NFL SuperPro
| NFL SuperPro | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | 1991 - 1992 |
| No. of issues | 12 + 1 Special |
| Main character(s) | Phil Grayfield |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Fabian Nicieza |
| Artist(s) | Jose Delbo |
NFL SuperPro was a short-lived comic book series published by Marvel Comics, centered on Phil Grayfield, an ex-NFL-American football player who survives a freak accident and wears a near-indestructible football uniform. Produced in collaboration with the National Football League and written by Fabian Nicieza and artist Jose Delbo the series started publication in 1991 and ended after 12 issues.
Nicieza wrote a story centering on Phil Grayfield, once an aspiring football player. His career ended when he saved a child from falling and suffered a horrific knee injury. He became a sports reporter and interviewed an eccentric football superfan, who also happened to be a scientist. This scientist designed a new, almost indestructible football uniform, which has to be molded on an "individual basis" and costs five million dollars to construct — so it is "worth a fortune".
Suddenly interrupting the interview, thieves raid the eccentric's house, overwhelm the two of them, steal a van load of NFL merchandise (but not the uniform), and torch the building. Grayfield, who is tied up, knocks over experimental chemicals, which — in combination with the fire and diverse ultra-rare football souvenirs going up in flames — do not incinerate him, but turn him into a near-invincible superhero.
Grayfield puts on the eccentric's football uniform and brings the villains to justice, dedicating his life to fighting crime and dubbing himself "SuperPro".
The first issue starring NFL SuperPro was "NFL SuperPro Special Edition # 1", cover-dated March 1991. The series began with issue "NFL SuperPro # 1" (cover-date October 1991) and ended with "NFL SuperPro # 12" (cover-date September 1992). On two occasions, NFL SuperPro featured a crossover, a common practice in comic books to boost sales; Spider-Man (in issue # 1) and Captain America (in issue # 8).
The character NFL SuperPro has not been seen since the demise of the series. Writer Robert Kirkman reportedly wanted to use SuperPro in an issue of Marvel Team-Up but could not, due to copyright concerns. The closest he came was Marvel Team-Up #9, in which the character Stilt-Man says, "I beat up a guy called SuperPro last week. Silliest looking guy...".
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