MEXICO’S SUPERHEROES

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at some of Mexico’s homemade superheroes (non-wrestling division). 

RELAMPAGO (Lightning)

Secret Identity: Rod Harrelson 

Debuted: 1964

Origin: When Rod Harrelson was killed he was figuratively brought back to life by Professor Hacket with his mind inhabiting an android version of himself. He adopted the costumed identity Relampago. 

Powers: This hero could fly, shoot electrical blasts from his hands and deliver electric-powered punches.

LLANERA VENGADORA (Plains Avenger)

Secret Identity: Flor Silvestre

Debuted: 1950

Origin: Singer and actress Flor Silvestre adopted the costumed identity of la Llanera Vengadora to fight crime and supernatural menaces without endangering her family and friends.

Powers: This heroine was in peak physical condition, was a skilled fighter and had mastered pistols, whips and lariats. In addition, la Llanera Vengadora could stunt-drive her 1950s motorcycle.

METEORIX

Secret Identity: Aldo Alva Sodi

Debuted: 2000

Origin: Teenager Aldo Sodi accidentally swallowed a fragment of shattered meteorite (?) that landed in a park in Mexico City. This granted him the power to turn back and forth from his plain teenage self into the muscular blue-haired superhero called Meteorix. Many other people around Mexico were likewise granted powers by the meteor shower but became supervillains opposed by this hero.

Powers: Meteorix possessed massive super-strength and could hurl blue energy bolts from his hands. Under extreme duress, this hero could conjure up temporary protective armor for himself. 

AGUILA SOLITARIA (Lone Eagle)

Secret Identity: None

Debuted: 1976

Origin: This hero, his wife Shiu and his son Kei are the only surviving descendants of their (fictional) tribe. The eagle god showed Aguila Solitaria how to make a mystical set of wings from the feathers of dead eagles so he could combat hatred, injustice and supernatural menaces. 

Powers: Aguila Solitaria was in peak physical condition, could fly via his magic wings and wielded a bow & arrows plus a tomahawk with uncanny precision. This hero lived in a hidden valley behind a waterfall so his wife and son could stay there safely when he was out adventuring.

DESTELLO (Sparkle)

Secret Identity: Unknown

Debuted: 1998

Origin: Probable mutant born with their superpowers. 

Powers: Destello is able to generate sparks or flares of varying brightness, heat and electrical intensity. It took this heroine a few years before she could fully control her powers.  

EL HOMBRE INVISIBLE (The Invisible Man)

Secret Identity: Valente Delmar

Debuted: 1950s

Origin: Valente Delmar came into possession of a magic ring which let him turn invisible. He used that power to fight the forces of evil throughout Mexico.

Powers: In addition to invisibility, this hero was a master of unarmed combat and was as agile as an acrobat. He kept himself in superb physical condition.

JAGUAR

Secret Identity: Linda Rivera

Debuted: 1996

Origin: Furious with political changes in the 1990s, attorney Linda Rivera got in touch with the beliefs of the Aztecs and through a ritual could transform into the superheroine called Jaguar. In that costumed identity she fought wrongdoers.

Powers: Greater than human strength, speed, agility and senses. Jaguar’s nails could slice through many hard objects. 

ARANA VERDE (Green Spider)

Secret Identity: Esteban Harley

Debuted: 1955

Origin: Wealthy Mexican scientist Esteban Harley wanted to fight crime, so he adopted the costumed identity of la Arana Verde.

Powers: This hero was in peak physical condition, excelled at unarmed combat and was a scientific genius. He invented a gun which shot his special web fluid (seven years before Spider-Man came along) and was an excellent pilot of his custom auto-gyro. 

REATA (Lariat)

Secret Identity: Vanessa Castillo

Debuted: 1997

Origin: Vanessa Castillo was born with her mutant powers, or “born with the hero gene” as it is called in her stories. She combats the forces of evil as the masked Reata but is a fashion designer in her civilian life.

Powers: Reata is physically fit and skilled at unarmed combat. She can teleport herself and up to a ton of additional matter to a 500-mile radius. She uses her expandable lariat to ensnare and thus help teleport other people or objects with her. 

EL HOMBRE MOSCA (Fly Man)

Secret Identity: Unknown

Debuted: 1960

Origin: Unknown

Powers: This hero could shrink down to an inch or so in height and could fly. Typical of these size-changing superheroes, in some panels it looks like he has the same strength as when he is at normal size and in others he seems much weaker when shrunk down. 

EL MONJE NEGRO (Black Monk)

Secret Identity: Jamas lo Solto

Debuted: 1937

Origin: In 1915 Mexico, jealous husband Jamas lo Solto killed his best friend and his wife when he caught them kissing. As she died his wife told him that the kiss was chaste and the friend was only kissing her out of happiness that she was with child. Jamas was cursed and turned into el Monje Negro, with a hideous face but also a lifespan of 400 more years and supernatural powers. A villain for 22 years, el Monje Negro then converted and fought the forces of evil. 

Powers: Doomed to live the full 400 years of torment, this hero cannot be killed in the meantime. He feels pain but will recover from even the greatest physical damage, like an explosion. El Monje Negro has greater than human strength and night vision. 

DR. GERONIMO

Secret Identity: Amethyst “Aym” Geronimo, PhD

Debuted: 2001

Origin: Amethyst Geronimo was a child prodigy who entered college at a very young age and earned her doctorate by age 20. Athletic as well as brilliant, she investigated bizarre phenomena around the world and foiled many sinister villains. Like an old pulp hero, she gathered around her a quartet of fellow explorers and scientists that she called the Postmodern Pioneers.

Powers: Dr. Geronimo is in peak physical condition and is a master of both armed and unarmed combat. Her brilliance knows few equals. She and her subordinates operate out of their secret lair the Wonder Wall, a concealed cave in the Grand Canyon where many ancient marvels were discovered.

EL HALCON BLANCO (The White Hawk)

Secret Identity: Unknown

Debuted: 1961

Origin: The adventurer called el Halcon Blanco had adventures on Earth and in space alongside his beloved Luisa and his scientist friend, who designed their vessel.

Powers: El Halcon Blanco was in superb shape and excelled at unarmed combat. He also flew via his triple rocket-pack and was a flawless marksman with the ray-gun he wielded.

ADELITA

Secret Identity: None

Debuted: 1939

Origin: When Adelita’s brother was slain by guerillas in her town of Jalisco she turned vigilante and dealt out her own brand of justice. She continued fighting evildoers of all kinds from then on, be they criminals, lost civilizations, international terrorists or others. 

Powers: Adelita possessed virtually superhuman strength and fighting ability. She could defeat multiple armed opponents and was more agile than an acrobat. Adelita wielded pistols, knives and a riding crop with deadly efficiency.

KALIMAN

Secret Identity: None

Debuted: 1963 

Origin: As a toddler, a Mexican boy was orphaned in India and was raised by Tibetan Lamas. They named him Kaliman and taught him their various disciplines until he exceeded his teachers. He then set out to travel the world and fight wrongdoers wherever he found them.

Powers: Kaliman can levitate and had total bodily control to the point where he could shut out pain and even stop bleeding. He retains every memory and is the most physically fit man alive. Kaliman is able to hypnotically extract information from others. The only weapon he uses is a blowgun which shoots darts that cause temporary paralysis.   

FOR SPAIN’S SUPERHEROES CLICK HERE.