Sunday, May 16, 2004

S.P.Q.R.
a.k.a. F.K.A.E.C.*

The world of The Cloak is full of "science heroes," a term I am borrowing from Micah Ian Wright's unbelievably excellent series Stormwatch: Team Achilles, superheroes with no superhuman powers, just super science. Well known examples of this type of champion include DC's Steel (Natasha Irons) and Mr. Terrific (Michael Holt) and Marvel's Iron Man (Tony Stark). In SPQR, the universe *formerly known as Empire City, science heroes (and villains) include:

The Futurist
Archimedes
M.O.S., Man of Science
Dr. Device
Lightning Rod
Mecha Man
The Judge
Cold Fusion
The Gladiator (science provided by Zero Hour)
Dr. Infernal
Omni
R.E.A.C.T.O.R.
Doktor Fantazmo
Powerhouse

Of course, one way or another, almost all the heroes in SPQR have science-derived powers. Let me be frank: I. Hate. Magic. Magic is lame. Magic is weak. Magic is a device used by piss-poor writers. "Wait, what happened? That didn't make any sense." "Magic." The magic ghost army in The Return of the King is the perfect example. They can cut you, but can't be cut by you. Why? Magic. That's lame. That's weak. That's piss-poor writing. Now, there is a little bit of magic in SPQR, but it is all derived from Christian supernaturalism: the divine power of angels and demons.

Sebastian Adair
The Fiend
Pyromancer (Pyromaniac)
The Mandarin
Faust
The Lycian
Der Konig

H-A-D
Have a toxic day.

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