Remember Stan Lee’s Reality Show? Here’s What Happened to the Heroes Who Won!

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Have you ever pondered about designing your own superhero character and seeing it enshrined in comic book lore for all time? A handful of individuals had that opportunity through Stan Lee’s SyFy Channel series titled “Who Wants To Be A Superhero?“. With a career deeply intertwined with the world of superheroes, Stan Lee has become synonymous with these characters. He is renowned for creating or co-creating iconic heroes like Spider-Man, X-Men, Daredevil, Hulk, Fantastic Four, and many more. Over time, these creations have evolved into the modern-day mythology we know today. Furthermore, Stan Lee’s frequent Alfred Hitchcock-esque appearances in Marvel films only serve to underscore his suitability as a judge for a superhero reality show like this one.

The show titled “Who Wants To Become a Superhero?” had exciting rewards for its victor across its two seasons, such as a visit to Universal Studios Orlando, a role in a SyFy Original Movie, and a one-off Dark Horse comic book about the character they created. Although “Who Wants To Become a Superhero?” didn’t last long, the comics it produced remain entertaining as a part of Stan Lee’s lasting impact on the evolution of superheroes.

Looking Back On Stan Lee’s Who Wants To Be A Superhero?

For two seasons between 2006 and 2007, the SyFy Channel showcased “Who Wants To Be A Superhero?” – a game show that gave nerds an incredible opportunity: create a superhero concept, demonstrate to Stan Lee personally that you embody the quintessential traits of a hero, and have your character immortalized in a comic book. Contestants on this show were subjected to various challenges designed to verify their characters’ worthiness to Lee by testing values fundamental to heroes, including bravery, selflessness, honesty, and self-sacrifice.

It’s clear that the viewership for “Who Wants To Be A Superhero?” was massive, as the show began with Lee interviewing hopeful contestants, each in character for the series. The SyFy Channel hit, “Who Wants To Be A Superhero?”, concluded after its second season without an official cancellation or any stated reason for its termination. However, it found a new lease of life on British television, airing on CBBC and transitioning from adult to child contestants, essentially serving as the unofficial third season.

Season 1’s Winner – Feedback

The first season of “Who Wants To Be A Superhero?” ended with software engineer and longtime Spider-Man enthusiast Matthew Atherton emerging victorious. His character, Feedback, was the inspiration for the initial comic book spin-off from the series. In a factory accident, Atherton’s character gained electrical abilities, such as shutting down all technology nearby due to his name (Feedback.) To manage these powers, he designed a special suit and can control surges of electricity. Furthermore, Feedback has the unique ability to briefly acquire skills from video game characters upon playing them; however, each use results in a loss of memory. Atherton also introduced a signature catchphrase for his superhero: “It’s time for some Feedback!” which he frequently used throughout the show.

In Stan Lee’s comic book “Dark Horse,” Atherton – a computer programmer and gaming enthusiast – finds himself unknowingly assisting a terrorist named Ironside. One fateful day, while holding a video game controller, he is struck by lightning, granting him electric powers. Adopting the persona of Feedback, he sets out to halt Ironside’s criminal activities. In the climax, Feedback successfully foils Ironside’s terrorist plan, resulting in the villain and his gang meeting their demise in a warehouse blast. The narrative concludes with Atherton pondering whether to disclose his powers to his girlfriend Sarah, who shares similarities with Lee’s real-life wife, a former contestant on “Who Wants To Be A Superhero?

Season 2’s Winner – The Defuser

In its second season, the reality TV show “Who Wants To Be A Superhero?” crowned Jarrett Crippen as the winner, with his character being The Defuser. Based on Crippen’s professional background in law enforcement, The Defuser is a super-policeman who operates at 10% more than human capacity. He primarily uses non-lethal weapons to capture villains, and he boasts night vision that allows him to see clearly up to 60 feet even in the dark. Similar to Feedback, The Defuser also has a distinctive battle cry, proclaiming “When the Defuser’s here, the bad guys are hitting the ground!” as he enters combat.

After triumphing in season 2, the comic book “The Dark Horse: The Defuser” was written by Jeremy Barlow. It shares a resemblance to Crippen’s backstory, where The Defuser is portrayed as a super-cop who creates non-lethal tools to combat crime. In his standalone comic, The Defuser embarks on a crucial mission to save passengers from a hijacked aircraft, with his spouse, Norma, among them. The narrative also includes The Defuser halting a dangerous A.I. program, with aid from a robot police officer ally on the force.

Ultimately, “Who Wants To Be A Superhero?” is an enchanting segment in the narrative tapestry woven by Stan Lee in his superhero tale creation. Though the show itself offers a delightful blend of reality television and game shows, the standalone comics featuring characters like Feedback and Defuser – part of this legacy – vividly portray the lasting impact and enduring influence that Stan Lee exerted on nerd culture and the superhero genre.

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2025-04-14 04:10