This year’s Super Bowl features the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. The biggest storyline of the game focuses on the team’s quarterbacks.Future Hall of Famer Payton Manning is playing in what’s probably his final game, while Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is playing in his first Super Bowl ever.Both teams have tenacious defenses, but reached the Super Bowl via different paths.Carolina tore through teams throughout most of the year as Newton put up historical numbers.The Broncos, meanwhile, almost replaced Manning as he struggled through injuries and barely squeaked out a win against the New England Patriots to earn a spot in the championship game.
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Instead of trying to figure out will win the Super Bowl using football reasons, we’re going to use our own geekier criteria to pick out a winner.Here’s each city’s comics resume, which we’ll use to determine who will win the Super Bowl:
The Case for Denver
Denver’s biggest comics strength is its place in actual comics continuity.As one of the largest cities in the western half of the United States, several superheroes have called Denver home.Dr. Erdel, a scientist living in Denver, accidentally teleported the Martian Manhunter to the city from his home planet and the alien made his home in Denver when he learned that he couldn’t return to Mars.During his pre-superhero days, the Martian Manhunter solved crimes in Middletown, a (fictional) city that neighbored Denver.
Denver’s also located near the Vault, a fictional Marvel prison that houses some of the world’s most dangerous supervillains, and Thunderbolts Mountain, which houses the Thunderbolts and served as the headquarters for Norman Osborn’s HAMMER organization.Denver also played a role in the original Secret Wars, when the Beyonder ripped the city from Earth to be part of his original Battleworld.The supervillains Titania and Volcana were also Denver residents who gained superpowers while the city was part of the Beyonder’s composite planet.
Like any major US city, Denver has a local comics scene. Prominent indie creators Noah Van Sciver and John Porcellino have both lived in Denver and Kilgore Books, a growing alternative comics publisher, is based out of the city.Mile High Comics, one of the largest comics retailers in the United States, is also based out of Denver and recently made the news when it sold its warehouse to a medical marijuana distributor.
The Case for Carolina
Charlotte, the city where the Carolina Panthers play, hasn’t appeared much in the comics, probably because of its relatively modest size until recent years.Charlotte is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, though, so we may see a superhero or two move to the city before too long.
For now, Charlotte’s sole superhero is Cam Newton, the Carolina Panthers’ star quarterback.Newton picked up the nickname Superman for his explosive athleticism and tendency to strike a Superman pose whenever he reached the end zone.The young quarterback embraced the nickname, often wearing shirts and cleats adorned with the Superman logo.For a recent press conference, he even wore a special pair of shoes with the Superman logo hidden underneath a zipper.Cam Newton even has his very own Dark Knight in Josh Norman, a corner who acts as a punishing vigilante for Carolina’s defense.
Charlotte’s biggest connection to the comics industry is Heroes Con, one of the largest independent comics conventions in the United States.What started off as a one day convention run by a local retailer has turned into a massive three-day event attended by thousands of fans across the south.Heroes Con has a reputation as one of comics’ best conventions, especially for those who prefer conventions that focus on comics as opposed to movies and TV.
Some prominent comics creators who have lived in Charlotte include Sex Criminals creator Matt Fraction (who worked for Charlotte’s biggest comics store) and Jason LaTour, writer of the hit Marvel series Spider-Gwen.Dustin Harbin, a well known alternative comics creator, also lives in Charlotte.
The Verdict
While Denver is home to several fictional superheroes and supervillains, the Carolina Panthers has several real life superheroes on its team.There’s an old saying that “You don’t mess with Superman’s cape” and I have a feeling Denver is going to discover this firsthand as Cam Newton soars over them to win his first Super Bowl ring.Carolina’s winning this one 27-14.
