This weekend’s light-hearted and escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog is a Double Feature. The main event is a look at the early adventures of Marvel’s neglected hero El Aguila (the Eagle).
The opening act is a link to the YT video Justice League Abridged which features HILARIOUS joking dialogue over scenes from some of the animated Justice League cartoons. It’s made recently enough to feature several jokes about the disastrous video game with the Suicide Squad killing the Justice League. CLICK HERE.
EL AGUILA
Secret Identity: Alejandro Montoya
Before I examine his first several appearances in the 1970s and 1980s below, here’s a brief overview of his origin and powers. Alejandro Montoya was a mutant. He was born into abject poverty in Spain but after puberty his mutant powers manifested themselves.
Upon contact with metal, Alejandro could conduct massive amounts of bioelectricity through those metal objects. This was similar to the way Black Tom Cassidy conducts his mutant energies through wood, or the way Gambit uses physical contact with objects to unleash their kinetic energy.
Through trial and error, Alejandro found that long, slender metal objects were the best conductors for his bioelectricity and gave him the most accuracy with his energy blasts. He began using a sword through which to shoot his rays but to conceal his mutant nature publicly pretended his swords contained micro-generators that accounted for the rays he projected.
Alejandro adopted the costumed identity of El Aguila and eventually settled in America. Never forgetting his horrible childhood, he focused on helping the downtrodden by fighting organized crime, corrupt corporations and dishonest politicians, as he had in Europe. Continue reading
CAPITAO SETE (Captain Seven)
ACTION COMICS Vol 1 #1 (June 1938)
Superman takes down a wife-beater, saves Lois Lane from horny gangsters and clears a woman falsely convicted of murder by tying up the real killer – and even smashing his way into the governor’s mansion to make him call off her imminent execution.
AMAZING FANTASY Vol 1 #15 (August 1962)
THE FANTASTIC FOUR – There can be no over-stating the importance of the Fantastic Four to Marvel Comics and by extension to much of pop culture the last several years regarding superhero movies and television programs. Though the Fantastic Four are now considered as dull as any b&w sitcom family of long ago, the team’s success convinced Marvel the market was right to recommit to superhero comic books.
As Marvel Comics in 1961 the company decided to dabble in superhero comic books again, with Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, two veteran comic book hands since the 1940s, putting together a brand-new team of superheroes. That team was, of course, the Fantastic Four.
HULK Vol 1 #150 (April 1972)
NOTE: Thanks to sorcerers on Jarella’s home planet in the Microverse, Hulk was able to retain Bruce Banner’s mind there even when he was the Hulk, so she technically loved both his personae.
DE STILLE GETUIGE (The Silent Witness)
This weekend’s light-hearted and escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at the Marvel Comics run in which Hercules and Thor fought side by side against assorted menaces.
THOR Vol 1 #221 (March 1974)
PUTRI BINTANG (Star Princess)
SILVER SURFER Vol 1 #1 (August 1968)