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.

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.