- Hero Cruz
Superherobox|
caption=Hero Cruz appearing in The Titans Secret Files #2.
Art byMark Buckingham .
character_name=Hero Cruz
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Superboy and the Ravers " #1, (September 1996)
creators=Karl Kesel (writer)
Steve Mattsson (artist)
real_name=Hero Cruz
alliances=The Ravers
The Titans
aliases=
powers=Come from Hero Dial artifact|Hero Cruz is a
fictional character in comic books published byDC Comics . Within the narrative of the fictionalDC Universe , Hero is a portrayal of anAfrican American gaysuperhero . He first appeared in "Superboy and the Ravers " (September 1996), and was created byKarl Kesel and Steve Mattsson.Fictional character biography
Hero (his actual name, which is Greek) first appeared as a member the
superhero team The Ravers founded bySuperboy . He was a frequent regular of the Event Horizon, an intergalacticrave that featured hipsters and partiers from all over the galaxy. Though at first it was unclear what, if any, powers he possessed, it became apparent that his vest (later revealed to be the "Achilles Vest") emitted a force field that protected him from most forms of physical assault. He was somehow able to steal this from the lair of the Scavenger, a villainous packrat who stockpiles various items and gadgets from the DC Comics universe.Hero eventually lost his vest, but found the even more interesting "H-Dial" (of "
Dial H for Hero " fame), and soon realized that by spelling H-E-R-O on its dial, he would be granted the powers of and persona of one of several superheroes, supposedly merging with them usinghypertime .Since acquiring this device, Hero has taken on the roles of heroes like BadAxe (an axe-wielding warrior), and Human Justice (a powerful,
deity -like figure). Later in the series, he would become the muscular Titanic in order to impress his female teammate D.C. (aka Sparx). While at first it seemed like the beginning of a relationship, Hero became more and more distant from her, eventually avoiding her altogether. It wasn't until they took a trip to Sparx's family ranch inCanada that he finally admitted that he was gay.For a time, Hero is the companion of the long-lived sentient canine
Rex the Wonder Dog , whom he implies had been found in some sort of metal container.Near the end of the "Ravers" series, Sparx began to lose her powers, and in frustration told Hero that she not only didn't want to be his friend any more, but what he was doing was "not natural" and "wrong". Hero has since been in a relationship with the alien "Leander" and has decided to keep tabs on everyone else in "The Rave".
Hero was also an associate of Titans L.A. in "The Titans".
Powers and abilities
* The H-Dial (Hero Dial) gives Hero the ability to turn into any of a number of superheroes. The extent of this power is unknown, yet it appears to utilize
hypertime .External links
* [http://www.gayleague.com/gay/characters/display.php?id=31 Hero's Gay League Profile]
* [http://www.titanstower.com/source/whoswho/hero.html Titans Tower: Hero Cruz]
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