In honor of the DVD release of The Incredibles, I thought we could take a survey of some of the greatest comic book superheroes whose footsteps the family follows. And, yes, this is pretty much just bait for comic book trivia hounds. It's fun!
Elastigirl: Stretching and shapechanging; Plastic Man, Martian Manhunter, Elastic Lad, Elongated Man, Mr. Fantastic, Elasti-Girl. Who else?
Mr. Incredible: A ground-bound brick; he's not monstrous like the Hulk or the Thing, but he can't fly like Captain Marvel or Superman. He's closer to Doc Samson, She-Hulk, Hourman, or Hercules. Who else?
Is it odd or kinda nifty that Mr. Incredible's antecedents are mostly Marvel and Elastigirl's antecedents are mostly DC, like their marriage is symbolic of the union of all the superheroes?
Violet: OK, first, there's only one hero who combines force fields with invisibility, and that's such an idiosyncratic combination that Violet is probably a rip off of Invisible Girl/Woman. Other invisible heroes include Invisible Scarlet O'Neil, Invisible Kid I and II, and Martian Manhunter. Other force field heroes include Kid Psycho and Brainiac 5. Who else?
Dash: A long tradition of superspeedsters: Flash I, II, III; Kid Flash I, II; XS; Tornado Twins; Whizzer I...; Blur I, II; Quicksilver (DC) (aka Max Mercury) and Quicksilver (Marvel). Northwind and Aurora? Who else?
Jack-Jack: In the short "Jack-Jack Attack", he demonstrates pretty much all the powers, but let's stick with the movie, where he demonstrates pretty much just three: self-immolation, like the Human Torch I, II, and Toro; transformation into metal, like Colossus, Metamorpho, and the Absorbing Man; and transformation into a demon, like the Demon and Ghost Rider. Who else fits into those categories?
Posted by Greg at March 17, 2005 1:23 PM