John Paul reborn as 'Incredible Popeman' Comic book turns late pontiff into Satan-fighting superhero Daniel Munoz / Reuters
"HomoPater," a comic book rendering of the late Pope John Paul II as an evil-fighting superhero, is shown Monday in Bogota, Colombia. Updated: 2:30 p.m. ET April 5, 2005BOGOTA, Colombia - Pope John Paul II is being reborn in a Colombian comic book as a superhero battling evil with an anti-devil cape and special chastity pants. advertisement The first episode of the "Incredible Popeman" is about to go on sale in Colombia and shows the late Polish pontiff meeting comic book legends such as Batman and Superman to learn how to use superpowers to battle Satan. "The pope was a real-life superhero, of flesh and blood," said Colombian artist Rodolfo Leon, a non-practicing Catholic who has been working on the comic book for about a year. Daniel Munoz / Reuters Colombian artist Rodolfo Leon Valencia works on artwork for his comic book featuring the late Pope John Paul II as a superhero Monday in Bogota. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Like any self-respecting superhero, the Incredible Popeman has a battery of special equipment. Along with his yellow cape and green chastity pants, the muscular super-pontiff wields a faith staff with a cross on top and carries holy water and communion wine. In the comic book, the pope dies and is reborn with superpowers beyond the infallibility Catholic doctrine gave him on Earth. Leon said he was saddened by the death Saturday of John Paul II, whom he admired. The artist worried some people might be offended by such a revered figure's becoming a comic book hero, but said the reception so far has been good Apart from predominantly Catholic Colombia, the book will be sold in Poland, and publishers in Mexico, Canada and the United States have expressed interest, Leon said. He also plans to produce Incredible Popeman action dolls. "He isn't John Paul II any more," Leon said. "From now on, he's the Incredible Popeman." Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. ====================================================================== Men are like steel: when they lose their temper, they lose their worth.
