Superlopez

Superlopez is a Spanish comic book character created by Jan in 1973, a parody of Superman.

Born Jo-Con-Él (roughly translated as Damn-the-brat) on the planet Chitón (Old spanish slang meaning 'Shut up!') much like Superman's home planet of Krypton, he leaves his planet when he enters a spaceship and presses a button, an accident that sends him to Earth. He was raised by adoptive parents in Barcelona and concealed himself under the identity of office-worker Juan Lopez (which is actually author Jan's real name). He works with his girlfriend, the bad-tempered Luisa Lanas (parody of Lois Lane); Jaime González Lidenbrock (Superlopez's not so pally Jimmy Olsen); and his demanding, unnamed boss (a reference to Perry White).

Other recurring characters include Inspector Holmez (a reference to Sherlock Holmes), an excessively bureaucratic police officer who suspects everyone; Martha Holmez, the Inspector's daughter, and computer geek Chico Humitsec.

Recurring villains include the evil professor Escariano Avieso (probably the main Big Bad); Lady Araña (“Lady Spider”); the gangster Al Trapone (a reference to Al Capone); and the mob boss Refuller D'Abastos.

In the early days of the character, Superlopez was member and leader of the team known as El Supergrupo (The Supergroup or Superteam). Team members included El Mago (The Wizard, a parody of Dr. Strange); Capitan Hispania (Captain Spain, a parody of Captain America (comics)); Latas (Tin-guy, a parody of Iron Man); Bruto (The Brute, a parody of The Thing); and la Chica Increíble (Incredible Girl, a parody of the token generic superheroine). These spent more time fighting one another over the leadership of the Supergrupo than fighting evil.

Tropes used in Superlopez include:

• Action Girl: Chica Increible, Martha Holmez.
• Affectionate Parody: In Spain, the Supergroup stories are considered one of the finest parodies of the superhero genre.
• Author Avatar.
• Anvilicious: Sadly, some (if not all) the latest comic book of the series.
• Big Bad: Various but the most recurrent one is Escariano Avieso.
• Big Ball of Violence: every time the Supergroup start arguing among themselves.
• Bizarre Alien Biology: The aliens from the story Los ladrones de ozono (Ozone thieves) steal the ozone from our atmosphere because is a drug for them.
• Catch Phrase: Superlopez's "Cachis la Mar!" (could be translated as "Holy shit/crap!") and Inspector Holmez's "Hmmm... sospechoso, sospechoso..." ("Hmmm... suspicious, suspicious...")
• Cerebus Syndrome: All of the post-Turn of the Millennium comics. They are more Anvilicious social commentary than Comedical Action Adventure.
• Chew Toy: Superlopez.
• Choose Your Own Adventure: The adventure Los Petisos Carambanales is this in comic book form.
• Clark Kenting: Being a Superman parody, it's a given.
• Clothes Make the Superman: in Los Alienígenas, Superlópez is powerless without his supersuit.
• Fan Service.
• Five-Man Band:
  • The Hero: Superlopez.
  • The Lancer: Capitan Hispania (or El Mago).
  • The Big Guy: The Brute.
  • The Smart Guy: El Mago (or Latas)
  • The Chick: Chica Increible.
  • Sixth Ranger: Latas.
• Funny Animal: The Poet Ant, and humanoid radioactive ant from El castillo de arena (The Sand Castle).
• Growing the Beard: Initially, Superlopez was a Shallow Parody of American superheroes, and it became an Adventure/Comedy series later on.
• Holding Out for a Hero: averted for great comedy, especially in the early installments: people actually hope for Superlopez not to turn up, since he's such a Walking Disaster Area and his interventions tend to make things worse. He becomes more of a heroic figure as the series goes on.
• Homage.
• Human Aliens: Superlopez.
• Humongous Mecha.
• Loves My Alter Ego: Inverted. Luisa loves civilian Juan Lopez but hates superhero Superlopez.
• Mad Scientist: Escariano Avieso.
• Mind Screw: Los Petisos Carambanales.
• Most Common Superpower: Some of the female characters are quite well endowed.
• Part-Time Hero.
• Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: The Supergroup, most of the time.
• Sdrawkcab Name: The spell destroying the Lord of the Pacifiers is Etev la oonreuk, a slight modification of a backwards Vete al cuerno, which is Spanish for Get lost.
• Shout-Out.
• Superhero.
• The Mafia: Al Trapone's gang, and others.
• Walking Disaster Area.