I’m Putting Together A Team
Sinister Supers - Part One
Fictional heroes, villains, and everyone in between have formed unlikely alliances to answer a common calling: which group of kindred characters is the mightiest of them all? United by a shared theme, troops of four fabulous fictional characters will figuratively compete in a tournament of television, movie, and literature’s finest where only one foursome can be crowned kings and queens of popular entertainment. Join in on the roll call to learn more about these similar characters and delve into their individual histories. It's time to assemble the analogous all-stars and find out who is the best, one team at a time.
I’m putting together a team… multiple teams, in fact. The first assemblage of popular characters is indeed a super squad—but this powerful quartet isn’t exactly on the side of the angels. Welcome to the inaugural announcement of the first fearsome foursome that will enter the tournament of fantasy fictional smackdowns.
Before the figurative fracas begins, we will first get to know the initial set of competitors. We launch in a huge way with the “Sinister Supers,” a group of evil versions of the Big Blue Boy Scout himself—-of course, I’m referring to none other than Superman. While the true Man of Tomorrow will sit this one out, his dark reflections will be all too happy to provide the super-beatdowns. These extra-dimensional, twisted variants of the Man of Steel match his Kryptonian super strength, flight, and several other incredible preternatural abilities, but these costumed characters are not quite as interested in truth and justice.
Sinister Supers, assemble!
1: Ultraman
First appearance: Justice League of America #29, August 1964
Popular entertainment of 1964:
From Russia With Love - film starring Sean Connery
Bewitched - television sitcom starring Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - novel by John le Carré
Hailing from Earth-3, the leader of the villainous Crime Syndicate is a near-perfect double of the Superman of the main Earth followed in most versions of the DC Universe canon. Unlike the Last Son of Krypton, however, Ultraman’s home planet did not explode, so the reasons behind him rocketing to the Sol System are shrouded in mystery. In a very Bizarro-esque pivot from traditional Superman-lore, Ultraman discovered he gained new strength each time he encountered Kryptonite. Also, instead of defending against evildoers, Ultraman focused on using his amazing powers to conquer Earth (multiple Earths, as a matter of fact). Never revealing a secret identity name, Ultraman existed as a public menace and all around overlord of humanity. He found other like-minded super beings, as well as individuals possessing heightened skills and multifarious resources. As an unholy alliance, this tyrannical pantheon wreaked havoc on their planet as the Crime Syndicate.
Ultraman’s physiology allows him to absorb Kryptonite radiation, feeding his already astounding powers. His many gifts include not having to eat or sleep, along with flight, invulnerability, and an array of super senses and physical attributes: strength, speed, and forceful breath (though he does not require oxygen to live, Ultraman is capable of blowing out high-speed winds from his lungs). His optic powers include: heat rays, X-ray vision, and microscopic eyesight. Ultraman also has dimensional vision - when exposed to Kryptonite, he is able to see into other universes.
In a pivot from the normal Jonfiction Blog weekly format, the remaining three members of this team will be released on following days of this week, leaving Friday as a recap blog.
If this caped quartet can work together, then they would be an unstoppable force—-but who says the challenges they’ll face in this fictional tournament will be a contest of strength? In this bracket-style tourney, each team will be placed in unexpected situations where they’ll have to use their wits, as well as hope that they are really lucky.
The eight-team bracket will determine who is the most gifted (and potentially ruthless) squad of them all. The Sinister Supers are entering the arena at their individual peaks, but the scenarios have not been announced yet. Their opponents in this fantasy face-off? The team of Deuces Wild: Sequel Soldiers - heroes of second installments of movie franchises that were better than the original.
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