Supergirl

Supergirl first appeared in 1959 in Action Comics #252, the same DC comicbook in which Superman debuted. She operated during the Silver and Bronze Ages (1) of superhero comics. Supergirl was Superman's cousin Kara from Argo City, Krypton (2). Her parents were Alura (spelled Allura in early stories) and Zor-El, Superman's uncle. "Sole survivor of the doomed planetoid which had hurtled away intact from an exploding Krypton - with a huge bubble of air conveniently attached - Supergirl crash-landed on Earth, just as her famous cousin originally had, after Argo City itself fell prey to deadly green-kryptonite radiation." (3) She had a red, yellow and blue uniform emblazoned with the family crest, a secret earthly identity (Linda Lee Danvers), and standard Kryptonian superpowers. Supergirl was only 15 when she first landed on Earth, but over the course of the next 25 years she would mature into a young adult and acquire a suprising amount of life experience. Although she was a teenager, she was never a teenage sidekick. Her adventures were her own. Superman was a distant authority figure who would visit from time to time during her high school years (while keeping obsessive tabs on her every move). But once she graduated and went off to college, she lived on her own with almost no adult supervision and generally operated independently.

The Great Superman Book (Michael L. Fleisher and Janet E. Lincoln, 1978, volume three in the The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes) has this to say about Supergirl:

On Earth, like any Kryptonian survivor, she acquired super-powers identical to Superman's. Kara assumed the secret alternate identity of Linda Lee, an orphan at the Midvale Orphanage, concealing her blond hair beneath a brunette wig and functioning as Supergirl only in secret (at Superman's insistence) until 1962. She made her debut to the world in Action Comics #285. Adopted by Fred and Edna Danvers, she attended Midvale High School as Linda Lee Danvers, graduated in 1964, and then went on to attend Stanhope College on a scholarship, graduating in 1971.

Supergirl's alternate identity is a closely held secret, but it is known to Superman, to her foster parents the Danverses, and to the Legion of Super-Heroes, of which she served as a member until resigning her membership at the age of twenty-one. Supergirl is fully aware that her cousin Superman is secretly Clark Kent. Like all Kryptonian survivors, Supergirl is vulnerable to kryptonite. Comet the Super-Horse is Supergirl's pet and equine companion. Streaky, the orange cat that acquires temporary super-powers as the result of its exposure to 'X-kryptonite', is Linda Lee Danvers' pet cat.

Supergirl's early adventures in Action Comics are short, simple, and formulaic. The stories started becoming more complex and interesting during her college years, especially once she moved into her own book in Adventure Comics. The late sixties and early seventies marked a time of increased focus on character development and social issues in DC Comics, and while the results were mixed depending on the creative team, there was nothing dull about Supergirl's 70's run in Adventure, her own 10-issue Supergirl series, and her eight-year tenure in Superman Family. Kara had a very full career as Linda Lee Danvers: after graduating from Stanhope University with an unknown degree, she took a job as a camera operator and part-time journalist at a San Francisco TV station. Her working relationships at that job were certainly a challenge, especially with Lex Luthor's niece Nasthalthia "Nasty" Luthor there! A year later she went back to school as a grad student to study drama. Her next and longest position was as a student counsellor at a progressive high school - perhaps her undergrad was in social science? She made use of her drama training when she quit that job too (she always quit her jobs due to poor working conditions for some reason), upon receiving an offer to star in daytime television. Surprisingly, her last series had her returning to college once again, this time studying psychology. After 23 issues the second Supergirl series was cancelled, only a few months before her theatrical debut in 1984. DC intended to place Supergirl in another series, but someone in editorial must not have liked her, because she was shockingly killed off in the Crisis on Infinite Earths which herelded the end of so many female heroes. But Kara had far too strong a presence in DC comics to ever be forgotten.

Linda Danvers/Supergirl

Linda Danvers was a human girl in her late teens, living with two ordinary parents in the small town of Leesburg. Linda viewed Supergirl as her role model and frequently found herself sculpting the superheroine's form in her artistic endeavours. But an evil demon named Buzz had played upon Linda's loss of faith in those around her by drawing her into his cult in preparation for using her as a human sacrifce to the otherworldly creature known as Lord Chakat. It seems that Buzz knew that there was more to Linda that she herself realized, and that she would come to play an important role. Supergirl managed to reach Linda before the sacrifice took place, but not in time to save her life. With Supergirl filled with grief over her failure and Linda feeling overwhelmed at how her life was ending before she could set right what had gone wrong, the two reached out to each other, and at the moment of death, Supergirl merged her protoplasmic form with that of Linda's form and spirit, and the two souls became one. The spirit of Kara had been reborn in the form of another Supergirl. (The "guardian spirit" of Kara appeared in issue #49 of the current series and stated that she has been Linda's "guardian angel" since childhood.)

While it is a great tragedy that Supergirl was killed off during the Crisis battle, her rebirth eventually brought about a much stronger and more interesting character. Her adventures are no longer a watered-down version of Superman's, nor is she Superman's sidekick. Technically she is no longer genetically related to Superman within the DC Universe, but the spirit of Kara within Linda/Supergirl may remember her cousin even if he doesn't. Although younger than her "cousin", she has already had just as harrowing adventures and has her own supporting cast of fascinating and often wacky friends and family, something the old Supergirl lacked. Thanks to the strong writing of Peter David, the author of the modern Supergirl series, she is the superhero that Kara always had the capacity to be, now that she is no longer constrained by the sexist cultural mores of the Silver Age. The second Linda Danvers is a worthy successor to the Supergirl tradition.

Kara II: The (Post-Crisis) Supergirl from Krypton

Superman-Batman #13 (M.Turner) || Supergirl #1 (I.Churchill) || SG #5 (I.Churchill) || SG/Legion #16 (B.Kitson)

Part 1: The Supergirl From Krypton (SUPERMAN/BATMAN #8-13)

First appearance: March 2004. Twenty years after the original Kara died and not quite a year after Linda Danvers retired from being Supergirl, a second Kara from Krypton has been introduced into the current DC universe. She first appeared in the March 2004 SUPERMAN/BATMAN #8, discovered by Batman after she escaped from her downed escape shuttle which had crashed to Earth in a meteor from Krypton. Her origin mirrors that of Power Girl of Earth 2, in that she was sent by her parents at the same time as Kal-El when Krypton was about to explode, but did not arrive until many years after Kal's. Kara arrives on Earth, unaged due to suspended animation, to discover that her baby cousin is already a great superhero. Superman is overjoyed to see her (seemingly forgetting all about his relationship with the previous Supergirl), for the single fact that she is his cousin.

Batman makes it clear that he does not trust a super powered girl claiming to be from Krypton. At one point he admits to himself that the thought of a Supergirl equal or greater in power to Superman disturbs him (what, Batman afraid of strong women? nah!) Wonder Woman understands that Kara's raw power is untrained and unfocused, and takes her to Themyscira (Paradise Island) for some Amazonian warrior training. It beats being stuck in an orphanage! There Kara makes friends on Earth for the first time, but all is not well as Darkseid sees the opportunity to recruit the most powerful girl on Earth as the leader of his Female Furies. He abducts her to Apokolips, and, offscreen, brainwashes her to turn "evil". Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman travel to Apokolips to rescue her, and Kal-El literally knocks Kara back to her senses by uppercutting her wearing a Kryptonite ring (no, I don't understand how that works either). Back on Earth, Superman and Wonder Woman conspire to trick Darkseid into thinking Kara is dead. The threat from Darkseid eliminated, Superman officially introduces Kara as Supergirl to the Teen Titans, the Outsiders, the JLA and the JSA. Supergirl is set to start her career as a superhero. If only she'd been given a less embarassing costume!

Mutant X

Mutant X was a television series that first aired October 6, 2001. Created by Marvel Studios (a division of Marvel Comics), the story centers around Mutant X, a team of "New Mutants" who possess extraordinary powers as a result of genetic engineering. Like hundreds of other unsuspecting people, the members of Mutant X were used as test subjects in a series of covert government experiments. The company behind the project wants to control these New Mutants for their own purposes. The mission of Mutant X is to seek out their fellow New Mutants, help them come to terms with their abilities, and protect them from those who want only to exploit their powers.

The series was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Mutant X is unrelated to the Mutant X comic book series. Even though the series had high ratings and had been renewed for a fourth season, it was abruptly canceled in 2004 due to the dismantling of Fireworks Entertainment, one of the production companies.

Adam Kane
Adam Kane is arguably the smartest man alive - the strategist, tactician and moral center of MUTANT X. It was his genetic research that inadvertently created new mutants - and he takes as his responsibility the salvation of these innocent victims of society. Adam has the serenity of a warrior poet - the perfect leader for MUTANT X.

Lexa Pierce
Lexa Pierce is a mystery. Her shadowy past includes covert operations for several intelligence and security agencies. Like the members of Mutant X, she was unwittingly subjected to genetic experimentation and as a result, can manipulate light in amazing ways.

Shalimar Fox
Shalimar Fox is in her mid 20s, fiery, feral and stunning, a sensual beauty utterly in touch with her primal self. Blessed with both human and animal DNA, Shalimar has the strength, speed, and cunning of the animal kingdom…with a tempestuous nature to match. She is uncannily fast, inhumanly agile and sensually feline. Walking the line between human and feral, Shalimar is a little wild and completely unpredictable.

Brennan Mulwray
Brennan Mulwray is a tough, yet vulnerable, street-smart wiseguy in his late 20s-with the astonishing ability to generate enough electricity from his own body to power a small city. A fast talking cavalier with an ingratiating grin, Brennan is a master of electricity - who throws bolts of energy from his fingertips. Brennan loves being a New Mutant - throwing off sparks is an absolute blast.

Member of Mutant X

Jesse Kilmartin
Jesse Kilmartin is a sweetly naive and good-natured guy in his early 20s who can alter the density of his body at will - going from rock solid as a stone wall one moment-then walking through a stone wall the next. Jesse led a sheltered childhood, and still has a lot to learn about the harsh realities of the world, but he's more than proved himself an invaluable member of MUTANT X.

Emma deLauro
Emma deLauro was a mischievous knockout in her early 20's - a telempath who could communicate her own feelings - and receive the feelings of others around her. Emma couldn't read thoughts, but she could sense in great detail an emotional state of mind - and learn an awful lot about another person from it. When these gifts combined with her party girl personality, fun and trouble were a double guarantee.

The Zoom

Decades prior to the start of the film, the American military sponsored a superhero group called "Team Zenith." Its leaders were Jack Shepard, aka Captain Zoom, who possessed super-speed, and his brother, Concussion, who could project sonic blasts. However, the military tried to increase the team's powers by exposing them to an experimental form of radiation called "Gamma-13." This caused Concussion to become more powerful, but it also turned him evil. Concussion killed his teammates Marksman, Ace, and Daravia; Concussion was believed to be killed by Zoom in an explosion (in reality, he had been sent into another dimension). Zoom apparently lost his powers, and retired.

Decades later, the scientist behind the original Zenith Project, Dr. Grant, discovers that Concussion is making his way back into their own dimension. Larraby, the military officer in charge of the Project, decides to form a new Zenith Team to fight him.

Jack finds himself dragged back into the Project, this time as an instructor. He is told that a new team is needed to battle a great menace, but he isn't told what it is. He is told, however, that if natural training does not prepare the new team in time, then they will be exposed to Gamma-13. In their secret base, Area 52 (a reference to Area 51) he meets Marsha, a beautiful but clumsy scientist, who is a big fan of his, knowing of him only through the comic book propaganda adaptations of the team's adventures.

The project holds an audition of would-be members, most of whom possess useless or disgusting powers. In the end, four young people are selected:

• Dylan, a 17-year-old boy who can turn invisible
• Summer, a 16-year-old girl with telekinetic powers
• Tucker, a 12-year-old boy with the power to enlarge any part of his body
• Cindy, a 6-year-old girl with super strength.

All of them are shown as having problems adapting to normal life because of their powers.

At first, things do not go well. Jack is bitter about the past, and his sarcastic attitude disappoints Marsha. Dylan keeps trying to escape, Tucker has self-esteem problems and trouble controlling his powers, and the kids are annoyed by Dr. Grant's attitude. The team eventually forces Jack to face the fact that he's not really putting his heart into their training. Slowly, things begin to come together. As the new team's abilities improve, they adopt superhero identities.

Eventually, just as Concussion is about to arrive on Earth, it is discovered that Dylan also possesses a kind of clairsentience that allows him to discover not only Concussion's location, but also the project's true purpose: the team is meant merely as a distraction from the military's plans to capture Concussion in a special net. Using a malfunctioning flying saucer stored in the base, Jack escapes with the team, including Marsha. He drops off at a point in a desert where Concussion will arrive, planning to try to talk to him. Jack tells the team to stay away, but they refuse.

When Concussion arrives, he refuses to listen to reason and starts firing sonic blasts at his brother. The rest of the team takes him on. Larraby orders the net to be fired, but Concussion blasts it away, and it almost lands on Cindy. This causes Jack to react and recover his speed, and he saves her. He then runs back to the base, puts on a new costume, and returns to battle his brother. Working together, the team (plus Marsha) knock Concussion into a high-speed vortex that Zoom creates by running around at super-speed; this sucks out the energy out of his body and restores him to normal. The two brothers are happily reunited.

The movie ends with scenes depicting the kids living their lives better, even using their powers in public, still active as a superhero team.

The Team

Jack Shepard/Zoom - He was once a member of a superhero team known as Zenith. After a failed experiment with gamma radiation his brother, Concussion, turned evil and Zoom lost his powers of superhuman speed. He was later located by the government while he was making a Root beer float with Chocolate Syrup and a Banana and used to form a new superhero team and defeat his brother.

• Marsha Holloway - She is a big fan of Zoom and his comics book adventures. She is however disappointed with Zoom's attitude, but they later learn to get along. She later reveals that she has the power of super breath.

• Tucker Williams/Mega Boy - He is a slightly overweight boy who is constantly teased about his appearance. He is one of the kids chosen for Zoom's class. He has the power of elasticity.

• Summer Jones/Wonder - She is a teenage girl who is constantly teased by the cheerleaders at her school. She is one of the kids chosen for Zoom's class. She has the power of telekinesis and empathy.
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• Dylan West/Houdini - He is the oldest of kids chosen for Zoom's class who has a crush on Summer. He has the power of invisibility and clairvoyance.

• Cindy Collins/Princess - She is the youngest of the kids chosen for Zoom's class. She is rarely taken seriously by the rest of the group. She has the power of superhuman strength.

• Dr. Grant - He is a scientist at the Area 52 base and he constantly annoys the kids with his serious attitude. He is the inventor of Gamma 13.

• Connor Shepard/Concussion - He is Zoom's older brother who was turned evil by Gamma 13. He was thought to be dead but later turned out to be trapped in another dimension. He has the power to project force blasts from his hands.

Lois & Clark Vs Smallville Vs Superman Return

Hi, what your opinion for this two Superman films? Which one better between Dean Cain or Tom Welling or Brandon Routh as Clark Kent? And between Tery Hatcher or Erica Durance or Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane? What is your reason? Which have the similarity with the comics in story and character?

Name:	Clark Joseph Kent [Earth Name] Kal-El [Kryptonian Name]
Age:	39 (see below)
Height:	6 feet, 3 inches
Weight:	225 pounds
Eyes:	Blue
Hair:	Black
Occupation:	Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter, columnist and (one-time) Foreign Correspondent for the Daily Planet newspaper; adventurer as the superhero Superman,
Known Relatives:	Jor-El [Kryptonian father, deceased] Lara [Kryptonian mother, deceased] Jonathan Kent [adoptive father] Martha Kent [adoptive mother] Lois Lane [wife]
Marital Status:	Married to Lois Lane
Group Affiliation:	Justice League of America
Base of Operations:	The city of Metropolis, U.S.A.
Current Address:	1938 Sullivan Place, Metropolis [Clark's Previous Address: Apartment 3-D, 344 Clinton Street, Metropolis] [Lois' Previous Address: 55 Broome Street, Metropolis]
Birthday:	Traditionally February 29. In Action Comics #655 (July 1990) a Smallville newspaper clipping shows Jonathan and Martha Kent had a child "on or about February 28th".
First Comic Book Appearance:	Action Comics #1 (June 1938), The Man of Steel #1 [Post-"Crisis" series] (July 1986), Superman: Birthright #1 (July 2003)

Superman created by Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuster (artist).

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Origin

[Note: This origin is based on "The Man of Steel" miniseries version from 1986].

Conceived on the doomed planet Krypton, scientist Jor-El had his unborn son Kal-El, still within his birthing matrix, placed on a hyperlight drive rocket. Then with his wif

e Lara, Jor-El watched the ship's launch as a simmering nuclear chain reaction tore the planet apart. Jor-El targeted his son's rocket to reach the planet Earth through hyperspace, where Jor-El hoped his son would find a good life.

The tiny rocket was found by a Kansas farming couple, Jonathan and Martha Kent. They found the infant within the rocket and, being childless, Martha persuaded Jonathan that they should adopt him. Named Clark Kent, the child grew up in Smallville, Kansas never knowing how his parents found him.

The Kents began realizing Clark's special abilities at age 8 when he was unhurt after being trampled by a bull. Clark demonstrated more abilities as he grew, even being able to fly at age 17.

The following year, after using his abilities to excel in a football game, Jonathan Kent revealed the remains of the rocket and how his adoptive parents had found him. Clark now understood his special powers came with responsibilities.

That night, Clark revealed his secret to his closest friend, Lana Lang. He also told her he would be leaving Smallville the following day. Thus at age 18, Clark Kent began to travel around the world to learn about his powers, become better educated, and secretly help people. Places he went to include India, the High Sierras, China, Bangkok, and Sudan.

After about four years Clark enrolled in the University of Metropolis and majored in journalism. Seven years after leaving Smallville, Clark witnessed an experimental NASA space plane about to crash. He saved the plane and there first met Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane. It was Lois' newspaper account of the rescue that gave Clark the superhero name of Superman.

Although Clark managed to hide his identity during that incident, he realized he must adopt a superhero identity if he was to continue a public career of superheroics. With his parents' help Clark developed a superhero costume with a distinctive chest emblem. He also practiced mannerisms and began wearing glasses to distinguish Clark Kent's appearance from that of Superman.

Returning to Metropolis, Clark began his superhero career as Superman, and his journalism career at the Daily Planet by getting the first exclusive interview with Superman.

Superman's appearance began a new age of heroes, with other heroes like Batman (Bruce Wayne) in Gotham, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) in Coast City, and Flash (Barry Allen) in Central City appearing.

At age 28, Clark learned about his Kryptonian heritage from an electro-psionic recording created by Jor-El and stored in Clark's birthing matrix (i.e. rocketship). Learning of Krypton's fate, Clark was further determined to protect his adopted home planet, Earth.

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Superman's Powers

Clark Kent's Kryptonian body acts as a solar battery absorbing solar energy which can then be used as various remarkable powers. If Earth had a red sun like Krypton's, Clark would not have these powers. Using his powers causes Clark to use up his stored yellow sun energy. He can lose his powers if he expends a lot of energy quickly (e.g. during his battle with the monster Doomsday) or if he spends too much time away from a yellow sun while in outer space. When low on solar energy, Clark can 'recharge' if exposed to a source of yellow sun energy. The rate at which he 'recharges' can vary. When he has absorbed excess solar energy, his power levels have been above normal until the excess power is burned up.

Superman's superpowers include:

• Strength - although varying depending on his energy levels, Clark is among the strongest superheroes on Earth, capable of lifting a plane.

• Flight - able to defy gravity, possibly through sheer force of will.

• Invulnerability - years of exposure to yellow solar energy have caused Clark's Kryptonian body to become almost indestructible. His natural bio-electric aura also has limited force field properties protecting items near his skin e.g. his costume. His cape is not protected by his aura.

  Clark can survive in outer space as long as he has a breathing apparatus, and doesn't lose too much solar energy. Without an air supply, Superman can last between an hour and ninety minutes in space, after taking a deep breath. Using his powers of flight and super-speed Clark can travel inter-planetary distances by himself. Interstellar distances require assistance e.g. a spaceship, teleportation belt.

• Super-speed - capable of superhuman speed, Clark can fly from Metropolis to have dinner with Lois Lane in Paris, France, or in a few minutes fly to the Moon.

• Super-breath - Clark's invulnerability and strength exist internally too, affecting his skeleton and internal organs. After inhaling deeply he can expel the air in a gale-force wind. Superman is also able to chill his breath in order to freeze a target (this latter ability has also been called "freeze breath" and "arctic breath").

• Super-hearing - Capable of blocking out and discerning a single known voice within a city.

• Vision - Clark can detect electromagnetic energy in more than the normal visible spectrum:
  • X-Ray vision - lead appears opaque
  • IR vision
  • Microscopic
  • Telescopic
• Heat Vision - additionally, Clark can release solar energy in the form of Heat Vision as a weapon.

Besides the using up of his solar energy, Clark has two other weaknesses:

• Magic

• Kryptonite
  Created by internal pressures that caused Krypton's explosion, kryptonite is the ore form of kryptonium. It looks like a green glowing rock. It is very hazardous to Superman. If exposed to kryptonite, Clark will experience pain and rapidly lose his powers. If exposed for much more than an hour he would die. If suffering kryptonite poisoning, Clark can recover if he gets away from the kryptonite.

  When Clark's birthing matrix left Krypton, a fragment of kryptonite became embedded in the tail section. Villain Lex Luthor obtained this fragment and used part of it for a ringstone, to protect himself from Superman. After being exposed to it for a year, Luthor found the radiation destroyed his hand, and was killing his body through cancer, necessitating he obtain a prosthetic hand, and later a new cloned body.

  Note: Another villain, Mr. Mxyzptlk, a Fifth Dimensional being who can use super-science that resembles 'magic' once created red kryptonite to temporarily remove Clark's powers. Without Mr. Mxyzptlk's powers, though, this 'red kryptonite' would be harmless to anyone, and is in no way connected to genuine green kryptonite. When Superman captured three criminals in a "pocket universe" he used gold kryptonite from that universe. Batman also created his own variant of red kryptonite which rendered Kryptonian skin transparent and caused Superman to overload with yellow sun radiation.

Bionic Woman

Struggling as a bartender and surrogate mom to her teenage sister, Jaime Sommers (Michelle Ryan, "EastEnders") didn't think life could get much harder. But when a devastating car accident leaves her at death's door, Jaime's only hope for survival is a cutting-edge, top-secret technology that comes at a hefty price.

With a whole new existence and a debt to re-pay, Jaime must figure out how to use her extraordinary abilities for good -- while weighing the personal sacrifices she will have to make. Ultimately, it's Jaime's journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as the Bionic Woman in this new action-drama series.

Also starring are: Miguel Ferrer ("Crossing Jordan") as Jonas Bledsoe, the man who employs Jaime's boyfriend; Molly Price ("Third Watch") as Ruth Truewell, Jonas' second-in-command; Chris Bowers ("Rescue Me") as Will Anthros, Jaime's boyfriend, who performs the operation; Will Yun Lee ("Witchblade") as Jae Kim, the specialized operations leader; Lucy Kate Hale ("How I Met Your Mother"), as Jaime’s younger sister, Becca; and Mark Sheppard ("Battlestar Galatica") as Dr. Anthony Anthros, Will’s father and the man who originated the bionic technology.

"Bionic Woman" is produced by Universal Media Studios and executive-produced by David Eick ("Battlestar Galactica") and Jason Smilovic ("Lucky Number Slevin").

G- Girl (My Super Ex-Girlfriend)

Frustrated by his lack of progress in asking out secret crush Hannah (Anna Faris), Matt (Luke Wilson) starts dating shy stranger Jenny (Uma Thurman). After several dates, Jenny displays increasingly-neurotic and aggressive behaviour, becoming more demanding and ultimately injuring Matt during their first sexual encounter. Soon after, Jenny reveals to him that she is in fact a superhero, G-Girl, who accidentally absorbed powers such as invulnerability, heat vision, and super-senses after she was exposed to a crashed meteorite as a teenager.

As Matt and Hannah's friendship develops further, and after becoming aggravated with Jenny's escalating jealousy, Matt ends the relationship. An angered Jenny vows to make Matt regret the decision, using her superpowers to publicly embarrass him and eventually causing him to lose his job. Professor Bedlam (Eddie Izzard), a former boyfriend of Jenny and now G-Girl's arch-nemesis, contacts Matt in order to enlist his aid in defeating her. Matt refuses and makes plans to leave the city. As he does so he is contacted by Hannah, and after confessing their feelings to one another, they end up in bed.

Jenny (as G-Girl) discovers them in bed the next day and attacks the pair. Angered, Matt contacts Professor Bedlam and agrees to help him defeat her, as long as Bedlam retires from being a supervillain. He instructs Matt to lure Jenny to a meeting where she can be exposed to a piece of the meteorite which gave her superpowers, telling Matt that this will draw away her powers, leaving her a mere mortal. Matt agrees and meets Jenny for a candlelit dinner at his apartment, under the pretence of wanting to resume their relationship. However, Hannah arrives to see Jenny sitting on Matt's lap. The two women fight, and in the struggle Jenny accidentally reveals her superhero identity to Hannah. Bedlam's trap is sprung, and the energy that gave Jenny her powers is drained back into the meteorite, incapacitating Jenny.

Professor Bedlam appears, but reveals that he has no intention of keeping his promise to retire from villainy and in fact plans to kill the helpless Jenny. While he and Matt fight, Jenny crawls to the charged meteorite attempting to regain her powers; Hannah intervenes just as Jenny grabs the meteorite, which explodes in a burst of power. Both Hannah and Jenny are catapulted off the roof, apparently to their deaths; however, Jenny appears within seconds, powers restored, threatening even more mayhem. Only the unexpected reappearance of Hannah -- also exposed to the meteorite's energies and now also possessing the same powers as G-Girl -- saves Matt. The second fight between Hannah and Jenny is a full-on super-brawl, destroying part of the neighbouring properties. Finally, Matt reasons with them both and they cease fighting. He tells Jenny that Professor Bedlam is her true love; Jenny agrees and she embraces her former nemesis.

The next morning, Matt and Hannah meet up with Professor Bedlam (now just "Barry") and Jenny. As cries for help are heard from afar, Jenny and Hannah take off to tackle the emergency. Matt and Barry are left holding their girlfriends' purses and leave to have a beer together.

The Incredibles

Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) have married and settled into relatively normal lives. Now known as Bob and Helen Parr, they have a house in the suburbs and are raising three kids, Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dashiell ("Dash") (Spencer Fox) and baby Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile). Violet and Dash each have superpowers like their parents, while it seems as if Jack-Jack is a normal baby without powers.

Bob is frustrated with the drudgery of his job as a claims adjuster for a corrupt insurance company called Insuricare and secretly helps deserving clients to find loopholes to get their payments. He dreams of returning back to his glory days of superheroism, going so far as to moonlight as a crimefighter by listening to a police scanner with his friend Lucius - another former super called Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson). When Helen finds out, it causes an argument. Bob hates having to hide their gifts, and wants to return to the heroics of the old days, while Helen is concerned about keeping the family together and not having to start over again by going into hiding in a brand new location.

Eventually Mr. Huph (Wallace Shawn), Bob's miserly boss, suspects Bob is helping clients and reprimands him. During the lecture, Bob notices a person being mugged in the street. Mr. Huph stops Bob from going to the victim's aid, threatening to fire him, and the mugger escapes. Bob is furious, and when Huph smugly begins lecturing again, Bob grabs him by the neck and hurls him through several office walls. Huph is hospitalized and Bob is fired.

While Bob is trying to figure out how to tell Helen, Mirage (Elizabeth Peña), a mysterious agent, contacts him and offers highly-paid work: subduing a renegade robot, the Omnidroid 9000, on Nomanisan, an uncharted volcanic island. Bob takes the assignment, hiding both the loss of his job and the renewal of hero work from Helen. Bob defeats the Omnidroid from the inside, damaging his supersuit slightly from the battle, and becomes much happier. When he takes his suit to its designer, flamboyant Edna Mode (Brad Bird), for repair, she creates for him a brand-new suit; she is adamant about only one detail: "No capes!" She points out how several super heroes met untimely deaths because their capes were snagged on takeoff, sucked into jet turbines (Stratogale), snags on missile fins (Thunderhead), express elevator trouble (Meta-Man), sucked into vortexes (Splashdown) and snags on takeoff (Dynaguy) and many more. Unbeknownst to him, she also creates suits for his entire family.

Two months later, Mirage calls Bob with a new assignment. Helen overhears the call, but does not realize its full implications or content. When Bob returns to the island, he is ambushed and defeated by an improved version of the Omnidroid prototype robot. He is held captive there by Syndrome (Jason Lee), once a young fan named Buddy Pine. Buddy once wanted to be Mr. Incredible's sidekick, but was harshly rejected "learning an important lesson: you can't count on anyone, especially your heroes". Embittered, he made a fortune in high-tech weapons technology. He then invented the Omnidroid, a robot designed to kill supers. Bob manages to escape from Syndrome and discovers that Syndrome has killed many of his superhero friends in the process of developing the Omnidroid, and is now planning on unleashing the robot into the city of Metroville where it will cause mass destruction, with only Syndrome able to stop it.

Back at home, Helen notices that Bob's old super suit has recently been repaired. She visits Edna and learns that he has resumed superhero work. With a call to Insuracare she also realizes that Bob is no longer employed. Edna has also created super suits for Helen and the children, and advises her to take control of the situation.

Helen activates the homing device Edna built into Bob’s super suit, which reveals his location to both her and Syndrome (who recaptures him). She heads for the island in a jet plane, on which Violet and Dash have stowed away, after leaving Jack-Jack at home with a babysitter. Syndrome, meanwhile, tortures Bob for information and launches a missile attack against Helen's airplane. Helen and the kids manage to escape unharmed, and swim to the island, though everyone on the island believes they are killed. Bob grabs Mirage and threatens to kill her unless Syndrome frees him; Syndrome calls this bluff, and Bob releases her unharmed, remaining Syndrome's prisoner.

While Helen infiltrates Syndrome’s base, the new and improved Omnidroid 10000 is launched on a rocket towards its target, Metroville. In Syndrome’s base, a grateful Mirage secretly frees Bob just before Helen arrives. The two superheroes rush to find their children, who are fighting off Syndrome’s henchmen. A battle ensues, wherein the family cooperates to defeat their attackers. However, Syndrome arrives and captures the Incredibles using his zero-point energy fields. Syndrome then explains his plan: to save Metroville from his own Omnidroid and thereby become a hero. He then leaves the Incredibles in an energy prison. Violet’s force fields allow them to escape, however. With Mirage’s help they depart for the mainland after Syndrome.

In Metroville, Syndrome attempts to stop the Omnidroid's destructive rampage, but the robot figures out the nature of his remote control and knocks him unconscious. The Incredibles and Frozone fight the robot. Together, they are able to get the Omnidroid to disable itself. The town applauds them for their achievements; the possibility of superheroes coming out of hiding is mentioned and for the government to "let the politicians figure it out". Syndrome wakes up to find that the Incredibles have stolen his glory.

The Incredibles return home to find that Syndrome is kidnapping Jack-Jack. As Syndrome attempts to fly up to his jet using his rocket boots, Jack-Jack suddenly reveals his super powers by transforming into fire, metal, and then an imp-like monster. Syndrome drops Jack-Jack, who is caught by Helen, and attempts to flee. Bob hurls the family car into the jet; Syndrome is knocked into the turbine and is killed when his cape is caught in the engine and pulls him in -- just as Edna might have warned him. Violet then protects the family from the raining flames and debris as the jet explodes, much to the amazement of their young neighbor, who responds with the words "That was totally WICKED!!".

Three months later, the family is much happier; even Bob is content with their civilian life. Dash is running in a track meet; he carefully controls his use of super-speed and finishes in second place. Violet, who formerly felt alienated to the point of using her hair to hide her face, is found with her hair pulled back and successfully asking her friend Tony for a date to the movies, with Tony getting nervous instead of Violet. As they walk out of the sports complex, a new villain, The Underminer (John Ratzenberger), rises from the ground and declares "war on peace and happiness.”

Shark Boy and Lava Girl

Sometimes the most amazing superheroes are the ones inside your dreams. So discovers ten-year-old Max, an outcast little boy who has become lost in his own fantasy world in an attempt to escape the everyday worries of dealing with parents (David Arquette and Kristin Davis), school bullies and no-fun summer vacations. But when Max realizes the cool characters, high-flying adventures and incredible secret powers that dwell in his imagination might be far more real than anyone is willing to believe, his whole world changes.

In Max dream's, ridiculed by his classmates, conjures up his perfect dreamworld...the Planet Drool. But his dream is more powerful than even he suspects, and his favourite dream super-heroes, Sharkboy and Lavagirl, materialise on Earth. They need help from Max. All is not well in Max's dreamworld. An alien intelligence is interfering and darkness threatens his beloved Planet Drool. Is it true, as Sharkboy and Lavagirl say, that only Max, the powerful dreamer, can stop it? Max takes off on a wild and dangerous journey to the fantastic Planet Drool with Sharkboy and Lavagirl.

Green Arrow

The Green Arrow character was first introduced in More Fun Comics #73 in 1941. The same issue introduced Aquaman. Justin Hartley should be happy, since a good part of his 2006 employment came from that same 10 cent comic book.

Green Arrow's original costume was a bit of a Robin Hood motif. He had a sidekick dressed in red named Speedy, and the character had many gadgets. He had an Arrowcave and an Arrowplane, was a millionaire, and more or less was "Batman with a bow and arrow." He even could be summoned by an Arrow-signal.

The Green Arrow was one of the few characters from comics' Golden Age who had an uninterrupted run that went through to the Silver Age. Although he did not have his own comic book, he appeared in More Fun and then Adventure Comics for several decades. In fact, Green Arrow was one of only five DC Comics characters to not enter comics limbo between the Golden and Silver Ages. (Those other characters? Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman).

It was toward the end of this run that Green Arrow became one of the earliest members of the Justice League of America, joining the team in the book's fourth issue.
The Neal Adams redesign is the most familiar and enduring version of the character, and this is the version seen on Superfriends and Justice League Unlimited.

In GL/GA, Oliver Queen no longer had his fortune, and he became a streetwise crusader for the working class and the underprivileged. This laid-back Green Arrow butted heads with the much more conservative Green Lantern, and the two took a "road trip" for several issues. This storyline also featured a 2-parter where the Green Arrow learned that his sidekick, Speedy, had become addicted to drugs.

After the acclaimed GL/GA run, Oliver Queen's alter ego began appearing again in back-up stories, most notably in Detective Comics. He also had an on-and-off relationship with Dinah Lance, the Black Canary, a fellow Justice Leaguer. In the early 1980's he was featured in his own comic book mini-series.

In the latter part of the decade writer/artist Mike Grell reinvented the Green Arrow yet again, Dark Knight-style, in a miniseries titled The Longbow Hunters. This "new take" was popular and led to a new, ongoing Green Arrow series written by Grell.

After Mike Grell's take on the character, writer Chuck Dixon took over and the book became a little more mainstream. This era in Oliver Queen's life was short-lived, as he died in a plane explosion in issue #101. Oliver Queen's recently-discovered son, Connor Hawke, took over the book for a few years following that, and it wasn't until a few years later that famed director Kevin Smith revived the Green Arrow character and series.

Now, Oliver Queen is very much alive and in post-One Year Later DC continuity, he is the mayor of Star City.

Oliver Queen's origins on Smallville are not yet known. We know he's good with a bow and arrow. He went to private school with Lex Luthor in his younger days. His family was rich, and his parents are deceased. Oliver inherited a fortune, and successfully runs the Queen family companies.

Ollie first puts on the costume in the Smallville episode "Arrow." The week before, in "Wither," we saw him in something similar to the Neal Adams design. Since then we've seen him fight crime and forge a romance with Lois Lane. In "Justice," Ollie heads out to save the world with his new band of allies.

Dare Devil

A lawyer blinded by radioactive waste fights crime as an acrobatic martial arts superhero using his other senses, which have been enhanced to superhuman proportions.

He dwells in a world of eternal night, but the blackness is filled with sounds and scents, tastes and textures that most cannot perceive. Although attorney Matt Murdock is blind, his other four senses function with superhuman sharpness. By day Murdock represents the downtrodden. At night he is Daredevil, a masked vigilante stalking the dark streets of the city and a relentless avenger of justice. For Daredevil, justice is blind; for the guilty, there's hell to pay. Unlike other Marvel characters experiencing radiological accidents that drastically altered their appearance or biological makeup, a freak accident gives Daredevil his signature radar sense, but does not alter him in any other significant ways. Following the tragic mishap, Matt embarks on a training regimen to build his body, mind, and senses. He learns that he can see by the vibrations made by sound - he can even hear a man's heart beating - and he possesses extraordinary senses of touch and smell. Spurred on by his father's murder, Matt devotes his life to justice. After earning a law degree he stays close to his Hells Kitchen roots. With his longtime friend Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson, he opens the storefront law office Murdock & Nelson. Matt works as a lawyer, but the vigilance he shows during the day turns to vigilantism at night. When criminals beat the system, Matt becomes Daredevil to bring street-style justice to Hell's Kitchen. This dichotomy of good vs. evil - justice vs. vigilantism - defines the moral struggle Matt faces every day.

Saras 008

Indonesia's comic formula has been found. That is why, when the children's TV series SARAS 008 is shown on TV at prime time, comics and reading books with the same theme and story also sell well. SARAS 008 is locally made. It isn't based on a historic epic, but is a visionary epic story, set far in the future. SARAS 008 can shoot laser beams from her eyes to destroy her enemies. Like her motto, SARAS 008 is "the heroine of righteousness, defender of truth, friend of all who love peace". Nowadays in Indonesia, SARAS 008 is the children's idol. This character is very real to children, not abstract. Again, the closeness factor becomes the key to success for a children's movie. It is maintained in the SARAS 008 comic, aside from drawings and motions which still "mimic" the Japanese comic style-already popular among Indonesian children.

Villains:
Mr. Blek
Bil & Bul

Mlaar

Prince Mlaar is a figure comic created by Hasmi in 1969. The idea maybe from Mr. Fantastic (marvel comics) because he have same power. He have an elasticity from his body. First appearance in Gundala comic with title “Perhitungan di Planet Covox”

The Story

Mlaar is a prince in a kingdom in Covox Planet. After his father killed by Prime Minister Telern and Silver Head Princess, Mlaar gone into exile by his uncle. One day Gundala come to Covox to catch the kidnapped from his father (Kronz). But Telern wants to use Kronz as a giant power plant to build Meteor Rocket Factory. Gundala meet Mlaar and together they join to fight this regime. After that they become a friend and in several episode, Mlaar go to adventure in earth with other Superheroes.

Indonesian Super Heroes

From Left to Right : Kalong, Maza, Gundala, Sembrani, Mlaar

First Row : Tira, Godam, Mlaar, Maza, Aquanus, Gundala, Sembrani
Second Row : Kapten Halilintar, Kapten Mar, Kawa Hijau, Laba-laba Mirah, Laba-laba Merah
Third Row: Lamaut, Putri Bintang, Nusantara

Sembrani

When Tangguh in Mt. Dieng. He found a spaceship. After he come in to this spaceship, he finds Otohrb which speaking to him from projector. Otohrb is a one warlord from Ristuty Galaxy. He gives Tangguh a necklace which can change him to Sembrani. Sembrani have a poiwer to neutralize Magnet or poison or electricity and also can fly. But he have a weakness wth Gold. The costume for Sembrani make me remember, one of the Leader from X-Men (marvel Comics) : Cyclops. This character created by Hasmi.

Maza

When in dream, Kanigara feels become Maza. A snake name Schobin wants his help to find a blue pearl and Vatienc. The thief is a black mage Rahczor. He lives in Pulau Tengkorak Hitam. When Maza meet him, he wants a ransom in the form tengkorak harimau putih bertanduk tiga. So Maza get helps from the Galar to find this ransom. After Maza get the ransom, he betray the promise and attack Maza. At that time Jin Kartubi help Maza to kill Rahcsor. After this black mage die, Schobin & his daughter become a normal human. Kartubi give Maza a ring for memorize him. One day when Maza hike a hill, he falls and Kanigara wake up from the dream. But he found a paintbrush with a ring which can spoke to him. Maza realize the sound is from Kartubi. If he knocked the paintbrush, he will become Maza and the paintbrush become a blade.

Until now Indonesian Superhero still influence by Mistic and American tales. The idea for Maza maybe from Tarzan and Aladdin. This figure is created by Wid N.S.

Aquanus

Aquanus is other Indonesian Superhero created by Wid N.S. First appearance in 1968 on title “Aquanus at Vibhy Planet”. Aquanus maybe the parody from Aquaman (DC comics) because main power is relative same.

Background

When The Burbur attack Zyba Planet, King Sving send his baby to earth by rocket. The rocket fall in the sea and found by Whale hunter. This guy take this baby as their son and named him Dhanus. The Zyba have an ability to live in land or water, so Dhanus can swim to anywhere in sea. Someday he meet other Zyba people who give him rainbow belt. This belt become main weapon Aquanus.

Go To Zyba

When he become a guy, Aquanus comeback to Zyba. That period in Zyba break a war between The Burbur and The Quantra. Without knowing historical background Aquanus help the Burbur which is the original enemy from his father. But after meet Queen Zerhami, the daughter of King Sving which born in Quantra, he change side. So he go infiltrate on Zyba and help the Quantra win this conflict.

Berhala Coast

The other Indonesian Superheroes use Aquanus Submarine in Teluk Berhala as a homebase for their meeting and operation. So if American Superheroes in Justice League of America meet in outspace, the Indonesian Superheroes meet deep in the sea.

The Enemy

.When fight with Bocah Atlantis, Aquanus was imprisoned by his enemy and being replaced by Atlantic Agent named Vedhus. Later Vedhus & Atlantic Boy was melted with magic mirror used by Godam

Gundala

Gundala is one of fiction superhero created by Hasmi. His first appearance on 1969 at “Gundala Son of Thunder”. The genre of this comic is fantasy. The idea maybe come from Thor(marvel comics) and Flash (DC comics). The background setting are in Yogyakarta & Jakarta. This figure once go to the movie at 1982 with the same title.

Background

As a genius researcher, Sancaka found anti thunder serum. Sink in his ambition to study this in the depth, he forget Minarti birthday (his girlfriend). After that, they broke up. Sancaka with guilty feeling run in the rainy days. Suddenly a thunder hit him which cause him in coma condition. At this situation, his spirit is go to another planet and being adopt by Kaisar Kronz from the Thunder Kindom. He was blessed with superhero power with lightning from his hand and speed like wind from King Taifun from Bayu Kingdom.

Since this time, where he awake from his coma condition, he become a crimefighter with codename Gundala

The enemy

Gundala find his tricky enemy named Ghazul in the story “Dokumen Candi Hantu” at first time in 1969. The other enemy is Pengkor which can create a fake Gundala. This fake Gundala go into the robbery and other crime, so the real Gundala hunted by other Superhero.

The woman

In the adventure with other superhero named Kalong at Pangkalan Pemunah Bumi (1977), Gundala meet with a beautiful reporter. Her name is Sedhah Esti Wulan which later become his wife. This woman have a secret also. In the other story, Sedhah become a superheroine too with codename Merpati. (Indonesian word for pigeon).

Godam

Godam are created by Wid NS. One of Indonesian popular author on period 1970-1980. First apperaring in comic with title “Memburu Doktor Setan” on 1969 with Fantasy genre. In this comic, we can see influence of America Superhero comic. The different is only at background setting in Yogyakarta and plot story. Godam are Indonesian word means hammer, so the inspiration for this figure maybe combination of Thor and Superman.

The Story

Godam come from other dimension. In this dimension, one of the country which Govern by Queen Candalani. The name of this country are “Godam”. Godam himself are son of one landlord of this country which being rebel to the government. The parents go exile by Queen Candalani, so they send Godam to earth. The story at beginning are same with Superman, but in the future are different. The source from his power is Mighty clothed which give him extra power like flying and immunity.

In his adventure Godam meet with Dewi Pengasuh Sukma which give him other magnify power to fight the crime. But Godam must vow to care about human life, doesn’t kill anybody. But in the fight with son of Queen Candalani, this vow has pass the line. With dead from son of Queen Candalani son make Godam imprison in the ring. This ring is given to Awang by Bapa Kebenaran. Awang is a freelance driver which become Godam if he use the ring.

The Enemy

The senile enemy is Roh Doktor Setan which have shape form a diamond necklace. Everyone who wears this necklace will be possess by Roh doktor setan. The hatred begin a long time before Awang be chosen by Godam. At least three time Roh doctor setan appear in Godam Comics between 1970-1976. The other enemy is Ztulos, Atlantic boy and Gerombolan Kucing Merah, Solsoldola, The Collector, and GAS Leader Empu Semalawa

The Team

In Sang Kolektor (1978), Godam meet Pangeran Mlaar and Maza (two other superhero which also created by Wid NS). After that Godam will join to fight other crime with most of other Indonesian Superhero by different author like Gundala, Aquanus, Tira, Sembrani, Merpati. This period is a golden age for Indonesian Comics.

The Woman

There one super woman from Thalezer Planet (name Shundra) which fall in love with Godam. In the several Godam comics, she is hunt & search for Godam love. She become Godam Admirer.

Heroes

Heroes is a serial saga about people all over the world discovering that they have superpowers and trying to deal with how this change affects their lives. Some of the superheroes who will be introduced to the viewing audience include Peter Petrelli, an almost 30-year-old male nurse who suspects he might be able to fly, Isaac Mendez, a 28-year-old junkie who has the ability to paint images of the future when he is high, Niki Sanders, a 33-year-old Las Vegas showgirl who does things that are mysteriously connected with mirrors, Hiro Nakamura, a 24-year-old Japanese comic-book geek who literally makes time stand still, D.L. Hawkins, a 31-year-old inmate who can walk through walls, Matt Parkman, a beat cop who can hear other people's thoughts, and Claire Bennet, a 17-year-old cheerleader who defies death at every turn. As the viewing audience is discovering the nature of each hero's powers, the heroes, themselves, are discovering what having superpowers means to them as well as the larger picture of where their superpowers come from. Tune in each week to see how these heroes are drawn together by their common interest of evading the series' antagonist who wants to harvest their super-DNA for himself. Their ultimate destiny is nothing less than saving the world! The series will star Greg Grunberg (Alias), Leonard Roberts (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls), and Hayden Panettiere (Ally McBeal, Guiding Light). Tim Kring (Crossing Jordan, Chicago Hope) is the series' creator. The pilot is set to be directed by Dave Semel (American Dreams, Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Beverly Hills, 90210). Heroes will be produced by NBC/Universal/Tailwind.

Who Wants to be a Superhero?

Who Wants to be a Superhero? is a reality series on the Sci-Fi channel hosted by comic god, Stan Lee. Stan Lee is credited as being creator or co-creator of Spiderman and Daredevil among others. The premise of the show is that contestants are to dress-up as their own superhero and show what their superhero is all about. The contestant selected by Stan Lee as the worst is eliminated every episode. The prize is huge for the comic fan, they get their character written into one of Stan Lee's comics and a movie starring the superhero will be shown on the Sci-Fi channels. Other not so great prizes include trips to Universal Studios Florida and other things. Who Wants to be a Superhero? is popular and continues to draw sci-fi and comic fans alike.

Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew

Captain Carrot & His Amazing Zoo Crew in 1982. It contained their first new funny animal superheroes in decades — and with the exception of a few licensed properties, their last foray into the funny animal genre for decades to come.

Writer Roy Thomas and artist Scott Shaw!, the group's creators, had collaborated once before, on "Man-Spider" (a funny animal send-up of Marvel's Spider-Man). They originally conceived their superhero gang as "Justa Lotta Animals", a take-off on The Justice League of America — but DC's existing licensing agreements made it more feasible to go with a completely original cast. Thus were born Alleycat-Abra, Fastback, Pig Iron, Rubber Duck, Yankee Poodle and, of course, Captain Carrot himself.

The Zoo Crew debuted as a free 16-page insert in DC's New Teen Titans #16 (February, 1982). The first issue of their own comic was cover-dated a month later.

Like most superheroes, these guys had ties to other characters belonging to the same publisher. Before his transformation, Pig Iron had been Peter Porkchops, who was a DC star from 1947-60. And the speedster, Fastback (who you knew had to be a turtle), was the nephew of McSnurtle the Turtle, who goes back all the way to Funny Stuff #1 (Summer, 1944). There were also frequent guest appearances by The Dodo & the Frog, The Three Mouseketeers, Nero Fox, and other DC funny animals from the 1940s and '50s — and even, on one occasion, Marvel Bunny, who was originally published by Fawcett. Even minor characters, like Bo Bunny and Doodles Duck, sometimes turned up in crowd scenes.

One connection which was not intended was with a Walt Disney feature that came along just a few years later, Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Captain Carrot's secret identity was Roger Rabbit. To avoid confusion (to say nothing of possible legal entanglements, since Disney's Roger did appear first, in the form of prose fiction), the DC character's first name was retroactively changed to Rodney.

The 1980s comic book market was not receptive to funny animals, even if they were superheroes. Captain Carrot et al. lasted only 20 issues, the last dated November, 1983. Nor did the property make the transition to TV animation, as had originally been hoped. As was the case with their contemporary, Night Force, DC promised to revisit the characters in occasional mini-series and specials. But only one, The Oz-Wonderland War (1986), ever appeared. They guest-starred with a latter-day incarnation of The Teen Titans in 2005-06, but have otherwise been ignored.

Not many people today remember Captain Carrot & His Amazing Zoo Crew, but of those who do, many have become vocal advocates of the character. DC has very little interest in its funny animal properties these days, but if their attention ever turns that way again, this will probably be one of the first they look at.

Team Members

The members of the Zoo Crew include:

• Captain Carrot: Roger Rodney Rabbit of "Gnu York"; a rabbit. The leader of the team whose real name is Roger (or Rodney, as the latter comics named him to avoid confusion with the Disney film Who Framed Roger Rabbit) Rabbit. He would eat one of his "cosmic carrots" (as Rodney called them), Rodney would gain superpowers for roughly 24 hours although major exertion could exhaust the powers sooner, which include super-strength, endurance, heightened hearing and vision senses and a super-powerful leap. As such, he is the only member who has to constantly replenish his powers and keeps a pair of carrots holstered on his person for such a need in emergencies. The source of these carrots was initially a windowbox which he grew carrots in, which one of the meteor fragments had struck. Later he arranged a grow-op at the team headquarters to ensure an adequate continuous supply. In his alter ego, Rodney is the writer and artist of the comic book Just'a Lotta Animals.
• Alley-Kat-Abra: Felina Furr of "Mew Orleans" (a parody of New Orleans, Louisiana); a cat. A martial arts instructor and student of the mystical arts, Felina uses her "Magic Wanda" (a magic wand) to cast various types of spells.
• Pig-Iron: Peter Porkchops of "Piggsburgh" (a parody of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania); a pig. Struck by a meteor fragment, the diminutive Peter fell (along with the meteorite) into a vat of molten metal in the steel mill where he worked. The consequent chemical reaction transformed his now-enormous body into living steel, with strength and invulnerability to match. Peter was originally a character from an earlier series of DC "funny animal" comics. Pig-Iron was also nicknamed the "Swine of Steel" (perhaps inspired by the Gilbert Shelton character Wonder Wart-Hog, the "Hog of Steel") and "Porcine Powerhouse".
• Rubberduck: Byrd Rentals of "Follywood, Califurnia" (a parody of Hollywood, California); a duck. Byrd, a movie star, was given the power to stretch his body into any shape and length when a meteor fragment struck his hot tub. Byrd Rentals' name is a parody of actor Burt Reynolds. Rubberduck was also nicknamed the "Malleable Mallard."
• Yankee Poodle: Rova Barkitt, also of "Follywood"; a poodle. Rova, who worked as a gossip columnist, was interviewing Byrd when they were both struck by meteor fragments. Rova gained the ability to project a repelling force (in the form of blue stars) with one hand and an attraction force (in the form of red-and-white stripes) with the other. Rova Barkitt's name is a parody of gossip columnist Rona Barrett.
• Fastback: Timmy Joe Terrapin of the fictional "Okey-Dokey" (a parody of the Okefenokee) swamp in the American south; a turtle. While trying to catch a bus to "Kornsas City" (Kansas City, Missouri), Timmy was struck by a meteor fragment and gained the ability to move at superchelonian speed. Fastback was also nicknamed the "Reptilian Rocket." Timmy Joe is not the first superspeedster in his family. His uncle Merton McSnurtle was secretly The Terrific Whatzit, a crime fighter during the Second Weird War. One issue mentions McSnutle's participation in "Operation Overlard". (Battle of Normandy)
• Little Cheese: Chester Cheese, a student at Follywood High School; a mouse. Chester had the ability to shrink from the comparable size of his teammates to a size of only a few centimeters, and was the only team member to not gain his powers from a meteor fragment (rather, he gained them from eating a piece of experimental cheese brought back from Earth-C's moon).
• American Eagle: Replaced Little Cheese on the reconstituted Zoo Crew after the latter's demise.