Electricity isn’t just an essential, versatile, naturally occurring force of nature that’s existed since the beginning of time. It is a pinnacle of power as we know it, so phenomenal and intriguing that it has become a wildly popular centerpiece to many of our favorite cultural icons.
Today we?ll look at the six coolest examples of how electrical power, in its myriad forms, has become a cornerstone of beloved icons in all realms of media. Check out our picks below and be sure to comment and let us know of any we should have given honorable mention! (By the way, these are not ranked in any particular order).
#1 – Cole MacGrath (Infamous)
Just about everyone with a PS3 knows this guy. Cole is the player-controlled protagonist in the blockbuster PS3-exclusive game, Infamous. The story begins shortly after an explosion rocks the fictional Empire City and strangely imbues our hero (or villain, if you choose) with special abilities and frightening powers ? all of them based on electricity. Starting out, Cole can blast down foes with sparks from his hands. As his power grows, new skills become available in Cole?s electrifying arsenal. He gains new powers mostly through the activation of dormant electric power stations throughout his quest, thereby simultaneously lighting up previously blacked-out areas, making them less dangerous to traverse. Keep in mind your play style alters your alignment to either good or evil, with differing electrical powers associated with each side (now THAT’S an Electric Choice!). I won?t spoil the final highest-level ability Cole gains at the end for those who haven?t yet played through the game, but let?s just say that even Zeus would think twice about tangling with this lightning wrangler.
#2 – Dr. Frankenstein and His Monster (Mary Shelley?s Frankenstein)
Ah, there?s nothing like a good book. Before the flashy HD graphics of the PS3 took hold of our senses, this timeless medium teased our brains into wondrous fantasy worlds through unhindered imagination. That?s why fearsome, iconic characters such as those found within the pages of Mary Shelley?s Frankenstein are so engaging. While we?ve seen many of these imaginings brought to life since the advent of Shelley?s original work, everyone has conjured their own versions of the maniacal Dr. Frankenstein, his laboratory and the patchwork, death-defying abomination he created. None of this, of course, would have been possible without the keen doctor?s penchant for harnessing the enormous electrical power he needed for his fiendish experiments.
#3 – Storm (X-Men)
Just over 150 years after the disturbing debut of Frankenstein, another renowned writer by the name of Stan Lee was sparking a buzz with a new electrifying character of his own. Her name was Ororo Munroe and she debuted in 1975 on the pages of a Marvel comic entitled ?Giant-Size X-Men?. Because of her uncanny abilities to manipulate the weather ? most notably lightning ? she became known by the simply and aptly applied moniker, ?Storm?. This X-Men veteran is considered one of the most powerful mutants in existence. Just how powerful? Well, even if we look only at her electrical abilities, let?s see: She can tap into solar power and cosmic rays, create electromagnetic force fields, channel electromagnetic forces through her body to create powerful electrical blasts and even breathe underwater by separating oxygen from water molecules through electrolysis! And then of course there?s the whole summoning and controlling lightning straight out of the sky, if that counts.
#4 – Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious (Star Wars)
This next entry whisks us away to the epic universe of Star Wars. While Storm wielded her electrical might for the side of Good with unwavering allegiance, the power of the almighty electron isn?t always reserved for heroes. After all, we can?t really expect, say, a Dark Lord of the Sith like Darth Sidious to shy away from devastating powers of electrocution now can we? Perhaps one of the most diabolical denizens of the Dark Side ever created, Darth Sidious bolstered his all-encompassing power not only through clever political prowess in his ruse as Emperor Palpatine but also his dedicated pursuit toward the full measure of power of the mystical phenomenon known as The Force. Through his complete capitulation to evil, Darth Sidious was able to attain unmatched power, otherwise off-limits if he?d only stuck to the ?Light? side of the Force. Among those powers is Palpatine?s signature iconic ability to use Force Lightning ? which he liberally does and for which he has become famous. Fun fact about Force Lightning: It can only be learned by someone who has previously been struck by it.
#5 – Pikachu (Pokemon)
Perhaps one of the most popular icons on our list, Pikachu is known world-wide. Even if you don?t know anything about this cute, lovable sparkster, you probably still recognize him. Pikachu is one of the first characters to debut in the Pokemon franchise, a series of media which includes video games, trading cards, manga, anime and more. While not the very first Pokemon (that honor belongs to ?Rhydon?), Pikachu is the first Electric-Type Pokemon, which of course is why he?s on this list! Pokemon and the residents of its universe is a Japanese creation, dating back to 1996. The name ?Pikachu? is derived from Japanese words for the sound a spark makes (?pika?) and the sound a mouse makes (?chu?). Pickachu?s immense popularity is owed to the fact that the character resonated well with both Japanese and U.S. audiences, especially in the franchise?s heyday. Pikachu?s popularity never waned even as the series grew and eventually exploded, making his selection as the franchise mascot a no-brainer. It also could be Pikachu?s awesome abilities on the battlefield, channeling and storing electricity, releasing thunderous waves, paralyzing shocks and devastating lightning strikes. Even his tail is a lightning bolt and that?s always tough to beat.
#6 – Raiden (Mortal Kombat)
If you were of the proud generation who spent your pre-teen youth at the local arcade, pumping quarters into flickering machines, brawling it out and settling scores with friends and unknown rivals alike, then you?ve probably known Raiden for a long time. He?s been a signature character of the Mortal Kombat fighting game series since the debut of the franchise and was a featured character in more than one Mortal Kombat movie. Fans regard Raiden as the main protagonist of the MK universe. Also known as ?Lord Raiden?, this Japanese demigod, whose name translates to ?lightning and thunder? (from the Japanese ?Rai? and ?Den?, respectively), wields an arsenal of electrifying abilities along with the supernatural powers of flight and teleportation. Raiden has persisted on the roster of all iterations of the game, manifesting ever more powerful electrical shocketry, from his classic ranged lightning bolts to a charged voltaic blast. Opponents wouldn?t fare any better at close range either, as they subject themselves to electrocution during grapples. Fun fact: Only one other MK character can boast Raiden?s feat of appearing in every single game in the series. Do you know who?