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.
Showing posts with label Michael Bossman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Bossman. Show all posts
Friday, October 28, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Michael Bossman
Michael Bossman
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr. and Bob Wronski
Real Name: Michael Robert Bossman
Alias: Robert Edward Kowalski, Karate King, Boss
Current Occupation: Would be world conqueror
Parents: Edward (aka X-Man, presumed deceased) and Isabella Bossman (deceased)
Siblings: Joe and Jack Bossman (status unknown)
Spouse: Maureen (Hasser) Wrigley (ex-wife, deceased)
Children: Christopher Kowalski (aka Powerman II)
Group Affiliation: Interstellar Peace Organization, New Power Organization
Place of Birth: Worcester
Current Place of Residence: The new secret base of the New Power
First Appearance: Super Comics # 1 (November 1979)
Biography:
Michael grew up the oldest of three children raised by a single mother. Their father took off on them. What they didn't know was that their father was a top secret government agent code named X-Man, who worked for the National Heroes. He was last seen in Vietnam.
When Michael was 18, in 1969, one night he was witness to an alien about to shoot a strangely dressed human. He intervened and saved the human. It turned out that human wasn't so human. He was Krazel, a Kookoorongian member of the Interstellar Peace Organization. Michael's bravery in the face of encountering something extremely new to him impressed Krazel, who lobbied for the IPO to recruit Bossman, which they did.
Bossman became Krazel's partner, and the two were reassigned to the planet Hanguk. There, Michael fell in love with a native named Min-Hee, who gave birth to his child a few years later. They named the child Christopher.
Shortly after Chris' birth, an evil race of amazons called the Booers invaded Hanguk. Despite the best efforts of the IPO, they could not ward off the invasion. Michael tried to convince Min-Hee to come with him and Chris back to Earth, but she would not leave her home. She did insist that Michael take Robert to safety. Michael fled the warzone with his son, deserting his duties.
When he returned to Earth, to Worcester, he changed his name to Robert Kowalski as he feared the IPO tracking him down for desertion.
Shortly after his return to Earth, Michael/Robert met Maureen Hasser. The two quickly fell in love, and married. Maureen adopted Chris, and Chris was raised to think Maureen was his real mother. Neither Chris nor Maureen knew of Robert's real past or of Chris' alien heritage.
The family moved to Orange City, the better to avoid being found by moving from his home city. In fact, Michael cut ties with his real family before he joined the IPO, and they thought he might be dead.
Six years after Hanguk invaded Booer, there were rumors abounding about a super-hero called Super Bob in Orange City. Michael quickly surmised that his own son was Super-Bob, and upon confronting him, found out it was true. Micheal not only didn't forbid his son's activities, but he kept his secret and operated as his partner, the Karate King.
Michael operated as the Karate King for years. However, there were some things Chris/Super-Bob was not aware of. When a criminal was captured, Michael stole their money and drugs for himself. And at home, when Chris was not around, Michael was physically abusive of Maureen, something she kept from him.
In 1981, Michael tired of the secret life in Orange City, and returned to Worcester, where he began operating as an underworld figure known only as the Boss. As the Boss, Michael quickly became a powerful underworld figure, though many of his operations were often thwarted by the vigilante called the Unknown and private detective Peter Lebane.
While Michael was gaining a fortune in illegal funds, he began creating a "legitimate" business through those funds and by patenting technology that he had obtained during his time with the IPO.
He became a billionaire in just a few years, running Bossman Enterprises. While Bossman run his company, he used it to commit illegal activities of his own whim. Bossman himself lived on the top floor of Bossman Enterprises, which was located in the center of Orange City and was the tallest building. Bossman's apartment had a secret room that was a torture chamber where he would rape, torture, and murder women that he kidnapped.
Beginning in 1984, one of Bossman's projects was trying to get his son to work for him. By this time, Chris has changed his alter ego name to Powerkid, and was no longer an urban legend but was now public.
When Michael first revealed to Powerkid that he was his father, and tried to get him to join his empire, which Powerkid knew by this time may have evil motives, he flatly refused. After that, Micheal felt he could brainwash his son using alien technology. But to do that, he had to capture him. Michael then went about hiring villains, some already in Powerkid's rogues gallery and some were given powers or technology by Bossman, to capture his son. All failed.
After five years of this, Powerkid had had enough, and when he finally dug up enough damning evidence against his father, he apprehended him himself.
Michael Bossman was in prison for 18 years. Because of his money and the fact that he was a very scary evil killer, he was able to keep control of his company from the inside, though officially a proxy ran things in his absence. In 2007, Michael's legal team finally got his release, despite the fact her was in prison for several life sentences for murder, rape, theft, torture, kidnapping, false identity, ect.
Michael seemed to be reformed when he returned to society, and he tried to make amends with his family, which included a grandson, Connor, who he'd never met. Chris did not easily accept his father's supposed reformation. But the rest of the family was willing to take him at face value.
Michael resumed control of his company, and extended his good will by funding NighTforce, a team dedicated to taking down the New Power, and created a team called the Bad Guys, which consisted of reformed super-villains, like himself, all former enemies of Chris (whether when he was Super-Bob, Powerkid, or Powerman.)
However, this turned out to be all a ruse. The Bad Guys discovered that Michael Bossman was in fact a member of the inner council of the New Power Organization, the very organization the NighTforce was dedicated to stopping. In fact, he really funded the NighTforce to keep track of their activities, and created the Bad Guys not for the altruistic missions they were conducting, but in hopes of brainwashing them to do his bidding, which he failed to do.
Bossman went into hiding, where he plots for world domination as part of the inner circle of the New Power. However perhaps he wasn't all bad. As a clause that was kept secret until his evil was revealed, his company was left to his son and grandson. However, his son too was in hiding, for different reasons, and his grandson was a minor, and so Chris' half sister became president of the company, and Connor's mother became vice-president.
Comments:
The character of Michael Bossman is inspired by my father, and his stories are a reflection of my own personal feelings during the time.
At first, he was my hero, and then he left us, and became a villain in my mind. As I got older and learned how he used to treat my mom, he became a monster. Later, I came to have mixed feelings. People tell me he's a changed man. I'm not so sure. And thus, Michael's reformation and relapse into evil.
I should point out that my father may have been a vain, self-absorbed, and abusive man with a pot addiction, but he wasn't the monster Michael became in the comics. Michael was an exaggerated metaphor for my feelings, rather than a literal translation.
In fact, if you notice for creation credits, my father co-created the original version of the character. He came up with the idea for the Karate King as Super-Bob's partner.
My reasons for returning him to evil are partially because of my still mixed feelings about my father, but also as part of the larger drama that creates good stories, and it fits in with my concept that the inner circle of the New Power are all evil businessmen from various past and present Super Comics series.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Bad Guys
The Bad Guys
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Members:
Michael Bossman
The Trapster
Karate Spears
Krusher
Man-Killer
Kitten Girl
First Appearance: The Bad Guys # 1 (May 2009)
During the Crisis of 2008 - 2009, many super-villains were resurrected by the New Power, though in the end, the New Power was defeated. But the many villains were free on Earth.
Michael Bossman, a former enemy of his son Chris Kowalski aka Powerman, recruited a team of Powerman's former foes, all of whom like him had reformed. This team became a covert team secretly funded by Bossman Enterprises, travelling the world helping people in need.
Recently, the Bad Guys found that their leader, Michael Bossman, was really a member of the inner council of the New Power, and had formed the Bad Guys in a ploy to make them his mind controlled minions, a plot that failed. Bossman went into hiding, and the team was left in a situation where they head to decide where to go now, with their formation a ruse, their leader a villain, and their funding in question.
The team decided that regardless of how they got together, the work they do is what matters, as they continue on the road to redemption. The Trapster, who had already been the field leader, took leadership of the team. Shortly after, their funding was resolved as Michelle Wrigley took control of Bossman Enterprises, learned of the Bad Guys, and decided to continue funding their missions.
Comments:
The Bad Guys was one of the Super Explosion titles following Crisis. All the members were former Powerkid/Powerman rogues who had previously reformed.
Michael Bossman first appeared in Super Bob stories in 1979 as a supporting character/sidekick. He became an enemy of the Unknown and Detective Lebane starting in 1982, then became a Powerkid foe starting in 1984. He reformed in 2007, though as I've mentioned, it was just a ruse.
The Trapster was an enemy of Powerkid, the Unknown, Detective Lebane, and Doctor Mystery starting in 1982. He reformed as revealed in 2008, and was given the job of head of security for Bossman Enterprises.
Karate Spears first appeared as a foe of Powerkid in 1982. However, when Powerkid saved his home world in 1985, the villain turned over a new leaf. This caused the people of his world to overthrow him, now that he was considered weak, and he was imprisoned for years, until 1994 when he escaped and came to Earth, operating as a super hero under the new identity of the Interstellar Ninja. But in 2008, he (and I) realized how stupid that name was and he returned to his original one (given to him by his creator, Chuck Spears).
The Krusher first became an enemy of Powerkid and the Powerkid Police in 1984. For years, the heroes would stop him by giving him amnesia, but eventually that stopped working. In 2001, though, Krusher finally gained power over his power madness, and reformed.
Man-Killer was the quickest to reform. She first became a foe of Powerkid in 1982, but a few months later, she repented and joined the Powerkid Police. She actually died in 1990, but was resurrected by the New Power during the Crisis.
Finally, Kitten Girl first became a foe of Super Bob in 1980, later becoming a foe of the Unknown and Detective Lebane. Eventually, she repented and joined the Powerkid Police. She was vaporized along with all of Orange City in 1992 by a team of villains. She was resurrected by the New Power during the Crisis as well.
The team's adventures are sort of inspired by the Suicide Squad and the A-Team. And it's fun to write because all of these characters bring me back to my childhood.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Members:
Michael Bossman
The Trapster
Karate Spears
Krusher
Man-Killer
Kitten Girl
First Appearance: The Bad Guys # 1 (May 2009)
During the Crisis of 2008 - 2009, many super-villains were resurrected by the New Power, though in the end, the New Power was defeated. But the many villains were free on Earth.
Michael Bossman, a former enemy of his son Chris Kowalski aka Powerman, recruited a team of Powerman's former foes, all of whom like him had reformed. This team became a covert team secretly funded by Bossman Enterprises, travelling the world helping people in need.
Recently, the Bad Guys found that their leader, Michael Bossman, was really a member of the inner council of the New Power, and had formed the Bad Guys in a ploy to make them his mind controlled minions, a plot that failed. Bossman went into hiding, and the team was left in a situation where they head to decide where to go now, with their formation a ruse, their leader a villain, and their funding in question.
The team decided that regardless of how they got together, the work they do is what matters, as they continue on the road to redemption. The Trapster, who had already been the field leader, took leadership of the team. Shortly after, their funding was resolved as Michelle Wrigley took control of Bossman Enterprises, learned of the Bad Guys, and decided to continue funding their missions.
Comments:
The Bad Guys was one of the Super Explosion titles following Crisis. All the members were former Powerkid/Powerman rogues who had previously reformed.
Michael Bossman first appeared in Super Bob stories in 1979 as a supporting character/sidekick. He became an enemy of the Unknown and Detective Lebane starting in 1982, then became a Powerkid foe starting in 1984. He reformed in 2007, though as I've mentioned, it was just a ruse.
The Trapster was an enemy of Powerkid, the Unknown, Detective Lebane, and Doctor Mystery starting in 1982. He reformed as revealed in 2008, and was given the job of head of security for Bossman Enterprises.
Karate Spears first appeared as a foe of Powerkid in 1982. However, when Powerkid saved his home world in 1985, the villain turned over a new leaf. This caused the people of his world to overthrow him, now that he was considered weak, and he was imprisoned for years, until 1994 when he escaped and came to Earth, operating as a super hero under the new identity of the Interstellar Ninja. But in 2008, he (and I) realized how stupid that name was and he returned to his original one (given to him by his creator, Chuck Spears).
The Krusher first became an enemy of Powerkid and the Powerkid Police in 1984. For years, the heroes would stop him by giving him amnesia, but eventually that stopped working. In 2001, though, Krusher finally gained power over his power madness, and reformed.
Man-Killer was the quickest to reform. She first became a foe of Powerkid in 1982, but a few months later, she repented and joined the Powerkid Police. She actually died in 1990, but was resurrected by the New Power during the Crisis.
Finally, Kitten Girl first became a foe of Super Bob in 1980, later becoming a foe of the Unknown and Detective Lebane. Eventually, she repented and joined the Powerkid Police. She was vaporized along with all of Orange City in 1992 by a team of villains. She was resurrected by the New Power during the Crisis as well.
The team's adventures are sort of inspired by the Suicide Squad and the A-Team. And it's fun to write because all of these characters bring me back to my childhood.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Bossman Enterprises
Bossman Enterprises
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Biography:
Between 1981 and 1984, Michael Bossman was an underworld kingpin called the Boss. Using his illegally gotten gains, he created a company called Bossman Enterprises, in which he patented and produced new technologies that he stole from alien civilizations during his younger years as an agent of the Interstellar Peace Organization.
The technologies were just subtle enough to prove successful and groundbreaking on Earth but not advanced enough to draw the attention of the IPO. He was so successful that by 1984 Bossman's company was now a multi-billion dollar corporation and Bossman abandoned his underworld alter-ego, though not his evil ways.
From 1984 to 1989, while publicly a booming legal company, secretly is was used by Michael Bossman to conduct any illegal thing that suited him. This included Bossman's attempts to lure his son Chris Kowalski aka Powerkid over to the dark side, by force if necessary, and it was, though unsuccessful.
In 1989, Bossman's evil finally became public knowledge, and Powerkid apprehended him himself. Bossman was sent away for multiple murders, kidnappings, rapes, thefts, ect. He was away for a mere 18 years before his legal team finally got him released.
During his stay in prison, a proxy ran the company, however, Bossman still maintained real control. His proxy dared not try to take control for real.
When Bossman was released in 2007, he seemingly reformed. He devoted portions of his company, which he officially regained control of, to humanitarian efforts. The company began funding NighTforce, a team dedicated to taking down the terrorist cult called the New Power. The company also secretly funded another team called the Bad Guys, that consisted of reformed super-villains and traveled the globe on covert missions to assist people in need. The company also later funded the revived Heroes of Earth.
About a year ago, it was revealed that Bossman had not changed his ways, and actually was a member of the inner council of the New Power. Bossman went into hiding. This time, perhaps due to some part of Bossman that was actually good, a clause left all of Bossman's money, assets, valuables, and the entire company to his son Chris, and his grandson Connor. However, Connor being a minor had his mother Yana Oo named his proxy. Chris, having killed President Bush when under mind control, was in hiding, and named his sister Michelle Wrigley as his proxy. Thus, now Michelle Wrigley is the head of Bossman Enterprises, and Yana Oo the company's number two.
Today, Bossman Enterprises continues to thrive legally and secretly funding super-heroic operations, including ironically capturing Bossman and taking down the New Power once and for all.
Comments:
The character of Michael Bossman has gone through many changes over the years. In 1984, he transitioned from a super-villain who fought the Unknown and Detective Lebane, to an evil billionaire businessman whose goal was to turn his son, Powerkid, to his side.
And yes, in 1984, I came up with the idea of turning the evil mastermind into a rich businessman who uses his business as a front. Yes, I did that. Years before Byrne and Ostrander did the same to Luthor and Sivana. But do I get credit for this? (Perhaps, though, the Kingpin might be the first.)
From 1984 to 1989, Bossman Enterprises was a major part of Powerkid and Powerman, even when Bossman wasn't the main villain. His presence was always there in the series. But even beyond that, Bossman Enterprises has appeared or has been referenced in many Super Comics titles. Because Bossman Enterprises is the tallest building in Orange City, and located in the exact center of the city, it frequently appears in any story occurring in Orange City. (And most of the titles do take place in Orange City, or at least visit there at some point.) Additionally, the mark of "MBE" (for Michael Bossman Enterprises) is often seen on all kinds of tech gadgets in various stories.
Today, the company is a significant part of most Super Comics titles, particularly Powerman, Super Team-Up, Powerkid, Super Team-Up Jr., Super-Trio, Justice, NighTforce, Bad Guys, and Heroes of Earth.
It should be noted that Bossman Enterprises has not appeared in any story that takes place in the future, not even ones in Orange City. This doesn't necessarily mean that it's not there, but there is no evidence that it is.
Created by Robert E. Wronski, Jr.
Biography:
Between 1981 and 1984, Michael Bossman was an underworld kingpin called the Boss. Using his illegally gotten gains, he created a company called Bossman Enterprises, in which he patented and produced new technologies that he stole from alien civilizations during his younger years as an agent of the Interstellar Peace Organization.
The technologies were just subtle enough to prove successful and groundbreaking on Earth but not advanced enough to draw the attention of the IPO. He was so successful that by 1984 Bossman's company was now a multi-billion dollar corporation and Bossman abandoned his underworld alter-ego, though not his evil ways.
From 1984 to 1989, while publicly a booming legal company, secretly is was used by Michael Bossman to conduct any illegal thing that suited him. This included Bossman's attempts to lure his son Chris Kowalski aka Powerkid over to the dark side, by force if necessary, and it was, though unsuccessful.
In 1989, Bossman's evil finally became public knowledge, and Powerkid apprehended him himself. Bossman was sent away for multiple murders, kidnappings, rapes, thefts, ect. He was away for a mere 18 years before his legal team finally got him released.
During his stay in prison, a proxy ran the company, however, Bossman still maintained real control. His proxy dared not try to take control for real.
When Bossman was released in 2007, he seemingly reformed. He devoted portions of his company, which he officially regained control of, to humanitarian efforts. The company began funding NighTforce, a team dedicated to taking down the terrorist cult called the New Power. The company also secretly funded another team called the Bad Guys, that consisted of reformed super-villains and traveled the globe on covert missions to assist people in need. The company also later funded the revived Heroes of Earth.
About a year ago, it was revealed that Bossman had not changed his ways, and actually was a member of the inner council of the New Power. Bossman went into hiding. This time, perhaps due to some part of Bossman that was actually good, a clause left all of Bossman's money, assets, valuables, and the entire company to his son Chris, and his grandson Connor. However, Connor being a minor had his mother Yana Oo named his proxy. Chris, having killed President Bush when under mind control, was in hiding, and named his sister Michelle Wrigley as his proxy. Thus, now Michelle Wrigley is the head of Bossman Enterprises, and Yana Oo the company's number two.
Today, Bossman Enterprises continues to thrive legally and secretly funding super-heroic operations, including ironically capturing Bossman and taking down the New Power once and for all.
Comments:
The character of Michael Bossman has gone through many changes over the years. In 1984, he transitioned from a super-villain who fought the Unknown and Detective Lebane, to an evil billionaire businessman whose goal was to turn his son, Powerkid, to his side.
And yes, in 1984, I came up with the idea of turning the evil mastermind into a rich businessman who uses his business as a front. Yes, I did that. Years before Byrne and Ostrander did the same to Luthor and Sivana. But do I get credit for this? (Perhaps, though, the Kingpin might be the first.)
From 1984 to 1989, Bossman Enterprises was a major part of Powerkid and Powerman, even when Bossman wasn't the main villain. His presence was always there in the series. But even beyond that, Bossman Enterprises has appeared or has been referenced in many Super Comics titles. Because Bossman Enterprises is the tallest building in Orange City, and located in the exact center of the city, it frequently appears in any story occurring in Orange City. (And most of the titles do take place in Orange City, or at least visit there at some point.) Additionally, the mark of "MBE" (for Michael Bossman Enterprises) is often seen on all kinds of tech gadgets in various stories.
Today, the company is a significant part of most Super Comics titles, particularly Powerman, Super Team-Up, Powerkid, Super Team-Up Jr., Super-Trio, Justice, NighTforce, Bad Guys, and Heroes of Earth.
It should be noted that Bossman Enterprises has not appeared in any story that takes place in the future, not even ones in Orange City. This doesn't necessarily mean that it's not there, but there is no evidence that it is.
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