I’ve got DocCathode to thank for inspiring this thread. He made a rather…odd…response in this thread, which was a rant I started in the BBQ Pit.
His response, which he followed up on when I asked him about deaf supervillains, has led me to start this thread.
Except for the Sandman graphic novels, Watchmen, and V for Vendetta, I know very little of the comic book genre. DocCathode has already provided some answers in the aforementioned thread on deaf supervillains, but I’m wondering if there might be more beyond his answer. But also, I’m wondering if there ever has been a deaf superhero.
Hawkeye, of the Avengers, is at least partially deaf, but I can’t think of any others. As DocCathode implied, there are a lot more blind characters in superhero comics than deaf ones. My theory on this, formulated just this minute, is that the superhero genre traditionally uses lots of dialogue for its exposition, and if your character’s deaf, the supervillain can’t really be shouting plot summaries and descriptions of his powers at him.
In the late eighties, DC experimented with their Action title, long-time home of Superman. The stared producing Action Comics Weekly, featuring numerous short features with continuing storylines. One of these features was called “Secret Six”, a sequel of sorts to an earlier DC title of the same name. The various members of the SS had all been injured or afflicted in some way and in exchange for supplying them with devices that would correct their disabilities, the mysterious “Mockingbird” pressed them into service as spies, much as the original SS had been pressed through various blackmail schemes.
Among the new SS were a blinded marine, a scarred actress, a special effects expert with arthritis, a computer scientist with epilepsy, an athlete who’d suffered a double amputation and a reporter who had been deafened by a bomb.
He’s not exactly “super,” but it’s the closest one I can think of. If you want further details, I may be able to dig up something.
While it was in no way a real story, I believe one of the humor issues of “What If…” had a short (one panel?) item, “What if Daredevil were deaf instead of blind?”
Yes, it showed him looking at the Kingpin, Bullseye and a bunch of other villians. He was stepping out of the panel saying “No way I’m fighting those guys…”
Pied Piper, one of the villains noted by DocCathode on the original thread, has reformed and is now a good guy known simply as “Piper.” (He’s more of a social activist than an active superhero as such, but he still uses his powers in occasional emergencies.)
Zev, you’re confusing that with a one-panel “What if Daredevil could see?”
The one with Daredevil being deaf had him beating up some punks and yelling, “Come on, tell me what I want to know!” And the punk is trying to give him the information, but the deaf Daredevil, thinking he’s being ignored, keeps whaling on him.
Although, in the current storyline (which may involve mind-control or possession or something: there’re hints of both) he apparently murdered his parents, is in jail and is about to go on a rampage with an army of rabid rats.
Cooooooooool storyline. Best Flash since early Waid. And the same writer (Geoff Jones) is taking over The Avengers! YAY!
Fenris
At least I think that’s her name. I’ve just got a snippet in Gasp.
"This is fantastic! The acoustisuit doesn't actually enable my hearing...But it renders sound waves as visible vibrations! And allows me to ride them! Along floors, up walls, --even up this sheer pylon!"
Earshot was one of Don Simpson's bizarre heroes.
Not Quite What You’re Looking For But-
In an EC title (Tales From The Crypt, Vault Of Horror ?) an actor is losing his hearing and missing his cues. He goes to a mad doctor who gives him a transplant-from a bat. He regains his hearing, but naturally there are side effects.
Y’know, when I posted the above message I was afraid something like this might happen. (I haven’t read Flash since Waid left.) But then I figured, what are the chances this one character has changed dramatically in the last several issues? Obviously, pretty damn high.
