In the first segment of Americana, I resolved to make a superhero who embodies liberal, progressive values. In the second, we learned more about this character: she is a woman from a dystopian Conservative future who has come back to our present day to prevent her own future from ever existing. We determined that she will wear a uniform based on the American flag, and we explored the themes that the name "Americana" suggests: the cowboy, the Gothic, and other elements of uniquely American culture, like jazz music.
Today we'll look at what extraordinary abilites Americana has, and start looking for inspiration as to her "look."
To begin, I would like to thank the many individuals who have taken the time to comment on the process so far. I have gotten more than one useful pointer out of the conversation, and that is no small thing. Others continue to wonder, for good reason, if the superhero genre is really all that conservative. I myself am sure only that the issue is very complex; I think my best stance, rather than insisting that superheroes are conservative, is to point back to the initial scholars and critics listed in part one who say they are conservative, and just keep my eyes on my project. I don't want to lose the forest for the trees.
When it comes to the superhuman powers possessed by our heroine, one commentator suggested psychic abilities which would allow her to read minds, a useful metaphor for the "open-mindedness" which is a core liberal value. This is not a bad idea; in fact, it is so good an idea that Jimmy Palmiotti, writer of one of the two stories included in the ACLU's recent Defenders of Freedom comic has exactly this power, a kind of "super-empathy" that allows her to identify with and understand anyone, even a rascist cop whom she soon talks into repentance. Psychic powers bring with them an enormous amount of baggage, however; a near-universal concern over whether or not the character should use her powers at all on "ordinary people" even for the most benevolent purposes. Additionally, I wanted a more physical, action-oriented character for my heroine, though I won't rule out the possibility that a telepathic contact among her circle of friends might not appear should it make for a good story.
Traditionally, Super-Patriot heroes like Americana have no powers at all; Captain America, Union Jack and Marvel's Guardian are all fine examples. These are men who are armed with unique weapons or science fiction gear, but are otherwise reasonably normal. This is no accident, for this characteristic makes them better representatives of the Common Man. Story-wise, it is also useful as it ensures that the hero is always the underdog. We cannot help but root for a guy who battles flying, super-strong, invulnerable foes using nothing but a metal shield.
As a Woman of Tomorrow, Americana will have plenty of opportunity for high tech hardware, but she'll also have at least a little super-power of her own. Time-traveling from the future will be a pretty hard ordeal for her, one which would have killed an ordinary person, but because she has a superhuman ability to heal from injury, she survives. Regeneration is not a new power, Wolverine's "mutant healing factor" is probably the most well known example, but no doubt all of you are thinking of Claire from Heroes right now. Personally, I think the writers of that show may be regretting making Claire quite as quick a heal as she is, since she appears to be functionally immortal, healing even from complete death. Americana will not have it that good. She can heal injuries fairly quickly, but if killed she would certainly stay dead. This power is chosen for a very simple dramatic reason: it allows me to really put her through the wringer. A story in which the hero wins easily isn't interesting at all, but if she wins after getting kicked around the block like John McClane, well, then we admire the victory more. Rapid healing promotes high-action story. It's also not a bad metaphor for a liberal movement that keeps getting up again, even when it's knocked around.
The internet has become so key to the Democratic surge these last few years that I want to add it to Americana symbolic mix somehow, and so she will have the use of a 22nd century computer, a not-quite-intelligent machine which, upon arriving in our time, extends its digital self through the world's information systems like the roots of a tree. Physically small, its root structure vastly amplifies its computing power, providing Americana with access to information and the occasional electronic security chore, allowing her to break into secure facilities or get a look at secret files. This, of course, is my solution to the very real need which was brought up when it was suggested Americana have ESP. This addresses the same issue, just in a way that happens to interest me more. And we can still do the ethical/moral quandry stories when we want to. In any other comic, there would be a story in which this netroots computer grows out of control and threatens to take over the world, but that would be saying all the wrong things in an Americana story.
By tondropolis at 2007-08-08
A great superhero should fly. and I am all for empowering Americana in this way, but if it is not her own natural ability then she must have some sort of equipment which allows her to fly. The usual suspects (jet boots, jet pack) don't resonate and the most memorable methods (invisible jet, surfboard) are inspirational but inevitably idiosyncratic. We'll use wings -- golden, metallic, feathered wings that look like a cross between actual eagle wings and the sort of thing Leonardo da Vinci might have invented. When not needed, they fold up neatly into a shoe-sized bundle in the middle of her back. Guidewires with handgrips are attached to the "elbows" of each wing, allowing her to pilot the things like a mini-handglider. I've got a reason for keeping her hands busy like this: I don't want Americana to turn into a woman flying around shooting people as, for example, at least one version of Hawkwoman did. There is room for some kicking while flying, but if she really wants to get her knuckles dirty she has to let the wings fold up and away onto her back, and get down in the trenches, her feet on hard earth.
I'm not sure what American will look like yet; artists have much more training in character design than I do. But she might wear a military jacket of the sort worn by DC's Captain Marvel, which buttons up the side. And don't try to tell me that a military jacket will make her look like a fascist, because there is nothing wrong with a liberal in the military and, besides, damn it, that is what artists are for, to keep your liberal woman in a military jacket from looking like a fascist. In any case, her jacket will be made of 22nd century materials and resistant to harm. She can't bounce a bullet, but one isn't going to kill her either.
As Alan Moore noted when he was trying to revise the character of Glory for Rob Liefield, it is very hard to find a weapon for a female hero that doesn't seem like some sort of phallic object. Spears and swords are right out. The shield could be done, if we weren't already settled on the Super-Patriot, which would make a shield terribly derivative. Moore ended up giving a caduceus to his heroine Promethea, which was very cool, but I'm not sure two snake-heads coiled around a tall stick really solve the problem. Wonder Woman's golden lasso is undeniable genius. Are there other super-people that use a lasso? Whips, shields, bows ... all these things exist in multiple versions. Is the lasso so identified with Wonder Woman that no one else can use it? We have a very good reason for using it -- the lariat is a symbol of the Western and cowboy culture, aspects very close to Americana's heart. So let us call her weapon not a lasso, but a lariat -- a 22nd century piece of sci-fi hardware which spools out like a tape measure when required, and zips back up into a little spool on her hip when not. We can do it differently that Wonder Woman does. As long as we don't have her perpetually bound with her own lasso for light bondage, we should be all right.
We've only started to scratch the surface of costuming, but that is a long topic of its own so we'll put that off for a day. Tomorrow: a fashion tour of Women in Flagsuits. Maybe we can find something we like there.