Superlopez is a Spanish comic book character created by Jan in 1973, a parody of
Superman.
Born Jo-Con-Él (roughly translated as
Damn-the-brat) on the planet Chitón (Old spanish slang meaning 'Shut up!') much like Superman's home planet of Krypton, he leaves his planet when he enters a spaceship and presses a button, an accident that sends him to Earth. He was raised by adoptive parents in Barcelona and concealed himself under the identity of office-worker Juan Lopez (which is actually
author Jan's real name). He works with his girlfriend, the bad-tempered Luisa Lanas (parody of Lois Lane); Jaime González Lidenbrock (Superlopez's not so pally Jimmy Olsen); and his demanding, unnamed boss (a reference to Perry White).
Other recurring characters include Inspector Holmez (a reference to
Sherlock Holmes), an excessively bureaucratic police officer who suspects everyone; Martha Holmez, the Inspector's daughter, and computer geek Chico Humitsec.
Recurring villains include the evil professor Escariano Avieso (probably the main
Big Bad); Lady Araña (“Lady Spider”); the gangster Al Trapone (a reference to Al Capone); and the mob boss Refuller D'Abastos.
In the early days of the character, Superlopez was member and leader of the team known as
El Supergrupo (
The Supergroup or
Superteam). Team members included
El Mago (
The Wizard, a parody of Dr. Strange);
Capitan Hispania (
Captain Spain, a parody of
Captain America);
Latas (
Tin-guy, a parody of
Iron Man);
Bruto (
The Brute, a parody of
The Thing); and la
Chica Increíble (
Incredible Girl, a parody of the token generic superheroine). These spent more time fighting one another over the leadership of the Supergrupo than fighting evil.
This comic provides examples of:
- Action Girl: Chica Increible, Martha Holmez.
- Affectionate Parody: In Spain, the Supergroup stories are considered one of the finest parodies of the superhero genre.
- Author Avatar.
- Anvilicious: Sadly, some (if not all) the latest comic book of the series.
- Big Bad: Various but the most recurrent one is Escariano Avieso.
- Big Ball of Violence: every time the Supergroup start arguing among themselves.
- Bizarre Alien Biology: The aliens from the story Los ladrones de ozono (Ozone thieves) steal the ozone from our atmosphere because is a drug for them.
- Catch Phrase: Superlopez's "Cachis la Mar!" (could be translated as "Holy shit/crap!") and Inspector Holmez's "Hmmm... sospechoso, sospechoso..." ("Hmmm... suspicious, suspicious...")
- Cerebus Syndrome: All of the post-Turn of the Millennium comics. They are more Anvilicious social commentary than Comedical Action Adventure.
- Chew Toy: Superlopez.
- Choose Your Own Adventure: The adventure Los Petisos Carambanales is this in comic book form.
- Clark Kenting: Being a Superman parody, it's a given.
- Clothes Make the Superman: in Los Alienígenas, Superlópez is powerless without his supersuit.
- Fanservice.
- Five-Man Band:
- Funny Animal: The Poet Ant, and humanoid radioactive ant from El castillo de arena (The Sand Castle).
- Growing the Beard: Initially, Superlopez was a Shallow Parody of American superheroes, and it became an Adventure/Comedy series later on.
- Holding Out for a Hero: averted for great comedy, especially in the early installments: people actually hope for Superlopez not to turn up, since he's such a Walking Disaster Area and his interventions tend to make things worse. He becomes more of a heroic figure as the series goes on.
- Homage.
- Human Aliens: Superlopez.
- Humongous Mecha.
- Loves My Alter Ego: Inverted. Luisa loves civilian Juan Lopez but hates superhero Superlopez.
- Mad Scientist: Escariano Avieso.
- Mind Screw: Los Petisos Carambanales.
- Most Common Super Power: Some of the female characters are quite well endowed.
- Part Time Hero.
- Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: The Supergroup, most of the time.
- Sdrawkcab Name: The spell destroying the Lord of the Pacifiers is Etev la oonreuk, a slight modification of a backwards Vete al cuerno, which is Spanish for Get lost.
- Shout Out.
- Super Hero.
- The Mafia: Al Trapone's gang, and others.
- Walking Disaster Area.
0 reviews