You mentioned that Henry Cabot Henhouse III became SuperChicken after drinking his Souper Sauce. But you forgot to mention that the sauce was a clear liquid, served in a martini glass with a toothpick and an olive.
Welcome to THE STRAIGHT DOPE Message Boards, Oldmaven, glad to have you with us.
When you start a new topic, it is helpful if you provide a link to the column or staff report being referenced… helps keep everyone on the same page.
. . and the martini as “Super Sauce” was clearly derived from the hoity-toity image of the Henry Cabot Lodges of the world.
Let’s not forget the positive role models from cartoons;
Superhero Power Source
Popeye Spinach
Fearless Fly Glasses
Superman Earth’s sun
I think these were much more popular than Eight Man and Super Chicken.
Don’t forget that Quicker-Picker-Upper of Underdog’s-the Super Energy pill.
From real comic books, Hourman and his “Miraclo” pill.
I think I took one of those once. It was at a warehouse party in Detroit and I didn’t sleep for like 2 days
Are you trying to encourage kiddies to spend time in the cancer-causing sun?!
They lacked super-powers, but the TV incarnation of Batman and Robin had a pill or potion for everything. The Riddler floods the batcave with laughing gas? Batman pulls a pill out of his tights, hands it to the boy wonder and they beat up the bad guys. I think there was a serious underground gay party scene in the 60’s and the dynamic duo were a big part of it.
Jack@ss;
The Batman TV show was a far cry from the original comic book character. I think they picked up the pill idea from the time period (60’s). Better living through chemistry.
epolo;
I was merely stating that some Superheros served as positive roll models. Getting kids to eat their spinach, or not feeling self-conscious about wearing glasses, or playing in the Sun.
Besides, back when I was a kid, the Sun didn’t cause cancer. We still had ozone layer then. I guess it still doesn’t, if you think about it, we only have ourselves to blame.
Please, no-one hijack this thread into a discussion of whether human activity results in the depletion of the ozone layer and global warming.
And let’s not forget two classic TV series from the 60s: Mr. Terrific and Captain Nice, who respectively received their powers from a pill and some liquid concoction.
I’ve wracked my memory and cannot draw it up; does anyone recall the source of Wonder Wart Hog’s superpowers? His alter-ego, Philbert Desanex, had a vaguely (although it’s not) amphetamine like last name.
Good catch, Oldmaven. I don’t know Super Chicken, and wouldn’t have known from the description in the column what “Souper Sauce” was.
The other comment, SDSTAFF Scott seems to think South Park is for children. Funny, I never got that impression. I always thought it was for overgrown mentally adolescent males. (Or was that supposed to be a joke?)
Time for someone to get beyond the exhilarating grossness, the catch phrases and marketing gimmicks aimed precisely at mentally adolescent males and others who appreciate the Three Stooges (this writer included) and take a look at one of the hippest, bitingest satires since the heady days of Horace and Juvenal. Who else but Matt and Trey could have put a 30-minute riff on Evian Gonzalez on national TV inside of a week?
I don’t recall any source ever mentioned for WW’s powers. Note that WW is not an enhanced Philbert Desanex: it’s well established that Ph D is only a false skin. (Desenex is a cream for foot fungus; I assume Phil’s name was chosen to suggest blandness.)
On another hand I remember a hippie, also drawn by Gilbert Shelton, saying “when I take this pill I’ll become PSUPER PSYCHO!”
I’m dismayed that no one has mentioned Super Goof, who got his power from specially-treated peanuts (Super Goobers).
(okay, not really dismayed; it means I get to be first.)
And then there’s Asterix the Gaul, who uses a magic potion prepared by the village druid; known ingredients include mistletoe, fresh fish, petroleum and (for flavor) lobster.