Tag: Reverb

JLA #39 featured the return of Paco Ramone, Vibe, as a Black Lantern. He was distinguished by being the first serving biological (non-android) Justice Leaguer to die whilst a member of the group (Barry Allen wasn’t a member when he died). He’s one of those characters who really divides the fans. There are people who genuinely like the cheesiness of a break-dancing superhero, but there are many more who hate the clichéd Hispanic stereotype.

One of the hooks for the character was that he was the local superhero in the district where the Justice League choose to make their headquarters – foreshadowing the Parisian Crimson Fox in Justice League Europe. Vibe’s link to his neighbourhood gave the Detroit League an instant supporting cast. For me, Vibe lost a lot of his interest as a character when he was removed from that neighbourhood. What I find interested is that Vibe was aware of his League’s inadequacies and was increasingly critical of it in the months before his death.

Stats

• Codename: Vibe
• Alter Ego: Paco Ramone
• Occupation: Gang member, crime fighter
• Known Relatives: Armando Ramone (brother, the hero Reverb/Hardline), Rosita “Rosa” Ramone (sister), unnamed mother, father, step-father, and younger siblings (two brothers, two sisters).
• Base of Operations: Cameron Street, Detroit, later New York City.

Continue reading →