Friday Night Fights: Solar-Powered Hero

Here we are, the final fight of the onomatopoeia-filled edition of the Friday Night Fights. I wish I could promise I’d go out with a bang, but I’m really not. And I’m not usually into bad puns.

In 1988, David Oliphant created a superhero for Marvel that received a lot of promotion. Big ad in the comics, they offered a poster and video featuring the hero. David had all the rights, however, so I doubt he’ll show up in the Marvel universe. (Lucky guy right now.) He had all the making of a great new hero. A teen who wanted to be a comic writer, young Benjamin Tucker had to deal with a dad who wanted him to be a jock instead. Then he meets a dieing alien who gives him a circlet that can transform him into a superhero. Surely you’ve heard of…Solarman! Anyone?

There used to be copies of the opening credits on YouTube, but I can’t find them anymore. Odd. Ah, well. I wonder if Spacebooger’s heard of him.

Round 12: The Final Round!

The Battlefield: Solarman #1

The Combatants:Solarman vs. Gormagga Kraall

The Promoters: David Oliphant (creator), Stan Lee (writer), Jim Mooney (penciler), Dennis Janke (inker), Diana Albers (letterer) and Bob Sharen (colorist)

The Warm-Up:

Kraal’s chief scientist, Sha-Han, steals the Circlet of Power he created to help others to keep Kraal from using it for evil. (Isn’t that always the way?) It’s powered by sunlight, so Kraal wants to drain our sun and put the energy in storage batteries on his ship. Unfortunately, Sha-Han is shot down, but gives the Circlet to Ben before he dies. Later, he appears as a ghost and tells Ben that he can use the power to become Solarman, which he does later to stop a bunch of robots from kidnapping him. Then they kidnap him anyway.

Later, on board the ship, Sha-Han’s daughter, Altarra, also dies saving him, but again he gets grabbed by robots. Luckily one robot is on his side.

At least this one won't die on him.

And now that Ben’s in his fighting form, it’s time for…

The Fight:

So with his powers, Solarman makes quick work of the robots.

Well, ok, technically you are, but nobody calls Captain Marvel a kid.

Where'd you learn to drive?

But as we all know, no matter how inexperienced the hero, he’s bound to come out on top, so Gormagga Kraal uses the ancient tradition of threatening the very thing the hero came to defend.

"Now no one can shut this ray off! Not even ME! Wait, that..could be an issue later."

Fortunately, Beepie (yes, that’s his name) is there to help. 

"beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep"

So Kraal does what all villains must do when faced with a teen superhero on his first day of the job, and his kiddie character sidekick! He loses! Because that’s how the 1980’s rolled! Even in BC! That’s right, 1980 BC’s superheroes were just as awesome!

"Insolent welp! The Mighty Kraal has no need for your pathetic 'air'!"

But there’s still that pesky problem of the Earth about to experience a cosmic blackout. Fortunately, heroes don’t need to breathe, and can make the most ridiculous idea work because they’re in full realisation of all their powers from day one!

"Quick, think. Snappy Comeback. Snappy comeback."

So obviously, the solar-powered Circlet can not only draw the Sun-draining ray, but bounce it back to it’s source and blow up the ship. Science is but a plaything to super heroes!