Line #19 ComicBook/PeterCannonThunderbolt


1	[[quoteright:340:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/twothunderbolts.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:340:Peter Cannon, 1966-2019]]
3	->''"I can... I must... I will!"''
4	-->Peter Cannon's CatchPhrase.
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6	Peter Cannon, alias Thunderbolt, is a {{superhero}} originating in Creator/CharltonComics in TheSixties. Unlike the other Charlton heroes, the rights to this character reverted to his creator, Pete Morisi, when Charlton Comics disappeared. Hence, while full rights to those other characters were purchased by Creator/DCComics and they were fully incorporated into Franchise/TheDCU, DC only acquired the license to Thunderbolt on a temporary basis. It eventually again reverted to Morisi and then his estate, and Peter Cannon has since been licensed out elsewhere.
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8	Thunderbolt also shares with other Charlton characters the odd distinction of probably being better known for an {{Expy}}[=/=]CaptainErsatz than for their original persona -- ''much'' better known in Thunderbolt's case, because of those rather patchy appearances under temporary licenses. The expies are the major characters in DC's classic ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}},'' by Creator/AlanMoore, which was quite openly based on Charlton's line-up; Thunderbolt became the (in)famous Ozymandias.
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10	Peter Cannon's backstory has been reasonably consistent across his various incarnations, being a version of the ever-popular "Westerner learned amazing [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower martial arts]] or some kind of mystical secrets in the FarEast" origin story, which goes back to the 19th century and had previously appeared in comics in another form with characters such as ComicBook/DoctorStrange and the GoldenAge hero Amazing-Man, who Cannon quite closely resembles. However, Peter Cannon was one of the first versions in American culture to focus on martial arts abilities (though he also acquired some quasi-mystical lore). In fact, his story also has a noticeable amount in common with that of Marvel Comics' Comicbook/IronFist, who appeared a few years later.
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12	Specifically, Peter Cannon was taken to UsefulNotes/{{Tibet}} by his parents, who were American medical workers. Unfortunately, his parents died while working to save a Tibetan village from the "dreaded Black Plague,"[[note]]presumably meant to be TheBlackDeath, though the reference is vague and this may just be some generic local [[ThePlague plague]][[/note]] leaving their infant son to be brought up by the surviving villagers and the local lamasery. Cannon became a master of physical and mental disciplines under the monks' tutelage, learning so well that he was entrusted with "ancient scrolls that bore the secret writings of past generations of wise men." then, when he was an adult, the Black Plague returned, wiping out the village. So Cannon returned to his parents' homeland with his Indian friend Tabu. There, he took the identity of the superhero Thunderbolt.
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14	Comic series in which Peter Cannon has starred include:
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16	* ''Peter Cannon ... Thunderbolt'' (Creator/CharltonComics, 1966-1967)
17	* ''Peter Cannon – Thunderbolt'' (Creator/DCComics, 1992-1993)
18	* ''Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt (2012)'' (Creator/DynamiteEntertainment, 2012-2013)
19	* ''ComicBook/PeterCannonThunderbolt2019'' (Creator/DynamiteEntertainment, 2019)
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21	!!Tropes common to most or all versions of Peter Cannon include:
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23	* NinetyPercentOfYourBrain: Peter Cannon's training was said to enable him to access the portions of the brain that most people don't use, though some recent comics have implicitly acknowledged the mythical status of that number; Cannon simply perceives things nine times as well as most people.
24	* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Cannon has excellent physical and martial arts skills, and this and his mental training give him “mind over matter” abilities that are borderline superhuman.
25	* DominoMask: The original version of Thunderbolt simply added a domino mask for identity concealment to what was said to be his training outfit (which happened to look remarkably like a fairly {{Standard Superhero Suit\|s}}). Recent redesigns of the character have made his mask a bit more non-standard.
26	* EastwardEndeavor: The young Peter’s parents took him with them to Asia, where he ended up learning martial arts.
27	* EnlightenmentSuperpowers[=/=]SupernaturalMartialArts: Along with his “mind over matter” CharlesAtlasSuperpower, the "ancient scrolls" Cannon may or may not have in his possession in different versions may provide outright mystical powers when he consults them — though this usually downplayed.
28	* FashionableAsymmetry: Cannon’s costume has an asymmetric color scheme. The original design was apparently borrowed from the [[MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] superhero Daredevil, who was one inspiration for the character.
29	* MightyWhitey: The Tibetan monks were experts in martial arts and mental and physical disciplines, but it was a white kid who turned out to be the best student of his generation in the monastery. Downplayed in that this is a one-off case, the skills he employs are distinctly non-western, and he rather disdains his parents’ culture.
30	* NonIndicativeName: There is little obviously thunderbolt-like to Peter Cannon’s powers. Different versions of the character have “Thunderbolt” be a nickname attached to him by a news reporter because he’s just quick and impressive, or refer to the significance of the thunderbolt in Buddhist iconography.
31	* RefusalOfTheCall: Cannon realizes that his powers can help people in the West, but isn't very enamored of materialistic western civilization, so he often has to be persuaded to act as a hero. Frequently, persuading him is Tabu’s job.
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