Not all heroes wear capes and masks. Some heroes wear firemen uniforms, some wear police uniforms. And this one, well, this one drives a taxi. In space. This week's Z-Lister is DC Comic's Space Cabbie.
Space Cabbie was created by Otto Binder and Howard Sherman in 1954's "Mystery in Space #21". Though he has no civilian name, Space Cabbie is presumably human or human-like due to his physiology. We know that he lives in 22nd Century and he grew up on Ghengkis VII around militaristic tyrants. During "The Bored Wars" of the year 2146, Cabbie served as a fighter pilot and presented excellent navigation and driving abilities. He was a laborer and pilot for hire after the war, but eventually found his place working for 9-Planet Taxi where he was given Driving Cab #7433 and became known as Space Cabbie, determined to get anyone to anywhere at anytime.
Many of Space Cabbie's appearances have him serve as a narrator detailing his past adventures to his customers over the course of their trip. Such tales include the time his cab was stolen, the time he was tricked into delivering a bomb, and the time he met an exact duplicate of himself. The latter story was actually followed up by a tale where he meets two duplicates.
In one adventure Space Cabbie is forced to work with DC's favorite bounty hunter Lobo who commandeers Cabbie's cab. Lobo shoves Cabbie out of the cab and Cabbie is arrested by interstellar police for being an accessory to Lobo's crimes. Luckily, Lobo shows gratitude for Cabbie's "help" and rescues Cabbie before he can get locked in jail and reunites him with his cab. When Cabbie is brought to space court (it's like Court, but in space) he is asked why he-a character from the 22nd Century-is in the 21st Century. Cabbie claims he took a second job in the 21st Century to make some extra cash.
Space Cabbie has popped up now and again, sometimes being a convenient aid to other DC Comics characters who need to get across the universe in a hurry. The character will be seeing a resurgence this Fall with DC's newest cartoon "Justice League Action" where he'll be voiced by one of my favorite comedians Patton Oswalt. Hopefully this cartoon appearance will bring Cabbie back. I'd like seeing his backstory expanded and maybe some more importance in the DCU. I mean, what if Green Lantern doesn't have enough juice to get from Oa to Earth, right? What if Superman is flying by a Red Sun and could use a lift? Space is a big place and at least having one interstellar driver ready to give you a hand makes the DC Universe feel a lot brighter. It makes him an element of DC just like The Emotional Spectrum or The Speed Force. He reminds me of a blue-collar Doctor Who. The presence of Space Cabbie gives the DCU more personality. And with most stories from DC being about an orphaned grown man dramatically growling while his gaggle of adopted kids try to remind him he's not a loner, I think DC Comics could use more personality.
Thanks for reading!
Would you ask Space Cabbie for a lift? And where to? Comment below!
Many of Space Cabbie's appearances have him serve as a narrator detailing his past adventures to his customers over the course of their trip. Such tales include the time his cab was stolen, the time he was tricked into delivering a bomb, and the time he met an exact duplicate of himself. The latter story was actually followed up by a tale where he meets two duplicates.
In one adventure Space Cabbie is forced to work with DC's favorite bounty hunter Lobo who commandeers Cabbie's cab. Lobo shoves Cabbie out of the cab and Cabbie is arrested by interstellar police for being an accessory to Lobo's crimes. Luckily, Lobo shows gratitude for Cabbie's "help" and rescues Cabbie before he can get locked in jail and reunites him with his cab. When Cabbie is brought to space court (it's like Court, but in space) he is asked why he-a character from the 22nd Century-is in the 21st Century. Cabbie claims he took a second job in the 21st Century to make some extra cash.
Space Cabbie has popped up now and again, sometimes being a convenient aid to other DC Comics characters who need to get across the universe in a hurry. The character will be seeing a resurgence this Fall with DC's newest cartoon "Justice League Action" where he'll be voiced by one of my favorite comedians Patton Oswalt. Hopefully this cartoon appearance will bring Cabbie back. I'd like seeing his backstory expanded and maybe some more importance in the DCU. I mean, what if Green Lantern doesn't have enough juice to get from Oa to Earth, right? What if Superman is flying by a Red Sun and could use a lift? Space is a big place and at least having one interstellar driver ready to give you a hand makes the DC Universe feel a lot brighter. It makes him an element of DC just like The Emotional Spectrum or The Speed Force. He reminds me of a blue-collar Doctor Who. The presence of Space Cabbie gives the DCU more personality. And with most stories from DC being about an orphaned grown man dramatically growling while his gaggle of adopted kids try to remind him he's not a loner, I think DC Comics could use more personality.
Thanks for reading!
Would you ask Space Cabbie for a lift? And where to? Comment below!
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