Irish Superheroes

It is St. Patrick's Day and I plan on celebrating the same way I do every year, getting some nachos and tequila at On The Border. (I'll get a pint at an Irish pub on Cinco de Mayo.) It helps me to avoid people. I shouldn't be around people, but I am digressing... Let's talk superheroes, because what else are we going to talk about? (The fact that Antarctica is melting faster than we initially thought?) So let's talk about obscure superheroes (my favorite types) and on this most auspicious of holidays, we can all raise our margaritas and salute those poor Irish superheroes that get no respect.

Notable Irish-American Superheroes: Daredevil, Captain American, and one-half of Kyle Rayner (Green Lantern)

Banshee and Siryn (Marvel)

Perhaps two of the most well-known that will appear on this list. Sean Cassidy has been a member of the X-Men, as well as his daughter Theresa Maeve Rourke Cassidy. Don't get them confused, as Banshee is Sean's codename. (Chris Claremont wasn't aware that a "banshee" was a female Irish spirit when he named him.) They both have the distinction of being the only Irish superheroes to actually appear in a live action movie, with Banshee showing up in X-Men: First Class and Siryn making a cameo in X-Men 2: X-Men United. With that said, when Banshee was first created he was basically a walking Irish stereotype. He smoked a pipe, lived in a haunted castle, and hung out with leprechauns, (Aye, I'm not pulling your leg, laddie.) In later years, both himself and Siryn have become less two-dimensional with fully fledged backgrounds, plots, and villains. So, there is hope.

Shamrock (Marvel)

Staying with the stereotypes, you can't get much worse than Molly Fitzgerald. Shamrock has flame red hair, wears a literal shamrock on her chest, and her power is "Luck." Yes, she literally has the "Luck of the Irish" on her side. Born in Dunshaughlin, Ireland, she was the daughter of a militant member of the IRA. As Shamrock, she serves as a vessel for displaced poltergeists and souls that have died as innocent victims of war; these spirits manifest themselves for fractions of seconds to cause good luck for her and bad luck for those who oppose her. For the most part, she served as a throw-away character that Marvel created for a crossover event called Contest of Champions. In other words, Marvel writers basically said, "We need an Irish superhero?" and another replied "How about we call her Shamrock. She can be lucky?" and then the whole room cried out, "Brilliant!" and harrumphed a lot. In the modern Marvel timeline she has retired from superheroics and opened a bar in New York City.

Jack O'Lantern (DC)

Are you starting to sense a pattern here? Jack O'Lantern is the title held by several people in the DC universe, most of which have been Irish. The most notable are Daniel Cormac and Liam McHugh. Jack O'Lantern is a superhero who possess a literal magical lantern that was given to him by fairy folk. This mystical lantern gives him the power of flight, flame projection, teleportation, illusion casting, enhanced strength, and the ability to create fog. In the more modern iterations of this character, McHugh has internalized the power of the lantern, so he no longer needs to carry it around. He was also a former "Irish freedom fighter," who often quibbles with his British teammate, Knight, because.. you know... that's what Irish and English people do.

Hellstrike (DC/Wildstorm)

Nigel Keane was born in Belfast, and served in the British police constabulary before moving to London, where he fell in love with Anne, his partner while investigating the IRA. Their relationship lasts until an Irish terrorist/mercenary, kills her in front of him... etc... etc. Hellstrike is a gaseous sentient post-human entity that can fire explosive plasma bolts, build a protective plasma shield, and fly. Unfortunately he is also bound to a containment suit that prevents him from dispersing. At least as far as originality of powers goes, I give Hellstrike an "A" for effort, and he is a rather complicated character, even becoming a villain for a small while. Yet, he still falls along several stereotyped lines. I mean, it amazes me how many Irish superheroes have ties to the IRA. Can't one of them just be some guy that used to sell newspapers on a street corner, or something. Do they all have to be fighting for or against Irish freedom, (which hasn't really been a thing since the mid-90's.)

Hitman (DC)

Perhaps one of the most fleshed out and interesting characters you have never heard of, Thomas Monaghan lives in Gotham City's Irish neighborhood, "The Cauldron." A Gulf War veteran he is bitten by a Bloodlines parasite (which is best not discussed) and granted the abilities of x-ray vision and limited telepathy. He then uses his new abilities to become a contract killer of metahumans, (super-humans... "Wait, I finally get the name of this blog,") which are targets most assassins and mercenaries won't go after in the DC universe, for super-obvious reasons. Somewhat of an anti-hero he has helped the Justice League out on occasions, but he spends most of his time with Section 8, DC's answer to Marvel's Great Lakes Avengers. A team of pathetic and low-powered superheroes that usually end up doing more harm than good. Even Tommy's adventures tend to be a bit more tongue-in-cheek, like the time he showed up to a tryout for the Justice League, just to use his x-ray vision on Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, with DC's new slant on dark and gritty, it doesn't seem like Hitman will be making a reappearance in the New 52 anytime soon. Even if he does, he will probably be a former member of the IRA, if not wearing a shamrock on his lapel... you know because... Ireland.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.