Easily one of my favorite former Teen Titans, Cyborg seems to embody the motto: "Suck it Up and Get to Work". Victor Stone, was an athlete but he was also a test subject for his parents. I'm sure they wanted the best for him as they sought to increase his intelligence. It was one of his father's other experiments gone wrong that allowed an extra-dimensional creature to cross through a portal and mutilate Victor. In order to save him, his father made him a cyborg using even more experimental technology. Poor Victor woke up to find most of his body gone. He wanted to die but ultimately went through therapy, worked hard and learned to control his new body. People looked at him as if he was some kind of monster which was an additional challenge for him to deal with. He ultimately found friends and companionship in the Teen Titans. His first comic book appearance was in 1980 in DC Comics Presents #26. READ MORE...
Cyborg, the character, always seemed to have more trouble being half machine than being Black. He was always pretty serious in the comics and often played the straight man to Teen Titan teammate, Beast Boy. He's always been a rather positive character in terms of how he carries himself. While sometimes his seriousness seemed borderline bad attitude, for the most part it appeared warranted. There was a time in the comics where he had a whole body and had the option of at least appearing fully normal but through a series of circumstances he has returned to his classic look. This was disappointing for me as I felt he had earned the right to look whole. Still, Vic is a good soldier. He rolls with the punches and keeps on working. Cyborg is intelligent and capable and now a mentor for a new group of young Teen Titans. In addition to healthy portions of strength, agility, and technological empathy, the technology portion of his body grants him a wide array of powers. Most notable is his sonic blaster.
Cyborg's first television appearance was on the show The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians. It was the last season of the Super Friends animated program and ran from 1985 to 1986. He was one of the junior superheroes on the team along with Firestorm, Robin, and the Wonder Twins. Having followed his entire career in the comics, I was ecstatic to see him on TV.
Cyborg showed up again years later on television in the Teen Titans animated series which ran from 2003 to 2006. His appearance is considerably different and here he is a lot more fun and easy to get along with. In the series he seems to be quite at home in his skin though sometimes concerned with being less human. He is the tech genius of the group and second in command to Robin. The show is light-hearted and doesn't deal with the fact that he is black but there is no doubt that he is in both look and attitude.
Cyborg has even made it to television in live action form on the show Smallville. The character was played by Lee Thompson Young, an actor I like. In this incarnation, none of his cybernetic parts are apparent in his look which is disappointing. In subsequent episodes he teamed up with Green Arrow, Bart Allen (Flash/Impulse), Aquaman, and of course Clark Kent as they formed an impromptu Justice League. Hopefully we'll see more of him in newer episodes.
All in all, Cyborg is a great character that has stood the test of time. He is a positive and respectable Black Superhero. Here are some of his TV appearances. Note: the last two are fan made and isn't it all about the fans?:
Well, unfortunately, I do not think that Jett Jackson's portrayal was anything but crap-mostly like Smallville is crap. A black Six Million Dollar Man? If I wanted to see that, I'll wait for the possible remake from Universal Pictures starring Will Smith.
Easily one of my favorite former Teen Titans, Cyborg seems to embody the motto: "Suck it Up and Get to Work". Victor Stone, was an athlete but he was also a test subject for his parents. I'm sure they wanted the best for him as they sought to increase his intelligence. It was one of his father's other experiments gone wrong that allowed an extra-dimensional creature to cross through a portal and mutilate Victor. In order to save him, his father made him a cyborg using even more experimental technology. Poor Victor woke up to find most of his body gone. He wanted to die but ultimately went through therapy, worked hard and learned to control his new body. People looked at him as if he was some kind of monster which was an additional challenge for him to deal with. He ultimately found friends and companionship in the Teen Titans. His first comic book appearance was in 1980 in DC Comics Presents #26.
2 comments:
I like The Famous Jett Jackson's portrayal on Smallville...
Well, unfortunately, I do not think that Jett Jackson's portrayal was anything but crap-mostly like Smallville is crap. A black Six Million Dollar Man? If I wanted to see that, I'll wait for the possible remake from Universal Pictures starring Will Smith.
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