The League of Lesser Known Heroes
There is no shortage when it comes to superheroes today. Ask anyone to name a superhero and I would bet they would have little trouble coming up with at least one name. I would also bet that you would hear names like Batman, Superman, some of the more popular members of the X-Men, or any of those graced with their own film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
That makes sense. Marvel and DC Comics are popular and well known for many reasons: Marvel and DC Comics have a long history - both companies really started to take off in the 1940s, which gave them ample time to refine and perfect their craft; both companies produce a wide variety of characters, genres, and art types, as well as stories aimed at different ages and reader demographics; both have expanded their offerings to include cartoons, live action television shows and movies, videogames, clothing and collectibles; and finally, one could argue that these superheroes are popular and well known because they come in the form of good, quality entertainment. (If you want to learn more about the history of DC and Marvel Comics or make your own decision when it comes to their popularity, check out DC Comics: A Visual History by Alan Cowsill, Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by Sean Howe, Origins of Marvel Comics by Stan Lee, and Slugfest: Inside the Epic Fifty-Year Battle Between Marvel and DC by Reed Tucker.)
But wait a minute. We are not here to talk about those super heroes. As I have mentioned, they are doing fine on their own.
So what about those other superheroes? You know, those girls and guys that still fight evil but are not a part of DC Comics’ Justice League, Marvel’s Avengers, or published by either of the “big two” companies in the comic industry. Don’t they deserve some recognition in today’s collective superhero consciousness? They do! So let’s take a look at them, the League of Lesser Known Heroes…
Invincible, created by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker
Best known for his series The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman was also the sole writer of Image Comics’ series Invincible. Mark Sebastian Grayson is Invincible, a member of the peaceful alien race known as the Viltrumites. He is a teenage superhero with great speed and strength, and the ability to fly and heal quickly (but no, he is not invincible). Throughout his adventures, Mark joins up with other superheroes in the form of the Teen Team and the Guardians of the Globe, has trouble with his family and friends, and even earns himself a new title – Dad. Interestingly but uncharacteristically for superheroes, Mark does not always resort to using his super powers or violence to solve problems. He can be found talking his way out of sticky situations. Issue #144, the last issue of the series, was released on February 14, 2018, and a live action motion picture is in the works.
Kick-Ass, created by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.
Teen Dave Lizewski purchases a wetsuit from the internet and begins exercising in an attempt to become a real-life superhero. His plans are derailed when he finds himself on the receiving end of being beaten, stabbed, and then hit by a car. But this does not stop Dave, who after his second attempt at being a hero, earns notoriety and the name “Kick-Ass.” The Kick-Ass universe is filled with vigilante superheroes who do not possess superpowers like flight, invincibility, or an accelerated healing process, but still manage to don their homemade costumes, fight, and (usually) bring down the bad guys. Kick-Ass has spawned three main series, spin-off comics, and two live action films.
The Tick, created by Ben Edlund
Created in 1986 by cartoonist Ben Edlund, the Tick possesses the ability to fly, superhuman strength, and “very hot vision,” as well as his own Achilles’ heel (his antennae). This is a parody of superheroes and the genre as a whole. One origin story states that the Tick is legally insane and has escaped from a mental institution. Another claims that he has passed an official superhero initiation test. Either way, the Tick has no memory of his life before being a superhero, and that fits with the rest of this bizarre superhero’s universe. The Tick and his sidekick Arthur, a moth-based superhero, fight evil in the form of the Evil Midnight Bomber, Breadmaster, Dinosaur Neil, and the Eastern Bloc Robot Cowboy. They made their way to the comic book pages in 1988, a cartoon on Fox from 1994 – 1997, two live-action television shows in the 2000s, and even a video game released on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis.
One-Punch Man, created by ONE
One-Punch Man is the story of Saitama, a man who “became a hero for fun.” After extensive training (to the point that he lost all of the hair on his head), he has grown strong enough to defeat anyone or anything with a single punch. This includes monsters, supervillains, and even an incoming meteor. The One-Punch Man universe is filled with superheroes like cyborg Genos, an old martial artist Bang, and nonviolent nerd King, who are ranked from S-Class (the highest) to C-Class (the lowest) in the Hero Association. Unlike most comics, One-Punch Man began and continues to be a webcomic, but has also received publication in physical form and an anime television adaptation.
Archie and Friends, created by John L. Goldwater and Bob Montana
Maybe you are already asking “Archie? The red-headed guy who can’t decide between Betty and Veronica? Archie and his burger-eating pal, Jughead? That Archie and friends?” Maybe you are thinking that I should have done a little more research and found actual superheroes before compiling this list. Well, I am here to tell you that Archie and his friends have gone up against the undead during a zombie apocalypse (Afterlife with Archie), battled it out with Mother Nature and sharks at the same time (Archie vs. Sharknado), tangled with one of Marvel Comics’ most ruthless vigilantes (Archie Meets the Punisher), and fought back against intergalactic trophy hunters (Archie vs. Predator). So the next time you are looking for some superhero adventure, skip over Gotham or Metropolis and head on over to Riverdale.
Hellboy, created by Mike Mignola
Appearing in 1993, with his own comic released in 1994, Hellboy is the creation of writer and artist Mike Mignola. The story goes that the infant Hellboy was summoned by a group of Nazi mystics in 1944 in an attempt to change the tide of the war. After Hellboy was summoned to Earth, Allied troops managed to dispatch the Nazi troops and adopt the infant demon, who was then raised by the United States Army and given honorary human status. Hellboy’s superhero career continued as he joined the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.) and became the world’s greatest paranormal investigator. Hellboy’s adventures can be found in numerous comics, novels, and both animated and live-action films. Additionally, the rest of the B.P.R.D. have their own spinoff comics, so you can check out the adventures of Abraham Sapien (an amphibious man), Johann Kraus (an ectoplasmic physical medium), and Panya (an ageless mummy), just to name a few other heroes.
Spawn, created by Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane’s Spawn may look more like a villain than your typical superhero but that is because he is not your typical superhero. Lt. Colonel Albert Francis Simmons was a successful marine and CIA agent but, due to knowingly killing innocents while working for the CIA, after death Simmons was sent to hell. There he made a deal with an evil being, offering his soul for another chance to see his wife, and was resurrected wearing a living symbiotic costume that grants him superpowers. Not your typical superhero origin story either, but now we get to the part where he starts acting like more of a superhero, or at least an anti-superhero. Back on Earth, Spawn faces street thugs, gangs, a pedophile and child murderer, members of the KKK, abusive parents, and a handful of evil beings - most from the pits of Hell. There is also a warrior angel who hunts creatures from Hell for sport. Spawn first hit the comic book shelves in 1992, received a feature film in 1997, and an animated HBO series that ran from 1997 – 1999.
The Crow, created by James O’Barr
In James O’Barr’s The Crow we have another dark, anti-superhero. After Eric and his fiancée Shelly are assaulted and murdered by a gang of thugs, Eric is resurrected by a crow, and given the chance to seek vengeance. Unlike some superheroes who would take the higher road and simply apprehend the murderers (we are looking at you, Bruce) Eric stalks and kills the individual gang members. O’Barr’s story has been translated into almost a dozen languages and has spawned four live-actions films, a television series, a number of novels, and both video and card games.
So there we have it – just a few members of the newly founded League of Lesser Known Heroes. I know there are plenty more out there, so I encourage you to nominate some you think deserve the spotlight. Next time you have the urge to pick up a comic or pop in a DVD, try diving into a universe you may not have considered before.
That makes sense. Marvel and DC Comics are popular and well known for many reasons: Marvel and DC Comics have a long history - both companies really started to take off in the 1940s, which gave them ample time to refine and perfect their craft; both companies produce a wide variety of characters, genres, and art types, as well as stories aimed at different ages and reader demographics; both have expanded their offerings to include cartoons, live action television shows and movies, videogames, clothing and collectibles; and finally, one could argue that these superheroes are popular and well known because they come in the form of good, quality entertainment. (If you want to learn more about the history of DC and Marvel Comics or make your own decision when it comes to their popularity, check out DC Comics: A Visual History by Alan Cowsill, Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by Sean Howe, Origins of Marvel Comics by Stan Lee, and Slugfest: Inside the Epic Fifty-Year Battle Between Marvel and DC by Reed Tucker.)But wait a minute. We are not here to talk about those super heroes. As I have mentioned, they are doing fine on their own.
So what about those other superheroes? You know, those girls and guys that still fight evil but are not a part of DC Comics’ Justice League, Marvel’s Avengers, or published by either of the “big two” companies in the comic industry. Don’t they deserve some recognition in today’s collective superhero consciousness? They do! So let’s take a look at them, the League of Lesser Known Heroes…
Invincible, created by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker Best known for his series The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman was also the sole writer of Image Comics’ series Invincible. Mark Sebastian Grayson is Invincible, a member of the peaceful alien race known as the Viltrumites. He is a teenage superhero with great speed and strength, and the ability to fly and heal quickly (but no, he is not invincible). Throughout his adventures, Mark joins up with other superheroes in the form of the Teen Team and the Guardians of the Globe, has trouble with his family and friends, and even earns himself a new title – Dad. Interestingly but uncharacteristically for superheroes, Mark does not always resort to using his super powers or violence to solve problems. He can be found talking his way out of sticky situations. Issue #144, the last issue of the series, was released on February 14, 2018, and a live action motion picture is in the works.
Kick-Ass, created by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.Teen Dave Lizewski purchases a wetsuit from the internet and begins exercising in an attempt to become a real-life superhero. His plans are derailed when he finds himself on the receiving end of being beaten, stabbed, and then hit by a car. But this does not stop Dave, who after his second attempt at being a hero, earns notoriety and the name “Kick-Ass.” The Kick-Ass universe is filled with vigilante superheroes who do not possess superpowers like flight, invincibility, or an accelerated healing process, but still manage to don their homemade costumes, fight, and (usually) bring down the bad guys. Kick-Ass has spawned three main series, spin-off comics, and two live action films.
The Tick, created by Ben Edlund Created in 1986 by cartoonist Ben Edlund, the Tick possesses the ability to fly, superhuman strength, and “very hot vision,” as well as his own Achilles’ heel (his antennae). This is a parody of superheroes and the genre as a whole. One origin story states that the Tick is legally insane and has escaped from a mental institution. Another claims that he has passed an official superhero initiation test. Either way, the Tick has no memory of his life before being a superhero, and that fits with the rest of this bizarre superhero’s universe. The Tick and his sidekick Arthur, a moth-based superhero, fight evil in the form of the Evil Midnight Bomber, Breadmaster, Dinosaur Neil, and the Eastern Bloc Robot Cowboy. They made their way to the comic book pages in 1988, a cartoon on Fox from 1994 – 1997, two live-action television shows in the 2000s, and even a video game released on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis.
One-Punch Man, created by ONE One-Punch Man is the story of Saitama, a man who “became a hero for fun.” After extensive training (to the point that he lost all of the hair on his head), he has grown strong enough to defeat anyone or anything with a single punch. This includes monsters, supervillains, and even an incoming meteor. The One-Punch Man universe is filled with superheroes like cyborg Genos, an old martial artist Bang, and nonviolent nerd King, who are ranked from S-Class (the highest) to C-Class (the lowest) in the Hero Association. Unlike most comics, One-Punch Man began and continues to be a webcomic, but has also received publication in physical form and an anime television adaptation.
Archie and Friends, created by John L. Goldwater and Bob MontanaMaybe you are already asking “Archie? The red-headed guy who can’t decide between Betty and Veronica? Archie and his burger-eating pal, Jughead? That Archie and friends?” Maybe you are thinking that I should have done a little more research and found actual superheroes before compiling this list. Well, I am here to tell you that Archie and his friends have gone up against the undead during a zombie apocalypse (Afterlife with Archie), battled it out with Mother Nature and sharks at the same time (Archie vs. Sharknado), tangled with one of Marvel Comics’ most ruthless vigilantes (Archie Meets the Punisher), and fought back against intergalactic trophy hunters (Archie vs. Predator). So the next time you are looking for some superhero adventure, skip over Gotham or Metropolis and head on over to Riverdale.
Hellboy, created by Mike Mignola Appearing in 1993, with his own comic released in 1994, Hellboy is the creation of writer and artist Mike Mignola. The story goes that the infant Hellboy was summoned by a group of Nazi mystics in 1944 in an attempt to change the tide of the war. After Hellboy was summoned to Earth, Allied troops managed to dispatch the Nazi troops and adopt the infant demon, who was then raised by the United States Army and given honorary human status. Hellboy’s superhero career continued as he joined the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.) and became the world’s greatest paranormal investigator. Hellboy’s adventures can be found in numerous comics, novels, and both animated and live-action films. Additionally, the rest of the B.P.R.D. have their own spinoff comics, so you can check out the adventures of Abraham Sapien (an amphibious man), Johann Kraus (an ectoplasmic physical medium), and Panya (an ageless mummy), just to name a few other heroes.
Spawn, created by Todd McFarlane Todd McFarlane’s Spawn may look more like a villain than your typical superhero but that is because he is not your typical superhero. Lt. Colonel Albert Francis Simmons was a successful marine and CIA agent but, due to knowingly killing innocents while working for the CIA, after death Simmons was sent to hell. There he made a deal with an evil being, offering his soul for another chance to see his wife, and was resurrected wearing a living symbiotic costume that grants him superpowers. Not your typical superhero origin story either, but now we get to the part where he starts acting like more of a superhero, or at least an anti-superhero. Back on Earth, Spawn faces street thugs, gangs, a pedophile and child murderer, members of the KKK, abusive parents, and a handful of evil beings - most from the pits of Hell. There is also a warrior angel who hunts creatures from Hell for sport. Spawn first hit the comic book shelves in 1992, received a feature film in 1997, and an animated HBO series that ran from 1997 – 1999.
The Crow, created by James O’BarrIn James O’Barr’s The Crow we have another dark, anti-superhero. After Eric and his fiancée Shelly are assaulted and murdered by a gang of thugs, Eric is resurrected by a crow, and given the chance to seek vengeance. Unlike some superheroes who would take the higher road and simply apprehend the murderers (we are looking at you, Bruce) Eric stalks and kills the individual gang members. O’Barr’s story has been translated into almost a dozen languages and has spawned four live-actions films, a television series, a number of novels, and both video and card games.
So there we have it – just a few members of the newly founded League of Lesser Known Heroes. I know there are plenty more out there, so I encourage you to nominate some you think deserve the spotlight. Next time you have the urge to pick up a comic or pop in a DVD, try diving into a universe you may not have considered before.
- Christopher Y., Twin Rivers Branch
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