Anyone who has read a comic, at least of the Marvel or DC variety, have dreamt at some time about being a superhero, or at least having superpowers, which generally seem to involve impressing, even taking advantage of the opposite gender. Those who saw the film SPECIAL may have had second thoughts about donning a costume and fighting crime but obviously not the participants of the hit US TV series, Who Wants to be a Superhero? Fronted by Stan Lee, who knows a thing or two about superheroes, the series could be seen as a sort of X Factor for geeks with delusions of grandeur, which isn’t to say that Pop Idol contestants are similarly afflicted, but for contestants of this series the X is more about Xavier and his school for the gifted. And the winners get to be immortalised in their own comic.
Anyone who has seen the film MYSTERY MEN, where they are trying to recruit new members, will get some idea of what the show is about and how bizarre it is. The fact that these people are completely serious in their endeavours makes the show fascinating viewing, in a car crash TV sort of way – you just can’t help watching. But if you think that it is just weird Americans are attracted to the show then think again because the SciFi Channel in the UK is looking for a truly original local hero. Check out the website and submit you own superhero video. But if you are feeling a little reserved then why not watch the US series on the SciFi Channel this weekend 5-7 May, but only if you can’t get tickets to SCI-FI-LONDON, of course.
And don’t forget HEROES is still showing new episodes on Monday nights, with repeats throughout the week. And it just keeps getting better.