Your favorite superhero

[Mondragon]

I'm not a fan of objects giving people their powers, in this case a ring. Also, I feel like his powers are not well defined. I do like the "will" aspect because it leaves the door open for the character to both fail and succeed when necessary. However, I wish they got rid of the rings, and for their power to come from within, ...

It is will power that fuels the ring. Not the other way around. The ring holds the otherwise inert "plasma", that then manifests the users will power into physical constructs.

. GL got his rechargeable ring because he's special or something.

When written correctly it's simple- The ring recognizes the sentient instinct and ability to choose, especially to overcome fear = Will Power (everyone does this to some degree at any given moment). - Though where you or I might choose to turn back, Hal Jordan's natural instinct and choice is to go even further forward, and face it, always towards the unknown, the next frontier. That is Hal Jordan personified, that will power is what drives him.
It is that same will power, the ring can recognizes and mesure in all sentient beings, and where it's strongest collects and manifest as energy.

because he's special or something.

It can be found in anyone, all sentient beings have will power, (hence the variety of sentient beings in the GL Corps, from all over the cosmos, from from a sentient rodent Ch'p, to a scientist Tomar-Re, to a school teacher Katma Tui, to the smallest insectoid Xax, to the biggest Mogo. (Literally this was the -size matters not- concept, before Yoda ever said it about the Force). You can be anything or anyone, it's just how (to what degree) you express that will.
The rings "science" can detect, measure, and is drawn to wherever that will is most prelavant. At the time on Earth it recognized it in test pilot Hal Jordan.

 

[Mondragon]

Your favorite superhero​

Can be based on movie, TV, comics, whatever. Arbitrary list (but I think I've covered most of the main options )

As for my favorite?
The original Dark Knight, Caped Crusader, Masked Avenger: No, the other one.

- Self made, dedicated and trained to peak human agility,
- Uses intellect and cunning, plus skills and mastery of the best weapons of his time, to fight.
- Chose a cunning, small, dark nocturnal animal as totem to identify with, to reinvent himself, and channel as a means to survive. And sow fear and confusion among his enemies.
- Becoming a vigilante and servant of the people.
- By night dons a dark-themed mask, cape, costume and belt full of gear and weapons.
- By day uses a feigned disinterested persona, to throw off suspicion. navigate among the wealthy, powerful elite, and corrupt.
- Above Manor, hides a secret entrance and path to hidden lair bellow
- Where he keeps his reliable, impossibly maneuveraable, fastest in the land, dark ride, (which answers to his call alone.)
- Helped by his loyal assistant, confidant, and secret ally in his quest. And gathered a few "sidekicks" on the way.
- Feared and hunted by criminals, and corrupt authorities alike.

- And ...whose main nemesis/villain has his face horribly marked with a"scar", becoming obsessed, blames and maniacally pursues him to the last.

Spoiler

 

[Alatar]

Same here. I received my first one around 1968. I had all the outfits, but only one Captain Action. Fortunately, I have three brothers who don’t share my superhero affinity. I would commandeer their CA bodies for my other outfits…and then they would all beat the crap out of Dr Evil. Also some great memories of climbing out onto the roof of our house in order to get the most out of that big ass parachute Captain Action came with. It’s a miracle that any male child from back then ever made it to adulthood. Most of the toys we owned could literally lead to your death.

Yeah, that’s about the time that my friends and I got ours. I had totally forgotten about the parachute, lol.

Related to this, while I was wearing my Sears catalog Superman costume when I was about 6 years old

my brother and a neighborhood friend of ours who were both 4-5 years older than me tied ropes around my chest and waist and ”flew“ me around the house. To the horror of my mother who drove home from work to witness this, haha.

 

[Mondragon]

Captain Action. He can replace any of the others.

Lol, I blame Captain Action for setting me on the path of this crazy hobby as an adult.

Same here. I received my first one around 1968. I had all the outfits, but only one Captain Action. Fortunately, I have three brothers who don’t share my superhero affinity. I would commandeer their CA bodies for my other outfits…and then they would all beat the crap out of Dr Evil. ...

Awesome line, just before my time!
You all were lucky, this really was the first all encompassing comics Action Hero and Superhero action figure line.
They started from comic strips and comics, with classic 9: Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Captain America, The Phantom, Lone Ranger, Buck Rogers, Sgt Fury, Steve Canyon.
Wave 2; I believe added Spider-Man, Buck Rogers, the Green Hornet, Lone Ranger now in Blue to match the TV show, and Tonto.
Latin America added Zorro
The compatible Marx Super Queens Heroines added: Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Mera.

Yeah, that’s about the time that my friends and I got ours. I had totally forgotten about the parachute, lol.

Related to this, while I was wearing my Sears catalog Superman costume when I was about 6 years old

View attachment 620042

my brother and a neighborhood friend of ours who were both 4-5 years older than me tied ropes around my chest and waist and ”flew“ me around the house. To the horror of my mother who drove home from work to witness this, haha.

Most popular heroes of the time: Superman, Batman Captain America, Zorro, Frontier Man & Astronaut
Though that plastic cowl and utility belt kinda steal the show.

You could get all that gear as the official "Batman Equipment Set"
Zorro also had his own "Action Set"

 

[LIBBY1957DOG]

Lol, I blame Captain Action for setting me on the path of this crazy hobby as an adult.

Same here. I received my first one around 1968. I had all the outfits, but only one Captain Action. Fortunately, I have three brothers who don’t share my superhero affinity. I would commandeer their CA bodies for my other outfits…and then they would all beat the crap out of Dr Evil. Also some great memories of climbing out onto the roof of our house in order to get the most out of that big ass parachute Captain Action came with. It’s a miracle that any male child from back then ever made it to adulthood. Most of the toys we owned could literally lead to your death.

heart warming to see so much affection for captain action

i was a drunk for this stuff as a kid ,still am lol

but being in the uk or the land without toys ,
i missed out on the captain back in the 60s

but found out there were knock offs made of surplace overstock cap masks and costume bagged up and sold in the uk i was lucky enough to get a hold of three of them and they are on cheapo blow moulded figure with caps head with knock off boots

and another that has a half blue and half purple suit on a knock off doll

anyway dont want to derail the thread ,but got over excited to see cap referenced lol

anyway not mine but christmas 1967


a couple of my knock offs ,curious to know if you've come across any of these on your travels

 

[drewflu61]

Yeah, that’s about the time that my friends and I got ours. I had totally forgotten about the parachute, lol.

Related to this, while I was wearing my Sears catalog Superman costume when I was about 6 years old

View attachment 620042

my brother and a neighborhood friend of ours who were both 4-5 years older than me tied ropes around my chest and waist and ”flew“ me around the house. To the horror of my mother who drove home from work to witness this, haha.

I also had the Superman suit and it was still in good enough condition during the late eighties and early nineties that my son was able to wear it (like every day until he grew out of it. My fondest memory of it was a little warning printed on the side of the costume. I was able to find a photo of it. If you can’t make it out, it says “remember, this suit won’t make you fly. Only Superman can fly”
Obviously, Alatar did not heed that warning. My brothers and I also had full Zorro costumes that had metal foils included. Playing with them almost always ended badly.

 

[Mondragon]

My fondest memory of it was a little warning printed on the side of the costume. I was able to find a photo of it. If you can’t make it out, it says “remember, this suit won’t make you fly. Only Superman can fly”

My brothers and I also had full Zorro costumes that had metal foils included. Playing with them almost always ended badly.

LOL - go out and play Superman try not to fly off any rooftops, or play Zorro don't stab each-other to death!
Love the need for the Superman "warning" (corporate lawyers covering their a$$' just print it on the actual costume.

Had no idea Zorro metal swords were available? I know Lawn Darts was a thing, so I'm not surprised.
I knew they made those chalk tipped ones, which is a pretty hysterical gimmick!

Edit:
Looked around, apparently WHAM-O made the metal Fencing Swords in 1956, Fantastic!

 

[Mondragon]

.

Related to this, while I was wearing my Sears catalog Superman costume when I was about 6 years old

View attachment 620042

my brother and a neighborhood friend of ours who were both 4-5 years older than me tied ropes around my chest and waist and ”flew“ me around the house. To the horror of my mother who drove home from work to witness this, haha.

I also had the Superman suit and it was still in good enough condition during the late eighties and early nineties that my son was able to wear it (like every day until he grew out of it. My fondest memory of it was a little warning printed on the side of the costume. I was able to find a photo of it. If you can’t make it out, it says “remember, this suit won’t make you fly. Only Superman can fly”
Obviously, Alatar did not heed that warning. My brothers and I also had full Zorro costumes that had metal foils included. Playing with them almost always ended badly. View attachment 620166

Haven't fact-checked the timeline on this, yet it looks like that's the same outfit little Ricky Ricardo wore, when Superman George Reeves cameod on I love Lucy.

 

[generalszabo]

Green lantern more popular than iron man?!

 

[Mondragon]

Green lantern more popular than iron man?!

Anyone remember Amalgam Iron-Lantern?
Hal Stark, a wealthy industrialist injured test flying one of his own craft, struck by an alien ship, must use technology from the crashed alien spaceship to keep his heart beating. Now powered by a mysterious lantern-shaped battery, Hal Stark uses his battery powered body armor to protect the world.

 

[generalszabo]

Anyone remember Amalgam Iron-Lantern?
Hal Stark, a wealthy industrialist injured test flying one of his own craft, struck by an alien ship, must use technology from the crashed alien spaceship to keep his heart beating. Now powered by a mysterious lantern-shaped battery, Hal Stark uses his battery powered body armor to protect the world.

I was going to say I don't know how I feel about these crossovers with DC and Marvel, but that looks amazing!

Will look into these for sure

 

[Garlador]

Anyone remember Amalgam Iron-Lantern?
Hal Stark, a wealthy industrialist injured test flying one of his own craft, struck by an alien ship, must use technology from the crashed alien spaceship to keep his heart beating. Now powered by a mysterious lantern-shaped battery, Hal Stark uses his battery powered body armor to protect the world.

Man, the Amalgam universe was WILD. I still can’t believe it happened, and I was legit bummed it ended.

Fun fact: at my wedding, all my groomsmen wore rings representing their favorite superheroes. My brother went with Dark Claw.

A nigh-unlikable Batman with metal claws and a much looser moral code coming after you might just be the scariest comic book character conceived.