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Comic book writers have been "borrowing" from one another since the beginning, the most famous example arguably being Captain Marvel, who was deemed so close to Superman that Fawcett Comics got taken to court by DC, then named National, if memory serves.

Other knockoffs include Bruce Banner aka The Incredible Hulk, who borrowed from Hugo Danner, aka Gladiator, and Hawkeye, who borrowed from Green Arrow, himself the very figure of Robin Hood.

Who, in your opinion, are the most blatant or best knockoffs?
Are there any that are widely considered BETTER than the original source character? Which is the most unusual or intriguing?

Discuss.

Tesla Strong.

Borrows heavily and most obviously from Supergirl and Superman.
Her origin story alludes to the Marvel family of Fawcett Comics (Shazam).
The villain she is fighting is Toyman, and the boyfriend in question is Braniac of DCs futuristic hero group, Legion of Super-Heroes.


https://s7d1.turboimg.net/t1/36544895_image.jpg https://s7d1.turboimg.net/t1/36544897_image.jpcg https://s7d1.turboimg.net/t1/36544898_image.jpg https://s7d1.turboimg.net/t1/36544899_image.jpg https://s7d1.turboimg.net/t1/36544900_image.jpg https://s7d1.turboimg.net/t1/36544901_image.jpg https://s7d1.turboimg.net/t1/36544903_image.jpg https://s7d1.turboimg.net/t1/36544904_image.jpg

Deadpool

He's actually more popular than Deathstroke.

•Superman. Borrows from Hugo Danner/Gladiator, to the point that 'Iron' Munro, who replaced Superman in WWII after Crisis, is actually related to Danner.
•Superman. DC amped his powerset in an effort to keep up with Fawcett's Captain Marvel, then sued Fawcett, even though the concepts for the characters (alien visitor/magic word wish fulfillment) are completely different.
•Batman. Borrows from Zorro, so much that DC even acknowledges it in a way, as Zorro is most often the mivie the Waynes are shown having seen before being mugged.
•The Fantastic Four/X-Men/Doom Patrol/Challengers of the Unknown, all connected by simiar concepts, publication timing, and overlapping creators.
•The Hulk. Was Stan Lee's take on the Jekyll/Hyde concept.

Nice, i enjoyed your catch on Tesla/WW!

Both Hulk and Doomsday are better than the original Solomon Grundy.

All the Superman clones are worse tbh and can't live up to the original, may it be Goku, Sentry, Gladiator or Saitaman.

Imo Hawkeye is more interesting then the original Green Arrow.

Darkseid as the original is better than Thanos or Mongul.

The best and most successful knockoff would be Deadpool though. The only good thing that Liefeld produced.

Sentry, goku and OPM are superman knockoffs??

^^^any character, if powerful enough, will be seen as a Superman knockoff.

Originally posted by riv6672
^^^any character, if powerful enough, will be seen as a Superman knockoff.


The bar for that might be set a little lower than you think, Riv.



https://s7d8.turboimg.net/t1/36546135_image.jpg





(The above image is from Amazing Spider-Man #3, Doctor Octopus's first appearance, as shown in slightly more complete context below. I've read that some reprints have now altered the dialogue to "correct" for this mistake, but the comment works perfectly as written as it is well in-line with the type of arrogant derision and dismissive attitude Ock used to have toward his opponents in his earlier years.


https://s7d8.turboimg.net/t1/36546136_image.jpg https://s7d8.turboimg.net/t1/36546137_image.jpg

Originally posted by Genii96
Sentry, goku and OPM are superman knockoffs??

Sentry was meant to be Marvels Superman, by the creators.
Goku got the Backstory directly from him.
OPM is an satire version of the Superhero Archetype, which Superman is the origin of.

The gamma looking girl that superman fought (not sure if injustice or 52)

Originally posted by bluewaterrider
The bar for that might be set a little lower than you think, Riv.



https://s7d8.turboimg.net/t1/36546135_image.jpg





(The above image is from Amazing Spider-Man #3, Doctor Octopus's first appearance, as shown in slightly more complete context below. I've read that some reprints have now altered the dialogue to "correct" for this mistake, but the comment works perfectly as written as it is well in-line with the type of arrogant derision and dismissive attitude Ock used to have toward his opponents in his earlier years.


https://s7d8.turboimg.net/t1/36546136_image.jpg https://s7d8.turboimg.net/t1/36546137_image.jpg
Thats ****ing awesome! Thanks for sharing!!!

Originally posted by Genii96
Sentry, goku and OPM are superman knockoffs??

Last son of a dying planet, sent in a rocket ship to a distant planet by his parents, the greatest of their race, where he was adopted by kindly natives, vowing to do good and protect the weak.

Whilst on this adopted homeworld, he develops incredible powers, becoming the greatest hero around.

Just don't expose him to certain special radiation....you might not like the effects.

That's Goku for ya!

From Silver Surfer to Black Racer...

http://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/article/2/0/4/303204_v1.jpg

...whatever Kirby was smoking was the best!

The Inhumans (1965) predate the New Gods (1971) who predate the Eternals (1976).
Kirby rehashed themes throughout all 3.

Originally posted by bluewaterrider

Are there any that are widely considered BETTER than the original source character? Which is the most unusual or intriguing?


Some say Sentry is a Superman ripoff. If that is the case, he is far superior to the red and blue boy scout.

^^^a long haired hippie drug addict that turns villain. Riiight.

Originally posted by tkitna
Some say Sentry is a Superman ripoff. If that is the case, he is far superior to the red and blue boy scout.

He isn't even a rip off of Superman.

They way the same kind of costume but that's pretty much everything.

Sentry is way better as a concept... Superman is predictable in everything.

Originally posted by tkitna
Some say Sentry is a Superman ripoff. If that is the case, he is far superior to the red and blue boy scout.
That's why he is in publication for so long and not in limbo for several years.

Oh wait....

Being a drug addict, weak willed pansy is so much better than being a hero.

Originally posted by abhilegend
That's why he is in publication for so long and not in limbo for several years.

Oh wait....

Being a drug addict, weak willed pansy is so much better than being a hero.
^^^yeah, its soooo edgy.

Originally posted by abhilegend
That's why he is in publication for so long and not in limbo for several years.

Oh wait....

Being a drug addict, weak willed pansy is so much better than being a hero.

He's to powerful to be included in most storylines. Writers got sick of being backed into corners and trying to find creative ways to write him out of stories that they found it was just easier to send him away.

The 90lb. weakling from DC that wears an S on his chest doesnt have that problem.

Guys, either be on topic, or don't post.

^^^then i must post!

Tom Strong is the modern day Doc Savage, and a well done one at that.

Originally posted by tkitna
He's to powerful to be included in most storylines. Writers got sick of being backed into corners and trying to find creative ways to write him out of stories that they found it was just easier to send him away.

The 90lb. weakling from DC that wears an S on his chest doesnt have that problem.


Superman was so powerful that they needed to reboot entire universe and nerfed him down.

But leave it to you to think being more powerful means better character. Originally posted by -Pr-
Guys, either be on topic, or don't post.
Alright.

^^^

Alan Moore's Watchmen, or most of them, were knockoffs of the main Charlton characters.

Originally posted by tkitna
He's to powerful to be included in most storylines. Writers got sick of being backed into corners and trying to find creative ways to write him out of stories that they found it was just easier to send him away.

The 90lb. weakling from DC that wears an S on his chest doesnt have that problem.

True.

Originally posted by abhilegend


Superman was so powerful that they needed to reboot entire universe and nerfed him down.

But leave it to you to think being more powerful means better character.


Lol. DC was rebooted because their universe sucks. Rebirth will make it what, twice, three times it needed rebooted? Maybe they'll get it right someday.

ermm

Right. See you when Sentry appears next decade.

^^^
Originally posted by -Pr-
Guys, either be on topic, or don't post.

Ka-zar is Tarzan...with dinosaurs. Which basically makes him Tarzan in Pellicudar.
I do love Ka-zar, though.

Originally posted by abhilegend
ermm

Right. See you when Sentry appears next decade.

Cant wait. Wonder what kind of horrific threat it will be in which Marvels other heros cant handlle this time? Probably the Void.

Originally posted by tkitna
Cant wait. Wonder what kind of horrific threat it will be in which Marvels other heros cant handlle this time? Probably the Void.

Hulk

Originally posted by tkitna
Cant wait. Wonder what kind of horrific threat it will be in which Marvels other heros cant handlle this time? Probably the Void.
Poor sales?

Originally posted by abhilegend
Poor sales?

Abhi unleashed lmao

Topic derailment at its best!

Originally posted by abhilegend
Poor sales?

Ok that made me lol.

Originally posted by abhilegend
Poor sales?

Whatever it takes.

Any character with super strength owes a gigantic debt of gratitude to Hercules...the one from Greek mythology, not any modern iteration. Many early stories of superheroes were modeled off of the "12 Labors..." as well.

So, trace back the influence lineage far enough and this question becomes tantamount to "what's your favorite fictional character?" Everything borrows from something else, back until we don't have records of such stuff.

In terms of modern knockoffs, Deadpool is an excellent example. The Authority as a more grown-up, darker JLA is another. I think characters are best that both hold their own as characters and also hold some mirror up to us, either in our portrayals of other hero archetypes or of society itself. Probably why I like Ellis so much; I think he's the best at that. Spider Jerusalem, for example, is both a dark mirror critiquing modern politics and marketing, but is also an excellent stand-alone character regardless of what he represents as social commentary.

Nice call on The Authority.

Quasar and Nova both owe a little something to Green Lantern, of course.