I can't wait to see Hourman in action as a regular cast member of DC's Legends of Justice. I always though that his gimmick - super abilities for only an hour at a time - was perfect for a TV series. I was thinking more along the lines of a solo show, but this will be cool too - especially as it has been hinted that he will be introducing more members of the JSA during the upcoming season.
I always liked how Hourman and Dr. Midnite didn't have a JLA doppleganger, as well as Jay Garrick and Alan Scott had different costumes, and really disliked (being nice) Roy Thomas' insistence all throughout the 1980s All-Star Squadron run of having Hourman have to sit and talk about being addicted to his energy pills.
ReplyDeleteBut this also makes me think of a couple of issues with the Hulk in which he fought Iron Man one time and then Daredevil another to a standstill, which made for interesting storytelling, since DD was a fellow Defender and Iron Man likewise a fellow Avenger (tho it's safe to say Iron Man and the Hulk never cared for one another).
Likewise also when the Defenders themselves (Magician! Sword Girl! Star Girl! Birdnose!) showed up to challenge the Hulk as well after Jarella's death, I believe.
I agree with your comment about Hourman having a series of his own. With his limitation of having powers for one hour, I could almost see him fitting into the more humorous TV shows of the past, namely guest appearances on Batman (starring Adam West and Burt Ward). It might have even ben fun to see him in some way involved in the Batman/Green Hornet cross over. But I could also see him fitting in on a more serious TV show. Imagine him on Arrow, Flash or even Supergirl.
ReplyDeleteHourman shouldn't have wasted those first 59 minutes arm-wrestling Hercules.
ReplyDeleteUhm! I believe that was Wildcat?
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping that the JSA makes a stop in Star City to pick up our favorite vigilante pugilist.
ReplyDelete"If you have super powers lasting more than four hours, please contact your doctor"
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the Adam West Batman, who remembers the sitcom that ran on CBS around the same time, Mr. Terrific? The government developed a pill that could give a person super-powers for one hour; Stephen Strimpell (who?) played Stanley Beamish, a wimpy garage mechanic who was the only person who had the right body chemistry to take it without getting violently ill. In other words, he had the name of one JSA member and the powers of another.
ReplyDeleteI looked on YouTube, but could only find the original pilot, which had a completely different cast and costume. But it does have several episodes of Captain Nice, a much funnier superhero parody that ran opposite Mr. Terrific on NBC.
I remember MR. TERRIFIC! CBS used to show re-runs of it on Sunday afternoons before they adopted NFL telecasts. And, as an elementary school kid during the Sixties, I thought that golden outfit was way cooler than the "good" captain's mostly white outfit.
ReplyDeleteI really like Hourman as a character, but can't believe that someone so intelligent would choose a name highlighting his weakness. It's a bit like Clark Kent calling himself No-Kryptonite-Please Man.
ReplyDeleteThat's why it's called "suspension of disbelief." The same thing could be said about the Ray (keep him literally in the dark); or Hawkman (literally clip his wings); or even Spider-man (spray him with insecticide)!
ReplyDeleteNeed I go on?
Anyway, Ross. Great job, as usual. How about Terminator vs. $6,000,000.00 Man, next?