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Post by Icctrombone on Nov 16, 2014 14:24:01 GMT -5
Adam Strange- No powers at all and uses a zeta beam to go to a planet that should be more advanced than it is. If he's the hero of that planet, the field must be weak indeed.
Red Tornado- A poor mans Vision.
Flash ( Barry Allen)- He was so boring that he had a trial , a series cancelled, died and no one cared.
Nova- An attempt by Marvel to make another Peter Parker, but he was smart and a good athlete in HS and was picked on by a nerd. Just dumb.
Firestorm- A fusion of a dumb jock and a HS professor. He had the power to alter anything and he still got beat by the Bison et al.
Dazzler- roller skates. Nuff said.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2014 14:26:40 GMT -5
I love all the characters.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 16, 2014 14:38:05 GMT -5
Firestorm- A fusion of a dumb jock and a HS professor. He had the power to alter anything and he still got beat by the Bison et al. I think it was a fantastic concept that came a few decades too late. Could you imagine a Golden Age hero with the powers of a god, mind of a teen jock, and the superego of a brilliant professor? A bit like Kid Eternity, but better. I still think Firestorm is due for a revival, though. Such untapped dramatic potential. I never understood Dazzler either, though I'll admit to enjoying Dazzler: The Movie, and the Beauty & the Beast limited series because she wasn't trying to be a superhero in those stories. She was seeking a normal life, and her being branded a mutant mattered more than her specific powers. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Nov 16, 2014 14:43:10 GMT -5
Firestorm- A fusion of a dumb jock and a HS professor. He had the power to alter anything and he still got beat by the Bison et al. I think it was a fantastic concept that came a few decades too late. Could you imagine a Golden Age hero with the powers of a god, mind of a teen jock, and the superego of a brilliant professor? A bit like Kid Eternity, but better. I still think Firestorm is due for a revival, though. Such untapped dramatic potential. Characters like Firestorm ,Captain Atom , Metamorpho and Molecule man Annoy me. If you can change matter into anything you want, why should you be defeated by anyone? |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 16, 2014 14:44:02 GMT -5
I think it was a fantastic concept that came a few decades too late. Could you imagine a Golden Age hero with the powers of a god, mind of a teen jock, and the superego of a brilliant professor? A bit like Kid Eternity, but better. I still think Firestorm is due for a revival, though. Such untapped dramatic potential. Characters like Firestorm ,Captain Atom , Metamorpho and Molecule man Annoy me. If you can change matter into anything you want, why should you be defeated by anyone? Well, for one thing, Ronnie Raymond lacked the knowledge to use his powers effectively. He depended upon the professor for that, and the professor was pretty much a pacifist. And what about a character like The Spectre? Or Superman? Or Shazam/Captain Marvel? Or Prof. X? Or Magneto? Or Silver Surfer? They're all pretty unstoppable too. |
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Post by The Captain on Nov 16, 2014 14:45:18 GMT -5
Wolverine, because no matter how much convoluted backstory Marvel has given him over the years, he's nothing more than a one-note thug, albeit one with a healing factor and claws.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2014 14:48:55 GMT -5
I find The Spectre boring, but I've not read much and none of the Golden Age or Ostrander stuff.
Superman is boring in theory, but I'm finding more and more stories I enjoy.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 16, 2014 14:52:03 GMT -5
I find The Spectre boring, but I've not read much and none of the Golden Age or Ostrander stuff. Superman is boring in theory, but I'm finding more and more stories I enjoy. When you have an all-powerful character, there are essentially three ways to make him/her interesting: 1) Silver Age Superman and Green Lantern approach: give him a random weakness that conveniently pops up time and again 2) Golden Age Spectre approach: get creative with how he uses his powers. Make that the centerpiece instead of the conflict. 3) Dr. Manhatten approach: place ethical limits on his powers and provide rich internal conflict surrounding them. I think Firestorm has the greatest potential for #3 |
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Post by Icctrombone on Nov 16, 2014 14:52:40 GMT -5
The Human Torch( Johnny Storm)- He's been around over 50 years and he's still a shallow, immature fool. He has nice powers but he's the weak link of the four.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2014 14:56:36 GMT -5
The Human Torch( Johnny Storm)- He's been around over 50 years and he's still a shallow, immature fool. He has nice powers but he's the weak link of the four. A shallow immature fool who sacrificed himself! That happened right? During Hickman's run? |
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Post by Icctrombone on Nov 16, 2014 14:56:56 GMT -5
I find The Spectre boring, but I've not read much and none of the Golden Age or Ostrander stuff. Superman is boring in theory, but I'm finding more and more stories I enjoy. When you have an all-powerful character, there are essentially three ways to make him/her interesting: 1) Silver Age Superman and Green Lantern approach: give him a random weakness that conveniently pops up time and again 2) Golden Age Spectre approach: get creative with how he uses his powers. Make that the centerpiece instead of the conflict. 3) Dr. Manhatten approach: place ethical limits on his powers and provide rich internal conflict surrounding them. I think Firestorm has the greatest potential for #3 Superman, The Spectre were defeated by other beings that had similar power levels. Dr. Manhatten was never defeated. He was outsmarted. I'm okay with that. Firestorm should never have had trouble with his opponents. Even as a dumb jock, he could learn from experience. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Nov 16, 2014 14:58:00 GMT -5
The Human Torch( Johnny Storm)- He's been around over 50 years and he's still a shallow, immature fool. He has nice powers but he's the weak link of the four. A shallow immature fool who sacrificed himself! That happened right? During Hickman's run? That one story he did. But he's back to being the jerk of the team. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 16, 2014 15:02:00 GMT -5
Superman, The Spectre were defeated by other beings that had similar power levels. Not regularly for Superman. Only in the Silver Age for the Spectre Only because he didn't utilize his powers to immediately solve the problem. That was a choice. Valid point. A good writer could find his/her away around that problem, though. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 16, 2014 15:06:14 GMT -5
Only because he didn't utilize his powers to immediately solve the problem. That was a choice. Actually, I'm beginning to doubt myself on this one. It's been a long time since I read Watchmen. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2014 15:09:17 GMT -5
Valid point. A good writer could find his/her away around that problem, though. [/quote] This is the problem for me with this topic. It's hard for me to separate the character and the stories. For instance, I love Martian Manhunter (and assume anyone who lists him in this thread will be banned for trolling), but I've been working my way through his Detective/HoM appearances and MY GOODNESS it is dull as dirt. I know the character isn't boring, though, because I've also read what Ostrander does with him. I guess I'd ask, if I concede that Superman is boring on paper but I do enjoy some stories, does he fit the criteria for a boring character? |
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