Who Want's To Be A Superhero - Let's Forget Sorta Flying
Episode 3 Recap by J.G. Bird August 10, 2007
Last week, as Stan Lee was gathering brief descriptions from each contestant about his or her superhero powers, Parthenon offered a very specific list of powers. One of those was "a sorta flying." Stan Lee spoke with the confidence which only a world-class comics creator can, and stated, "Let's forget sorta flying." Little did the test group of heroes know that flying was going to be one their collective plate sooner than any could imagine. Surveillance video of early morning skulking by a villain, named Dr. Dark, starts the chaotic morning which begins our latest episode.
Sirens blaring and red alert lights flashing, the occupants of the Hero lair get an early morning wake up call. Stan's acquisition of surveillance video is a call to the heroes that by moving quickly, they might have a chance to capture this evil-doer.
The Hero-mobiles whisk the contestants away and soon everyone is identifying their destination for the main challenge. "That's Six Flags!" "Magic Mountain, right?" (Does anyone remember the TV movie featuring rock band KISS running around Magic Mountain at night?) This Superhero episode unearthed this memory from my deep subconscious, hah! It was called KISS Meets The Phantom of the Park. Alright it was the Seventies, Okay?! And Magic Mountain's most high-tech coaster at that time was the 1976 creation, Revolution.
Tatsu is a newly added roller coaster at the still popular Six Flags amusement park in Valencia, California. It is publicized as the tallest, longest, fastest flying roller coaster. Never ridden it myself, but it's similar to one that I have experienced at the coaster-heavy park. That ride is The Riddler's Revenge, and steeped in the 90's Batman mythos. (Marvel finding ways to horn in on DC territory?) Both of these coasters suspend the rider.
At the entrance to the roller coaster, Tatsu, Stan Lee begins to give logistical instructions until Dr. Dark confronts the heroes from the same big, scary flat screen television. You know, these heroes were given individual video wrist communicators last episode, but I guess the early morning wake-up call kept them from being utilized. Like toys a week after Christmas, a shame.
The basics of the challenge are that the eight contestants must pair off; one will look for color squares and then a runner will retrieve single-digit numbers from the same combination of colored posts that are selectively placed throughout the park layout. The numbers match a combination to one of four locks on a storage container. All of the teams must complete the task of locating the numbers in order to open the container as a group. This apparently is where they will again see Dr. Dark and possibly capture him.
Spotting the colored clues requires one of the paired superheroes to strap in to the flying roller coaster. The Defuser quickly puts it to the assembled heroes: "Who will ride and who will run?" Mr. Mitzvah is very self-assured in stating that he is an excellent runner. Whipsnap is also quick to say that she is a runner, not a rider.
These are the pairings that occur:
Hyperstrike with Mr. Mitzvah
Hygiena with Ms. Limelight
Parthenon with Basura
Defuser with Whipsnap
One final consideration that Stan Lee puts upon the contestants: Prove that you are not a sidekick.
Twenty minutes of airtime to the challenge falls a little flat. Every contestant had the same colors to locate: Green Orange Red Purple. The coaster riding was nothing thrilling to watch, since most of the taping was based in the loading area. Defuser and Hygiena complained of some dizziness and nausea, but no one was shown hurling. In my opinion, Parthenon and Basura completed the coaster challenge best as a team. They couldn't avoid some park "tourists" begging for autographs and pictures.
Ms. Limelight couldn't navigate around the park, even with a map. She did at least take one of the rides to spot clues when her partner felt ill. And their pairing eventually arrived at the completion point also.
Braggart Mr. Mitzvah skipped down the ride ramp and hamstrung his and Hyperstrike's efforts right away. Oy! No more running for Mitzvah. They both continued, but Hyperstike didn't push his partner to take on a different role, attempt to ride as the spotter; Hyperstike just pushed any unpleasantness aside.
The end of the challenge was also anti-climatic. Yes, they accomplished it, but the villain was just taunting them from another video screen inside the box. What happened next caused some wrinkles, however.
Back at the Lair…a sinister note is posted at the doorway. It insinuates that someone among them may not have the noblest intentions. One of them may be an anti-hero, or truer to that of a villain's henchman. Would true confessions follow?
Stan's first request to the team is the individual completion of computer-entered mission reports. He is seeking feedback on the mission - Opinions on their teammates.
Ms. Limelight murmurs something aloud about having zero friends from being honest. Makes you wonder what she's saying about the other contestants.
The most angst and intrigue comes in the waiting while Stan analyzes the reports. The Defuser suddenly instigates a discussion about Mr. Mitzvah while Mr. Mitzvah is elsewhere in the lair. Many come up with concerns over this idea of a mole, and particularly, how Mr. Mitzvah's odd behavior seems to fit this hypothesis.
Parthenon brings up the question of whether it is right for all of them to be talking about Mr. Mitzvah behind his back. Hygiena had earlier pointed out that the only common enemy was Dr. Dark.
Mr. Mitzvah joins the group as the others quickly and uncomfortably hush the prior discussion. Some hastily related details are finally given by Mr. Mitzvah as Defuser leads a barely veiled interrogation. But no one actually accuses Mitzvah of being a mole.
At elimination time, there's a kind of consensus (taken from individual comments) that Mr. mitzvah will be the one eliminated. Before calling anyone forward, Stan Lee tells the assembled contestants that he has more information on the allegation of there being a mole. There is no mole.
Mr. Mitzvah (again), Ms. Limelight (again), and Basura are called to the red cubes.
For what amounts to "too little too late" Mr. Mitzvah is the one asked to leave. Immediately after the release of Mr. Mitzvah from the lair, Stan asks all the remaining contestants to retake their places on the lighted cubes. He calls forward Hyperstrike. He states that Hyperstrike was also responsible for what got Mr. Mitzvah eliminated. Ultimately, Stan Lee instead asks Ms. Limelight to step down and return her costume.
So, I called it, Ms. Limelight and Mr. Mitzvah are an interesting pair after all. Check out the after show interview with these two and last year's winner, Feedback, on the SciFi Channel site.
The drama for the coming week revolves around the remaining five. And will the important issue be retrieving the stolen "secret identities" or locating the stolen Stan Lee pencil? The moral imperatives are staggering. If anyone you know entered the Comic Creator sweepstakes on the SciFi Channel site, I suspect that there will be a winner announcement of that by the next installment.
About J.G. Bird
J.G. Bird has been writing for three-quarters of a lifetime, over-analyzing and using big, yet appropriate words in an on-going dialogue with the universe. She works at a great metropolitan newspaper, but has never used the broom closet to change into a costume. Both the Internet and Reality TV give her the power of flight. You'll find her portfolio here. You may contact her at walkinbird@writing.com.
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