Like petting a cat who purrs one second and attacks you the next, here we will be revisiting the idea of randomness. Due to the sheer number of characters that exist in the pages of comic books, perhaps featuring characters randomly is the best way for each one to eventually get a turn in the sun. At the least, hopefully an entertaining way. The criteria for selection, as stated before, are as follows:

  • Never been in a movie.
  • Never been in a TV show.
  • No rumor or news for an upcoming anything.
  • Bonus Points: Never written about in a previous article here.

The random characters chosen by the universe to be featured are: Flexo, Seaweed Man, and Auctioneer

 

FLEXO

Flexo the Rubber Mans' first appearance was in an early Timely Comics’ publication, Mystic Comics #1 (1940). Contrary to the “Man” in his name, Flexo is actually a humanoid robot created by the scientists Joel and Joshua Williams to fight against Dr. Murdo and his evil plans to steal radioactive materials to create a death ray. With an appearance similar to a red-colored Michelin Tyre Man, Flexo’s composition is often referred to as “living rubber” that is filled with gas; one helps sell tires, the other fights crime.

For most of the Golden Age, the two scientists remotely controlled Flexo but was later given his own artificial intelligence in the comics of the Modern Age. With his newfound consciousness, Flexo would join in on the zombie fighting adventures of Howard the Duck’s “Ducky Dozen” team; in Marvel Zombies Destroy! #1 (2012). It’s almost a perfect match for his rubber-based.

Sales prices for Mystic Comics #1 are on the higher end; latest ones of note were: a CGC 1.8 sold for $960 in July 2019 and a 6.5 that sold for $5,800 in June.

 

 

SEAWEED MAN

With an appearance similar to the Swamp Thing, the villainous Seaweed Man made his first appearance half a decade earlier in Marvel Comics’ Tales to Astonish #71 (1965). In his introductory issue, Seaweed Man attacks Namor who has wandered into the Forbidden Sea in search of Neptune's Trident. With a combination of a flexible form, super strength, and the ability to shoot energy from his eyes, Seaweed Man is able to put up a formidable fight against Namor; so much so that Namor is even forced to flee.

Seaweed Man’s unstoppable strength is later displayed again in ROM #34 (1982), in which the Dire Wraiths unleash him on an attack of Atlantix. Perhaps on the small chance, all the MCU Namor rumors pan out to be true, perhaps there’s a tinier off-off chance that Seaweed Man gets a cameo; in the meantime, order up a nice sushi lunch and check out Tales to Astonish #71.

 

 

AUCTIONEER

As his name suggests, the Auctioneer is an alien who sells goods to the highest bidder, but with the added twist of those goods being priceless landmarks on the planets he visits and even their superheroes. The Auctioneer makes his first appearance in DC Comics’ Action Comics #841 (2006), in which he attacks Earth in an effort to take Alcatraz. Before long, Superman and other heroes fly in to stop his evil plans; but in an unfortunate twist, their appearance captures the interest of the Auctioneer. The Auctioneer sees his next big payday and decides to capture the various superheroes.

Of the first appearance key comics mentioned in this article, Action Comics #841 is perhaps the most affordable one. Raw copies of the book can be found for under the $5 level; mine as well get his entire story arc for a fun read.

 

 

 

“Old superheroes don’t just fade away. They grow old, useless - and very, very bitter!” - Blue Diamond

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