El Hombre
From Herocopia
Contents |
Vital Statistics
Status: Retired
Real Name: Esteban Rodrigo Suarez Hidalgo
Debuted: Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 2 #13
Earliest known appearance: early 1960s
Affiliation: former member of Honor Guard
Base of Operations: Los Angeles; later resided in the Patterson Heights neighborhood of Astro City
Powers: El Hombre wielded a special titanium steel whip that contained technology enabling it to catch bullets and stun its victims. He was highly skilled in its usage, as well as in acrobatics.
History
The heir to his families California silver mining company, Esteban Rodrigo Suarez Hidalgo was more interested in the adventures of his circus performer uncle than in continuing the family business. But Hidalgo was forced to upon his parents death in a plane crash along with his uncle.
He eventually returned to Los Angeles as it was his home, and tried to help rebuild the community which has started to decay physically and morally. He wanted to do something more then just throw money at the problems and decided to become El Hombre as a role model to the youth in the barrio.
By the early 60s he found himself a member of the Honor Guard after having helped them on a case. But the duties of being with the team took him away from his community and he started losing the love, Maria Alvarado he had always pined for to another activist in the community and felt even further outcast as El Hombre was accused of just helping the status quo of the outside world. A few years later he picked up a new ward in Bravo to help him refocus. But after Maria married Ramon Vega, he started realizing that his life was empty and a joke.
InfoDump
When El Hombre found out he was the least popular member of Honor Guard, he convinced the Assemblyman to create a robot to terrorize the people of Los Angeles, intending to save them and win their adoration.
However, Assemblyman double-crossed him, and El Hombre was unable to stop the robot. Instead, it went on a rampage, killing civilians and destroying property, until it was eventually defeated by Honor Guard.
In the ensuing investigation, El Hombre's plan was discovered. Hunted by the law, he and his sidekick, Bravo (who had nothing to do with this plan), were publicly disgraced. Bravo left Los Angeles for Astro City and went on to form the Astro City Irregulars. El Hombre retired, moving to Astro City to watch Bravo's triumphs.
Hidalgo later briefly became the the Conquistador.
Headlines
- April 17, 1973: El Hombre Behind Robot Rampage?; Public Disdains Former Hero; Honor Guard Mum on Censure- from the Los Angeles Times
- April 17, 1973: Heroe Hispano Pago Por Robot Asesino -from L.A. Prensa
Appearance List
Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 2 #13, 16, 19
Astro City: Local Heroes #4
Astro City: The Dark Age Book One #3
