The Founding of a Supergroup
by Direwolf and Zapow (Kid Dynamo)

What makes someone decide to found a super group? Is it a burning desire to band together with a like-minded team to take down the bad guys? Just a love of color coordinated spandex or a strong masochistic tendency? Trying to ride herd on all those egos can’t be easy. Recently, I was lucky enough to catch up with Kid Dynamo after he completed a foray into a Fifth Column bunker complex. He stopped for a chat on his way to his next crisis.

SW: “Hey Kid, how about an interview?”

KD: “Well, if it isn't Stormy Weathers, the prettiest newshound in Paragon City. Sure, I have a few minutes for you.”

SW: “So, looks like you've been in a dust up. Kid, hope you don't mind if I call you Kid, and I appreciate the time. Some of our readers have asked about super groups are that cropping up like Mushrooms in Perez Park after the rain. I'd like to ask you a few questions about Freedom Reborn. So, why did you, the idol of millions decide to found a super group?”

KD: "Dust up? Yeah, I just cleaned out a Fifth Column bunker. Man, those guys have some cool computers. I'm sorry, you were asking about Freedom Reborn. I...um..gee...this is kind of hard to talk about."

"Years ago I was the teen sidekick to a group called the Freedom Agenda. My parents, Mirrorball and Human Light Bulb, helped found that group. They let me hang around and help on some of their adventures. It was great fun and I couldn't wait until I was older and was able to be a full fledged member."

"The Rikti invaded Paragon and like the other hero groups of Paragon City, the Freedom Agenda answered Stateman's call."

"Ms. Weathers...can you give me a few seconds here...."

“I'm sorry...this stuff is still pretty raw for me."

"I was excited about the Rikti invasion. I thought fighting aliens would be cool. I begged and begged to be allowed to join the fight but my parents wouldn't allow it."

"The Freedom Agenda went to fight and I followed them. They engaged a giant Rikti spaceship that hovered over Steel Canyon. As I went to join them the ship fired...it fired...and just like that they were gone...they were all gone."

"After that I did help battle the Rikti but it wasn't a game or fun. I grew up during that war."

"I never planned on being part of another group of heroes. I was resolved to not let myself close to another person I could lose."

"That all changed when I met Tortuga, Marmeille, and Darkhart. Chance brought us together but friendship forged a tight bond. In honor of the Freedom Agenda we choose the name Freedom Reborn and strive to keep Paragon City safe."

“Geesh, Stormy, you sure ask the tough questions!”

SW: "Comes with the territory, Kid. I assume you lobbied for the official colors, blue and yellow, but what's with the slogan? It seems to change just about daily and some of them just don't make sense."

KD: "Hehe, well, that actually sorta funny. At first I had a very serious slogan about Freedom never dying and always being Reborn but the other founders are a bunch of jokers. They keep changing it to all kinds of wacky stuff. The rotating slogan has just kind of stuck."

"It is kind of symbolic of our group's attitude. We take our roles as protectors very seriously but that doesn't mean we take ourselves too seriously. We like to have some fun while doing our job."

SW: “On the subject of your cofounders, what brought you together in the first place and what,. in your opinion, sets Freedom Reborn apart from the other super groups in the city?"

KD: "I was filming a commercial over at City of Gyros over in Steel Canyon. Have you ever eaten there? Good stuff. Anyway, we were rolling film when the window shatters and in flies this huge green mass. It landed in the display of gyros they had set up for the commercial. Cucumber sauce splattered all over the place!"

"The green mass turns out to be this giant walking turtle and he's swearing up a blue storm. Just as he gets up a bunch of Tsoo jump through the window and attack him. I thought I was reading something written by Eastman & Laird!!"

"I leapt into action and we made quick work of those Kung-Fu wannabes. Tortuga, the turtle guy, and I have been fast friends since then."

"We later came across Marmeille and Darkhart during the course of a different adventure. That's a story for another day."

"Hmmmm...what sets us apart? I think we have a good balance of a few defining factors.

"First, there is a sense of legacy we cherish for those heroes who have gone before us in this never ending battle. Many have died in our line of work and we intend to pick up where they left off."

"Second, honor is a big thing for us. Being a hero is an important thing. Our job is a serious one. It is paramount that we remain honorable.

"Third, we need to be courageous in the face of overwhelming odds. We're willing to throw ourselves into the teeth of danger if it means protecting the citizens of Paragon City and the world."

SW: "All very up lifting. Currently, how large is the FR roster and are there any specific achievements for the team you'd like to mention?"

KD: "We have about sixty members give or take a few, including our school for young heroes, Freedom Academy."

"Freedom Reborn has accomplished quite a lot of good in the time since we've formed. Villains such as Dr. Vahzilok, Clockwork King, and Clamor have all sent to the Zigg courtesy of FR. Several plots by all the major gangs have been put to rest."

SW: "Great, just a little more. So do you see Super groups as the wave of the future? Do you think we'll see more of them and what do you think is the primary motive for forming them? Any plans to 'market' Freedom Reborn like you have done with your own image?"

KD: "I certainly think we'll be seeing more and more super groups forming in the future."

"You have to remember that we lost an awful lot of heroes to the Rikti. While a great number of champions have come forward to combat evil here in our fair city, the majority are very new to the game."

"There is safety in numbers as our young heroes are realizing. It just makes sense to form an alliance with other heroes of like mindset that you trust to watch your back. Many of the foes we face are very powerful and having friends to tackle such obstacles is a great boon."

"I hear that the city will soon allow heroes to once again to build new headquarters to house their super groups. One will be definitely in the works for Freedom Reborn once that time comes."

"Ah, I was wondering when this question would come up. I would love to market Freedom Reborn. However, some of the other members are not as...open minded as I am on the matter."

"In the past I have been knocked for using my superhero status for personal gain. What people don't realize is that this is my job."

"Do we pay firemen and police officers for risking their lives? Of course!! Yet we expect superheroes to stop menace after menace all for free."

"I was born with superhuman powers, not a silver spoon. Being a hero carries a financial cost. Costumes, gadgets, weapons...these things are not free. Not to mention superhero insurance!! People are always trying to sue us for property damage, personal injury, and malpractice."

"So I make money where I can to pay the expenses of being a hero. People seem to forget that I funnel a great amount of money into several charitable foundations that help the people of Paragon City."

SW: "The Paul Newman of the para-human crowd. Quite noble. How soon until we see a Kid Dynamo line at The Gap? We could get into the whole issue of the official stipend paid by the Provisional Authority to all sanctioned champions , but I'll leave that to your own morals and the advice of your tax accountants. Now, the real question is do you see any down side to the proliferation of super groups?"

KD: "Now Miss Weathers, you disappoint me. I would have imagined a reporter of such renown would have done more research on the subject of her interview. "

"While it is true that a stipend is paid to sanctioned heroes, it is also true that the stipend is only given to those heroes registered after the Rikti invasion in an effort to encourage new protectors to move to Paragon City."

"I was born and raised here. I've been registered before I could legally drive or vote. My business activities have been my only source of income."

"Because of this catch you see many older heroes retiring. They simply can't afford it anymore."

"And also my GAP line is already in stores. I have some nice hoodies."

"I'm a little leery of all the new super groups popping up. I think some might have questionable motives."

"I've run into some doing it for the thrill factor and others doing it to be elite. Still some are outright bloodthirsty thugs with more in common with the villains we face than their fellow heroes."

"I'm worried that in the near future some of these groups might switch sides...and that I don't even want to think about. We have enough trouble here without a new crop of super villains emerging."

SW: "Now who can't take a joke? Interesting that we agree on the subject of the proliferation of super groups. I can't help but see a parallel with the rise of the Condotiri in the Italian states and we know where that leads. What will prevent a group as large, powerful and well organized as, say, Freedom Reborn from decided they can do a better job of policing the city then the police, or even the provisional authority and setting up their own, 'safe zones'? Do you think that scenario is far fetched, likely, or even inevitable? What do you think us, as a city and nation, should do should a case like that arise?"

KD: "Hehe. Give me a break, Stormy. One of those Fifth Column vamps hit me with a mind whammy and I'm still a bit off."

"That's a good question but unfortunately I don't have a good answer for you."

"Paragon City does not have the means to provide a check and balance system for its superheroes. City officials have to rely on these same champions as it is. There is no way they could stop a group of rogue heroes."

"One thing Paragon City can do to protect itself is keep detailed records on all registered heroes. These records need to contain information about powers, skills, weapons, and weaknesses. In the eventuality that a group does go rogue this information can be given to other heroes or government para-military organizations to combat such individuals."

"I hear that Crey Labs was offering its services for such an endeavor, but the superhero community is not willing to turn over their information to that company. We've had dealings with rebel elements from Crey. We're not sure that our personal information would be safe."

"I guess the only answer I can give you is that hopefully there will always be people ready to oppose those that would abuse their powers, whether it is a villain or another hero."

SW: "Asking for a free pass from the press? Well, no one said you lacked confidence, Kid. Think I've got enough to work with and quote you out of context, it's tradition you know. So any last words for the readers? If it's an endorsement, we'll have to bill you, of course."

KD: "I just want to say thank you to all those everyday heroes that get overlooked in all the razzle dazzle of super heroics. There are average people working to make Paragon City a better place and I salute their efforts. Maybe they can't turn invisible or lift a bus, but that doesn't stop them from making a difference."

SW: "Well said, Kid and time."

An apt sentiment we should all remember, or maybe the makings of a new marketing plan?