by Gary Pullman
The Evil Factory, where
the extraterrestrial evil genius Darkseid turns out new villains to
battle superheroes.
Why
it's a good idea: The Evil Factory represents the application of a
familiar and real process, industrialization, in an unexpected but
figuratively appropriate manner, suggesting that evil can be designed
and created as easily as any other mass-produced, assembly-line
product.
The X-Men's Danger Room, a
computerized, programmable, indoor obstacle course which includes
mobile, mechanical threats.
Why
it's a good idea: The Danger Room is extrapolated from a real
training device, the military obstacle course, but it is also
modernized, with a sophisticated technology replacing physical,
largely stationary obstacles with actual, programmed threats to life
and limb that are controlled by computers.
The Negative Zone, an
alternate dimension accessible by means of a Reed Richards invention.
Why
it's a good idea: The Negative Zone both expands plot possibilities
and defamiliarizes the settings that are associated with mundane,
everyday environments, thus glamorizing action.
The Inhumans, a race of
super-antiheroes.
Why
they're a good idea: As an unknown race of superhuman figures, The Inhumans have a mysterious and compelling character, with loads of
opportunity for development (i. e., back story) and represent a fresh
start to depicting new villains and new villainy.
The Watcher, a gigantic,
enormously powerful extraterrestrial who is compelled merely to watch
cosmic events without interfering in them.
Why
he's a good idea: The Watcher is an ironic mirroring of human
scientists who observe, but do not intervene in natural processes,
including even predatory attacks upon prey and so represents a
reversal of sorts, with humans substituted for animals and The
Watcher standing in for scientists. (An added bonus: his toga lends him the dignity appropriate to his station in life, too!)
Galactus, a gigantic
extraterrestrial who feeds upon the energies of entire planets,
laying waste to worlds.
Why
he's a good idea: Galactus is the personification of the concept of
the parasite writ large—literally as well as figuratively. In
addition, he has a cool costume.
The Silver Surfer,
Galactus' herald, who identifies worlds suitable for Galactus'
consumption.
Why
he's a good idea: The Silver Surfer, himself exceedingly powerful, is
but the pawn of a godlike character whose power dwarfs his own. He is
also the reluctant servant of a pitiless master whose destruction of
worlds is the price the Surfer must pay to protect his own planet
from Galactus' insatiable appetite. As a surfer, the Surfer is also
an iconic—and an ironic—embodiment of sixties' hipness.
Genetic mutation as the
cause of superheroes' powers.
Why
it's a good idea: The genetic cause of superheroes' power links the
fantastic themes of comic books to a natural phenomenon, giving the
medium a quasi-scientific basis that accords with the contemporary
weltanschauung of the Western world.