Character Reclamations and the Trapster

I firmly believe that there is no such thing as a bad comic book character. A comic book character is only as good as the person writing her or him.

As a prime example, let's take a look at the Flash's Rogues, specifically, Captain Cold, the Top, Heatwave, the Trickster, Mirror Master, Captain Boomerang, Weather Wizard, and the Turtle. In the 50's, and 60's, these characters were treated seriously by the people writing them, and in turn by their superhero adversary, the Flash. The 80's however, were not kind to the Rogues. In the 80's, comics took a darker turn as "Watchmen" and Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Returns" amongst other works made the comic stories of days past, and their colorful villains seem....quaint.

What place did Captain Cold, a guy in a parka with a cold gun, have in the gritty, dirty world of comics in the 80's? Didn't the Top, a villain with a theme based on a child's toy, seem silly in a world upended by "Watchmen"? And geez, how did we ever think these guys could fight a hero like the Flash who can move at the speed of light?

The Rogues didn't go away, they just got sillier. The Flash would take them out with ease when they tried to rob a bank. As we moved into the 90's, the Flash took on all kinds of new enemies with wonky speed and energy manipulating powers.

Then, a funny thing happened.

A writer came along who took the Rogues seriously. He made them interesting personalities. Geoff Johns looked at Captain Cold, silly parka and all, and made him a bad ass. He went from being an also ran to an old bastard with a cold gun who would kill when he needed to.

He realized that most of the Flash's enemies had powers that, while they seemed silly, were perfect for fighting a superhero who's powers were based on speed. How is the Flash supposed to run if Heatwave melts the ground out from under him? Or if the Trickster litters the road with exploding, incendiary jacks?

Geoff Johns took the Rogues, and made them cool for the first time in decades, and by making the Flash's foes better, the Flash himself became better, more interesting than he had been in years.

Since the late nineties, reclamation projects like the one that Johns did for the Rogues have become very commonplace in comics. Old Golden Age and Silver Age characters have been dusted off, and made relevant again by the writers of today.

There is one character though, who I think still needs to get his due.

The Trapster, otherwise known as Paste Pot Pete.

But isn't he that lame Frightful Four member who shoots glue? Isn't glue lame?

Well, sure at first glance, but let's really think about the Trapster's glue guns, and other weapons for a minute. The Trapster has stopped the Thing in his tracks, walked up and down walls (like Spider Man!) and rendered the stretchy cells of Mr. Fantastic's body inert. The Trapster is an expert chemist who has been fighting superheroes for YEARS, and he knows how to stop them. Think of what this guy could do with all of his crazy glues! Maybe he could create a solvent that made Spider Man's webbing fall apart. Maybe he could create an oxidizing glue that caused Colossus's steel skin to rust. Maybe he could make a glue that got stronger as the Hulk struggled more against it! The possibilities are endless.

And what about his personality? Well how does ol' Pete feel about being an also-ran? Does he like kowtowing to the Wizard on all of those Frightful Four missions? Does he have a blue collar work ethic? Or the keen mind of a scientist?

See? There's a ton to work with there. I think the Trapster, or any "Lame" character can be made better with just a little TLC from a talented writer.

Futurama VS. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Futurama VS. Star Trek: The Next Generation

I was recently watching an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation with great pleasure. It was one of my favorites; perennial loser Reg Barclay suddenly becomes THE most competent officer on the Enterprise. He’s smarter, suaver, cooler than ever before. “This is just like when Fry had those worms in him,” I laughed to no one (it was 3am and I’m watching ST:TNG, who do you think is there?)Suddenly, it hits me like a heavy object thrown by my Klingon girlfriend: Futurama is based on Star Trek: The Next Generation!! So it is:

TEN FUTURAMA EPISODES THAT ARE EXACTLY LIKE ST:TNG EPISODES

Futurama- “Fear of a Bot Planet”: Fry and Leela disguise themselves as robots and discover that a robot planet where Bender is a celebrity in a culture that fears and loathes humans. ST:TNG- “Descent, Parts I & II”: Geordi and the others discover a renegade Borg planets where Data co-rules with his brother Lore in a culture that fears and loathes humans.

Futurama- “Fry and the Slurm Factory”: Fry and the crew visit the wonderous, magical factory the produces his favorite drink, but danger rears its ugly head when they discover the truth. (it’s alive!) ST:TNG- “Encounter at Farpoint, Parts I & II”: Jean-Luc and the crew visit Farpoint Station which produces whatever they desire, but danger rears its ugly head when they discover the truth. (it’s alive!)

Futurama- “A BiCyclops Built for Two”: Leela meets a man who seemingly knows a lot about her past and her race. Enchanted, the crew visits his homeworld. Meanwhile, Fry suspects Alkazar is hiding something. (He’s just a clever con-man!) ST:TNG- “A Matter of Time”: The crew meets a man who seemingly knows a lot about the Federation and its future. Enchanted, the crew gives him almost full access to their tech. Meanwhile, Jean-Luc suspects Berlinghoff is hiding something (He’s just a clever con-man!)

Futurama- “The Problem with Popplers”: The crew discovers a delicious new food, but Leela has a change of heart when she discovers a disturbing fact about the snack that endangers Earth. ST:TNG- “The Game”: The crew discovers an addictive new videogame, but Wesley has a change of heart when he discovers a disturbing fact about the game that endangers the Federation.

Futurama- “Parasites Lost”: Tiny alien parasites infect and enhance Fry, making him smarter and stronger, causing Leela to look at him in a new light.ST:TNG- “The Nth Degree”: An alien probe enhances Lt. Barclay, making him smarter and stronger, causing Deana to look at him in a new light.

Futurama- “The Luck of the Fryish”: Fry, initially angry at his brother for taking over his identity, learns a secret that reminds him of their fraternal love. ST:TNG- “Family”: Jean-Luc, initially angry at his brother for being a mean, jerk, learns about himself and that reminds him of their fraternal love.

Futurama- “Godfellas”: When Bender is lost in space, he is worshipped by a primitive race who misinterpret his wisdom. ST:TNG- “Who Watches the Watchers”: When a Federation observation blind is discovered, Picard is worshipped by a primitive race who misinterpret his wisdom.

Futurama- “The Sting”: Leela sees a world where Fry, stabbed through the heart, has died. Each time she wakes, she doesn’t know if it’s real or a dream. In a twist, it is Leela that is near-death. ST:TNG- “Tapestry”: Jean-Luc sees a world where he, stabbed through the heart and dying, has a better life that if he did not get mortally wounded. When he wakes, he doesn’t know if Q did help him or if it was a dream but in a twist, is glad and thankful to Q.

Futurama- “I Second That Emotion”: Bender the Robot gets emotions and subsequently gets into trouble. ST:TNG- uh, every Data-centric episode, but particularly in the movies.

Futurama- “Where No Fan Has Gone Before”: An amazing, hilarious ribbing of Star Trek fandom poking fun at fan worship and obsession. ST:TNG- “Encounter at Farpoint, Part I”, “Relics”, and any other time TNG had to mix with TOS… (except for “Sarek.” That shit was cool.)

First!!

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