In PML there are many personalities and talents. It is amazing how so much can happen in a Madden Franchise league. Today, I will be starting my series with KingMike breaking down PML with DC Comics characters. I have a strong interest for DC Comics myself, and I feel like this is the proper way to bring those interests together in one. So, let’s go ahead and get this started.
AFC North
This division is full of guys who have their own personalities in PML. These guys have similarities to some DC Comics characters through their play style, reputation off the virtual field, and capabilities as a user in PML. In the AFC North, there are actually more villains than heroes. Some heroes can turn into villains and some villains can turn into heroes. Some have the ability to fly and go toe to toe with the strongest beings in the universe. While others have no superpowers at all. Some have the personality to fill seats for a stand-up comedy show. Others are having fun in their own universe. I present to you, the AFC North.
Ravens – Toyman
First Appearance: (Schott) Action Comics #64 (Nimball) Action Comics #432 (Okamura) Superman (vol. 2) #177 (September 1943)
Arch nemesis: Superman
Abilities: No real powers, mechanical genius, capable of building huge toys, can create deadly robotic weapons
Motives: Obsessed with wanting to kill Lex Luthor (owner of LexCorp). He was offered at a young age to work for LexCorp but declined the offer. A few weeks later his wife was killed. This is what has led to his vengeful obsession with Lex Luthor. He was defeated by Superman in his attempt to murder Lex Luthor, which then began his path into really becoming a supervillain.
Notable Moment(s): Superman and Batman once needed Toyman to stop a meteor full of kryptonite from striking the Earth. In this movie, Toyman was considered the only person in the world capable of building a robot large enough to destroy the meteor. His invention aided Superman and Batman in saving the entire planet. This version of Toyman was the 13-year-old one from the film Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.
Correlation: Toyman is always seen as some C list supervillain in DC Comics. This is mainly due to him not having powers and his archrival being one of the strongest members of the Justice League. Usually in DC Comics films, you see Toyman being used as the villain for the introduction that Superman or a hero from the Justice League puts back in prison with ease. However, Toyman can still be very dangerous from afar by having remote controlled robots or utilizing his intellect to aid other DC Comics characters. Similar to our Ravens user, he may not be the scariest opponent in PML but he can go toe-to-toe with the majority of PML. What separates Arod from a lot of others is his willingness to be better. He knows he may not be the best user in the league but he for sure wants to improve into being better. Similar to Toyman too, Arod minds his business and stays out of the way. He has his fun and doesn’t take Madden too seriously, he enjoys real life as he should. Toyman may not be the biggest threat in the DC Universe, but he doesn’t bother anyone and has fun building his toys.
Steelers – Captain Boomerang
First Appearance: The Flash #117 (December 1960)
Arch nemesis: Flash
Abilities: No real superpowers, mechanical genius, expert marksman, uses weaponized boomerangs, great combat skills
Motives: He immigrated from Australia to the United States, and he decided to use his talents to steal jewels. The problem was he ran into the Flash in Central City. He then developed a hatred for the Flash and started creating special boomerangs to give him a better chance of taking down his rival. The most common iteration of Captain Boomerang involves him joining the Suicide Squad where he completes tasks for Amanda Waller in return for reduced prison sentences.
Notable Moment(s): There are not many notable moments for this character because in today’s comics he is mostly a member of the Suicide Squad. However, there was a key moment in the passing of the torch. Digger Harkness (Captain Boomerang) was sent to kill Jack Drake, who was the father of Tim Drake (Robin). Harkness did not realize that Jack was warned of this and was able to defend himself in the assassination attempt. Both Jack and Digger died in this altercation. Owen Mercer, the son Harkness had originally abandoned, then decided to then take the mantle of Captain Boomerang.
Correlation: Captain Boomerang is one of the funniest villains in the DC Comics Universe. In his roles in the Suicide Squad films and games, he provides valuable skills to the team. At the same time, he is one of the goofiest members of the team. This is where he relates to Curt. One of the light-hearted personalities of PML is Curt. It seems that no one really takes him seriously, and he doesn’t even take himself seriously. He gives PML a breath of fresh air which is needed with how toxic everything is. Do not get it twisted though, Curt can win a game and throw for 400 yards in the blink of an eye. Captain Boomerang may be goofy, but if you get too comfortable around him he can send an exploding boomerang right at your head.
Browns – Darkseid
First Appearance: Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 (December 1970)
Arch nemesis: Superman, Justice League
Abilities: super strength, invulnerability, genius-level intellect, combat strategy, alien technology, teleportation, energy blasts
Motives: He simply seeks the Anti-Life Equation which is a formula that controls the minds of all sentient beings and could give him the chance to control all of sentient life throughout the universe and beyond.
Notable Moment(s): Darkseid has a few notable feats. He is a God and his power levels are on par with those of Superman. He’s killed Zeus, who is Wonder Woman’s father. He has consumed a universe. He can go toe to toe with the Anti Monitor, who is one of the top 5 most powerful beings in the DC Universe.
Correlation: When you think of domination in the DC Universe, you think of Darkseid. When you think of domination in PML, you think of KMFO. Darkseid is one of the most feared villains in all of DC Comics. He is so strong is more commonly regarded as a rival of the Justice League rather than just Superman. Darkseid can defeat the majority of the DC Universe on his own and it takes a team effort to really take this man down. KMFO is one of or if not the most dominant user we have ever seen in PML. He has won countless Super Bowls consecutively and has had multiple seasons without one loss. Like Darkseid, KMFO wants to dominate and that is the main goal he has in mind. These two will stop at nothing to make sure they remain at the top of the food chain. They take their work seriously.
Bengals – Blue Beetle
First Appearance: Mystery Men Comics No. 1 (1939)
Arch nemesis: Carapax, Metahuman criminals
Abilities: alien technology, durability, flight, super strength, instant weaponry, combat skill
Motives: He unintentionally inherited an alien technology called a Scarab, which infused with his body and mind giving him superpowers. He values family and protecting others. His powers naturally gave him the ability to become a superhero. There are 3 men who have taken on the Blue Beetle mantle. The strongest and most recent one being Jaime Reyes.
Notable Moment(s): Even though Robin doesn’t have any superpowers he is one of the most intelligent members of the Teen Titans. Not to mention that Damian Wayne (Robin) is the son of Batman. In Robin’s first encounter with the Blue Beetle he nearly got killed in minutes. This goes to show how strong the Scarab and Blue Beetle is. Blue Beetle has also defended himself against a nuclear bomb. He survived a sneak attack from Guy Gardner (Green Lantern Corps Member). He has also survived falling from orbit.
Correlation: There was not much to work with since our Bengals user is new. I’ve had the chance of playing him once in a tryout game. He goes by the name of S1LENT. I’ve used this to come up with his DC counterpart. Bleu Beetle has been around since the 1900s, but he is still regarded as one of the new characters in DC Comics. The 3rdBlue Beetle, Jaime Reyes, did not make his first appearance until 2005. This is pretty new for a DC Comics character. He does not have as much stardom as the others, and we are still learning more about him. Blue Beetle got its first lead film ever as a character last year. So similar to Blue Beetle, S1LENT is a new user we do not know much about and we are still analyzing. He has a strong team around him so he has a chance to be one of the competitive users in PML, and he seems pretty serious about Madden since he is in 9 leagues. Blue Beetle may be new, but he is certainly powerful at times.
Now that is the AFC North. We have one of the strongest characters in all of the universe residing in here with some of the weakest. There’s a sprinkle of some new characters in here too. It may be hard to hang with Darkseid, but do not get it twisted any of these guys can compete at the end of the day. Let’s see who is the last man standing at the end of the DC Universe.
