Prometheus (comic)

Superherobox|

caption= Prometheus
Art by Joe Dodd
comic_color=background:#8080ff
character_name=Prometheus
real_name=Unknown
publisher=Digital Webbing
debut="Digital Webbing Presents" #26 (Nov 2005)
creators=Ryan Scott Ottney
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
status=Inactive
alliances=None
relatives=Katie Keaton (fiance, deceased)
powers=Enhanced strength, flight, speed, hearing, and energy powers; control over fire elements.|

"The Prometheus Effect" was originally published in November 2005 as the title story in Digital Webbing Presents #26 by creator/writer Ryan Scott Ottney (Bikini Bandits, The Legend of Isis) and artist Joe Dodd (Nightwing). Following the release of DWP #26, plans are underway to launch an all-new ongoing "Prometheus" series at a new publisher.

Character History

Origins

Though Prometheus' past remains largely a mystery to the world around him, he has nonetheless emerged as the world's greatest superhero in his setting.

One day while fighting a deranged villain named Mr. Missile, Prometheus lost control of his powers and found himself incapacitated by sensory overload - the cries for help coming from all around him, as the people became weak, lazy, and overly reliant on his protection.

This sudden and inconvenient overload of Prometheus' abilities gave Mr. Missile just the opportunity he needed to launch his deadly attack on the city, killing 7,000 people in a single explosion - including the love of Prometheus, a reporter named Katie Keaton.

Devastated, he left the city for five years, leaving it to solve its own problems, believing that his presence only brought them more pain and weakened their own abilities to survive on their own. Many in the city turned against Prometheus, calling him a coward and a traitor for having left them in their darkest hour, and the city descended into slums and depression without him.

Upon his return, he concealed his identity to walk among the people he left behind. Once his identity was exposed, he faced angry mobs intent on running him out of the city again. He flew to safety and resumed his quiet tour of the city, remembering how beautiful it once was.

Recalling the lessons he learned from Katie, it was made clear that his humanity, not his power, made him a hero, he grunted, rolled up his sleeves, and began to clear the mess all around him. This single act of decency inspired the people around him, and together they all began rebuilding their city; one brick at a time.

Prometheus, that day, learned what it really means to be a hero.

Characters

Villains

*Mr. Missile was really a former weapons developer for the Department of Defense who went insane after testing a mind-altering chemical weapon to which he was exposed. Afterwards he used his technology to repeatedly terrorize the city, only to be stopped by Prometheus every time ... except for one. Mr. Missile represents Prometheus' greatest failure. Mr. Missile first appeared (and subsequently died) in "Digital Webbing Presents" #26 (Digital Webbing, 2005).

*E-Male is an android capable of interacting and controlling any computer machinery. Prometheus once commented that his only weakness was to upload a virus command into his central processor.

*Phantom Devil is the spirit of a demon trapped on earth, traveling through shadows and inhabiting the bodies of innocent people. Though he doesn't change the person's outward appearance upon possession of their body, he does appear as their reflection and in shadow form. Prometheus once commented the the only way to defeat the Phantom Devil is to force him to see his own true face - which would expel him from his host and back into the shadows.

Cultural Influences

Creator Ryan Scott Ottney says that Prometheus was inspired by the classic Greek myth, of course, of Prometheus: the titan who was ultimately punished for helping mankind - a theme also shared in the comic. The characters were also based in large part on the characters and world of Superman comics.

Ottney grew up a fan of Superman comics, and always wanted to tell a Superman story. Unable to write for DC Comics itself, Ottney simply created his own Superman-figure as a conduit through which to tell his stories vicariously; purposefully mirroring the classic days from the Silver Age of Comic Books era.

External links

* [http://www.digitalwebbing.com Digital Webbing]