Why You Should Care is a feature at CraveOnline Comics that hopes to enlighten you on some characters that are damn cool, but under-utilized or long dormant. Sometimes they may be making a comeback in the monthly titles or have a new interpretation appearing soon, but more often than not, this is just us imploring you to dig through the back-issues at your local comic shop and seek out some new characters and stories that you might not have been aware of previously.
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After writing my review of Phantom Stranger #42 and discussing the lack of Ragman, I got to thinking about how freaking awesome the character is, and decided to shove my opinions down your throats and get you to fall in line.
In all seriousness, Ragman is a great character that has flown under the radar for much too long, and it's high time he got his spotlight. As I'm in a fair position to do so, I thought I'd give him an assist.
First Appearance: Ragman #1, August-September 1976
In all seriousness, Ragman is a great character that has flown under the radar for much too long, and it's high time he got his spotlight. As I'm in a fair position to do so, I thought I'd give him an assist.
First Appearance: Ragman #1, August-September 1976
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Real Name: Rory Regan
Created By: Joe Kubert and Robert Kanigher
Why You Should Care: There is perhaps no other character within the DC Universe that holds more untapped potential than Ragman. Residing in Gotham City, he's the city's other scary-looking-as-hell protector, though decidedly more laced in mysticism.
Things weren't always the bees knees however, as in his initial debut, an ongoing series that only lasted five issues, Ragman was little more than a glorified acrobat in a relatively cool costume. It wasn't until the 1991 mini-series Ragman that Rory Regan was transformed from menial vigilante to one of the most awesome concepts for a character in ages.
Rory's life was generally the same pre and post-Crisis on Infinite Earths, working in a shop called Rags'n'Tatters with his father and helping out the community. However, in Ragman (1991) we learn that Rory's costume holds the ability to absorb the souls of his defeated enemies. Each new soul adds a rag to the suit and is stored there, where Ragman can then draw upon the power of those souls for superstrength or speed.
The power of the suit does have its drawbacks, as Rory has spoken of the absorption process making him ill, or when the evil souls that Ragman absorbs lust for violence and murder.
It also stands to note that Ragman is one of the very few Jewish superheroes, and it was revealed during the shortlived Shadowpact monthly series (of which Ragman was a part), that the mystical cloak is an artifact that has been passed down the generations of Rory's family to assist in the redemption of souls. Working on Rory's behalf, the trapped souls of the Ragman costume can achieve forgiveness and proceed to the afterlife. Further than that, we also eventually learned that the cloak can take on other shapes, such as a sword, as well.
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Ragman represents the mystical and magical side of the DCU, much in the same vain as characters like The Spectre, but presents a more human twist on things. He's truly a fascinating character, it's just a shame that he hasn't got a foot hold on what is possible for him just yet.
Recommended Reading:
Ragman #1-8 (1991)
Ragman: Cry of the Dead #1-6
Day of Vengeance #1-6 & DoV Special
Shadowpact #1-25
