One of the things I’m enjoying most about the various DC Comics television series (mostly on CW, but adding “Supergirl” to the mix next month) is the number of B-list heroes they’re bringing us in live-action. Really, the whole “Arrow” series started with Green Arrow, arguably a B-lister who never should have headlined his own show. Adding characters like the Atom, Black Canary, Firestorm, and Hawkgirl to the mix just makes that universe more complex, and I love it.
Last month they announced the addition of the superhero Red Tornado to “Supergirl,” and as such is the first of these B-list heroes to join that series. This week we got our first look at him. Like this:
My knee-jerk reaction was pretty much “WTF.” Because I’m used to Red Tornado looking like this:
Or this:
I expected more muted colors than the comic book or animated series; we’ve seen that with the costuming of Flash, Green Arrow, and Supergirl. And it works on TV better than the insanely bright colors of the heroes on the printed page. We get a little more information about this particular iteration of Red Tornado (his friends call him Reddy)(really, they do) in the official description:
“Red Tornado is the most advanced android the world has ever seen. Designed by scientist T.O. Morrow for the U.S. Army as the ultimate superweapon, he soon becomes sentient, posing a grave danger to National City — including the people Supergirl cares about most.”
So…like the Vision in “The Avengers” or Data in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” he’s a soulful chap without a soul. In the comic books, he’s even married with a daughter, and in various storylines has practically become human. He gets his own secret identity, he has his own life. I don’t know if we’ll get him developed that far as a supporting cast member on “Supergirl.” I do like the idea of him starting out as a villain–or at least the “child” of a villain.
That costume though. It has a lot of the lines of the classic Red Tornado, the red with gold highlights; it doesn’t quite have the arrow on top of his head. In the comics he’s often portrayed with a completely functional and expressive human face; somehow I expected him to have the more Iron Man-like face seen in the “Justice League Unlimited,” “Young Justice,” and “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” animated series. Because that’s how we’ve seen him a lot lately, I guess. If I were running things (and I think we’re all pretty glad I’m not), I’d give him a face plate that protects his “real” face when he goes in to battle.
Also a cape. When he transitions from villain to hero, he needs to get a big ol’ blue cape with a ridiculous high collar. Please? Thanks.
I’m excited that Red Tornado will join the 28 other superheroes (I’ve counted) that Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim have brought from the comic book pages onto the small screen in their four series. I love that my sons and I can watch the same show and they can gain the wikipedic (encyclopedic is really twentieth century, guys) knowledge that I’ve accumulated over the decades.
And I’m excited for “Supergirl.” I’m hoping she finds her audience quickly. Looking at the newest trailer, I think we’re in for a wild ride.
“Supergirl” premieres October 26th on CBS.