Superhero Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Stupendous Man

StupendousMan

Real Name
Calvin (last name unknown)
First Appearance
Calvin and Hobbes, October 30, 1987
Creator
Bill Watterson
Team Affliation
None
Aliases
Crimson Bolt, Mysterious Masked Man, Champion of Liberty, Defender of Free Will, Defender of Freedom, Advocate of Liberty, Friend of Freedom, Opponent of Oppression, Lover of Liberty, The Amazing Marvel, Foe of Tyranny, The Masked Man of Mega-Might, The Whirlwind Wonder, Champion of Liberty and Justice
Base of Operations
Calvin's House
Powers
Whatever Calvin Imagines, Including Flight
Skills and Abilities
Crime Fighting Experience
Tools and Weapons
None

Stupendous Man is the imaginary superhero alter-ego of Calvin in the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes.

Origin[]

Calvin provided no origin for his character.

Biography[]

Calvin began taking the identity of Stupendous Man when he became upset with his babysitter for sending him to bed.  He began wearing a homemade costume, referring to his babysitter Rosalyn as "Babysitter Girl" and worked to cause trouble for her.  He would later use the identity to attempt get out of a troublesome situation at school, only to get into even more trouble with his teacher, who he dubs "Crab Teacher".  The Stupendous Man identity would often be used to right perceived wrongs against Calvin, usually resulting in Calvin getting in even more trouble.  In Stupendous Man's final appearance, Calvin donned the costume once after bemoaning the lack of real heroes in the world and decided that the "hero business is up to me."

Personality[]

The personality that Calvin created for Stupendous Man is supposed to be a supporter of justice, but it is very apparent that all of "Stupendous Man's" virtuous action's are really petty acts of revenge and rebellion on Calvin's part.  He is usually presented in Calvin's own imagination as determined and fierce.

Powers[]

Calvin has no powers himself, but he imagines the character of Stupendous Man has having them.

Flight - Stupendous Man is often shown having the power of flight.

Ultra-Sonic Hearing - Allowing him to hear things normal humans cannot.

Skills and Abilities[]

It is implied Calvin imagined the character of Stupendous Man of being an experienced crime fighter while Calvin himself's skills as the character are limited to pranks and acts of rebellion.

Appearance[]

Stupendous Man first appeared in a strip published on Oct. 30, 1987. This early version of the character notably wore a different mask, specifically a strip of cloth across Calvin's eyes, instead of the hood worn in all subsequent depictions. Calvin imagines himself as Stupendous Man looking down from the rooftop of a tall building, while in reality he sits on top of a slide while Susie urges him to hurry up and go down.

The signature cape and hood worn by Stupendous Man would later appear in a strip released on Nov. 2, 1988. Calvin shows off the costume to Hobbes and explains the outfit was made by his mother. Calvin would subsequently identify his costumed identity as Stupendous Man in the following strip on Nov. 3, 1988, when he tries to wear the costume at the dinner table.

Advertisement