Ed Johnson Presents: "HOW THE MIGHTY..." former Superhero/Villain Interview WebSeries

Ed Johnson Presents: HOW THE MIGHTY… #5

2008-10-16T09:45:00.011-04:00

Ed Johnson Presents: HOW THE MIGHTY... (A series of interviews with former heroes, villains & sidekicks that once ruled the skies.)

INTERVIEW FIVE: LEFTY

Hey there readers.

Ed Johnson here once again and I return with a heavy heart.

As any of you who read my last interview on the duo “Mama's Boy” know they were viciously killed soon after the interview’s release.

I personally felt due to my reporting that Eldon Deaveraux no longer possessed his abilities that it was the catalyst in their slayings.

I struggled with whether I'd ever even write another one of these again.

With great support from my girlfriend (who wants to remain nameless) I remembered my purpose regarding these interviews - which was to bring awareness to some of these individuals and allow some kind of understanding of others.

Still on the fence fate brought me our next subject.

Felix Rodriguez!
Felix who?
Felix Rodriguez also known as “Lefty” the former sidekick of The Fist of Justice!

The Fist and Lefty were the sentinels of Miami Florida in the late seventies thru the late eighties.

They valiantly protected its residents with a brash fighting style that put fear into many of the then would be criminals.

Not being “BIO” powered they suffered they share of bruises at the hands of greater threats like Parnassus and The Leper but overcame.

Gadgets designed by the two

(portable GPS systems and very early cell phones)

made life as crime fighters easier.

The partnership unfortunately dissolved when according to Felix he revealed to The Fist that he was a homosexual.

They haven’t spoken since.

At a conflicting cross road Felix wanted to finally reveal to the world who he really was both inside and out but couldn't without revealing the identity of the Fist at the same time.

Fate again it seemed stepped in when, Todd Baumann revealed to the public that he was indeed The Fist.
It gave Felix the avenue he so desperately sought.

That’s when he called me.

Ladies and Gentlemen…Lefty.

HTM:
How are you?

FELIX:
Excellent.

HTM:
Do you still like to be called Lefty?

FELIX:
It was a nickname before everything.
…So stupid…
A friend of mine back then never knew anybody left handed and started calling me that.
It’s also where Todd got the idea for his name… Stupid.
No – it’s just Felix.

HTM:
What have you been up to?

FELIX:
Not much. I council at an outreach program for suicidal teens.
It’s kinda still crime fighting.

HTM:
Very definitely.
Are you at all involved in or profit from any of Todd Baumann’s new ventures?
He’s selling many of the designs the both of you used as crime fighters.

FELIX:
Todd won’t even return a phone call.

HTM:
Why is that?

FELIX:
…Todd’s homophobia is almost a physical entity.
It’s so …I don't know...there!

HTM:
If you don’t mind my saying Felix
It’s obvious you bare most of the weight of the friendship ending.
…Was there more to it?

FELIX:
Wow!
You don’t pull punches huh?

HTM:
If it’s too painful -

FELIX:
NO!
I mean – it is!
It is…but…I…misrepresented myself and… Todd…
Hell!
I lied…It’s become such a fucking habit!!
(Felix begins to cry)
…My being gay wasn’t the thing that ended things…
Well not the only thing.
I wanted to believe it was.
It made things easier to live with…
It’s crazy
it’s been like twenty freaking years and I’m still bothered by this!
It’s so stupid…
I told him I loved him…

HTM:
…What did he say?

FELIX:
He said he didn’t share those feelings for me…like that.
Which for Todd was like amazing that he even addressed it.
He didn’t shoot me down – or say I was being ridiculous
(which was how a lot of disagreements back then ended)
He looked me in the eye and was honest with me.
And I could tell he was trying to be sensitive.
He tried…
We even continue being partners after that.
But I couldn’t do it. Being that close to him all the time…
…He didn’t love me.

HTM:
So, you’re saying
you left the team?

FELIX:
…Yeah.
I couldn’t be around him anymore.

HTM:
When was the last time you tried to talk with him?

FELIX:
I called a couple times before even this
but when I heard his voice
I hung up!

HTM:
You wanna talk to him?

FELIX:
…very much.

I had gotten Todd’s number from his publicist prior to the interview
i put them in touch with each other.

They’re gonna meet up and talk.

About a week later Felix found out Todd revealed his identity purposefully so that he’d be able to accomplish is goal.

I’m glad I listened to my girlfriend.
I’m glad I got that call from Felix.
I’m glad I did this again…

But I will never take for granted the words I write about another human being again.

Thanks for reading

Peace.

NEXT: TBD

Ed Johnson Presents: HOW THE MIGHTY... #4

2008-09-25T22:46:00.007-04:00

Ed Johnson Presents: HOW THE MIGHTY...
(A series of interviews with former heroes, villains & sidekicks that once ruled the skies.)

INTERVIEW FOUR Mama's Boy

Greetings all

Ed Johnson here again with you for another "How the Mighty..." The “where are they now” type interview series following former heroes and villains in their post adventuring lives.

In our first three times out I've interviewed the charismatic, acrobatic heroine Friday, the mind controlling villain Professor Hammer and the once honorable hero but now villain speedster Tread.

The thing that makes this next interview a special one is that we will be chatting with a pair of heroes. The mother and son team known then as "Mama's Boy".

Antoinette Deavareux and her son Eldon weren't as well known as Friday or The O-Man but they greatly helped their local community of park Chester in the Bronx.

Eldon, after a certain amount of time in his mother's presence, was capable of great feats of strength and near invulnerability. The two stopped their nemesis and then drug kingpin Leron Abernathy from establishing a foothold and corrupting the many young and under privileged children of the area.

Within their first year, Park Chester became known as one the safest places in the New York area in the mid seventies.

Sadly, Eldon as many young men do became complaisant with his mother’s necessity to always be there for him to have his abilities and rebelled by quitting their pairing to pursue a career in the new genre of hip hop.

Long after, he discovered that he was the cause of radiation poisoning to many women he was involved with for periods of time. Worst yet that his mother who had been exposed the most was suffering from reverse aging.

Antoinette began to get younger.

Today Eldon now cares for his mother who is now physically only about four years of age.

They still live in Park Chester.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mama’s Boy.

HTM:
How are you both?

Eldon:
We're good
we're good.

Antoinette:
Hi!

HTM:
Hi sweetie.

How is it Eldon?

Is it hard to be here in this situation now?

Eldon:
uh, a little bit.
I mean don't get me wrong. I love my Ma
I always have but, I ain’t never been one for kids and have ta be takin’ care a one...

HTM:
Especially since she's your mother.

Eldon:
Yeah you know!
It’s even harder cause I hate seein’ my Ma like this. She was like the strongest woman I ever met an' shit
oh sorry!

HTM:
You can say shit here.

Eldon: Oh, okay then shit!

Antoinette:
Oo, you said a bad word.

Eldon:
Sorry Ma.

HTM:
Do you get the abilities you use to when you're around her?

Eldon:
Not as much no more. I'm a little stronger but I can't lift no car or nutin and I damn sure can't take no bullets.

HTM:
So, have you thought about taking care of an infant?

That is the inevitability right?

Eldon:
Lord yeah.
My neighbor she just done had a baby and she told me about these classes. I started taking em. I learned how to change a diaper and feed the right way. Its kinda fun..some.

HTM:
How about former enemies?

Eldon:
Fortunately that ain’t been sumtin we had ta deal wit too much. The Aneater tried some sh

Antoinette:
Ooo!

Eldon:
Sorry ma

The Ant eater tried some stuff but that was when Ma was still like physically 14 and I still had some a my stuff. I whup that behind!

HTM:
Antoinette how are you? You like the way everything is now?

Antoinette:
Sometimes.

I love Eldon this much (she holds out her little arms as far as they could go still wanting more) but sometime sometimes I tink I tink that I that I that I rooned (ruined) his life and and that makes me sad.

They both start to tear and I take my cue (and my broken heart) and leave.

Three days after the release of this interview the grandson of Leron Abernathy, Caan was arrested for the murders of both Eldon and little Antoinette Deavareux.

I hold myself personally responsible for making it common knowledge that Eldon no longer had his abilities and am not sure I will be continuing these interviews.

NEXT: T.B.A.

Ed Johnson Presents: HOW THE MIGHTY... #3

2008-04-17T07:54:00.007-04:00

Ed Johnson Presents: HOW THE MIGHTY
(A series of interviews with former heroes, villains & sidekicks that once ruled the skies.)

INTERVIEW THREE Tread

Up until now I haven't interviewed a hero of the caliber of this particular individual.

Today we talk with Captain Issac Matthews! the "Bio-human" that was globally known as Tread.

Unbeknowist to us all the thought retired hero continued to serve for many years with the united governments. Even after his first team, the very public Saviors disbanded.

Matthews along with the Saviors The O Man, Tool and Queen Hephatsut prevented earth from being invaded by the Vlon.

In his years with The Phoenix Elite's Bold, Outworlder and Friday he stopped the likes of The Tsar, Parnarssus and the Smith Syndicate.

He has thwarted more attempts to destroy the world than I can count. Captain Matthews was a true "Super Hero".

That said, I arrive at his current location. The Sevier Institute for the criminally insane.

Entering the gates my heart sinks the same way it did when I had first heard of his final days as Tread.

Apparently, Captain Matthews had lost his ability to comprehend between "now & then". What I mean by that is with his speed powers he was capable of not only moving at great velocity but also breaking the barrier of time.

Originally it was a great asset to the team but eventually it became one of their greatest hindrances.

Matthews upon discovery of this ability simply used it for short jaunts to get an upper hand on enemies. Unfortunately it became an obsession, a bit of an addiction and he began to abuse it..

Why wait for something to happen when you can stop it before?
Became:
why allow that person to even be born?
Which then became:
Why not control...everything?!

His team eventually stopped him and he ended up here.

He is locked in a box that resonates sounds preventing him from concentrating on anything more than talking.

NOTE: Due to his accelerated metabolism Matthews appears emaciated - however he is fed several hundred pounds of food a day - but immediately burns it off.

He refused any direct photos to be taken of him.

Readers - Tread:

HTM:
Do you prefer Captain Math

Tread:
IIIISsssac - Pppppplease

HTM:
(Matthews is unable to control his speed any longer and is heard as if yelling out of a moving car. From here on I'll edit in post)
Issac. great.
I hope you don't mind but I've taken a no nonsense approach to these interviews and just start asking the questions I believe people want asked
is that OK?

Tread: Do your worst.
(I believe is what he says)

HTM: You were seen after your group became public figures as one of the greatest heroes ever.
What happen?

Tread: What do you mean?

HTM: Well y..you held California hostage.

Tread: ...They lost faith in me.

HTM: "They" who?

Tread: Everyone!
My team, my superiors...The people.

HTM: But you were altering history.
In fact an unclosable inter dimensional rift still exist.
It has to be monitored to prevent -

Tread: Monsters from coming through. I know I know.
In comparison to the good I'd done I thought it a small price.

HTM: 60,000 was the death toll of the Narvi beast that came through.

Tread: What am I suppose to say to that? Can't make an omelet...

HTM: I'm at a lost with your caviler attitude toward this.

Tread: of course you are. I don't expect understanding from one of you!

HTM: One of me?

Tread: Does God explain every little thing?
No he does what he knows is best and let's you all come to understand.
When I stopped Parnassus by removing his knee no one questioned me because he was an immediate threat. I raised my Level of consciousness. I was trying to solve issues before they became issues. Then saw the potential to not allow horrible things from the past from happening at all!!

HTM: Like Hitler?

Tread: ...Should I have stopped and told everybody my every move?!
Do you know -Tsk!
It was frustrating enough that I had to slow down to talk to you slow moving morons!

HTM: No regrets then?

Tread: I was making things better you misariblelittlenothing!I'maGodthatprotectedyou!Getonyourknees!Getonyourknees andworshipme...

I could no longer understand the answers Captain Matthews was giving. But somehow I think I knew more or less the point he was trying to convey.

Next Month: Mama's Boy

Ed Johnson Presents: HOW THE MIGHTY... #2

2008-04-13T10:47:00.010-04:00

Ed Johnson Presents: HOW THE MIGHTY
(A series of interviews with former heroes, villains & sidekicks that once ruled the skies.)

INTERVIEW TWO: Professor Hammer.

Though not a Muslim, Professor Cornelius Hammer believed in the seventies (like Malcolm X the decade prior) that the integrationist program was futile.

The Nation of Islam argued that there is no precedent for the absorption of Negroes into the greater white American mainstream in fact or in history, that integrationists are asking for something the American socioeconomic system is inherently unable to give them.
Mass class mobility, so that at best Negroes can expect from the integrationist program a hopeless entry into the lowest levels of a working class already disenfranchised by automation.

The Muslims told Negroes to be proud of their African heritage, to make a new identity for themselves by adopting an X or a Muslim surname and dropping their slave name, thereby severing all ties with a history of subservience to whites. The Muslims urged Negroes to be polite in their dealings with whites and to be non violent, even if provoked. But if attacked, the Muslims say, a Negro should defend himself by any means at his disposal.

Most of the information above was obtained from an article written by A.B. Spellman where he interviewed Malcolm X. I referenced it before interviewing this month’s Super personality because Professor Hammer’s entire criminal career was based on a theory he claimed mirrored the vision of Malcolm’s and The Nation of Islam prior to Malcolm’s visit to Mecca and his fall out with the The Nation of Islam.
Hammer saw himself as a leader of black people and claimed to have their best interest at heart. What he didn’t explain was that he also had a "SUPER" ability.

A powerful ability to control the minds of individuals and make them do his bidding to zealot proportions.

Before his capture he caused the deaths of over 200,000 blacks through loyal servitude and had to be lobotomized to eliminate his mind controlling ability. Amazingly his intelligence was not altered by the procedure. Today we talk to the man that could have been our savior but instead choose to become known only as prisoner 8.1.0.4.3.9. at the McIver Penitentiary.

I have to point out that I do not wish to glorify the professor or his actions in any way. I just felt it "fair" to hear from both sides if I were going to interview former super beings.

Readers Professor Hammer.

HOW THE MIGHTY:
Hello Professor.
Thank you for meeting with me.

PROFESSOR HAMMER: Always happy to help out a brother.

HOW THE MIGHTY: I think what anyone familiar with the situation would like to know most is why?

PROFESSOR HAMMER: If you have to ask then you have not yet seen.
You’re still blinded by the false kindness of "Devils".
Permitted to live, eat and fuck. Permitted for as long as "They" allow it.

HOW THE MIGHTY: A lots changed Professor

PROFESSOR HAMMER:
Has it?
How much has honestly changed son?
We get cable in here you know.

I’m not literally living in a box.

Ask yourself about Those Levies.

Ask yourself about The War.

Man, ask yourself how folks that know less english than you that have just gotten here own more and get more respect than you!
Ask yourself how much has really changed?
Did you hear?
We just found some new oil down New Orleans way.

Wonder who’ll benefit.

HOW THE MIGHTY: Does that justify you leading people, black people. the people you claimed to love to their deaths?

PROFESSOR HAMMER: You know, most people won’t do shit unless personally provoked and even then, it’s so they don’t look like no punk in front of other...people.
How often do you do it? See shit that’s fucked up bitch about it then forget it?
We are waiting for the next Malcolm, the next Martin – the next...Jesus to save us Man.
We think we need a leader. What we need is to realize is that we’re all leaders. Leaders of one...Plus one…plus one…plus one…

HOW THE MIGHTY: …You didn’t answer my question.

PROFESSOR HAMMER: Yes I did...But you still can’t see.

HOW THE MIGHTY: Professor

PROFESSOR HAMMER:
My powers don’t work anymore!
My powers didn’t work then neither...Unless...somewhere inside a person I was trying to make "do" something…they wanted to…DO something...

HOW THE MIGHTY: You’re saying all those people wanted –

PROFESSOR HAMMER: I just "personally provoked" them.

HOW THE MIGHTY: Why should I believe you?

PROFESSOR HAMMER: Young brother, the option for that to even matter has been removed.
To keep you from…Seeing.

NEXT MONTH: Tread

Ed Johnson Presents: HOW THE MIGHTY... #1

2008-04-13T10:45:00.007-04:00

Ed Johnson Presents: HOW THE MIGHTY
(A series of interviews with former heroes, villains & sidekicks that once ruled the skies.)

INTERVIEW ONE: FRIDAY

Some of you may remember, but most wont that once long ago we were protected by beings of great power, skill and integrity.

From the fifties til about the late seventies vigilantes and "bio-humans" we called “superheroes” prevented all manner of threats from befalling us.

From kittens in trees to diabolical plots to turn us all into frogs concocted by maniacs the people in P.J.'s were there.

All up until in October of nineteen seventy, the hammer finally came down on our protectors. They were hunted and imprisoned or worse.

The catalyst was the failure to prevent the death of then President Coney.

Irony of current pop culture strikes a sharp cord.

Films like award winning “The Amazings” and comic stories with similar themes like “Rebellion” are more poignant than they can even imagine.

I have made it my mission to get these people an opportunity to at least live in the country they once protected with their lives.

A few months ago after some research and cross referencing I learned that the woman that was the vigilante once known as Friday had returned to the states.

I was determined to get her to tell her story to the world. When I contacted her she told me she was familiar that I was a bit of a superhero historian and that my lobbying helped make it possible for her to return to the states. She then agreed to let me interview her.

I nearly wet myself.

On Thursday the twenty fourth of august I entered Montifoire Medical center and a weight of depression overwhelmed me.

It was omnipresent. The feeling only increased as I spoke to the employees.

From security guards to nurses, no one seemed to want to be here.

Arriving at the desk, I asked for the name I was given to get directions to the room.

“I’m looking for Marta Ramirez.”
“Five twenty six.” the nurse told me without looking up from whatever she was looking at behind the desk.
“Which?” I never finished asking.
“Take the elevator at the end of the hall to the fifth floor and follow the signs.” She answered without a glance.
“Thank you.”
After fifteen minutes of aimlessly wandering without so much as a “can I help you?” I found her room.
“Marta?”
From behind a multi-print curtain I heard a bright “Yes?”

As I came around, my mind’s eye half expected the leather and rubber clad woman that swung through the New York night in the seventies to be sitting on the bed. Instead I found a frail and small woman with a big smile listening to her walk-man cassette player.

I said hello to the woman that called herself Friday.

How the mighty:
Hi Marta.

FRIDAY:
Hey!
Ed?

HTM:
That's me.
(Marta was now blind from glaucoma and diabetes).
How you doing today?

FRIDAY:
Any crash you can walk away from?

HTM:
...Yeah?

FRIDAY:
I use that same philosophy when I wake up.
Come in and talk to me.

HTM:
So, where have you been?

FRIDAY:
Oh, I spent a lot of my time in Spain and Puerto Rico. The "Brown" places.

[she laughs].

HTM:
You know, for years everyone thought you were African American?

FRIDAY:
I Know!
That just goes to show you how people just judge with their eyes, you know?
I think that hurt me.
when they announced that I wasn’t white... It became a whole different thing.
A lot of Spanish girls were messed up back then.
People were so crazy.

HTM:
It’s too bad that we handled things the way we did.

FRIDAY:
"We"?
Don’t be too hard on yourself.
What are you, thirty?

HTM:
Thirty five.

FRIDAY:
Oh you were a baby baby! [she Laughs].
Let that shit go.

HTM:
How did you get started?

FRIDAY:
Um…
God, it was such a long time ago. When I was growing up, things weren’t like they are now. There wasn’t no chances especially for Spanish girls.
A lot of us did what we saw our moms do, which was to get pregnant.
I remember I never wanted that you know?
Being somebody’s mom was never my thing.
So eventually I started dating this guy that was in the black panthers and he started taking me around and showing me what was what, or at least what he thought was what.
Me, being told that all you have to do is find yourself a husband and have kids all my life I ate it up.
My skin was dark so if I didn’t talk alot nobody could tell that I was Puerto Rican.

HTM:
You got involved?

FRIDAY:
Involved!?!
Hell I was blowin’ shit up! Literally! [she Laughs]
It was beautiful.
I felt so free.
I felt like I was doing stuff that mattered.
Then I’d come back to the block and almost explode myself cause I couldn’t tell nobody what I was doing you know.
Everybody was talking about boys and who was arrested or who got in a fight over wearing the same dress to a party or something stupid like that and I was pissing the FBI off!

HTM:
How long did you do that?

FRIDAY:
About a year then I caught my boyfriend fucking this white girl.
I couldn’t believe it.
Such a freaking hypocrite.
So I didn’t work with the panthers any more after that.

HTM:
They just let you go?

FRIDAY:
Not at first but when I told my ex I’d turn his ass in if he didn’t get them off my back he told them that I was just a stupid spick and not to worry about me.
I guess they believed his ass.
Anyway I had the bug now right. I wasn’t gonna just stop and be somebody's mommy now. But what I didn’t have was the panther “cause” to follow or an agenda. so what was I gonna do?
And like on cue this dude steals this old lady’s purse in front of me one night.
I don’t know what came over me this was a big guy. My ex had taught me some stuff from before so I go after this dude. I get him in his knee and he goes down then I start on his thingie. [she Laughs]
He begged me to take the purse back.
Wah-la, Friday was born.

HTM:
What was your toughest challenge?

FRIDAY:
After I got in the paper for bringing down the Bookworm I was in. I started hanging out with the big timers. The Gatekeeper, The O-Man, even that queen bitch?
I thought that's what I wanted but them.
They were my toughest challenge. I didn’t have any powers and they did so getting their respect was my toughest.

HTM:
You finally got it.

FRIDAY:
You damn right! [she Laughs].

HTM:
Do you miss being out there?

FRIDAY:
Everyday.

HTM:
The government is giving you a pardon.

FRIDAY:
Pardon my ass – gimme a parade.
Gimme back my damn twenties.

HTM:
I want to thank you so much for being my first interview.

FRIDAY:
What It’s over!?!
I was just getting started shit!

We both laugh and I fall in love with her a bit.

Next month:
Professor Hammer