Masters of Disguise

As Boogerman begins, Professor Stinkbaum is creating a machine to save the world from pollution. When eccentric millionaire, Snotty Ragsdale, accidentally breaks the machine, a portal to another dimension is opened up and a mysterious arm emerges to steal the machine’s power source. Wasting no time, Ragsdale rushes to the restroom and emerges as the mighty Boogerman before entering the dimensional rift. Boogerman’s powers mostly consist of farting and flicking boogers. It sounds gross, but Boogerman was a product of his era. If advertisements from the mid ’90s are any indication, the industry was obsessed with farts and other bodily functions. It was only a matter of time before a character like Boogerman was created. Boogerman would go on to make a cameo appearance alongside Earthworm Jim in ClayFighter 64⅓.

Under the guise of Captain Rainbow, Nick stars in his very own TV show. In an effort to restore his lost popularity, Nick travels to a resort island where wishes are said to come true. Upon arriving on the island, Captain Rainbow spends most of his time helping others solve their problems. He’s armed with a powerful yo-yo, but his real power is his ability to form strong bonds of friendship with almost anyone. Whether he’s encouraging boxers to get into shape or helping address complex issues like gender identity, there is no problem that Captain Rainbow will run from. This sometimes causes problems for himself. On one occasion, he dives into the ocean to save a small animal. In the process, he temporarily loses the magic belt that allows him to transform. This selfless nature makes him an ideal superhero.

Most of the NES games released by Capcom in the ’80s were part of the “Captain Commando Challenge Series” and their manuals included special messages from the Captain himself. Captain Commando’s legacy was expanded in 1991 when he starred in his very own arcade game. A superhero who defends the world against a gang of super-powered criminals, the Captain’s mind and body are amplified significantly by his power suit. His “Captain Goggles” can help identify criminals, “Captain Boots” allow him to fall from great heights, and the “Captain Gauntlet” increases his strength. The suit is made out of “Captanium” and allows him to withstand temperatures up to a trillion degrees! When it comes to offense, his “Captain Collider” creates powerful shockwaves whenever he punches the ground.

Konami Man has made appearances in over two dozen Konami games to date, often appearing as a power-up or making brief cameo appearances between stages. Incidentally, the vast majority of the game’s Konami Man has appeared in have been released exclusively in Japan. He made his first appearance in Road Fighter way back in 1984 where he would fly by the road as a means of congratulating players for not crashing. In 1988, Famicom owners were given a chance to take control of Konami Man when he starred in Konami Wai Wai World alongside other Konami characters like Simon Belmont and Goemon. Outside of Japan, Konami Man is perhaps best known for his appearance in Goonies II for the NES where he would restore your health. He’ll stop helping if you attack him, however. He’s a helpful guy, but he’s not a doormat!

City of Heroes is an MMORPG based around the superhero comic book genre. The Statesman is the signature hero of the game and the leader of a supergroup of heroes known as the Freedom Phalanx. He defended the country during World War I under his real name, Marcus Cole. In his efforts to find a cure for his potentially fatal exposure to Mustard gas, Cole found the “Fountain of Zeus” and gained superhuman powers and near-immortality. At this time, Pandora’s Box was opened and the number of superhumans in the world was increased dramatically as a result. Cole became the first costumed superhero and became known as the Statesman as he defended Paragon City from a ruthless overlord. The Statesman’s ideals and backstory might draw comparisons to Captain America, but his abilities are more in line with Superman.

Momo is a typical young woman with a propensity to kick really high. After she becomes Wonder Momo, she gains the ability to shoot energy waves and arms herself with a weaponized hula hoop. Wonder Momo was conceived as a parody, and much of its comedy was based off the fact that Momo’s underwear is visible when she jumps. In the event that nearby photographers manage to snap inappropriate pictures, Momo becomes stunned with embarrassment for a short period of time. Wonder Momo was first seen in a self-titled arcade game in 1987, but was largely forgotten for the better part of two decades. She eventually appeared in Namco x Capcom. She also appeared in various states of undress in Queen’s Gate: Spiral Chaos. She has since gone on to star in her own comic strip, anime, and mobile game.

Saburo Nishikoyama was a salesman who was down on his luck. Looking for a way to impress his superiors, he volunteered to dress up like a superhero and perform at a carnival. When he earned the adoration of the attendees, Saburo decided to ditch his day job and pursue the life of a crime-fighting vigilante. Street Fighter EX 2 altered his story and painted him as an army defector from an unknown nation, but the Japanese businessman angle is a lot more compelling. In either regard, Skullomania’s design was inspired by the Japanese superhero Kamen Rider. He also seems to draw inspiration from real-life luchador, La Parka. The Street Fighter EX games are generally considered to be secondary to the main series, but Skullomania has become a fan favorite in the Street Fighter community due to his erratic style and goofy nature.

Cole’s origin story is like something straight out of a comic book. While working as a bike messenger, Cole finds himself in the epicenter of an explosion that devastates several city blocks. The city is thrust into chaos, but Cole emerges with super powers. He can shoot lighting out of his hands, create electromagnetic shockwaves, or turn his arms into giant energy swords. He can even manipulate the residual neuro-electric energy from his fallen opponents in order to view their last memories! The superhero motif is further reinforced by cutscenes that play out like panels from a comic book. As Cole comes to terms with his new abilities, he is supported by the usual suspects of supporting characters. His powers can be used to restore some semblance of order to the city, but he also has the option to use his powers for evil.

The Wonderful 101 centers around a large team of superheroes, but Wonder-Red is the leader of the group. With the help of his teammates, he is able to slow down time, freeze enemies in place, and attack with an assortment of outrageous weapons. Wonder-Red is inexperienced and a little bit stubborn, but he’s a natural leader and his heart’s in the right place. Also known as the Crimson Fist, Wonder Red is known for his incredible strength. Whether he’s ripping doors off airplanes, pounding his enemies into oblivion, or casually throwing fireballs, his hands are effective tools of destruction. Although Wonder-Red secretly enjoys the popularity his superhero persona receives, he truly believes that the children are the future and spends his days as a mild-mannered school teacher named Will Wedgewood.

Viewtiful Joe stars a regular joe (named Joe) who is pulled into the film world. After meeting an aged super hero, Joe gains the ability to transform into Viewtiful Joe and set off to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend. Viewtiful Joe’s colorful design was heavily inspired by costumed tokusatsu heroes that were popular in Japan during the 1970s, and his “Viewtiful Effects Powers” are largely based around filmmaking and camera effects. He has the ability to control the flow of time and can also zoom into scenes in order to get a clearer picture. These powers effectively give Joe the ability to evade enemy attacks or dazzle his opponents with incredible combo attacks. Viewtiful Joe’s powers were only intended to work in the film world, but they can also be activated if he’s in front of an audience or if he has a camcorder pointed at him. Henshin-a-go-go, baby!