Torchwood: Ten Reasons Why Captain Jack is a Superhero..

[fajrdrako]

I see Captain Jack Harkness as a superhero. He isn't billed as such, but he acts like a superhero, and has the characterists and/or abilities of others. His powers aren't innate, but that's nothing unusual in the superhero community - in fact, it's a characteristic he shares with many established superheroes. I posted these comments earlier today in chatting with 51stcenturyfox. On thinking it over, I thought I'd elaborate here.

Reasons for considering Captain Jack a superhero:

1. He has powers: healing powers. He can recover from any wound. This is the same power as Wolverine, minus the claws. I was going to say he was prettier than Wolverine, but that's only true of comic-book Wolvie - Hugh Jackman isn't bad either. This comes with the power to not age at all, or to age very slowly.
   
   Other powers include:
   
   
   • the power to revive after death
     
   • the power to make certain aliens glow yellow when he kisses them
     
   • marksmanship and general physical prowess
     
   • the ability to absorb vast quantities of Abaddon's energy
     
   • the ability to resist alien mind-probes (in "Greeks Bearing Gifts")
     
   • the ability to stay underground for two thousand years - and to remain frozen for another century.
     
   • he doesn't sleep
     
   • his beard and hair don't grow, even over centuries
     
   • if 'charm' can be listed as one of Gambit's superpowers (and it is), it's a power Jack has for sure - along with the long coat
   
   
2. He has a collection of alien tech which he can adapt to his use as necessary. This puts him in the class of heroes who use alien gadgetry, like Professor X of the X-Men or Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four. Carrying a humumgous big alien gun, he looks like Cable.
   
   
3. He has knowledge of the future and future technology - information that other humans don't possess. He can jury-rig and engineer hybrid gadgets using scraps of alien tech. He also has unusual knowledge of the past, of alien races, of elementals (like the fairies), and of secret or paramilitary organizations like UNIT.
   
   
4. He has the ability to travel in time (when his vortex manipulator works) and to teleport (ditto).
   
   
5. His 'vintage military' style is a kind of costume - a distinctive outfit which he wears consistently any by which he can be recognized.
   
   
6. He never reveals his true name.
   
   
7. He has a team, which he trains in his methods for his purposes.
   
   
8. He lurks and broods on rooftops like Batman, Nightwing, Spider-Man, Gambit, or Nightcrawler.
   
   
9. He has his own special headquarters - underground. Including an Invisible Lift and a pet pteranodon. No giant penny, but a giant fountain instead. Running water.
   
   
10. When he can, he hangs out with the other superhero of his universe - the Doctor.

Comments

[toraks.livejournal.com]

hunh. one word: duh!

(meaning, you've covered it so completely, he is absolutely a superhero!!!) :-D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Let's her it for time-travelling superheroes!