Superman Analogues: Gladiator
81Case Aiken's a big fan of Superman (if you couldn't tell)! He's got a lot to say about the characters who are based on him or who fit the same archetype! This week, we're talking about Gladiator!
Find the original thread here: https://twitter.com/CaseAiken/status/1071496442295042048?s=19
Original text: Yesterday was...a long day. Sorry for missing one. Today I want to relax by talking about Gladiator.
Gladiator is my first detour into the Marvel Universe. A part of the Shiar Imperial Guard, which in itself is an homage to the Legion of Superheroes (hi, @LegionBlog). He's the equivalent of Superboy or Mon-El (who will be his own entry) on the team.
Aside from his hair, the stand out thing is how his powers work: confidence.
See Gladiator was kind of a test case for John Byrne's ruminations on Superman type powers. They're psychic in nature, but all focused around augmenting his phisicality. As a result his invulnerability requires him to maintain an unwaivering belief that he'll be fine.
This would be a precursor to other psionic Supermen like Miracleman and Superboy.
In terms of his personality, the character is usually presented as more lawful than good. He's been an antagonist often because of his allegiance to a sometimes hostile alien government.
Not that he's a bad guy, just that he does what his government tells him and that government was QUITE OFTEN at odds with our heroes.
Later he became the Shiar Emperor and we got to see a discussion of super powers versus political power and how they were different tools for different jobs.
All in all, not my favorite Superman analogue, but solid. Plus he actually got to be in the X-Men cartoon.
Also, the name is a reference to a Proto-Superman character: Philip Wylie's Gladiator, basically a power for power inspiration for the Golden Age Superman.
Image 1 - Can't find the source. Maybe Dave Cockrum? Would love to know.
Image 2 - X-Men #107 (October, 1977) written by Chris Claremont, art by Dave Cockrum
Image 3 - War of Kings Warriors: Gladiator (2009) #1, cover by Mahmud Asrar
Image 4 - The Uncanny X-Men #485 - The Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire, Chapter 11, art by Billy Tan
Image 5 - Gladiator by Philip Wylie, first edition cover but I can't find the artist.
Image 6 - Fantastic Four #249, cover by John Byrne
Image 7 - Superman vol. 2 #8, cover by John Byrne
Image 8 - Appears to be art by Alex Garner, but not sure the issue
Image 9 - Miracleman #3, cover by Howard Chaykin
Image 10 - Superboy (1994-2002) #1, cover by Tom Grummett
Image 11 - Thor (1998) #35, cover by Andy Kubert
Image 12 - X-Men vol. 1 #137, art by John Byrne
Image 13 - Appears to be art by Tony Bedard, but not sure the issue
Image 14 - Gladiator/Supreme, cover by Ed Benes
Image 15 - Screen grab from X-Men cartoon
Image 16 - War of Kings Warriors: Gladiator (2009) #1, art by Mahmud Asrar
Image 17 - Annihilators (2010) #2, cover by Alex Garner
Music by Bret Eagleston - www.breteagleston.bandcamp.com
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