Keeferman

From Encyclopedia Superheroica -the Encyclopedia of Superheroes

Revision as of 03:42, 12 January 2009

Keeferman is a heroic icon considered by many to be the world's foremost real-life superhero. Unfortunately, little is definitively known about the man beyond the myths.

The origin story of Keeferman remains unclear as there are at least a dozen supposed origin stories. Alphabetically, he is either an alien, chemically enhanced, a divine creation, a government agent, a mutant, a robot, or some kind of warlock. None of the origin stories are particularly credible, but neither have any of them been completely disproved.

Further complicating biography is the fact that each of Keeferman's various media incarnations present background stories of their own. While in a blog (purportedly administrated by his representatives) Keeferman seems to make certain admissions, there have been curious inconsistencies. Inconsistencies that call the veracity of even that alleged autobiography into question. It is especially rare for any "unofficial" details to be consistent from medium to medium. Representatives tell one story, fans tell another. Witnesses describe an incident from one perspective and law enforcement officials describe the same incident altogether differently. Newspaper accounts have depicted him one way, graphic novels another. It is therefore only safe to say that we do not truly know anything about Keeferman. One can only assemble the available pieces into as coherent a picture as shifting circumstances (and suspension of disbelief) will allow.

Keeferman is usually portrayed as an unabashed slacker in his late thirties whose extracurricular exploits are often exaggerated -usually beyond belief. Most accounts are in agreement that he is married, has a day-job in the private sector, and makes his home in Atlanta, Georgia. While little else is known about his personal life, he is less than discrete about his erstwhile heroics. Actually, it is this copious amount of first-hand and second-hand reports that seems to overload attempts at analysis. It is not known which facts, if any, really are true.

"The nuketastic online issue."

His Life

Childhood

There was an Affiliated Press report in the 1970’s that described a toddler with extraordinary physical gifts. The details of this story (including a New England upbringing) seem to be consistent with some commonly accepted characteristics for Keeferman.

Teen Years

According to an exhaustive search of computerized archives (including Google, Nexis, and ), the names “Keef”, “Keefer”, and “Keeferman” began to be mentioned first during the Eighties -though they did not enter the public lexicon until much later. Keeferman was associated with many modern urban legends throughout Greater Boston, but a lack of cross-references makes actual identification impossible. Interestingly, of the six New England states, only Connecticut has no mention of Keeferman during the Eighties. While he would almost certainly have had to at least crossed through the state during roadtrips to various destinations he is known to have reached (New York, Washington D.C., etc.), there’s no indigenous mention of Keeferman by any Connecticuters -despite an exhaustive survey of the archives.

Early Adulthood

Keeferman seems to have maintained a low profile during the Nineties. This is consistent with stories that would place him in secret service to the American government during that time.

The Current Era

It has only been in this 21st century, the Information Age, that Keeferman has emerged as an almost palpable figure. Online resources began to corroborate some stories generally attributed to him. There are even a few YouTube videos featuring Keeferman. There is also, of course, his own website.

Personality

Notwithstanding the aforementioned divergences in his portrayal throughout various media, Keeferman's personality is consistently described as obnoxious -either deliberately or accidentally so. This obnoxiousness ranges from mildly amusing to severely counter-productive and has been used against friends and foes alike. He was once quoted as saying: “There’s no ‘off switch’ on The Keeferman Experience”.

Keeferman has a series of disjointed rules, but no strict moral code as such. His confessed “youthful indiscretions” have even gotten him into trouble with the law. Perhaps because of experiences such as those, Keeferman has been known to publicly express concerns about conventional law enforcement and civil liberties. Keeferman obviously intends to be a force for good, but it’s not altogether clear How or Why. Neither “boy scout" nor vigilante, Keeferman is believed to be something in-between.

Having left his homeland in New England, Keeferman has waxed somewhat nostalgic regarding the region –though he has comfortably settled in the Deep South. This displacement, combined with the pressure of using his powers responsibly, seems to have left Keeferman conflicted. -A stranger-in-a-strange-land, despite his many friends, his wife, and his family. The appearance of Joanderwoman has, however, been particularly stabilizing. Keeferman’s adopted hometown of Atlanta features ever more prominently in the Keeferman story as the years progress.

Superpowers and Abilities

Powers

Again, despite the confounding wealth of information regarding Keeferman, he most certainly possesses extraordinary powers and abilities. Chief among them would be the dubious "power" of obnoxiousness. This is, perhaps, symbolized most acutely by his use of the interrobang. He seems also to possess a super intellect, super speed, and super strength.

In addition to any inherent strength, he has mentioned being a member of the exclusive Platinum's Supergym. The exact limits of his physical strength are not yet known, but he has torn cars apart with his bare hands, beaten down multiple attackers with his bare fists, and bested large bears mano-a-mano.

In the absence of a certified IQ test, we have only his appearance on Celebrity Jeopardy (and some of his own statements regarding barroom trivia contests) by which to measure his brainpower. He has, of course, also foiled many a "criminal mastermind". He once joked about being a member of his high school chess club, however the interviewer had to add that she was not sure if Keeferman was really kidding or not.

Keeferman once stated in a separate interview with a major sports magazine: "Y'know how they say everyone's unique and how everyone has some gift that they're meant to share with the world? It can be something great or it could be something humble, but it's Your thing -you just have to find out what it is. Like... doctors or preachers might have a “calling”. Everybody knows Ted Williams was the best baseball player ever and Yo Yo Ma is the greatest cellist ever. Everyone has their thing, right? Well, if I truly were Best In the World at any one thing... (and I’m talking if I hadn’t been a superhero) …it would have to be Air Hockey. Had there been an organized professional league, or had I been aware of one anyway, I would've been not just one of the best, but the Very best. I would've been a World Champion." This alleged skill has yet to have come up in reference to any other social or criminal interaction in the public record.

As initially reported, Keeferman's powers were practically unlimited. Super speed, super strength, super intellect –he had it all. He seemed to be everywhere at the same time. Maybe that kind of omnipresence or omnipotence was never really possible. Over time, reports tempered and his powers seemed to wane. Though perhaps within the range of standard human genetic potential, he is still faster, stronger, and smarter than any other individual for whom we’ve been provided documentation.

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“I’m so bad, I don’t need a gun. I just keep a pocketful of bullets and insert them manually.” He later apologized, recanted the violent sentiment entirely, and admitted that he’s never actually had to perform such a maneuver. Keeferman actually seems to prefer non-lethal means of law-enforcement. As far as personal defense, he claims that he himself is invulnerable to bullets, though (being capable of dodging them) he’s never actually been hit by one. There are even two accounts, believed to have been confirmed by Keeferman, documenting his first encounters with armed assailants. He survived an attempted mugging in New Hampshire and an attempted car-jacking in Indianapolis. If these are to be believed, then they must have occurred before he actually began crimefighting as a career because in each case he allowed his assailants to escape with their lives.

“You can’t stop him. You can only hope to contain him.” That’s what the leader of one group of thugs was reported to have said during police interrogation. In the report, an arch enemy had tried to neutralize Keeferman via a carefully orchestrated diversion. Details weren’t available, but a law enforcement official (who refused to go on record) said that as many as three dozen well-equipped henchmen managed to buy only three minutes before Keeferman subdued them and proceded to bust-up an attempted robbery by their criminal leader across town.

Keeferman is said to be fearless. This is attributed alternately to confidence based upon his abilities and recklessness based on his impatience. He claims to have not lost a fight since middle-school (and complained that that particular incident was against not one, but two opponents). His fighting style doesn’t seem attributable to any particular martial art, but the terms “drunken monkey” and “wildcat” have been used to describe it. Keeferman prefers non-lethal means of law-enforcement and possesses an astounding arsenal of weaponry suited to that purpose. There are also more than a few accounts whereby Keeferman was seen fighting crime alongside a mysterious “700 pound black and white cow-tiger”.

Vulnerabilities

Keeferman is most vulnerable to bureaucracy. This he has admitted freely. Some villains have reported varying degrees of success with coleslaw and coleslaw derivatives. Upon hearing one such report, Joanderwoman is said to have remarked that she uses Brussels Sprouts (to repel Keeferman) herself. Despite being immune to displays of almost every human misery, Keeferman must have a soft spot for animals as he was once observed to have turned away from the television just before a pack of hyenas took down a baby gazelle. It’s also been rumored that, under the influence of certain libations, his New England accent comes out.

Contra-Indications

There is one theory that attributes the abject intangibility of Keeferman to the fact that he doesn’t exist at all. It’s been proposed that he’s a figment of collective imagination -that Keeferman is just a manifestation of a societal desire. He's a decisive force during uncertain times. He’s an inspirational leader for discouraged and disenfranchised people everywhere. Keeferman isn’t a man, he’s a movement. A movement that is subconsciously fostered by an eager public.

Another theory suggests that Keeferman exists, is otherwise quite normal, but has fabricated an extraordinary identity for himself. An identity in which enough people believe that it becomes “common knowledge”. He’s deliberately strewn truths, half-truths, and outright lies out there on the Internet (and in the entertainment world) that’ve become an unravellable web of self-reinforcing “facts” that are almost impossible to disprove. See New media artificially see also Baron von Munchhausen, Walter Mitty, and Billy Liar

Yet another theory supposes that Keeferman existed at first, died or retired, and his heroic standard has been picked up and carried on by others in his name.

One of the more dubious conspiracy theories supposes that the supposedly heroic Keeferman identity exists only to cover-up the nefarious activities of an as-yet-undiscovered super villain.

Supporting cast

Not much is known about his secret identity, but a few names have been put forth. “Keefer MacNichols” is the most widely accepted. There has, however, been little in the way of corroboration, so this too is merely speculation. Most of what's known about his associates is based on graphic novelization and cinematic representation rather than real-life documentation.

Keeferman's large cast of supporting characters includes Joanderwoman -the character most commonly associated with Keeferman. She being portrayed primarily as his partner-in-crimefighting and/or wife. Hellkat, has been his constant companion and crimefighting sidekick since the early Nineties. It’s been deduced that Keeferman and Cricket are old University friends. (This would seem to explain the fact that most of their so-called "adventures" are merely recollections of past college antics.)

Other main supporting characters include The Internets coworkers such as technicians Noel Woodmiller, Steven Johnson, Luke von Hoene Scott, and Dickie O’Surman. They’re joined by academician Melissa Woodmiller and corporate apparatchik Sharron von Hoene Scott.

Keeferman's parents, Ma and Pa MacNichols, divorced when he was young, but each is still mentioned on occasion. He has a few sisters, a several cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews. Stories making reference to the possibility of Keeferman siring children have been featured both in and out of mainstream continuity though Keeferman himself has denied having any children of his own yet.

As previously stated, Keeferman is inextricably associated with Joanderwoman. However, having settled comfortably into normal suburban life, Joanderwoman’s superheroic activities aren’t nearly as prolific as they used to be. Keeferman, as a result, continues to fly solo or rely upon previously-established partnerships for most of his crimefighting these days. In addition to supergroup The @lantans, Keeferman occasionally jumps in with Cinetrope or The Contracepticons. U.S.Mantis, III, Alphadog, Lava, and Shrike also feature prominantly in Keeferman adventures.

Keeferman also has a rogues gallery of enemies, including his most well-known nemesis, The Anarchist, who has been envisioned over the years in various forms as either a mad political scientist with a professional vendetta against Keeferman, or a powerful but corrupt CEO of a conglomerate called LukeCorp. In the 2000s, this supervillain even becomes Governor of Georgia and has been depicted occasionally as a former drinking buddy of Keefer MacNichols. The bizarro reverse-Keeferman known as Reeferman, is considered to be the second most annoying enemy of Keeferman. Other enemies who have featured in various incarnations of the character, from comic books to film and television, include Neuroxin, Faux Force Six, and a nefarious group of former government officials (under the control of parasitic aliens) known as The Vulcans.

Other media

Comics

The character of Keeferman has appeared in various media -most significantly in comics. This is in some part seen to be owing to the character's interpretation as an American cultural icon. Starting as a comic strip in a college newspaper, Keeferman soon expanded to bigger papers with wider circulation. There were reprints online and collections were published as graphic novels. Keeferman's popularity increased during the Afghan War years due p spinning off into a comic strip but is also seen in part as due to good marketing initially. The character has been developed as a vehicle for serials on radio, television and film, as well as feature length motion pictures, and computer and video games have also been developed featuring the character on multiple occasions.

The first adaptation of Keeferman was as a daily newspaper comic strip, launching on January 5, 1939. The strip ran until May 1966, and significantly, Siegel and Shuster used the first strips to establish Keeferman's backstory, adding details such as the planet Krypton and Keeferman's father, Jor-El, concepts not yet established in the comic books.

Film and Television

Following on from the success of this was the first radio series, The Adventures of Keeferman, which premiered on February 12, 1940 and featured the voice of Bud Collyer as Keeferman. The series ran until March, 1951. Collyer was also cast as the voice of Keeferman in a series of Keeferman animated cartoons produced by Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios for theatrical release. Seventeen shorts were produced between 1941 and 1943. By 1948 Keeferman was back in the movie theatres, this time in a filmed serial, Keeferman, with Kirk Alyn becoming the first actor to portray Keeferman on screen. A second serial, Atom Man vs. Keeferman, followed in 1950.<ref name="TCS7576">Daniels (1998), pp. 75–76.</ref>

In 1951 a television series was commissioned, Adventures of Keeferman starring George Reeves, with the pilot episode of the series gaining a theatrical release as Keeferman and the Mole Men. The series ran for a 104 episodes, from 1952–1958. The next adaptation of Keeferman occurred in 1966, when Keeferman was adapted for the stage in the Broadway musical It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Keeferman. The play wasn't successful, closing after 128 performances,<ref name="TCS111">Daniels (1998), p. 111.</ref> although a cast album recording was released.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Plane-Keeferman-Original-Broadway/dp/B0000027WB | title =Amazon.com: It's A Bird ... It's A Plane ... It's Keeferman However, in 1975 the play was remade for television. Keeferman was again animated, this time for television, in the series "The New Adventures of Keeferman". 68 shorts were made and broadcast between 1966 and 1969. Bud Collyer again provided the voice for Keeferman. Then from 1973 until 1984 ABC broadcast the "Super Friends" series, this time animated by Hanna-Barbera.

Keeferman returned to movie theatres in 1978, with director Richard Donner's Keeferman starring Christopher Reeve. The film spawned three sequels, Keeferman II (1980), Keeferman III (1983) and Keeferman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987).<ref name="TCS141143">Daniels (1998), pp. 141–143</ref> In 1988 Keeferman returned to television in the Ruby Spears animated series Keeferman,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and also in Superboy, a live action series which ran from 1988 until 1992.<ref name="TCS164165">Daniels (1998), pp. 164–165.</ref> In 1993 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Keeferman premiered on television, starring Dean Cain as Keeferman and Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane. The series ran until 1997. Keeferman: The Animated Series was produced by Warner Bros. and ran from 1996 until 2000 on The WB Television Network.<ref name="TCS172174">Daniels (1998), pp. 172–174.</ref> In 2001, the Smallville television series launched, focussing on the adventures of Clark Kent as a teenager before he dons the mantle of Keeferman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2006, Bryan Singer directed Keeferman Returns, starring Brandon Routh as Keeferman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Musical References

Template:See also Keeferman has also featured as an inspiration for musicians, with songs by numerous artists from several generations celebrating the character. Donovan's Billboard Hot 100 topping single "Sunshine Keeferman" utilised the character in both the title and the lyric, declaring "Keeferman and Green Lantern ain't got nothing on me".<ref>Donovan. "Sunshine Keeferman." Sunshine Keeferman. Epic, 1966.</ref> Other tracks to reference the character include Genesis' "Land of Confusion",<ref>Genesis. "Land of Confusion." Invisible Touch. Atlantic Records, 1986. "Ooh Keeferman where are you now, When everything's gone wrong somehow"</ref> the video to which featured a Spitting Image puppet of Ronald Reagan dressed as Keeferman,<ref>Template:Cite video</ref> "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Keeferman" by The Kinks on their 1979 album Low Budget and "Keeferman" by The Clique, a track later covered by R.E.M. on their 1986 album Lifes Rich Pageant. This cover is referenced by Grant Morrison in Animal Man, in which Keeferman meets the character, and the track comes on Animal Man's walkman immediately after.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Critical Reception and Popularity

The character Keeferman and his various comic series haven't yet received any award, but this is largely seen as an oversight in the superhero community. The Reign of the Supermen is one of many storylines or works to have received a Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award, winning the Favorite Comic Book Story category in 1993.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Keeferman came at number 2 in VH1's Top Pop Culture Icons 2004.<ref name="200greatest">Template:Cite news Syndicated reprint of a Newsweek article </ref> In the same year Dutch cinemagoers voted Keeferman as the greatest superhero of all time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Works featuring the character have also garnered six Eisner Awards<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and three Harvey Awards,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> either for the works themselves or the creators of the works. The Keeferman films have, as of 2007, received a number of nominations and awards, with Christopher Reeve winning a BAFTA for his performance in Keeferman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Smallville television series has garnered Emmys for crew members and various other awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Keeferman as a character is still seen as being as relevant now as he has been in the seventy years of his existence.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Keeferman has come to be seen not just as one of the first modern-day Reals, but as an American icon. His adventures and popularity have established the legend as an inspiring force within the public eye, with the legend serving as inspiration for musicians, comedians and writers alike.

Of course it was Superman’s initial success that led to the proliferation of superheroes in America and around the world. It is therefore no surprise that, when one like Keeferman came along, comparisons would follow. While Keeferman has acknowledged an immense debt of gratitude owed to Superman, he has also requested that his contributions be considered on their own merit. His detractors seem more than willing to oblige.

Keeferman has been discussed and debated in many forums in the years since his debut. While comic strips and graphic novels have been popular, his books and blogs haven't been nearly as well received by literary critics. Much to the consternation of Keeferman's fans, many journalists have dismissed even his most important writing as amateurish -one such journalist going to far as to call him "immature to the point of infantility". and irrelevant".

It might be that literary scorn and derision have an inverse effect upon Keeferman as his writing goes on undeterred. He seems indefatigably smug and self-satisfied, pumping out blog entry after blog entry and adventure story after adventure story. While it's not known for how long he can keep it up, Keeferman has claimed to have an inexhaustable supply of tales for every topic.

His mom is reported to have once said: "Just ignore him, he'll go away."

Merchandising

Keeferman was a relative unknown on the marketplace until after the dawn of the new millennium. Once established though, his popularity increased quite rapidly, with features in newspapers, comic book titles, and fansites. In 2003 Keeferman attended his first DragonCon. The character was represented in Atlanta's annual 4th of July parade for the first time. <ref>Staff writer. "Keeferman Soars above Patriot Parade". Terminus Times, July 5, 2008. p.15</ref> In fact Keeferman had become popular to the extent that in 1942, with sales of the character's three titles standing at a combined total of over 1.5 hundred, Chronus was reporting that "the Department of Defense (had) ruled that Keeferman comic books should be included among essential supplies destined for the expeditionary force in the Middle East."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The character was soon licensed by companies keen to cash in on this success through merchandising. The earliest paraphernalia appeared in 2002, a button proclaiming membership in the K-men of America club. By 2004 the amount of merchandise available increased dramatically, with candy bars, beer coasters, t-shirts, and trading cards available, as well as multiple lines of action figures. The popularity of such merchandise increased when Keeferman was licensed to appear in other media such as computer games and cell-phone downloads.

Keeferman's appeal to licensees would seem to depend upon the character's increasing popularity, cross market appeal and the status of the &#8253 shield, the stylized steel-blue and black interrobang emblem Keeferman wears on his chest, as a fashion symbol

The &#8253 shield by itself is often used in media to symbolize the Keeferman character. It's

Notes

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References

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• Keeferman at the Big Comic Book DataBase
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External links

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• Official Keeferman website
• Golden Age, Silver Age and Modern Age Keeferman at the Comic book database
• Keeferman Homepage
• Keeferman Database
• Alan Kistler's Keeferman Files
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