Wanted: One Superhero, No Experience Necessary, But From Staten Island – Collectors Confessions

Wanted: One Superhero, No Experience Necessary

Brian VanNostrand

In the Marvel Comics Universe, New York City is absolutely lousy with superheroes. Everywhere you look, there’s some guy or gal in colorful, tight-fitting clothes ready to punch a criminal into unconsciousness: Spider-Man from Queens, Captain America from Brooklyn, Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Ben Grimm from Manhattan, the Prowler from the Bronx – In fact, it seems every borough of the Big Apple has a hero they can call their own. All but one. That’s right: Staten Island does not have its own superhero.

Comic book characters have found themselves on Staten Island at times. For instance, check out the article Chad Farley wrote about when Deadpool ruled over a society of monsters on Staten Island in this very space. And, there are Marvel villains, like The Vulture, who have called Staten Island home, but we have not had a hero of our own in the Marvel Universe. This is a glaring omission in my opinion, and should be remedied post-haste.

Marvel has the mighty power of Disney behind it and, through the Youtube channel that I co-host, I have met a good number of writers and artists who either work or have worked at Marvel. I have found that each one of them is highly intelligent and so very creative that, combined with Disney’s sway, they could make just about anything they want. They certainly don’t need the advice or ideas of a weird little fanboy like me, but since this absence of a hero persists, I feel I must step in to help. Staten Islanders deserve a Marvel hero of their own – here’s my suggestion:

I won’t start with superpowers because, honestly, those sometimes turn out to be the least interesting aspect of a comic book hero. I would begin with the human part of superhuman first, and create the character before giving it powers. Not only because character is more interesting than power but Staten Islanders are full of heart and personality

To start off with, I think Staten Island’s superhero should be female; not only because New York City needs more female characters but also, female gravities are often the center of our lives here. Think about Sunday dinners with the family.

I think she should be of mixed race, reflecting the ethnic diversity that so many people don’t recognize about the island. She could be the child of an Italian-American father and an African mother, reflecting the international diversity that is the modern Staten Island. I imagine that whatever costume she wears would be predominantly navy-blue and white because this island is overrun with New York Yankees fans (as a Mets fan I have noted this time and time again).

What would her powers be? Again, in my opinion, this would be the least important part of the character, as long as she was focused on trying to do the right thing. Maybe a simple power set would be best – enhanced healing, strength, and stamina, and (because of The Wu Tang) a proficiency for martial arts. Since our borough doesn’t have high buildings, she would have to travel by car or be able to fly (no swinging from skyscrapers along Hylan Boulevard) and be doggedly devoted to doing the right thing especially when it was difficult because that’s who we are as islanders. We persevere – we power through – especially when it’s hard.

Okay…That’s it. Beyond the information above I don’t have any more ideas, but I can’t make it too easy for Marvel, right? They could bring to bear the power of innumerable talented people to make our superhero a reality. Come on, let’s get to work!

 

Banner Image: Staten Island’s superhero? Image Credit – Collectors Confessions