This weekend’s escapist, light-hearted superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at several neglected Canadian-made characters. FOR THEIR GOLDEN AGE HEROES (1941-1950) CLICK HERE.
WHITE THUNDER
Debut Year: 1982
Secret Identity: Scott Garvey
Origin: Bartender Scott Garvey was beaten nearly to death by street thugs. When his survival seemed hopeless, the hospital used experimental drugs on him. An unrelated electric shock interacted with the chemicals and healed Scott. It also granted him superpowers which he kept to himself so he could adopt the costumed identity White Thunder to get revenge on his attackers, then go on fighting crime.
Powers: This hero could fly, generate electricity and shoot electrical blasts from his hands.
CANADIANA
Debut Year: 2004
Secret Identity: Jennifer Neuwirth
Origin: Jennifer’s parents were flakey people who drifted to every cult that came along, taking their young daughter with them. The latest cult they became involved with was run by a charismatic but sinister man named Robertson. No first name was ever given.
Robertson indulged in the grooming of the teenage daughters of his followers and Jennifer’s parents blithely let her become his latest victim. The cult leader tutored the young women, bringing out superpowers in them and using them as pawns in his villainous activities.
Jennifer proved strong enough to rebel against Robertson and use her powers against him and against his other female acolytes. She adopted the costumed identity Canadiana.
Powers: Canadiana was strong enough to easily lift a standard 4-door car and carry it with her. She could also fly at 600 kph, generate an energy force field around herself, teleport and release energy through her hands to burn or disintegrate objects with her touch. Jennifer could transform from her street clothes into her Canadiana costume and back again at will. She calls herself “the spirit of Canada.” Continue reading
CREATURES ON THE LOOSE Vol 1 #22 (Mar 1973) 
Synopsis: Thongor (at right), as always wielding his father’s god-forged sword Sarkozan, is working as a thief in the city-state of Zangabal. During one caper Thongor comes close to being captured by the authorities but is given shelter by Kaman Thuu, a Priest of the Seven Gods of Zangabal. 
THE AUTOMATIC MAID-OF-ALL-WORK. A POSSIBLE TALE OF THE NEAR FUTURE (1893) – Written by female author M.L. Campbell. Obviously, I shortened the title for my blog post headline. Balladeer’s Blog’s look at “ancient” science fiction continues with this 1893 robot story. 
TEEN TITANS Vol 1 #32 (Apr 1971) 
When they return to their own time period it turns out that Gnarrk’s death caused a butterfly effect and the “present” is now ruled by an evil version of Loren Jupiter called Jupiterius. He rules the world with Lilith’s (on stairs) sorcery, monsters and the evil counterparts of what would have been the other Teen Titans. 
THE STEAM MAN OF THE PRAIRIES (1868) – Written by Edward Sylvester Ellis. Before the Frank Reade stories came this work that is often hailed as the first Dime Novel with a science fiction theme. 
HULK! Vol 1 #11 (Oct 1978) 
THE DEATH-TRAP (1908) – Written by George Daulton, this story was published in the March, 1908 issue of Pearson’s Magazine. It’s once again Ancient Creature Feature time with this story about a monster from Lake Michigan which sometimes enters the Chicago sewer system to prey on unsuspecting denizens of the Windy City. 
He comes to regret that decision when, on a poorly-lit street, he sees a drunken sailor get dragged down into the sewer and devoured by a slimy, half-glimpsed creature. Our hero flees for his life and doesn’t stop running until he’s reached one of Chicago’s bridges.
UNCLE SAM
Powers: This hero had Superman-level strength and invulnerability. He could fly in a sense by making enormous Hulk-sized leaps. He had a mystic ability to know where he would be needed. Due to his supernatural nature, Uncle Sam could not be photographed or filmed.
NATIONAL COMICS #1 (July 1940) 
INHUMANS Vol 1 #1 (Oct 1975) 
Blastaar flies to Attilan, the Great Refuge and fights his way in past the airborne guards. In the Royal Palace, a long-buried device rises from the lowest depths below Attilan and sits, apparently waiting for a clearly missing component to complete it. Black Bolt and Triton dive into the watery depths below Attilan to see where the machine originated from. 
Balladeer's Blog 