Three new Superheroes
You might think that there are enough Superheroes out there already. But you would be wrong. How many is enough for a 3 year old (going on 4) with the hyperactive and infinite imagination that kids have?
Dragonfly
Superhero: The Movie is a spoof on the superhero genre of films. The majority of the story mocks the basis of the first Spider-Man movie but also a few other Marvel films. Instead of being bitten by a radioactive spider the “hero” in this parody is bitten by a radioactive dragonfly. I normally give these type of films a wide berth but when it was shown on Spanish TV recently I did watch most of it and thought it was quite funny.
Meanwhile Dani was playing with his toys and I thought he had not even noticed the film. But he had…
When asked who his favourite suprer hero is he usually lists one or two. Invariably Iron Man gets a mention and sometimes Spiderman, sometimes Batman. Now he adds Dragonfly! As if Dragonfly is a real superhero.
Wait a moment. What am I saying? Are Iron Man and Spider-Man real? Well no of course not; but at least they are supposed to be genuine fictional characters.
Note: I do try to tell him that Wonder Woman – the 70s version – is better than them all but he is not taking the bait.
Meanwhile here are two that Dani’s old dad made up; and Dani has taken on board as his own…
Medical Man
Origin: A cheap version of the Playmobil sets his mum bought when on a work trip to Prague.
Medical Man is a doctor by day. By night his alter ego allows him to fight the villains using a clever set of career based skills. He dresses in a white lab coat and blue trousers. Just like a doctor in fact. His disguise is merely a cape with the letters MM and a surgical facemask.
Special Powers include:
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- Ability to repair (cure) his own injuries using his extensive medical knowledge – naturally!
- Putting his enemies to sleep by injecting them with various medicines that he has stolen from the hospital store room.
- Super hearing powers due to his stethoscope with built-in amplifier.
- Climbs and swings from building using the extra strength waterproof bandages – again, liberated from the hospital’s storage room.
- He leaves no fingerprints because of course he always wears surgical rubber gloves.

Star-Jumper Man
Again this character came from a cheap Playmobil-like set. He was just a mild mannered train passenger who just happened to be sporting a green jumper with a large yellow star on the front. Very seventies! I used to have one similar with 3 yellow stars. He is a super hero with no discernible abilities apart from suddenly being able to drive the train. I think Dani likes him because of his outfit. Well, Captain America gets away with wearing a blue jumper with a white star. Star-Jumper Man uses different, more earthy colours. That’s enough surely.
One day my son will realise that these superheroes were just a figment of his dad’s imagination. Until then I am going try to make them seem even more real and sit back and enjoy the fun. Or maybe I should approach Marvel comics with my ideas?…

