Captain Barbell
Encyclopedia
Captain Barbell is a fictional Filipino
superhero
created by writer Mars Ravelo
and artist Jim Fernandez. He first appeared in Pinoy Komiks #5 (1963).
), Mars Ravelo
based the good Captain's look on circus strongmen, but with the addition of a mask. Since the original Enteng's look was a really thin guy in a tank top (emphasizing his bony features), it was decided that Captain Barbell's "shirtless circus strongman" look could provide a much more dramatic contrast to his mortal persona. Recent comics depicted him wearing a long-sleeved yellow shirt instead of being shirtless. Captain Barbel is, obviously, created after the DC character, Captain Marvel (Shazam).
in the 2006 TV series, Captain Barbell is shown to have a weakness: Exposure to the element Askobar.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
created by writer Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo was a Filipino graphic novelist who created the characters Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino, Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony, and Dragonna among others.-Biography:Mars...
and artist Jim Fernandez. He first appeared in Pinoy Komiks #5 (1963).
Character history
The original version of Captain Barbell depicted him as shirtless because during the more whimsical comics age in the Philippines that occurred in the 1960s, (Silver AgeSilver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
), Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo was a Filipino graphic novelist who created the characters Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino, Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony, and Dragonna among others.-Biography:Mars...
based the good Captain's look on circus strongmen, but with the addition of a mask. Since the original Enteng's look was a really thin guy in a tank top (emphasizing his bony features), it was decided that Captain Barbell's "shirtless circus strongman" look could provide a much more dramatic contrast to his mortal persona. Recent comics depicted him wearing a long-sleeved yellow shirt instead of being shirtless. Captain Barbel is, obviously, created after the DC character, Captain Marvel (Shazam).
In other media
- Early film versions of Captain Barbell made several excursions onto the big screen. Bob Soler apparently was the first to portray the Captain. Then, according to 'Bembot', DolphyDolphyRodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr. , known by his screen name Dolphy, is a Filipino comedian-actor in the Philippines. He has appeared in a number of works on stage, radio, television and movies.-Biography:Dolphy was born on P. Herrera St...
also starred in the role in another Captain Barbell movie in the early sixties1960sThe 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
, filmed in black-and-white. His alter ego was called Ting-ting because he was so thin. Ting-ting is the rib of a coconut leaf which is used to make brooms.
- In 1986, Edu ManzanoEdu Manzano-Television:*Unang Hirit *Family Feud: The Showdown Edition *Asar Talo Lahat Panalo! *Pilipinas Game Ka na Ba? *1 Vs...
played the title character in Captain Barbell (commonly misspelled as Captain Barbel), made by Viva FilmsVIVA FilmsViva Films is a Filipino film production company which started in 1981. This company is part of the Viva Entertainment Group.-Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion loveteam:...
. It was notable because it was the only movie that showed a crossover team-up between Captain Barbell and DarnaDarnaDarna is a fictional character and Filipino comics superheroine created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. In her more popular incarnations, she is a deceased warrior from another planet manifesting herself through a girl from Earth, named Narda...
. The alter ego was portrayed by Herbert BautistaHerbert BautistaHerbert Constantine Maclang Bautista is a Filipino actor and politician. He is the mayor of the same city winning by a landslide in May 2010. He won a landslide in his 2007 vice-mayoral reelection bid...
, while Sharon CunetaSharon CunetaSharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, better known as Sharon Cuneta, is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed as Megastar of Philippine Entertainment, fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry....
portrayed Darna in the film. This film was a major hit among Filipino kids back in 1986; it was shown a few months after the 1986 EDSA Revolution1986 EDSA RevolutionThe People Power Revolution was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines that occurred in 1983-86. The methods used amounted to a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud...
.
- Bong RevillaBong RevillaRamon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. , is a Filipino actor, politician and senator of the Republic of the Philippines. In 2009, he legally changed his last name to Bong Revilla....
played the title character in the 2003 film Captain Barbell, making him the first actor to have played both Barbell and PandayPanday (fictional character)The Panday , whose real name is Flavio, is a fictional Philippine comics character created by writer Carlo J. Caparas and artist Steve Gan. His adventures were serialized in the series Ang Panday in Filipino Komiks in the 1970s...
. In the movie, the alter-ego of Capt. Barbell is named Enteng (played by Ogie AlcasidOgie AlcasidHerminio Jhay Alcasid, Jr., more popularly known as Ogie "Eric Ordoñez" Alcasid , is a Filipino singer, songwriter, composer, television presenter, comedian, parodist, actor, and entrepreneur.-Recording career:...
).
- Richard GutierrezRichard GutiérrezRichard Kristian Rama Gutierrez, popularly known as Richard Gutierrez , is a television actor and commercial model who works in Filipino productions.-Biography:Gutierrez is the son of Eduardo P...
portrayed a different, modern version of Captain Barbell (whose human identity is Teng), in the 2006 TV series Captain BarbellCaptain Barbell (TV series)Captain Barbell is a superhero drama television series based on a character of the same name created by Mars Ravelo. It was aired on Philippine television by GMA Network during weeknights on its primetime block. The series premiered on May 29, 2006, and last aired on January 12, 2007...
. It is the first series in which both the alter ego and the superhero are portrayed by the same actor, making Richard the second actor to do so after comedy king Dolphy. The TV series was remade in 2011 with Richard being the same Captain Barbell, not as a young boy but rather as a man. His wife, Leah (Rhian RamosRhian RamosRhian Denise Ramos Howell, who is better known by her stage name Rhian Ramos , is a Filipina actress, commercial model and singer.-Biography:...
) died and the main plot involves the sudden appearance of the superhero (the five-year time gap between the two series suggests a disappearance of Captain Barbell, probably to attend to his new wife back then).
Plot
In every version of the story, major changes in the story plot are applied, but the core story remains the same. Enteng, a poor, wimpy and skinny but kindhearted boy always gets bullied by other people because he is undersized and easy to pick on. He tries to practice weight training and exercise to improve his physique, but his poor status prevents him to do it properly. He ends up buying (or finding in other versions) an old, secondhand and rusty barbell for him to practice on. He later discovers that the Barbell contains hidden powers, when he lifts it in one hand and shouts the name "Captain Barbell", he transforms to Captain Barbell, a superhero possessing invulnerability, super strength, x-ray vision, incredible speed and the power of flight. With his newfound powers, he fights evil forces and protects the weak and helpless.in the 2006 TV series, Captain Barbell is shown to have a weakness: Exposure to the element Askobar.
External links
- http://internationalhero.co.uk/k/kapbarbl.htm - International Hero entry on Captain Barbell