…AND, ANOTHER LITTLE RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS (Act 66)

Two badass women come to the rescue!  First, Catwoman arrived early one morning, but somebody snagged the rock by the time the artist looped around our pod and revisited the bench.  Darn it! 

This photo is from the artist:

Catwoman is Batman’s lady superwoman friend.  A jewel thief from Gotham City, she steals jewels in order to survive.  (At least she does it in style!)  She learned martial arts and trained extensively to perfect her skills in cat burglary.  Her criminal activities are often tempered by a reluctant altruism, so she is an occasional ally to superhero Batman.  She regularly eludes capture by the Dark Knight and maintains a complicated, adversarial relationship with Batman that frequently turns flirtatious and occasionally, legitimately romantic.

Selina Kyle was the original and most widely known Catwoman and first appeared in Batman #1, in 1940.  Back then, she was known as “The Cat” and was an adversary of Batman.  She carried a whip during her high-stake thefts.  Modern writers have attributed her activities and costumed identity as a response to a history of abuse.

Since the 1990’s, Catwoman has been one of Batman’s most enduring love interests and has been featured in most media adaptations related to Batman. 

Next up on the Sun City Peachtree bench?  Wonder Woman!  A DC Comics superhero, the character first appeared in All Star Comics #8, in 1941.  I missed her, too, so here is the artist’s picture:

As a civilian, Wonder Woman is known as Diana Prince; but, when she is in her homeland, the island nation of Themyscira, her official title is Princess Diana of Themyscira.

The superwoman was created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Marston) and artist Harry G. Peter, during World War II.  The character was initially depicted fighting Axis forces as well as an assortment of colorful supervillains.  Over time, though, her stories came to place greater emphasis on characters, deities, and monsters of Greek mythology.  Many stories depicted Wonder Woman freeing herself from bondage, which counterpointed the “damsel in distress” trope that was common in comics in the 1940’s.

Wonder Woman is a powerful and strong-willed woman who commands respect; and, she never backs down from a fight or a challenge.  What a badass!

If you want to watch a modern-day badass in action, check out Queen Latifah in The Equalizer on CBS.  She rocks!

…AND, ANOTHER LITTLE RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS (Act 63)

It appears as if the superheroes have taken over the Sun City Peachtree bench, so we continue with Batman who is visiting us from Gotham City.  CEO of Wayne Enterprises and patriarch of the Bat Family, Batman is a veteran member of the Justice League.  His real name is Bruce Wayne, but shhhh!  Nobody knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman!  It’s his secret identity!

Bruce had witnessed the murder of his parents as a child, so that is what lead him to become a crime fighter.  He trained hard to become physically fit and mentally strong, so he could fight evil.  When it’s time for the fight, he dons his batman costume and heads to the Batcave beneath Wayne Manor to prepare for the fight.  He is assisted by his butler Alfred Pennyworth.

Although Batman does not possess any superpowers like most superheroes, he uses his intellect, detective skills, science and technology, wealth, physical prowess, and intimidation to the best of his abilities.

Batman (aka The Dark Knight, The Caped Crusader, World’s Greatest Detective, and the Defender of Gotham) was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger.  The character made his first appearance in Detective Comics #27, in May, 1939.

Meanwhile, another superhero, Iron Man, stopped by the bench as well, but quickly disappeared to fight another crime.

Anthony (Tony) Edward Stark is Iron Man.  He is a billionaire superhero from Marvel Universe and a founding member of the Avengers. 

Adopted by Howard and Maria Stark, little Tony grew up privileged without a care in the world.  Receiving the best education money could buy, he attended boarding school and found academics was a breeze.  At the age of 15, attended M.I.T., and by the age of 17, he had already graduated with three Phd’s.

Tony’s perfect world shattered when his parents were killed in a car crash orchestrated by one of Stark Industries’ rivals, leaving Tony the heir of their fortune and company, a weapons manufacturer.

One day, Tony was in Pakistan demonstrating a Stark Industries weapon, and it blew up in his face, leaving a piece of shrapnel piercing his chest and sinking towards his heart.  While unconscious, he was captured by the Ten Rings terrorist group in Pakistan.  Held at gunpoint, the group forced Tony to engineer bombs for them and receive treatment for the shrapnel injury or left to die.  Being as clever as he is, Tony instead built a chest plate that would stop the shrapnel from killing him, then he built a mech suit around it.  With his suit, he escaped the camp and dedicated his life to heroism.  After returning from Pakistan, Tony spent his days fighting crime and eventually forming superhero groups like the Avengers.