, became the new Robin.
Dick was a founding member of the Justice League of America. In the 1980s, he died during the Crisis on Infinite Earths, when a building fell on top of him.
Comments:
The generational Batman legacy comes from some 1950s/1960s imaginary stories, which were then adapted by John Byrne, Dennis Power, and myself.
As Robin, Dick's canon Wronskiverse appearances are all golden age/Earth-2 stories, and anything mentioned in Win Scott Eckert's crossovers. Additionally, he was seen in Mystery Men.
Dick Grayson was also the Batman seen in the 1960s Batman TV series and Super Friends. This is the Batman that met Super-Bob in the early 1980s.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Chief Brian Spearing
Chief Brian Spearing
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Brian Spears
Alias: Brian Spearing
Current Occupation: Orange City Police Chief
Parents: Unknown
Siblings: Karate Spears, Charles Spearing Senior
Spouse: Paulette Spearing
Children: Charles Spearing Junior (adopted)
Group Affiliation: Orange City Police Department
Place of Birth: Earth-K
Current Place of Residence: Orange City
First Appearance: Super Comics # 23, September 1981
Biography:
Brian Spears was born on an alternate Earth where the mightiest warriors were chosen to rule the planet. His oldest brother, Karate, had become such a ruler. His other brother, Charles, was equally as bloodthirsty. Brian was odd in that he was humane and believed in justice. He couldn't stand the world he lived in. And he feared for the infant son of his brother Charles, to be brought up in this world.
Their Earth may have been more savage, but it was also more technologically advanced. Brian used a device only for use by the highest of officials to scan into alternate realities. He found an alternate Earth that seemed a utopia to him. And he witnessed a man abducting his child, escaping from a distant planet, and bringing him to Earth, where they changed their names and began new lives. (This was in fact Michael Bossman aka Robert Kowalski and his son Christopher.) This inspired Brian, who abducted Charles Junior and used their experimental teleportation device to travel to this other Earth, destroying the device behind him.
Brian changed his last name to Spearing, and claimed young Charlie to be his own child. He met and married a woman named Paulette and managed to get a job as a police officer in Orange City. (How he obtained such things as birth certificates and social security numbers is unknown, but this was in the pre-digital age.)
He turned out to be one of the best cops in the force, and within less than a decade had become the chief of police for the entire city. Meanwhile, he had moved his family to live on the same street as that family he had observed back on his homeworld. His Charlie and Christopher had become good friends and classmates. And even though Spearing knew Chris was an alien (something he kept to himself), he was not aware that Chris had become the urban legend called Super-Bob.
However, it was very shortly after Super-Bob began operating in the city and after Obie Planters had tried to blow up the city that Brian found himself meeting Super-Bob. Super-Bob wanted Chief Spearing to know that he was real and on the side of the law. He presented Spearing with a special communication device that could be used to contact Super-Bob at any time, via his super computer VIC-20. From that point on, the two had developed a close professional relationship.
In 1982, Karate Spears discovered this other Earth, but the newly built teleportation devise was not as good as the original, and the only way for Spears to travel was to switch places with someone with very similar genetics. It so happened, Charlie Spearing was the match, and was transported to Earth-K every time that Karate Spears visited Earth-B. When Karate Spears returned to his world, Charlie would be transported home.
By 1991, Spearing had become police commissioner. Two years later, the city was atomized. Millions were killed by a death ray controlled by Powerman's greatest foes. Charlie and Paulette were killed, but Brian had been in the underground armory and survived.
For 10 years the city was uninhabitable, and Spearing's activities during that time are unknown. But when the city was rebuilt in 2001, Spearing was asked back to be the police chief, which he accepted, and he continues to hold that position to this day.
Comments:
Chief Spearing was inspired by an amalgamation of two real people from my childhood. One was the father of a neighborhood friend, and the other a police officer in my home town.
Of course, the character holds the usual position required in any super-hero fiction of the one cop who can contact the hero.
However, the fact that he comes from an alternate Earth so different than ours makes him a little more unique than your average Commissioner Gordon or Inspector Henderson.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Brian Spears
Alias: Brian Spearing
Current Occupation: Orange City Police Chief
Parents: Unknown
Siblings: Karate Spears, Charles Spearing Senior
Spouse: Paulette Spearing
Children: Charles Spearing Junior (adopted)
Group Affiliation: Orange City Police Department
Place of Birth: Earth-K
Current Place of Residence: Orange City
First Appearance: Super Comics # 23, September 1981
Biography:
Brian Spears was born on an alternate Earth where the mightiest warriors were chosen to rule the planet. His oldest brother, Karate, had become such a ruler. His other brother, Charles, was equally as bloodthirsty. Brian was odd in that he was humane and believed in justice. He couldn't stand the world he lived in. And he feared for the infant son of his brother Charles, to be brought up in this world.
Their Earth may have been more savage, but it was also more technologically advanced. Brian used a device only for use by the highest of officials to scan into alternate realities. He found an alternate Earth that seemed a utopia to him. And he witnessed a man abducting his child, escaping from a distant planet, and bringing him to Earth, where they changed their names and began new lives. (This was in fact Michael Bossman aka Robert Kowalski and his son Christopher.) This inspired Brian, who abducted Charles Junior and used their experimental teleportation device to travel to this other Earth, destroying the device behind him.
Brian changed his last name to Spearing, and claimed young Charlie to be his own child. He met and married a woman named Paulette and managed to get a job as a police officer in Orange City. (How he obtained such things as birth certificates and social security numbers is unknown, but this was in the pre-digital age.)
He turned out to be one of the best cops in the force, and within less than a decade had become the chief of police for the entire city. Meanwhile, he had moved his family to live on the same street as that family he had observed back on his homeworld. His Charlie and Christopher had become good friends and classmates. And even though Spearing knew Chris was an alien (something he kept to himself), he was not aware that Chris had become the urban legend called Super-Bob.
However, it was very shortly after Super-Bob began operating in the city and after Obie Planters had tried to blow up the city that Brian found himself meeting Super-Bob. Super-Bob wanted Chief Spearing to know that he was real and on the side of the law. He presented Spearing with a special communication device that could be used to contact Super-Bob at any time, via his super computer VIC-20. From that point on, the two had developed a close professional relationship.
In 1982, Karate Spears discovered this other Earth, but the newly built teleportation devise was not as good as the original, and the only way for Spears to travel was to switch places with someone with very similar genetics. It so happened, Charlie Spearing was the match, and was transported to Earth-K every time that Karate Spears visited Earth-B. When Karate Spears returned to his world, Charlie would be transported home.
By 1991, Spearing had become police commissioner. Two years later, the city was atomized. Millions were killed by a death ray controlled by Powerman's greatest foes. Charlie and Paulette were killed, but Brian had been in the underground armory and survived.
For 10 years the city was uninhabitable, and Spearing's activities during that time are unknown. But when the city was rebuilt in 2001, Spearing was asked back to be the police chief, which he accepted, and he continues to hold that position to this day.
Comments:
Chief Spearing was inspired by an amalgamation of two real people from my childhood. One was the father of a neighborhood friend, and the other a police officer in my home town.
Of course, the character holds the usual position required in any super-hero fiction of the one cop who can contact the hero.
However, the fact that he comes from an alternate Earth so different than ours makes him a little more unique than your average Commissioner Gordon or Inspector Henderson.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Karate Spears
Karate Spears
Created by Chuck Spears
Real Name: Karate Spears
Alias: Interstellar Ninja
Current Occupation: Mercenary
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: Charles Spearing Senior, Brian Spearing
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Powerkid Haters, Bad Guys
Place of Birth: Earth-K
Current Place of Residence: Orange City
First Appearance: Powerkid # 1, September 1982
Biography:
In an alternate reality, life on Earth had evolved differently, in a warrior culture where only the mightiest warriors ruled. In the late 20th century, Karate Spears was that warrior ruler. However, Spears grew bored with no challenges to his rule, and sought to find one elsewhere.
Despite being a very uncivilized world, they were much more technologically advanced, and Karate Spears used a device that allowed him to view alternate Earths to find a challenge. He came across the universe of Powerkid, and found Powerkid to be a worthy opponent.
To that end, he came to Orange City and found Powerkid, and began attacking him. Powerkid and Karate Spears at first seemed evenly matched, but it turned out that Powerkid began weakening because Spears was using a power draining device called Apple Crisp on the hero.
Mustering the last of his energy, Powerkid fled. Karate Spears had given Powerkid the clue on who to seek out for aid. When Spears revealed he was from another Earth, this let Powerkid know that he multiverse was real, just like in his comics. He had previously used the Forbidden Forest as a portal to travel through time and to other weird dimensions, so likely he could do so to travel to alternate Earths, and he did just that.
In the meantime, Spears gloated over his victory, and threatened to keep destroying the city until Powerkid returned to face his demise. But Spears didn't have to wait too long when both a red and a blue streak came towards him, and Spears found himself toppled over by both Powerkid and Superman!!! (Even though there was two Supermen in the Wronskiverse at this time, they operated in secret and Powerkid was not aware of their existence, thus he traveled to another reality to get their Superman.)
The two defeated the villain, who teleported back to his own world.
Humiliated, Spears had to redeem himself (especially since on his world, weakness was surely a sign that he was unfit to rule and easy to kill.) Over the next few years, Spears constantly tried to kill Powerkid and failed each time. Eventually, he became a constant foe of Zap and the Powerkid Police as well. Karate Spears eventually found it in his best interest to form a lasting alliance with Doctor Deadly, the evil ageless ruler of Death Planet. He also joined a team of Powerkid's greatest foes called the Powerkid Haters.
During the Crisis on Infinite Earths, everything changed. The wave of antimattter and the environmental damage were combining to tear Karate Spears' Earth apart, and only with the aid of Powerkid was it saved, when Powerkid actually moved the planet out of that doomed reality and into an orbit between Death Planet and Booer. Overcome by the generosity of a hero who he's tried to kill dozens of times, Spears redefined in his mind what makes a warrior, and vowed that his world, renamed Kearth, would never do harm to Powerkid or Earth ever again.
That would be Spears' undoing. One of Spears' top aids, General Leers, was able to convince the public that their leader's newfound outlook was weakness, and toppled the government and assumed control. Leers did not slay Spears, however, as Spears still had a large following, and instead locked him away in a dungeon.
Eventually Leers himself was killed and replaced by Spearon, and a decade passed with Spears locked away, until he eventually escaped and fled to Earth, where he began operating as a super-hero called the Interstellar Ninja. A few years later, a mutant named Adam took over the Earth, and aliens were all deported, including Spears. Spears recently returned to Earth, and joined a team of mercenaries that consisted of reformed super villains called the Bad Guys. He currently works this this team going around the world helping people in need.
Comments:
Karate Spears has the distinction of being the first Powerkid foe, and replaced the Lightning Kid as Powerkid's primary foe. The character was created by my then neighbor Chuck Spears. He was creatively involved in almost all Karate Spears stories from 1982 - 1985.
Ironically, as my friendship with Chuck was ending, I did the reverse for the characters. Karate Spears' final appearance was in 1985's The Crisis Within, until I brought him back in 1994 in the Powerman series. Karate Spears appeared a few times as the Interstellar Ninja between 1994 - 1995, then again stopped appearing until 2008 when he was brought back in Crisis, and is now a team member of the Bad Guys, which is published monthly.
Created by Chuck Spears
Real Name: Karate Spears
Alias: Interstellar Ninja
Current Occupation: Mercenary
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: Charles Spearing Senior, Brian Spearing
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Powerkid Haters, Bad Guys
Place of Birth: Earth-K
Current Place of Residence: Orange City
First Appearance: Powerkid # 1, September 1982
Biography:
In an alternate reality, life on Earth had evolved differently, in a warrior culture where only the mightiest warriors ruled. In the late 20th century, Karate Spears was that warrior ruler. However, Spears grew bored with no challenges to his rule, and sought to find one elsewhere.
Despite being a very uncivilized world, they were much more technologically advanced, and Karate Spears used a device that allowed him to view alternate Earths to find a challenge. He came across the universe of Powerkid, and found Powerkid to be a worthy opponent.
To that end, he came to Orange City and found Powerkid, and began attacking him. Powerkid and Karate Spears at first seemed evenly matched, but it turned out that Powerkid began weakening because Spears was using a power draining device called Apple Crisp on the hero.
Mustering the last of his energy, Powerkid fled. Karate Spears had given Powerkid the clue on who to seek out for aid. When Spears revealed he was from another Earth, this let Powerkid know that he multiverse was real, just like in his comics. He had previously used the Forbidden Forest as a portal to travel through time and to other weird dimensions, so likely he could do so to travel to alternate Earths, and he did just that.
In the meantime, Spears gloated over his victory, and threatened to keep destroying the city until Powerkid returned to face his demise. But Spears didn't have to wait too long when both a red and a blue streak came towards him, and Spears found himself toppled over by both Powerkid and Superman!!! (Even though there was two Supermen in the Wronskiverse at this time, they operated in secret and Powerkid was not aware of their existence, thus he traveled to another reality to get their Superman.)
The two defeated the villain, who teleported back to his own world.
Humiliated, Spears had to redeem himself (especially since on his world, weakness was surely a sign that he was unfit to rule and easy to kill.) Over the next few years, Spears constantly tried to kill Powerkid and failed each time. Eventually, he became a constant foe of Zap and the Powerkid Police as well. Karate Spears eventually found it in his best interest to form a lasting alliance with Doctor Deadly, the evil ageless ruler of Death Planet. He also joined a team of Powerkid's greatest foes called the Powerkid Haters.
During the Crisis on Infinite Earths, everything changed. The wave of antimattter and the environmental damage were combining to tear Karate Spears' Earth apart, and only with the aid of Powerkid was it saved, when Powerkid actually moved the planet out of that doomed reality and into an orbit between Death Planet and Booer. Overcome by the generosity of a hero who he's tried to kill dozens of times, Spears redefined in his mind what makes a warrior, and vowed that his world, renamed Kearth, would never do harm to Powerkid or Earth ever again.
That would be Spears' undoing. One of Spears' top aids, General Leers, was able to convince the public that their leader's newfound outlook was weakness, and toppled the government and assumed control. Leers did not slay Spears, however, as Spears still had a large following, and instead locked him away in a dungeon.
Eventually Leers himself was killed and replaced by Spearon, and a decade passed with Spears locked away, until he eventually escaped and fled to Earth, where he began operating as a super-hero called the Interstellar Ninja. A few years later, a mutant named Adam took over the Earth, and aliens were all deported, including Spears. Spears recently returned to Earth, and joined a team of mercenaries that consisted of reformed super villains called the Bad Guys. He currently works this this team going around the world helping people in need.
Comments:
Karate Spears has the distinction of being the first Powerkid foe, and replaced the Lightning Kid as Powerkid's primary foe. The character was created by my then neighbor Chuck Spears. He was creatively involved in almost all Karate Spears stories from 1982 - 1985.
Ironically, as my friendship with Chuck was ending, I did the reverse for the characters. Karate Spears' final appearance was in 1985's The Crisis Within, until I brought him back in 1994 in the Powerman series. Karate Spears appeared a few times as the Interstellar Ninja between 1994 - 1995, then again stopped appearing until 2008 when he was brought back in Crisis, and is now a team member of the Bad Guys, which is published monthly.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Batman I
Batman I
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Bruce Wayne
Current Occupation: Deceased; former police commissioner
Parents: Thomas and Martha Wayne (deceased)
Siblings: Thomas Wayne Junior (deceased)
Spouse: Julie Madison (ex-wife); Selina Kyle Wayne (aka Catwoman, deceased)
Children: Dick Grayson (aka Batman II; adopted, deceased); Bruce Wayne Junior (aka Batman III) and Helena Wayne (aka Huntress, deceased)
Group Affiliation: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Justice Society of America, All-Star Squadron, Club of Heroes
Place of Birth: Gotham City
Place of Death: Gotham City
First Appearance: Detective Comics # 27, May 1939
Biography:
When he was eight, Bruce Wayne saw his children murdered before his eyes. At that tragic moment, the boy became heir to millions. The boy was raised by his Uncle Philip and chose to use his fortune to travel the world and train to fight a war on crime.
As an adult, he donned a costume that resembled a bat to strike fear into the hearts of criminals, and became the vigilante known as Batman. At first hunted by the law, eventually he became a deputized agent of the law and even was called upon by the government on numerous occasions.
The Batman was a member of several groups of heroes, and eventually took in an orphan named Dick Grayson who he trained to be his sidekick, Robin.
In the late 1940s, Dick Grayson went off to college and Bruce married an old flame, Julie Madison, though the marriage didn't last as she couldn't deal with his costumed activities. Their marriage did produce a child, Bruce Wayne Junior. Bruce then married his old foe Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, and they had a child, Helena Wayne.
In 1959, Bruce retired, and Dick took over Batman, with Bruce Junior becoming Robin.
Bruce took over at Gotham's police commissioner and was later killed by a small time crook who had gained incredible super-powers.
Comments:
The canon of this Batman in the Wronskiverse consists of all stories published in the golden age up to 1945, and all stories referenced in Crossovers: A Secret Chronology of the World by Win Scott Eckert. Additionally, he has appeared in original Wronskiverse stories. He has appeared in the League of Extraordinary Heroes 1938, Mystery Men, the Wanderer, and Powerman.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Bruce Wayne
Current Occupation: Deceased; former police commissioner
Parents: Thomas and Martha Wayne (deceased)
Siblings: Thomas Wayne Junior (deceased)
Spouse: Julie Madison (ex-wife); Selina Kyle Wayne (aka Catwoman, deceased)
Children: Dick Grayson (aka Batman II; adopted, deceased); Bruce Wayne Junior (aka Batman III) and Helena Wayne (aka Huntress, deceased)
Group Affiliation: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Justice Society of America, All-Star Squadron, Club of Heroes
Place of Birth: Gotham City
Place of Death: Gotham City
First Appearance: Detective Comics # 27, May 1939
Biography:
When he was eight, Bruce Wayne saw his children murdered before his eyes. At that tragic moment, the boy became heir to millions. The boy was raised by his Uncle Philip and chose to use his fortune to travel the world and train to fight a war on crime.
As an adult, he donned a costume that resembled a bat to strike fear into the hearts of criminals, and became the vigilante known as Batman. At first hunted by the law, eventually he became a deputized agent of the law and even was called upon by the government on numerous occasions.
The Batman was a member of several groups of heroes, and eventually took in an orphan named Dick Grayson who he trained to be his sidekick, Robin.
In the late 1940s, Dick Grayson went off to college and Bruce married an old flame, Julie Madison, though the marriage didn't last as she couldn't deal with his costumed activities. Their marriage did produce a child, Bruce Wayne Junior. Bruce then married his old foe Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, and they had a child, Helena Wayne.
In 1959, Bruce retired, and Dick took over Batman, with Bruce Junior becoming Robin.
Bruce took over at Gotham's police commissioner and was later killed by a small time crook who had gained incredible super-powers.
Comments:
The canon of this Batman in the Wronskiverse consists of all stories published in the golden age up to 1945, and all stories referenced in Crossovers: A Secret Chronology of the World by Win Scott Eckert. Additionally, he has appeared in original Wronskiverse stories. He has appeared in the League of Extraordinary Heroes 1938, Mystery Men, the Wanderer, and Powerman.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Lightning Master
Lightning Master
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Dr. Obidiah Planters
Alias: Lightning Kid
Current Occupation: Villain
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Powerkid Haters, Seven Deadly Sins, New Power Organization
Place of Birth: Orange City
Current Place of Residence: Unknown
First Appearance: Super Comics # 6, April 1980
Biography:
Obie Planters was a classmate of Chris "Super-Bob" Kowalski. During one terrible lightning storm, lightning crashed into Obie's bedroom window, striking Obie, his computer, and his chemistry set. Obie went comatose. A few days later, Obie awoke with a super intellect, electrical powers, and evil madness. He made the logical conclusion that he should blow up the city.
To that end, he escaped from the hospital, and for several weeks, created a large underground lair, a super-computer, and a doomsday device. He tried to blackmail the city for $1,000,000.00, but he was thwarted by Super-Bob.
Planters, who would start calling himself the Lightning Kid, became one of Super-Bob's most dangerous recurring foes, even in the years that followed when Super-Bob became Powerkid then Powerman.
Weirdly, even though Super-Bob had taken over Planters' original headquarters and made it his own, Planters never tried to take advantage of the information of knowing this secret location nor did Super-Bob seem concerned that one of his worst enemies knew his secret location. Additionally, the villainous Jack Frost had worked there as Planters' lab assistant, and also never gave away any information.
As it turned out, one of Planters' original defense mechanisms was a device that blocked people's brains from acknowledging the location of the lair. Only certain programmed brain patterns were immune. Planters' super-computer, VIC-20, had made his own decision to change his affiliation, thus allowing Super-Bob to find the headquarters, and then later preventing the villains from remembering it. However, a recent glitch allowed the two to find and attack the headquarters, and destroyed it.
During his year in reform school and prison, minus his escapes to attempt revenge, Planters gained a doctorate degree. As an adult, he changed his villainous alter ego name to Lightning Master. He continued to plague the his heroic nemesis, now called Powerman.
Upon adulthood, his powers progressed. He began transforming into pure energy, and eventually had on physical form at all, but became sentient energy.
The Lightning Master continues to plague both Powerman, and his son, Powerkid. Currently he is leading a team of their greatest enemies in a plot to destroy them both.
Comments:
Physically, this character was based on a childhood classmate. His civilian name is also an alteration on the real person's name. But personality wise, the character is really inspired by the silver age Lex Luthor.
This character has no relationship to the Superman villain called the Lightning Master. I hadn't heard of him yet when I created my character.
This character has remained one of the top villains of the Powerman series since 1980.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Dr. Obidiah Planters
Alias: Lightning Kid
Current Occupation: Villain
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Powerkid Haters, Seven Deadly Sins, New Power Organization
Place of Birth: Orange City
Current Place of Residence: Unknown
First Appearance: Super Comics # 6, April 1980
Biography:
Obie Planters was a classmate of Chris "Super-Bob" Kowalski. During one terrible lightning storm, lightning crashed into Obie's bedroom window, striking Obie, his computer, and his chemistry set. Obie went comatose. A few days later, Obie awoke with a super intellect, electrical powers, and evil madness. He made the logical conclusion that he should blow up the city.
To that end, he escaped from the hospital, and for several weeks, created a large underground lair, a super-computer, and a doomsday device. He tried to blackmail the city for $1,000,000.00, but he was thwarted by Super-Bob.
Planters, who would start calling himself the Lightning Kid, became one of Super-Bob's most dangerous recurring foes, even in the years that followed when Super-Bob became Powerkid then Powerman.
Weirdly, even though Super-Bob had taken over Planters' original headquarters and made it his own, Planters never tried to take advantage of the information of knowing this secret location nor did Super-Bob seem concerned that one of his worst enemies knew his secret location. Additionally, the villainous Jack Frost had worked there as Planters' lab assistant, and also never gave away any information.
As it turned out, one of Planters' original defense mechanisms was a device that blocked people's brains from acknowledging the location of the lair. Only certain programmed brain patterns were immune. Planters' super-computer, VIC-20, had made his own decision to change his affiliation, thus allowing Super-Bob to find the headquarters, and then later preventing the villains from remembering it. However, a recent glitch allowed the two to find and attack the headquarters, and destroyed it.
During his year in reform school and prison, minus his escapes to attempt revenge, Planters gained a doctorate degree. As an adult, he changed his villainous alter ego name to Lightning Master. He continued to plague the his heroic nemesis, now called Powerman.
Upon adulthood, his powers progressed. He began transforming into pure energy, and eventually had on physical form at all, but became sentient energy.
The Lightning Master continues to plague both Powerman, and his son, Powerkid. Currently he is leading a team of their greatest enemies in a plot to destroy them both.
Comments:
Physically, this character was based on a childhood classmate. His civilian name is also an alteration on the real person's name. But personality wise, the character is really inspired by the silver age Lex Luthor.
This character has no relationship to the Superman villain called the Lightning Master. I hadn't heard of him yet when I created my character.
This character has remained one of the top villains of the Powerman series since 1980.
Victoria-21
Victoria-21
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Victoria-21
Current Occupation: Demon Hunter
Parents: VIC-20 (Creator)
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: NighTforce
Place of Birth: Earth
Current Place of Residence: Paradise City, CA
First Appearance: NighTforce # 1, January 2008
Biography:
Victoria-21 is a computer system created by a computer system. Her creator is VIC-20. VIC was created by evil scientist Dr. Obidiah Planters. His name stands for Virtual Intelligence Computer, and he was the 20th model.
Though created for evil, VIC chose to instead serve the hero called Super-Bob, but now serves most of Earth's heroes.
A few years ago, VIC decided to create a backup copy and upgrade it, to run more efficiently. This upgrade became Victoria-21. She was so named because she chose to take on a female persona and was the 21st model.
And she was indeed an upgrade. VIC was tied to the internet, but could still only operate out of hardware. Victoria on the other hand was able to project a holographic image using satellites. VIC and Victoria were actually two systems, but were still linked to each other,and also to the web, thus Victoria had access to a vast information network.
Victoria was provided by VIC to work for NighTforce, a team devoted to fighting the evils of the paranormal and the New Power Organization, whose leader was NighTforce, a hero who had worked closely with VIC over the years.
Comments:
All NighTforce members are based on members of a paranormal team I have been associated with. Of course, VIC-20 has been a character in the Wronskiverse since 1980, and was inspired by my first computer.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Victoria-21
Current Occupation: Demon Hunter
Parents: VIC-20 (Creator)
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: NighTforce
Place of Birth: Earth
Current Place of Residence: Paradise City, CA
First Appearance: NighTforce # 1, January 2008
Biography:
Victoria-21 is a computer system created by a computer system. Her creator is VIC-20. VIC was created by evil scientist Dr. Obidiah Planters. His name stands for Virtual Intelligence Computer, and he was the 20th model.
Though created for evil, VIC chose to instead serve the hero called Super-Bob, but now serves most of Earth's heroes.
A few years ago, VIC decided to create a backup copy and upgrade it, to run more efficiently. This upgrade became Victoria-21. She was so named because she chose to take on a female persona and was the 21st model.
And she was indeed an upgrade. VIC was tied to the internet, but could still only operate out of hardware. Victoria on the other hand was able to project a holographic image using satellites. VIC and Victoria were actually two systems, but were still linked to each other,and also to the web, thus Victoria had access to a vast information network.
Victoria was provided by VIC to work for NighTforce, a team devoted to fighting the evils of the paranormal and the New Power Organization, whose leader was NighTforce, a hero who had worked closely with VIC over the years.
Comments:
All NighTforce members are based on members of a paranormal team I have been associated with. Of course, VIC-20 has been a character in the Wronskiverse since 1980, and was inspired by my first computer.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Krazel
Krazel
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Krazel
Alias: Powerman I, Krazy-El, Powerkid I, Space Hero II
Current Occupation: Agent of the Interstellar Peace Organization
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Powermen, Interstellar Peace Organization, Mystery Men, Powerkid Police, Heroes of Earth
Place of Birth: The Main Part of Kookoorongba (Koorongba)
Current Place of Residence: Mobile, aboard an IPO space vessel
First Appearance: Adventures of Other Worlds # 1, September 1978
Biography:
Krazel is a native of the planet Kookoorongba. When Krazel was a teen, he was chosen by that world's god, the Great Unknown, to serve in the Powermen, which was this world's planetary protectors. Powermen were endowed with super-human strength, near invulnerability, speed, and flight.
Kookoorongians age much slower than humans, and in fact he had joined the Powermen in our 17th century. In the 18th century, Krazel's superb service gained him the attention of the Interstellar Peace Organization, who recruited him for their interstellar police force.
He served with excellence for about a century, when he was reassigned to what he considered punishment for something he felt me must have done wrong. He was assigned to stay in a satellite orbiting Earth, and just make sure no aliens interfered with Earth.
This was the 1880s, and Krazel didn't understand the importance of this primitive world. But the IPO's masters, the Great Unknown, knew that Earth had been the hiding spot of a powerful weapon called the Universal Transponder, which, because it had been there for thousand of years, had transformed Earth itself into a powerful space/time nexus with strong cosmic power.
Krazel's job was very much like that of mall security. He was to observe and report. He was not to engage. If an alien entered the atmosphere, he was to call for back-up. And he wasn't ever to actually visit Earth himself, as they weren't ready for knowledge of aliens yet.
In 1891, he broke the rules. A time travelling robot from the future arrived in Paradise City, CA in an attempt to conquer Earth before the era of super-heroes. However, this time period did also have some great heroes. Krazel came to Earth and worked with these heroes to defeat the villain, who fled into the timestream.
After this encounter, Krazel was reprimanded by his superiors and so stayed out of Earth's affairs, even when the Martians of Barsoom came just a few years later. It was decided that Earth was developing it's own extraordinary gentlemen and a golden age of heroism was coming, thus humans were becoming able to handle their own threats. The IPO was waiting for something much bigger (as in god like villains.)
In 1941, Krazel felt compelled to again break the rules. The greatest evil he had ever witnessed had risen on Earth, and the American President had called out for heroes to join his All-Star Squadron. Krazel answered this call.
He observed the masked heroes of the era and realized his Powerman uniform looked similar. He donned that and after telling an eyewitness that he was a Powerman, soon Powerman became his official costumed identity.
A government agency called Operation: Super Soldier recruited Powerman and some other All Stars to join a special covert team called the Mystery Men.
After war's end in 1945, Krazel returned back to the satellite, and his mission there. However, he was now given more leniency in going to Earth to apprehend alien intruders, since they were becoming more common.
In one such case, in 1969, Krazel found himself cornered in an alley in Worcester by an alien villain who was about to shoot him. A teen named Michael Bossman happened to come across them and sensed who was good and who wasn't, and used his martial arts to disarm and incapacitate the villain.
Krazel was so impressed by Bossman's instincts, fighting prowess, and ability to process the unusual that he recommended Bossman for the IPO.
They not only agreed, but the partnered the two up and reassigned them to the planet Hanguk, a world where they were able to operate planet side as it was aware of aliens and part of the Federated Planets.
While on Hanguk, Bossman fell in love with a native and they had a child, Christopher. A month after the birth, the alien Booers invaded Hanguk. The attack was such a surprise, and the forces so overwhelming, that the planet was taken despite the best efforts of the IPO. Bossman fled the planet with his child, and went into hiding.
But in fact, the IPO knew exactly where Bossman had went, but let him go under instructions from above. The Great Unknown had a special destiny for that child.
And so Krazel was sent back to Earth, to watch again. In 1978, he spent some time on Earth, living with two humans who were brother and sister in the Pacific Northwest to better understand humanity, and to overcome loneliness.
But then he returned to the satellite. But soon after, he got a special extra assignment. That child, Chris Bossman, had been renamed Chris Kowalski, as his father had taken on an alias of Robert Kowalski.
Chris was not aware of his alien origins, and had recently been mysteriously endowed with super-powers. It was Krazel's job to go to Earth, tell the boy that his powers came from the Great Unknown, and then to train the boy to become Earth's champion.
Krazel trained Chris for three years, and then, when he was ready, Chris went public as the super-hero called Powerkid (adapted from the name of the heroes of Krazel's world.) Krazel was then finally allowed to go home, and rejoined the Powermen.
A year later, Kookoorongba was invaded by Booer, and Powerkid was summoned to aid the Powermen. Krazel was mortally wounded, but the Great Unknown was able to save him by placing his consciousness inside of Powerkid, so that whenever Chris transformed into Powerkid, Krazel would take over.
This arrangement lasted for a year, until the two were both split and fully restored in an act accomplished unintentionally by Doctor Deadly when he was trying to kill Powerkid. (He was unaware of the fusion, which caused his spell to drain Powerkid's abilities to have this side effect.)
Once he was free, he once again returned to serve his homeworld as a Powerman.
In 1991, Krazel returned to his Earth satellite, and served Earth as a member of the Heroes of Earth. He became a special agent for the IPO and was able to travel freely among the stars performing special missions either solo or with other agents.
In 1995, a mutant named Adam took over the Earth, and though he maintained relations with the IPO, had created a strict rule that no aliens were allowed on Earth. Krazel was assigned to keep watch but not allowed to interfere. After Adam's defeat three years later, Earth secretly kept relations with the the Federated Planets, with Krazel now acting as an ambassador.
In recent years, Krazel has returned to operating on special missions for the IPO, and is considered to be perhaps the best of these space heroes.
Comments:
Krazel first appeared in Adventures on Other Worlds. This was a magazine created before Super Comics, but was incorporated into the Super Universe.
He was originally called Krazy-El. (The 1991 reboot was when his name was retroactively changed.) The name is obviously a spoof of Superman's Kryptonian name, but the series itself was more in the style of Mork & Mindy.
When he next appeared, in Super Comics, he was as a recurring guest in Super-Bob, coming to train the hero.
In the second year of the Powerkid run, Krazel became the star, as he had taken over the hero's body. The premise here is similar to Firestorm or Marvel's Captain Marvel, but I had actually come up with the idea independently (or at least that's how I remember it.)
Following that year, Krazel became an obscure comic book limbo character, until 1991 when he became a leading character. He took the lead as the new Space Hero, a series once about a time traveling hero from the future, but now about the IPO. He also was a temporary member of the Heroes of Earth, and was featured in the 1940 retro series Mystery Men, and the western series, Stranger. He also appeared in the spin-off series, Space Heroes, and guest appeared in many other titles of the time.
Then two years later, his over exposure went to no exposure. That is, until 2009, when Space Heroes was revived as a series, which is still ongoing.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Krazel
Alias: Powerman I, Krazy-El, Powerkid I, Space Hero II
Current Occupation: Agent of the Interstellar Peace Organization
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Powermen, Interstellar Peace Organization, Mystery Men, Powerkid Police, Heroes of Earth
Place of Birth: The Main Part of Kookoorongba (Koorongba)
Current Place of Residence: Mobile, aboard an IPO space vessel
First Appearance: Adventures of Other Worlds # 1, September 1978
Biography:
Krazel is a native of the planet Kookoorongba. When Krazel was a teen, he was chosen by that world's god, the Great Unknown, to serve in the Powermen, which was this world's planetary protectors. Powermen were endowed with super-human strength, near invulnerability, speed, and flight.
Kookoorongians age much slower than humans, and in fact he had joined the Powermen in our 17th century. In the 18th century, Krazel's superb service gained him the attention of the Interstellar Peace Organization, who recruited him for their interstellar police force.
He served with excellence for about a century, when he was reassigned to what he considered punishment for something he felt me must have done wrong. He was assigned to stay in a satellite orbiting Earth, and just make sure no aliens interfered with Earth.
This was the 1880s, and Krazel didn't understand the importance of this primitive world. But the IPO's masters, the Great Unknown, knew that Earth had been the hiding spot of a powerful weapon called the Universal Transponder, which, because it had been there for thousand of years, had transformed Earth itself into a powerful space/time nexus with strong cosmic power.
Krazel's job was very much like that of mall security. He was to observe and report. He was not to engage. If an alien entered the atmosphere, he was to call for back-up. And he wasn't ever to actually visit Earth himself, as they weren't ready for knowledge of aliens yet.
In 1891, he broke the rules. A time travelling robot from the future arrived in Paradise City, CA in an attempt to conquer Earth before the era of super-heroes. However, this time period did also have some great heroes. Krazel came to Earth and worked with these heroes to defeat the villain, who fled into the timestream.
After this encounter, Krazel was reprimanded by his superiors and so stayed out of Earth's affairs, even when the Martians of Barsoom came just a few years later. It was decided that Earth was developing it's own extraordinary gentlemen and a golden age of heroism was coming, thus humans were becoming able to handle their own threats. The IPO was waiting for something much bigger (as in god like villains.)
In 1941, Krazel felt compelled to again break the rules. The greatest evil he had ever witnessed had risen on Earth, and the American President had called out for heroes to join his All-Star Squadron. Krazel answered this call.
He observed the masked heroes of the era and realized his Powerman uniform looked similar. He donned that and after telling an eyewitness that he was a Powerman, soon Powerman became his official costumed identity.
A government agency called Operation: Super Soldier recruited Powerman and some other All Stars to join a special covert team called the Mystery Men.
After war's end in 1945, Krazel returned back to the satellite, and his mission there. However, he was now given more leniency in going to Earth to apprehend alien intruders, since they were becoming more common.
In one such case, in 1969, Krazel found himself cornered in an alley in Worcester by an alien villain who was about to shoot him. A teen named Michael Bossman happened to come across them and sensed who was good and who wasn't, and used his martial arts to disarm and incapacitate the villain.
Krazel was so impressed by Bossman's instincts, fighting prowess, and ability to process the unusual that he recommended Bossman for the IPO.
They not only agreed, but the partnered the two up and reassigned them to the planet Hanguk, a world where they were able to operate planet side as it was aware of aliens and part of the Federated Planets.
While on Hanguk, Bossman fell in love with a native and they had a child, Christopher. A month after the birth, the alien Booers invaded Hanguk. The attack was such a surprise, and the forces so overwhelming, that the planet was taken despite the best efforts of the IPO. Bossman fled the planet with his child, and went into hiding.
But in fact, the IPO knew exactly where Bossman had went, but let him go under instructions from above. The Great Unknown had a special destiny for that child.
And so Krazel was sent back to Earth, to watch again. In 1978, he spent some time on Earth, living with two humans who were brother and sister in the Pacific Northwest to better understand humanity, and to overcome loneliness.
But then he returned to the satellite. But soon after, he got a special extra assignment. That child, Chris Bossman, had been renamed Chris Kowalski, as his father had taken on an alias of Robert Kowalski.
Chris was not aware of his alien origins, and had recently been mysteriously endowed with super-powers. It was Krazel's job to go to Earth, tell the boy that his powers came from the Great Unknown, and then to train the boy to become Earth's champion.
Krazel trained Chris for three years, and then, when he was ready, Chris went public as the super-hero called Powerkid (adapted from the name of the heroes of Krazel's world.) Krazel was then finally allowed to go home, and rejoined the Powermen.
A year later, Kookoorongba was invaded by Booer, and Powerkid was summoned to aid the Powermen. Krazel was mortally wounded, but the Great Unknown was able to save him by placing his consciousness inside of Powerkid, so that whenever Chris transformed into Powerkid, Krazel would take over.
This arrangement lasted for a year, until the two were both split and fully restored in an act accomplished unintentionally by Doctor Deadly when he was trying to kill Powerkid. (He was unaware of the fusion, which caused his spell to drain Powerkid's abilities to have this side effect.)
Once he was free, he once again returned to serve his homeworld as a Powerman.
In 1991, Krazel returned to his Earth satellite, and served Earth as a member of the Heroes of Earth. He became a special agent for the IPO and was able to travel freely among the stars performing special missions either solo or with other agents.
In 1995, a mutant named Adam took over the Earth, and though he maintained relations with the IPO, had created a strict rule that no aliens were allowed on Earth. Krazel was assigned to keep watch but not allowed to interfere. After Adam's defeat three years later, Earth secretly kept relations with the the Federated Planets, with Krazel now acting as an ambassador.
In recent years, Krazel has returned to operating on special missions for the IPO, and is considered to be perhaps the best of these space heroes.
Comments:
Krazel first appeared in Adventures on Other Worlds. This was a magazine created before Super Comics, but was incorporated into the Super Universe.
He was originally called Krazy-El. (The 1991 reboot was when his name was retroactively changed.) The name is obviously a spoof of Superman's Kryptonian name, but the series itself was more in the style of Mork & Mindy.
When he next appeared, in Super Comics, he was as a recurring guest in Super-Bob, coming to train the hero.
In the second year of the Powerkid run, Krazel became the star, as he had taken over the hero's body. The premise here is similar to Firestorm or Marvel's Captain Marvel, but I had actually come up with the idea independently (or at least that's how I remember it.)
Following that year, Krazel became an obscure comic book limbo character, until 1991 when he became a leading character. He took the lead as the new Space Hero, a series once about a time traveling hero from the future, but now about the IPO. He also was a temporary member of the Heroes of Earth, and was featured in the 1940 retro series Mystery Men, and the western series, Stranger. He also appeared in the spin-off series, Space Heroes, and guest appeared in many other titles of the time.
Then two years later, his over exposure went to no exposure. That is, until 2009, when Space Heroes was revived as a series, which is still ongoing.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Champions
Champions
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Also known as: Blackbirds, Misfits
First Appearance: Blackbirds # 1, January 1991
Members:
Protector
Powerman
Zap, Master of Power II
Marvel
Warchild
Super Guy
Green Man
Flame
Icicle
Hell Child
Devil's Daughter
Zap, Master of Power III
Mouse
Justice
Shellar
Biography:
A child who was the son of Allorin Vonski and a mortal woman was captured at birth by Darkseid of Apokolips and raised by Granny Goodness. Allorin knew of his son's fate and chose to leave him there.
The boy gained powers of telethapy, telekinesis, and teleportation, and escapes to Earth, where he is taken in by Superman. The boy, named Bob Kent, tries to gain acceptance in the super-hero community but is rejected for membership from both the Justice League and Teen Titans.
Angry, the boy leaves for parts unknown.
Several years later, he returns as an adult called the Protector. He decides to create his own super-team. Visiting the Justice League, he duplicates their powers and bestows them on several people, in order to form a team called the Blackbirds. (One of those chosen was Leonard Audder, who once was Super Len.) The Protector also recruited Powerman and Zap (stealing them away from the Heroes of Earth), and Marvel, a recently new heroine.
Once his team was formed, the Protector left. The team operated out of Greenfield, and their adventures mostly had them come in conflict with Project: Franklin, a government agency devoted to the capture and study of meta-humans in the goal of creating its own super-soldiers. Another recurring adversary were the Metorans, an alien race who, though resembling humans, were truly beings of pure energy.
After a battle where the team was nearly killed by Metorans, the team was captured and held captive by the Project, where they were experimented on painfully. They escaped, and renamed the team "the Misfits".
They had recently lost Powerman and Zap as members, but gained a few new members while fugitives from the government. After Powerman found the misfits hiding in the forest, he gave Warchild (the team leader) a pep talk that inspired him to rename the team "the Champions" and stop running, but instead take the fight to the Project.
This may have fueled what was to come. A short time later, Powerman left Earth to explore the galaxy, and this was when a powerful mutant named Adam began using his psychic powers to overthrow the world's governments, and creating a society where meta-humans were the ruling class. The Champions were absorbed into a new Heroes of Earth, the honor guard of this new government.
The heroes that served Adam were under psychic domination, and were not truly loyal to Adam...except for two. When Adam was eventually defeated, we learned that Zap and Hell Child had willingly served all along.
Once Adam was defeated, all heroes and villains on Earth were stripped of their powers by Allorin Vonski. And some, like Hell Child, even were stripped of their memories.
A long time passed, but then the Universal Protectors were forced to restore their powers to fight in a great war against the New Power. Following this, the former Champions were recruited to join a new government team called the National Heroes, working alongside former members of Project: Franklin.
Comments:
The members of the Champions were all based on people from my high school Civil Air Patrol squadron.
The Protector began as a series in 1989's Adventure Comics, but then returned as part of the 1991 reboot. The Blackbirds' powers duplicated the members of Justice League America from the time when Superman joined but before Doomsday.
The team took on more of an "X-Men" feel following Death of the Super Universe and during the "Survivors" series. (It's not often I would be influenced by Marvel.)
The Champions name was inspired by my hearing the song by Queen when watching the Mighty Ducks on TV. (Really.)
The period under Adam was in the 1998 mini-series "Timeline". The team currently appears in the monthly title National Heroes.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Also known as: Blackbirds, Misfits
First Appearance: Blackbirds # 1, January 1991
Members:
Protector
Powerman
Zap, Master of Power II
Marvel
Warchild
Super Guy
Green Man
Flame
Icicle
Hell Child
Devil's Daughter
Zap, Master of Power III
Mouse
Justice
Shellar
Biography:
A child who was the son of Allorin Vonski and a mortal woman was captured at birth by Darkseid of Apokolips and raised by Granny Goodness. Allorin knew of his son's fate and chose to leave him there.
The boy gained powers of telethapy, telekinesis, and teleportation, and escapes to Earth, where he is taken in by Superman. The boy, named Bob Kent, tries to gain acceptance in the super-hero community but is rejected for membership from both the Justice League and Teen Titans.
Angry, the boy leaves for parts unknown.
Several years later, he returns as an adult called the Protector. He decides to create his own super-team. Visiting the Justice League, he duplicates their powers and bestows them on several people, in order to form a team called the Blackbirds. (One of those chosen was Leonard Audder, who once was Super Len.) The Protector also recruited Powerman and Zap (stealing them away from the Heroes of Earth), and Marvel, a recently new heroine.
Once his team was formed, the Protector left. The team operated out of Greenfield, and their adventures mostly had them come in conflict with Project: Franklin, a government agency devoted to the capture and study of meta-humans in the goal of creating its own super-soldiers. Another recurring adversary were the Metorans, an alien race who, though resembling humans, were truly beings of pure energy.
After a battle where the team was nearly killed by Metorans, the team was captured and held captive by the Project, where they were experimented on painfully. They escaped, and renamed the team "the Misfits".
They had recently lost Powerman and Zap as members, but gained a few new members while fugitives from the government. After Powerman found the misfits hiding in the forest, he gave Warchild (the team leader) a pep talk that inspired him to rename the team "the Champions" and stop running, but instead take the fight to the Project.
This may have fueled what was to come. A short time later, Powerman left Earth to explore the galaxy, and this was when a powerful mutant named Adam began using his psychic powers to overthrow the world's governments, and creating a society where meta-humans were the ruling class. The Champions were absorbed into a new Heroes of Earth, the honor guard of this new government.
The heroes that served Adam were under psychic domination, and were not truly loyal to Adam...except for two. When Adam was eventually defeated, we learned that Zap and Hell Child had willingly served all along.
Once Adam was defeated, all heroes and villains on Earth were stripped of their powers by Allorin Vonski. And some, like Hell Child, even were stripped of their memories.
A long time passed, but then the Universal Protectors were forced to restore their powers to fight in a great war against the New Power. Following this, the former Champions were recruited to join a new government team called the National Heroes, working alongside former members of Project: Franklin.
Comments:
The members of the Champions were all based on people from my high school Civil Air Patrol squadron.
The Protector began as a series in 1989's Adventure Comics, but then returned as part of the 1991 reboot. The Blackbirds' powers duplicated the members of Justice League America from the time when Superman joined but before Doomsday.
The team took on more of an "X-Men" feel following Death of the Super Universe and during the "Survivors" series. (It's not often I would be influenced by Marvel.)
The Champions name was inspired by my hearing the song by Queen when watching the Mighty Ducks on TV. (Really.)
The period under Adam was in the 1998 mini-series "Timeline". The team currently appears in the monthly title National Heroes.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Jules Sasso
Jules Sasso
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Julianne Sasso
Current Occupation: Demon Hunter
Parents: Unknown
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: NighTforce
Place of Birth: Paradise City
Current Place of Residence: Paradise City
First Appearance: NighTforce # 1, January 2008
Biography:
Jules Sasso is a member of NighTforce, a team devoted to both the eradication of the paranormal cult called the New Power, and to eridicating demons and other paranormal evil.
Jules was one of the original members of the team, handpicked by Phil Sherman, the vigilante called NighTrain. Before joining the team, Jules was already fighting evil creatures of the magical world on her own.
It's never been established how Jules became a paranormal hunter, or what she did before this career. It has been established that Jules is addicted to danger. She often dives into a situation knowing that she could be killed. This recklessness has often brought her at odds with her team leader. At one point she was even forced off the team, though she has recently rejoined.
Jules is a martial artist, and has a vast knowledge of the various types of paranormal creatures, and how to stop them. She has the instincts of a hunter. She is an excellent tracker and has demonstrated keen detective skills.
Comments:
Just as the Champions are all based on people from my time in Civil Air Patrol and the Heroes of the People are inspired by folks from my college mock trial team, the members of NighTorce are all inspired by a real life paranormal investigation team that I have been affiliated with.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Julianne Sasso
Current Occupation: Demon Hunter
Parents: Unknown
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: NighTforce
Place of Birth: Paradise City
Current Place of Residence: Paradise City
First Appearance: NighTforce # 1, January 2008
Biography:
Jules Sasso is a member of NighTforce, a team devoted to both the eradication of the paranormal cult called the New Power, and to eridicating demons and other paranormal evil.
Jules was one of the original members of the team, handpicked by Phil Sherman, the vigilante called NighTrain. Before joining the team, Jules was already fighting evil creatures of the magical world on her own.
It's never been established how Jules became a paranormal hunter, or what she did before this career. It has been established that Jules is addicted to danger. She often dives into a situation knowing that she could be killed. This recklessness has often brought her at odds with her team leader. At one point she was even forced off the team, though she has recently rejoined.
Jules is a martial artist, and has a vast knowledge of the various types of paranormal creatures, and how to stop them. She has the instincts of a hunter. She is an excellent tracker and has demonstrated keen detective skills.
Comments:
Just as the Champions are all based on people from my time in Civil Air Patrol and the Heroes of the People are inspired by folks from my college mock trial team, the members of NighTorce are all inspired by a real life paranormal investigation team that I have been affiliated with.
Superman IV
Superman IV
Created by created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett and Bruce Timm, Paul Dini
Real Name: Conner Kent
Current Occupation: Journalist
Parents: Bob Kent (aka Mon-El) and Lucy Lane Kent
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Justice League Unlimited
Place of Birth: Metropolis
Current Place of Residence: Metropolis
First Appearance: Batman Beyond, 2004
Biography:
Connor Kent is the son of the Superman that operated during the 1950s - 1980s with the Super Friends. Connor has recently taken up the mantle of Superman, though operating in secret. In the 2040s, he will be leader of Justice League Unlimited.
Comments:
Batman Beyond has been shown to be in the future of the TVCU (for now), so I had to create another Superman to be the one who appears in that future series.
Created by created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett and Bruce Timm, Paul Dini
Real Name: Conner Kent
Current Occupation: Journalist
Parents: Bob Kent (aka Mon-El) and Lucy Lane Kent
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Justice League Unlimited
Place of Birth: Metropolis
Current Place of Residence: Metropolis
First Appearance: Batman Beyond, 2004
Biography:
Connor Kent is the son of the Superman that operated during the 1950s - 1980s with the Super Friends. Connor has recently taken up the mantle of Superman, though operating in secret. In the 2040s, he will be leader of Justice League Unlimited.
Comments:
Batman Beyond has been shown to be in the future of the TVCU (for now), so I had to create another Superman to be the one who appears in that future series.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Adam Rubinstein
Adam Rubinstein
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Adam Rubinstein
Current Occupation: College Student
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Heroes of the People
Place of Birth: Hadenville, OH
Current Place of Residence: Amherst, MA
First Appearance: Powerman # 263, September 2010
Biography:
Adam Rubinstein has been called the John Barstaman of his time.
Adam's grandfather was the villainious Dr. Rubinstein who was the chief enemy of Captain Hero during World War II. Dr. Rubinstein also menaced the Mystery Men, All-Star Squadron, and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen during that period.
Adam himself grew up with a super-intellect, just like his grandfather. However, Adam chose early on that he would use his brains in the opposite ways of his grandfather. (The one exception was that Adam had no problems using his brains to gain access to money if he needed it for the "greater good.")
When Adam turned 18, he went to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where his roommate was fellow freshman Jonathon Stanford (who was secretly Powerman, minus the powers).
Shortly after arriving on campus, Adam recruited several new and young heroes to form a team called the Heroes of the People, who would have a more proactive mission than the Heroes of Earth. The two teams would clash often.
Adam recruited Jonathon to work with team. At the time, Jonathon had become well known in the area for solving mysteries, but Adam had also deduced Jonathon's true identity and sought out his experience.
Adam currently is the brains behind the team, although ironically a new Captain Hero had been handpicked by Adam to be the face of the team.
Comments:
See my comments for Pretty Gal II.
Adam is in a way a remaking of an 80s hero in that he very much filling the role that John Barstaman held with the Heroes of Earth. Dr. Rubinstein (and the original Captain Hero) are retcons added in recent Powerman stories.
It should be noted that the Heroes of the People do not have their own title. They appear frequently in the pages of Powerman, Heroes of Earth, and Justice.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Adam Rubinstein
Current Occupation: College Student
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Heroes of the People
Place of Birth: Hadenville, OH
Current Place of Residence: Amherst, MA
First Appearance: Powerman # 263, September 2010
Biography:
Adam Rubinstein has been called the John Barstaman of his time.
Adam's grandfather was the villainious Dr. Rubinstein who was the chief enemy of Captain Hero during World War II. Dr. Rubinstein also menaced the Mystery Men, All-Star Squadron, and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen during that period.
Adam himself grew up with a super-intellect, just like his grandfather. However, Adam chose early on that he would use his brains in the opposite ways of his grandfather. (The one exception was that Adam had no problems using his brains to gain access to money if he needed it for the "greater good.")
When Adam turned 18, he went to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where his roommate was fellow freshman Jonathon Stanford (who was secretly Powerman, minus the powers).
Shortly after arriving on campus, Adam recruited several new and young heroes to form a team called the Heroes of the People, who would have a more proactive mission than the Heroes of Earth. The two teams would clash often.
Adam recruited Jonathon to work with team. At the time, Jonathon had become well known in the area for solving mysteries, but Adam had also deduced Jonathon's true identity and sought out his experience.
Adam currently is the brains behind the team, although ironically a new Captain Hero had been handpicked by Adam to be the face of the team.
Comments:
See my comments for Pretty Gal II.
Adam is in a way a remaking of an 80s hero in that he very much filling the role that John Barstaman held with the Heroes of Earth. Dr. Rubinstein (and the original Captain Hero) are retcons added in recent Powerman stories.
It should be noted that the Heroes of the People do not have their own title. They appear frequently in the pages of Powerman, Heroes of Earth, and Justice.
Pretty Gal II
Pretty Gal II
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Sheryl Carlson
Current Occupation: Owner of her own public relations and marketing firm
Parents: Unknown
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Place of Birth: Arkansas
Current Place of Residence: Orange City
First Appearance: Powerman # 263 (September 2010)
Biography:
Sheryl Carlson is a mutant who has the ability to manipulate any straight male or gay female with her abilities. Sheryl's power manifests itself in several ways to create this ability. First, she emits a chemical which causes a submissive reaction in those exposed. Second, he emits radiation that causes an aura which seemingly invisible can actually be seen subliminally causing a hypnotic state. Finally, her voice emits a hidden sound that affects the brain.
Sheryl discovered this power early on and used it to get whatever she wanted. Within a matter of months after graduation, she became the most successful marketing and PR person in Orange City. However, after discovering the evils of one of her clients, Michael Bossman, and the role she played in helping him cover it up, she vowed to find a way to use her powers for good.
Taking a cue from a hero of the 1980s with a similar power, she took the name Pretty Gal, and became a hero, soon being recruited by Adam Rubinstein to join his new team, the Heroes of the People, a role she currently fills.
Comments:
All of the Heroes of the People are based on friends of mine from my time on the UMass Mock Trial team. Their fictional counterparts have mostly taken names of classic Super Comics characters from the 1980s, putting a new modern spin on them.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Sheryl Carlson
Current Occupation: Owner of her own public relations and marketing firm
Parents: Unknown
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Place of Birth: Arkansas
Current Place of Residence: Orange City
First Appearance: Powerman # 263 (September 2010)
Biography:
Sheryl Carlson is a mutant who has the ability to manipulate any straight male or gay female with her abilities. Sheryl's power manifests itself in several ways to create this ability. First, she emits a chemical which causes a submissive reaction in those exposed. Second, he emits radiation that causes an aura which seemingly invisible can actually be seen subliminally causing a hypnotic state. Finally, her voice emits a hidden sound that affects the brain.
Sheryl discovered this power early on and used it to get whatever she wanted. Within a matter of months after graduation, she became the most successful marketing and PR person in Orange City. However, after discovering the evils of one of her clients, Michael Bossman, and the role she played in helping him cover it up, she vowed to find a way to use her powers for good.
Taking a cue from a hero of the 1980s with a similar power, she took the name Pretty Gal, and became a hero, soon being recruited by Adam Rubinstein to join his new team, the Heroes of the People, a role she currently fills.
Comments:
All of the Heroes of the People are based on friends of mine from my time on the UMass Mock Trial team. Their fictional counterparts have mostly taken names of classic Super Comics characters from the 1980s, putting a new modern spin on them.
Superman III
Superman III
Created by Jerry Seigel, Joe Shuster, John Byrne, and Dennis E. Power
Real Name: Samuel Kent
Current Occupation: Deceased; former reporter
Parents: Joel and Mei-Lei Kent
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Justice League America, Heroes of Earth
Place of Birth: Smallville, Kansas
Place of Death: Metropolis
First Appearance: Man of Steel # 1, October 1986
Biography:
The original Superman, Clark Kent (actually Kal-L of Krypton) and his wife Lois had a son, named Joel, who was born without powers. In Vietnam, Joel (who had become a very bad person) was nearly killed by his own unit when he tried to burn down a village. They left him for dead, but one of the villagers, Mei-Lei, nursed him back to health.
Joel learned the errors of his ways. He took Mei-Lei as his wife, and they moved back to the Kent farm. Eventually, they had a son, Sam, who did inherit the Kryptonian powers.
Sam moved to Metropolis as an adult, and took up the role of Superman, at one point rivaling the popularity of Powerman. Tragically, though, this Superman was killed by a monster dubbed Doomsday.
Comments:
As I've said before, Superman I (Kal-L/Clark Kent) was my response to the inclusion of Crossovers: A Secret Chronology of the World in the Wronskiverse. Superman II (Mon-El/Bob Kent) was my response to the Super Friends' inclusion, and Superman III (Sam Kent) was in response to the integration of the post-crisis DCU into the Super Comics Universe.
There's still one more left. Or there will be I should say. Once we move beyond.
Created by Jerry Seigel, Joe Shuster, John Byrne, and Dennis E. Power
Real Name: Samuel Kent
Current Occupation: Deceased; former reporter
Parents: Joel and Mei-Lei Kent
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Justice League America, Heroes of Earth
Place of Birth: Smallville, Kansas
Place of Death: Metropolis
First Appearance: Man of Steel # 1, October 1986
Biography:
The original Superman, Clark Kent (actually Kal-L of Krypton) and his wife Lois had a son, named Joel, who was born without powers. In Vietnam, Joel (who had become a very bad person) was nearly killed by his own unit when he tried to burn down a village. They left him for dead, but one of the villagers, Mei-Lei, nursed him back to health.
Joel learned the errors of his ways. He took Mei-Lei as his wife, and they moved back to the Kent farm. Eventually, they had a son, Sam, who did inherit the Kryptonian powers.
Sam moved to Metropolis as an adult, and took up the role of Superman, at one point rivaling the popularity of Powerman. Tragically, though, this Superman was killed by a monster dubbed Doomsday.
Comments:
As I've said before, Superman I (Kal-L/Clark Kent) was my response to the inclusion of Crossovers: A Secret Chronology of the World in the Wronskiverse. Superman II (Mon-El/Bob Kent) was my response to the Super Friends' inclusion, and Superman III (Sam Kent) was in response to the integration of the post-crisis DCU into the Super Comics Universe.
There's still one more left. Or there will be I should say. Once we move beyond.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Hell Child
Hell Child
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Amy (Last Name Unrevealed)
Current Occupation: Agent of the New Power Organization
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: Jill (Last Name Unrevealed)
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Champions, Heroes of Earth, New Power Organization
Place of Birth: Somewhere in the deep South
Current Place of Residence: An undisclosed location
First Appearance: Blackbirds # 6, July 1991
Biography:
Amy was the oldest of two daughters living in the deep south. When she was 14, she began to develop mental powers. She was able to read minds, move objects with her mind, and even make people do her bidding. Her parents thought she was a witch, and kicked her out, calling her a hell child.
Amy decided to head north, towards Orange City, where people with unique abilities were celebrated as heroes. She instead ended up in Greenfield, where agents of Project: Franklin tried to abduct her because of her abilities and age, but she was rescued by the Blackbirds, a team of young heroes who were in constant conflict with Project: Franklin.
Amy was invited to join the team, and seeing the irony, chose the code name Hell Child to use for a heroic identity.
Amy's powers were rapidly growing stronger and stronger, and the power was corrupting her. In fact, one evening, when only her and War Child, the team leader, were at headquarters, Amy used her powers to rape him. Even though War Child was traumatized by the experience, he felt Amy could not be blamed for not being able to keep her powers in control, and they kept her on the team in order to help her.
A few months later, Amy's younger sister Jill showed up, having developed the same powers and also been kicked out of the house. Jill took up the identity of Devil's Daughter. Jill's powers weren't as strong as Amy's and thus did not cause the same problems.
In late 1992, it seemed that the team had been killed on Metor, but indeed they had survived and been captured by the Project, who had experimented on them. The team escaped and based on advice from Powerman, changed their name to the Champions.
In 1995, a mutant named Adam used his powers to take over the Earth. He mind controlled every metahuman on Earth to serve as his honor guard, the Heroes of Earth. However, when the spell was broken, it was discovered that some metas, like Hell Child, were willingly serving Adam's cause, believing in a world where super beings ruled. Hell Child was defeated along with Adam, and her powers were then stripped by Allorin Vonski, along with her memories of ever having powers. In fact, the whole world forget, and because of this, Amy and Jill returned home, their parents having believe the children had just ran away for a few years and were so relieved to have their normal children back.
Thirteen years later, a spell cast by the New Power Organization restored the powers and memories of all super-villains, brought dead ones back to life, and upgrades all of their powers. Amy had her powers back. She had her memories back. She was even more powerful. And she was more evil than ever.
First, she killed her parents and Jill. Then she willingly served as one of two of the New Power's top agents (the other being Powerlord). Hell Child was feared by heroes as she had no problems with killing, and liked to make sure it was going to hurt...physically and emotionally.
The New Power's scheme to reshape Earth as a world of evil failed, however, and Hell Child had to escape and go into hiding. However, not long after, she was abducted along with several other villains and heroes and transported to an alternate dimension by the Protector. They were to do battle for his amusement.
Hell Child killed the heroes Truth and Powergirl during this "secret war", and even killed her teammate Nicole Barstaman. Nicole had very similar powers as Amy. When Amy was mortally wounded, she absorbed Nicole's powers, her memories, and her life force into her, restoring her life and doubling her power. The side effect was that now there are two separate beings residing in one body, though Amy remains dominant.
When the heroes and villains returned to Earth, Hell Child returned to service for the New Power, that had rebuilt itself in her absence. She currently serves as one of the organization's number one agents.
Comments:
This character is actually inspired by one of the nicest, most innocent girls I knew in high school, based on the premise of what those types of powers could do even to the best of people.
Though I never expected when I created this character as a member of the Blackbirds that I would one day maker her one of the most dangerous villains in the Wronskiverse.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Amy (Last Name Unrevealed)
Current Occupation: Agent of the New Power Organization
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: Jill (Last Name Unrevealed)
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: Champions, Heroes of Earth, New Power Organization
Place of Birth: Somewhere in the deep South
Current Place of Residence: An undisclosed location
First Appearance: Blackbirds # 6, July 1991
Biography:
Amy was the oldest of two daughters living in the deep south. When she was 14, she began to develop mental powers. She was able to read minds, move objects with her mind, and even make people do her bidding. Her parents thought she was a witch, and kicked her out, calling her a hell child.
Amy decided to head north, towards Orange City, where people with unique abilities were celebrated as heroes. She instead ended up in Greenfield, where agents of Project: Franklin tried to abduct her because of her abilities and age, but she was rescued by the Blackbirds, a team of young heroes who were in constant conflict with Project: Franklin.
Amy was invited to join the team, and seeing the irony, chose the code name Hell Child to use for a heroic identity.
Amy's powers were rapidly growing stronger and stronger, and the power was corrupting her. In fact, one evening, when only her and War Child, the team leader, were at headquarters, Amy used her powers to rape him. Even though War Child was traumatized by the experience, he felt Amy could not be blamed for not being able to keep her powers in control, and they kept her on the team in order to help her.
A few months later, Amy's younger sister Jill showed up, having developed the same powers and also been kicked out of the house. Jill took up the identity of Devil's Daughter. Jill's powers weren't as strong as Amy's and thus did not cause the same problems.
In late 1992, it seemed that the team had been killed on Metor, but indeed they had survived and been captured by the Project, who had experimented on them. The team escaped and based on advice from Powerman, changed their name to the Champions.
In 1995, a mutant named Adam used his powers to take over the Earth. He mind controlled every metahuman on Earth to serve as his honor guard, the Heroes of Earth. However, when the spell was broken, it was discovered that some metas, like Hell Child, were willingly serving Adam's cause, believing in a world where super beings ruled. Hell Child was defeated along with Adam, and her powers were then stripped by Allorin Vonski, along with her memories of ever having powers. In fact, the whole world forget, and because of this, Amy and Jill returned home, their parents having believe the children had just ran away for a few years and were so relieved to have their normal children back.
Thirteen years later, a spell cast by the New Power Organization restored the powers and memories of all super-villains, brought dead ones back to life, and upgrades all of their powers. Amy had her powers back. She had her memories back. She was even more powerful. And she was more evil than ever.
First, she killed her parents and Jill. Then she willingly served as one of two of the New Power's top agents (the other being Powerlord). Hell Child was feared by heroes as she had no problems with killing, and liked to make sure it was going to hurt...physically and emotionally.
The New Power's scheme to reshape Earth as a world of evil failed, however, and Hell Child had to escape and go into hiding. However, not long after, she was abducted along with several other villains and heroes and transported to an alternate dimension by the Protector. They were to do battle for his amusement.
Hell Child killed the heroes Truth and Powergirl during this "secret war", and even killed her teammate Nicole Barstaman. Nicole had very similar powers as Amy. When Amy was mortally wounded, she absorbed Nicole's powers, her memories, and her life force into her, restoring her life and doubling her power. The side effect was that now there are two separate beings residing in one body, though Amy remains dominant.
When the heroes and villains returned to Earth, Hell Child returned to service for the New Power, that had rebuilt itself in her absence. She currently serves as one of the organization's number one agents.
Comments:
This character is actually inspired by one of the nicest, most innocent girls I knew in high school, based on the premise of what those types of powers could do even to the best of people.
Though I never expected when I created this character as a member of the Blackbirds that I would one day maker her one of the most dangerous villains in the Wronskiverse.
Truth II
Truth II
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: George Banner
Current Occupation: Deceased; former Investigative Journalist
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: None
Place of Birth: Worcester
Place of Death: An unnamed alternate dimension
First Appearance: Justice (2nd series) # 1, July 2005
Biography:
George Banner was an investigative reporter for the Worcester Telegram. When a new female vigilante appeared calling herself Justice, George felt discovering her identity would be his big break. While investigating, he met Michelle Wrigley, who used to be the publicly known super-hero Powerkid before she gave up her powers for good.
George and Michelle started dating, and eventually he discovered that she was in fact Justice. Rather than exposing her, he instead kept her secret, and helped her in her battle against crime using his own investigative skills. Eventually, he chose to himself don a costume and be called Truth. (Previously, during the 1990s, there had been a previous Justice and Truth team, who had been brother and sister.)
Just over a year ago, several heroes and villains were abducted from Earth by the Protector and forced to do battle in some pocket dimension. During the battle, Truth was slain by Hell Child. This tragedy was the final straw that caused Michelle Wrigley to give up adventuring upon her return to Earth.
A new Justice and Truth team has began operating out of Amherst. This time they are two college students.
Comments:
This character's personality and appearance is based upon my brother in law, but that has no connection whatsoever to my killing him off. The fact of the matter was that in the Justice strip, Michelle Wrigley was suffering an emotional rollar coaster. Her ex-boyfriend had become one of the most powerful super-villains on Earth. Her brother was possessed and killed the President of the United States. Her mother died of cancer. Then she inherited a company and billions of dollars from her brother's father, who turned out to be an evil mastermind trying to take over the world. George's death was the final straw to make her quit, and the emotional drama made for a very great story.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: George Banner
Current Occupation: Deceased; former Investigative Journalist
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Group Affiliation: None
Place of Birth: Worcester
Place of Death: An unnamed alternate dimension
First Appearance: Justice (2nd series) # 1, July 2005
Biography:
George Banner was an investigative reporter for the Worcester Telegram. When a new female vigilante appeared calling herself Justice, George felt discovering her identity would be his big break. While investigating, he met Michelle Wrigley, who used to be the publicly known super-hero Powerkid before she gave up her powers for good.
George and Michelle started dating, and eventually he discovered that she was in fact Justice. Rather than exposing her, he instead kept her secret, and helped her in her battle against crime using his own investigative skills. Eventually, he chose to himself don a costume and be called Truth. (Previously, during the 1990s, there had been a previous Justice and Truth team, who had been brother and sister.)
Just over a year ago, several heroes and villains were abducted from Earth by the Protector and forced to do battle in some pocket dimension. During the battle, Truth was slain by Hell Child. This tragedy was the final straw that caused Michelle Wrigley to give up adventuring upon her return to Earth.
A new Justice and Truth team has began operating out of Amherst. This time they are two college students.
Comments:
This character's personality and appearance is based upon my brother in law, but that has no connection whatsoever to my killing him off. The fact of the matter was that in the Justice strip, Michelle Wrigley was suffering an emotional rollar coaster. Her ex-boyfriend had become one of the most powerful super-villains on Earth. Her brother was possessed and killed the President of the United States. Her mother died of cancer. Then she inherited a company and billions of dollars from her brother's father, who turned out to be an evil mastermind trying to take over the world. George's death was the final straw to make her quit, and the emotional drama made for a very great story.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Superman II
Superman II
Created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp; Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster; Don Cameron; Vernon E. Clark and Whitney Ellsworth
Real Name: Mon-El
Alias: Bob Kent, Superboy I
Current Occupation: Construction Worker
Parents: Jor-El and Lara (natural; deceased); Jonathon and Martha Kent (Adoptive; deceased)
Siblings: None
Spouse: Lucy Lane Kent
Children: An unnamed child.
Group Affiliation: Justice League of America
Place of Birth: Daxam
Current Place of Residence: Metropolis
First Appearance: The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, 1966
Biography:
When Krypton exploded, it's effects created environmental damage to neighboring Daxam, which led scientist Jor-El to send his son Mon-El to Earth before Daxam met its end.
Mon-El landed on Earth, in Smallville, much later than Kal-L of Krypton. Coincidentally, as Kal-L was and adopted by Ebin Kent, Mon-El was found by Ebin's cousin, Jonathon. Mon-El was named Bob Kent. Clark and Bob were adopted cousins who for many years were unaware that each other were both heroes named Superman.
Unlike Clark, Bob operated as a hero named Superboy in his youth, and transitioned to becoming Superman and moving to Metropolis as an adult. As Superman, Bob was a member of the Justice League of America for many years.
Following his time with the League, he disappeared. There have been many contradictory accounts of how Superman's career ended. However, when Powerman was once asked by Powerkid whatever happened to the man of tomorrow, Powerman, who is probably the most connected in the super-hero community, mentioned that around the same time the Powerkid Police disbanded, shortly after the Great Crisis of 1985, the Super Powers Team had disbanded, having stopped Darkseid, or so they thought. Superman had also thought his mission was over, but that was when all of his greatest enemies came at him at once. In this great battle, there were losses on both sides, but in the end, it seemed the hero won, but at a cost. He seemed to disappear from the world. Powerman paused, then added that the funny thing was that just soon after, Lucy Lane, the woman Superman loved but would never marry because of his mission, married a construction worker who she had just met. They had a baby in 1987, named Conner. He'd be an adult now. I heard he'd become a journalist in Metropolis now.
Comments:
As I've stated in a few of my blogs, in the Wronskiverse, there were three Superman, one for each of the comic book ages. The silver age Superman is that represented in Super Friends. In order to explain the two versions (golden age vs. silver age), I used Mon-El as the silver age version. Since the silver age comics aren't in the Wronskiverse, but only the animated Super Friends, this actually works out well. Note that Lar Gand is also part of the Wronskiverse because of the incorporation of DCU continuity for 1986 to 1992. Lar Gand and Mon-El are separate people in the Wronskiverse.
Created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp; Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster; Don Cameron; Vernon E. Clark and Whitney Ellsworth
Real Name: Mon-El
Alias: Bob Kent, Superboy I
Current Occupation: Construction Worker
Parents: Jor-El and Lara (natural; deceased); Jonathon and Martha Kent (Adoptive; deceased)
Siblings: None
Spouse: Lucy Lane Kent
Children: An unnamed child.
Group Affiliation: Justice League of America
Place of Birth: Daxam
Current Place of Residence: Metropolis
First Appearance: The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, 1966
Biography:
When Krypton exploded, it's effects created environmental damage to neighboring Daxam, which led scientist Jor-El to send his son Mon-El to Earth before Daxam met its end.
Mon-El landed on Earth, in Smallville, much later than Kal-L of Krypton. Coincidentally, as Kal-L was and adopted by Ebin Kent, Mon-El was found by Ebin's cousin, Jonathon. Mon-El was named Bob Kent. Clark and Bob were adopted cousins who for many years were unaware that each other were both heroes named Superman.
Unlike Clark, Bob operated as a hero named Superboy in his youth, and transitioned to becoming Superman and moving to Metropolis as an adult. As Superman, Bob was a member of the Justice League of America for many years.
Following his time with the League, he disappeared. There have been many contradictory accounts of how Superman's career ended. However, when Powerman was once asked by Powerkid whatever happened to the man of tomorrow, Powerman, who is probably the most connected in the super-hero community, mentioned that around the same time the Powerkid Police disbanded, shortly after the Great Crisis of 1985, the Super Powers Team had disbanded, having stopped Darkseid, or so they thought. Superman had also thought his mission was over, but that was when all of his greatest enemies came at him at once. In this great battle, there were losses on both sides, but in the end, it seemed the hero won, but at a cost. He seemed to disappear from the world. Powerman paused, then added that the funny thing was that just soon after, Lucy Lane, the woman Superman loved but would never marry because of his mission, married a construction worker who she had just met. They had a baby in 1987, named Conner. He'd be an adult now. I heard he'd become a journalist in Metropolis now.
Comments:
As I've stated in a few of my blogs, in the Wronskiverse, there were three Superman, one for each of the comic book ages. The silver age Superman is that represented in Super Friends. In order to explain the two versions (golden age vs. silver age), I used Mon-El as the silver age version. Since the silver age comics aren't in the Wronskiverse, but only the animated Super Friends, this actually works out well. Note that Lar Gand is also part of the Wronskiverse because of the incorporation of DCU continuity for 1986 to 1992. Lar Gand and Mon-El are separate people in the Wronskiverse.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Ken Maxwell
Ken Maxwell
Ken Maxwell (March 1973 – ), born Kenneth Earl Maxwell, was an American comic book writer and editor. Growing up in Orange, Maxwell entered the comics industry in the 1980s. In 1984, Maxwell and writers Robert E. Wronski, Jr. and Phil Sheridan created the highly successful supervillain character Krusher for Super Comics. During the 1980s, Maxwell would create a number of stories for various publishers, often teaming with Wronski.
After high school, Maxwell returned to comics and worked in a variety of genres. He contributed to a number of publishers, including Super Comics. In the 1990s, Maxwell co-created many of Super Comics' major characters, including the Dragon, and the New Power Organization, along with writer-editor Robert E. Wronski, Jr. Despite the success of the Wronski-Maxwell titles, Maxwell left the company in 1995.
| Ken Maxwell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kenneth Earl Maxwell March 1973 Massachusetts, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Writer, Editor |
| Pseudonym(s) | Mad Dog Maxwell |
| Notable works | Powerman, Justice, Heroes of Earth, Powerkid, Powerkid Police |
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Krusher I
Krusher I
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr, Phil Sheridan, and Ken Maxwell
Real Name: Ken Madison
Alias: Mad Dog Madison (his high school nick name)
Current Occupation: Mercenary
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: Olive Madison
Group Affiliation: Powerkid Haters, Seven Deadly Sins, Bad Guys
Place of Birth: Orange City
Current Place of Residence: Orange City
First Appearance: Powerkid # 25, September 1984
Biography:
Ken Madison enlisted into the Marines in 1984 at the age of 18 immediately after graduation. After Boot Camp, he ended up being assigned to an installation in Greenfield, where he had the misfortune of walking in on Colonel Peterson murdering a man. Peterson arranged for Private Madison to be framed for the murder, but then offered his charges to be erased if he took part in an experiment. The experiment was part of Project: Franklin, which was a super-soldier program.
Madison was irradiated with some mysterious energy (which may have been of alien origin). The result was that Madison gained the ability to absorb power and energy, making him stronger and invulnerable. In some cases, he could even absorb super-powers, draining the super-powered being and being able to temporarily use those powers himself. Unfortunately, the more power Madison contained, the more his mind degraded to a savage state of being.
Madison broke free and began rampaging through Greenfield on his way back to Orange City. It was in Orange City where it took the combination of Powerkid, Zap, and Speed Demon to stop Krusher, as Madison was calling himself.
However, the Super-Trio didn't use their physical powers to stop him, as that was impossible. Any powers they used were just absorbed and used against them. Powerkid, Zap, and Speed Demon had to combine their mental powers to give Madison amnesia. The government, wishing to not be linked to this, left the amnesiac alone, and Madison got a job working as a janitor at Mahar High School, where Powerkid could keep an eye on him.
A few months later, however, Ken's memories were restored by Doctor Deadly, who was putting a team together of Powerkid's greatest foes, in a plot to destroy Powerkid. The team was defeated, and Madison's mental blocks were put back in place.
In 1991, the blocks wore off, and Powerman (formerly Powerkid), Zap, and Volt-Man attempted to stop Krusher again, now rampaging in the Nevada desert. The three knew that their power wasn't effective, and even hypnotism wouldn't work any longer. Scientific genius John Barstaman devised the only solution, by creating a portal to some unknown other dimension, in which the three heroes lured the crazed villain and trapped him in.
What the heroes didn't know was this unknown dimension was actually the dark dimension of Doctor Deadly. Deadly once again recruited Krusher for a new team to capture Powerman for him.
A year later, it appeared that Krusher had been killed by Powerman, after he and his former teammates completely destroyed Orange City, killing the millions of inhabitants. However, in 2001, it was revealed the Krusher had indeed survived, due to his power, and even though in 1998 Allorin Vonski had taken away his powers and memories, they came back over time.
But in 2001, Madison had somehow managed to control his power, and his sanity, and retired. A few years later, he had a daughter, whose mother died shortly after a very slow and painful death.
In 2009, Krusher was recruited by Michael Bossman to join a team of reformed villains called the Bad Guys to perform missions around the globe where governments are unable to.
Even though Bossman himself turned out to be less than reformed, the team continued on without him.
In the year 2019, Ken's daughter Olive Madison will have inherited her father's powers to become Krusher II, a founding member of the Power Police.
Comments:
Krusher was a character co-created by myself, Phil Sheridan, and Ken Madison (who is also the inspiration) in 1984 on the playground of Butterfield School.
Despite the fact that he was considered one of Powerkid's greatest foes, he only appeared in two story arcs in 1984 then only appeared briefly in cameo in scenes at Mahar where he was an amnesiac janitor. Occasionally Chris Kowalski would worry about what would happen if Madison's memories were restored.
And indeed in 1991 when I made a major revision of the Super Universe, one of the first things I did was see what would happen if his memories returned. But again he only appeared in three major story arcs from 1991 - 1992.
He resurfaced for one story arc in 2001 which was about Chris' class reunion, bringing back many characters from the high school era including Krusher, and showing that Orange City was being rebuilt.
Since 2009, Krusher has appeared monthly as a member of the Bad Guys.
His daughter Olive Madison was first introduced in 1991 in Justice League 2019 and again in Power Police 2020 the next year.
And Kenny has been very upset that I turned his villain into a good guy. All I can say is to be patient. The future isn't what it used to be. I have plans in the works. There are alternate realities and not all of them turned out the same way. Somewhere out there, there's a really, really, really scary version of Krusher whose story has yet to be told, but is coming soon.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr, Phil Sheridan, and Ken Maxwell
Real Name: Ken Madison
Alias: Mad Dog Madison (his high school nick name)
Current Occupation: Mercenary
Parents: Unnamed
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: Olive Madison
Group Affiliation: Powerkid Haters, Seven Deadly Sins, Bad Guys
Place of Birth: Orange City
Current Place of Residence: Orange City
First Appearance: Powerkid # 25, September 1984
Biography:
Ken Madison enlisted into the Marines in 1984 at the age of 18 immediately after graduation. After Boot Camp, he ended up being assigned to an installation in Greenfield, where he had the misfortune of walking in on Colonel Peterson murdering a man. Peterson arranged for Private Madison to be framed for the murder, but then offered his charges to be erased if he took part in an experiment. The experiment was part of Project: Franklin, which was a super-soldier program.
Madison was irradiated with some mysterious energy (which may have been of alien origin). The result was that Madison gained the ability to absorb power and energy, making him stronger and invulnerable. In some cases, he could even absorb super-powers, draining the super-powered being and being able to temporarily use those powers himself. Unfortunately, the more power Madison contained, the more his mind degraded to a savage state of being.
Madison broke free and began rampaging through Greenfield on his way back to Orange City. It was in Orange City where it took the combination of Powerkid, Zap, and Speed Demon to stop Krusher, as Madison was calling himself.
However, the Super-Trio didn't use their physical powers to stop him, as that was impossible. Any powers they used were just absorbed and used against them. Powerkid, Zap, and Speed Demon had to combine their mental powers to give Madison amnesia. The government, wishing to not be linked to this, left the amnesiac alone, and Madison got a job working as a janitor at Mahar High School, where Powerkid could keep an eye on him.
A few months later, however, Ken's memories were restored by Doctor Deadly, who was putting a team together of Powerkid's greatest foes, in a plot to destroy Powerkid. The team was defeated, and Madison's mental blocks were put back in place.
In 1991, the blocks wore off, and Powerman (formerly Powerkid), Zap, and Volt-Man attempted to stop Krusher again, now rampaging in the Nevada desert. The three knew that their power wasn't effective, and even hypnotism wouldn't work any longer. Scientific genius John Barstaman devised the only solution, by creating a portal to some unknown other dimension, in which the three heroes lured the crazed villain and trapped him in.
What the heroes didn't know was this unknown dimension was actually the dark dimension of Doctor Deadly. Deadly once again recruited Krusher for a new team to capture Powerman for him.
A year later, it appeared that Krusher had been killed by Powerman, after he and his former teammates completely destroyed Orange City, killing the millions of inhabitants. However, in 2001, it was revealed the Krusher had indeed survived, due to his power, and even though in 1998 Allorin Vonski had taken away his powers and memories, they came back over time.
But in 2001, Madison had somehow managed to control his power, and his sanity, and retired. A few years later, he had a daughter, whose mother died shortly after a very slow and painful death.
In 2009, Krusher was recruited by Michael Bossman to join a team of reformed villains called the Bad Guys to perform missions around the globe where governments are unable to.
Even though Bossman himself turned out to be less than reformed, the team continued on without him.
In the year 2019, Ken's daughter Olive Madison will have inherited her father's powers to become Krusher II, a founding member of the Power Police.
Comments:
Krusher was a character co-created by myself, Phil Sheridan, and Ken Madison (who is also the inspiration) in 1984 on the playground of Butterfield School.
Despite the fact that he was considered one of Powerkid's greatest foes, he only appeared in two story arcs in 1984 then only appeared briefly in cameo in scenes at Mahar where he was an amnesiac janitor. Occasionally Chris Kowalski would worry about what would happen if Madison's memories were restored.
And indeed in 1991 when I made a major revision of the Super Universe, one of the first things I did was see what would happen if his memories returned. But again he only appeared in three major story arcs from 1991 - 1992.
He resurfaced for one story arc in 2001 which was about Chris' class reunion, bringing back many characters from the high school era including Krusher, and showing that Orange City was being rebuilt.
Since 2009, Krusher has appeared monthly as a member of the Bad Guys.
His daughter Olive Madison was first introduced in 1991 in Justice League 2019 and again in Power Police 2020 the next year.
And Kenny has been very upset that I turned his villain into a good guy. All I can say is to be patient. The future isn't what it used to be. I have plans in the works. There are alternate realities and not all of them turned out the same way. Somewhere out there, there's a really, really, really scary version of Krusher whose story has yet to be told, but is coming soon.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Superman I
Superman I
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Kal-L
Alias: Clark Kent
Current Occupation: Adventurer
Parents: Jor-L and Lora (natural parents, deceased); Ebin and Sarah Clark Kent (adoptive parents, deceased)
Siblings: None
Spouse: Lois Lane Kent (deceased)
Children: Joel Kent
Group Affiliation: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Justice Society of America, All-Star Squadron, Club of Heroes
Place of Birth: Krypton
Current Place of Residence: A space craft which serves as a mobile "Fortress of Solitude"
First Appearance: Action Comics # 1, June 1938
Biography:
When he was just an infant, Kal-L was rocketed to Earth from the doomed planet Krypton by his scientist father Jor-L. On Earth, Kal-L grew was adopted by the Kents and named Clark. As he grew older, he found that he had powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men.
His parents asked that he keep his powers a secret. As a teen, Clark was visited by a boy from the future called Superboy, who helped train him to use his powers.
After his parents died, he moved to Metropolis, where he became a reporter, pretending to be a weak and timid coward while operating secretly as the urban legend that would be dubbed by fellow reporter Lois Lane as "the Superman".
Clark did remain a secret to the world, though his appearances did get enough attention for rumors to abound of his existence and even for comics, movies, radio dramas and the like to be made based on these stories. The government became aware of "the Superman" in reality and recruited him to join three different top secret teams. First he served in the 1930s with the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Then became a reserve member of the Justice Society of America, and finally during World War II he was recruited to join the All-Star Squadron.
After the war, Clark went into semi-retirement. After a spell by the evil Wizard made him forget he was Superman, he grew braver as Clark, and proposed to Lois. It was her then that learned his secret and helped him restore his memory.
The couple married and had a son named Joel. Because Lex Luthor exposed Lois to gold kryptonite while she was pregnant, her child was born with no super-powers, something he came to resent once he learned his father was Superman. Eventually he came to terms with this.
Though Clark was retired, occasionally he would resurface to aid other heroes such as Spider-Man, or to take on threats like the Hulk.
He eventually found that he was needed less and less as his legacy was being continued.
A Daxamite named Mon-El came to Earth and became Superman II. Clark's cousin Kara Zor-L came to Earth and began operating as Power Girl.
Then, in 1982, super-heroes were revealed to the world with the debut of Powerkid, which caused a "Super Explosion". This plus the loss of Lois to cancer were the catalysts that caused Clark to make the decision to leave Earth behind and seek adventure in the stars.
Not long after Clark's departure, his grandson Sam took on the role as the third Superman, though Sam would only operate a few years before being killed by Doomsday.
In the mid 21st century, a Superman will appear as a member of Justice League Unlimited. It could be that this is Mon-El, but very likely it is confirmation of rumors that following Sam's death, a clone had been created.
Comments:
There are three versions of Superman in the Wronskiverse which can be confusing since they contradict each other, unless someone like me can be creative enough.
The first Superman to be brought in was the Super Friends version, via the 1984 He-Man/Super Friends crossover in Super-Heroes that featured the Sword of Power. Thus all his Super Friends and 1960s animated stories were in.
Then following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, the post-crisis DCU was incorporated into the Wronskiverse, which brought that Superman in, up until December 1992 when I phased them out.
Then in 2004, I incorporated Win Scott Eckert's Crossover Chronology, which brought in the golden age Superman.
So with the golden age Superman, the canon is all stories published up to December 1945, and post-golden age stories that occur in the 1930s and 1940s up to the end of the war. And then also any appearances in Crossovers. This of course also includes his appearances in Powerman and Mystery Men.
The silver age version (Mon-El/Bob Kent) is the New Adventures of Superman and all incarnations of Super Friends.
Then the modern version (Sam Kent) is all post-crisis stories published from Man of Steel to Death of Superman.
Note that in the Wronskiverse, the first two Supermen operated in secret, and the third was actually considered a second stringer, as Powerman had the honor of being considered Earth's primary protector. (This is a concept my son laughs at.) From 1979 to 1985, many of the stories that were in DC attributed to Superman actually happened to Super-Bob/Powerkid instead.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Real Name: Kal-L
Alias: Clark Kent
Current Occupation: Adventurer
Parents: Jor-L and Lora (natural parents, deceased); Ebin and Sarah Clark Kent (adoptive parents, deceased)
Siblings: None
Spouse: Lois Lane Kent (deceased)
Children: Joel Kent
Group Affiliation: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Justice Society of America, All-Star Squadron, Club of Heroes
Place of Birth: Krypton
Current Place of Residence: A space craft which serves as a mobile "Fortress of Solitude"
First Appearance: Action Comics # 1, June 1938
Biography:
When he was just an infant, Kal-L was rocketed to Earth from the doomed planet Krypton by his scientist father Jor-L. On Earth, Kal-L grew was adopted by the Kents and named Clark. As he grew older, he found that he had powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men.
His parents asked that he keep his powers a secret. As a teen, Clark was visited by a boy from the future called Superboy, who helped train him to use his powers.
After his parents died, he moved to Metropolis, where he became a reporter, pretending to be a weak and timid coward while operating secretly as the urban legend that would be dubbed by fellow reporter Lois Lane as "the Superman".
Clark did remain a secret to the world, though his appearances did get enough attention for rumors to abound of his existence and even for comics, movies, radio dramas and the like to be made based on these stories. The government became aware of "the Superman" in reality and recruited him to join three different top secret teams. First he served in the 1930s with the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Then became a reserve member of the Justice Society of America, and finally during World War II he was recruited to join the All-Star Squadron.
After the war, Clark went into semi-retirement. After a spell by the evil Wizard made him forget he was Superman, he grew braver as Clark, and proposed to Lois. It was her then that learned his secret and helped him restore his memory.
The couple married and had a son named Joel. Because Lex Luthor exposed Lois to gold kryptonite while she was pregnant, her child was born with no super-powers, something he came to resent once he learned his father was Superman. Eventually he came to terms with this.
Though Clark was retired, occasionally he would resurface to aid other heroes such as Spider-Man, or to take on threats like the Hulk.
He eventually found that he was needed less and less as his legacy was being continued.
A Daxamite named Mon-El came to Earth and became Superman II. Clark's cousin Kara Zor-L came to Earth and began operating as Power Girl.
Then, in 1982, super-heroes were revealed to the world with the debut of Powerkid, which caused a "Super Explosion". This plus the loss of Lois to cancer were the catalysts that caused Clark to make the decision to leave Earth behind and seek adventure in the stars.
Not long after Clark's departure, his grandson Sam took on the role as the third Superman, though Sam would only operate a few years before being killed by Doomsday.
In the mid 21st century, a Superman will appear as a member of Justice League Unlimited. It could be that this is Mon-El, but very likely it is confirmation of rumors that following Sam's death, a clone had been created.
Comments:
There are three versions of Superman in the Wronskiverse which can be confusing since they contradict each other, unless someone like me can be creative enough.
The first Superman to be brought in was the Super Friends version, via the 1984 He-Man/Super Friends crossover in Super-Heroes that featured the Sword of Power. Thus all his Super Friends and 1960s animated stories were in.
Then following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, the post-crisis DCU was incorporated into the Wronskiverse, which brought that Superman in, up until December 1992 when I phased them out.
Then in 2004, I incorporated Win Scott Eckert's Crossover Chronology, which brought in the golden age Superman.
So with the golden age Superman, the canon is all stories published up to December 1945, and post-golden age stories that occur in the 1930s and 1940s up to the end of the war. And then also any appearances in Crossovers. This of course also includes his appearances in Powerman and Mystery Men.
The silver age version (Mon-El/Bob Kent) is the New Adventures of Superman and all incarnations of Super Friends.
Then the modern version (Sam Kent) is all post-crisis stories published from Man of Steel to Death of Superman.
Note that in the Wronskiverse, the first two Supermen operated in secret, and the third was actually considered a second stringer, as Powerman had the honor of being considered Earth's primary protector. (This is a concept my son laughs at.) From 1979 to 1985, many of the stories that were in DC attributed to Superman actually happened to Super-Bob/Powerkid instead.
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