68 Comments - Union County Shoeless - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 11:57 am: Burl Ives. My explanation? Burl Ives. - Cheap Seats - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 11:58 am: The Radical Candor Twitter account deserves at least honorable mention to this day. - AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 11:59 am: It has to be the Black Panther, no? As his homeland of Wauconda resides in our NW suburbs. - Blake - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 11:59 am: Hard to think of anyone fictional. Michael Jordan’s place in sports/culture is long lasting & hard to top. - KikiStal - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:06 pm: I love the Question, but it has to be Honest ABE. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:09 pm: ===Honest ABE=== He was a heck of a vampire hunter. - Someone you Should Know - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:10 pm: The Nurses last spring - On This Motion - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:13 pm: Dawn Clark Netsch… Did a quick case study on her around the time of JJC’s retirement… Remarkably talented. - 13th - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:13 pm: Senator Bailey he believes in fictional s/ - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:15 pm: ===He was a heck of a vampire hunter.=== How he found *any* time to run the country, still a mystery. - @misterjayem - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:18 pm: “Who’s your favorite Illinois superhero?” Living? Mavis Staples. Living or dead? Mavis Staples. – MrJM - Groundhog Day - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:20 pm: Judy Barr Topinka - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:21 pm: Groundhog, if you’re gonna nominate someone, at least spell her name right. - Lurker - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:22 pm: Homer Simpson. We all know Illinois is his Springfield. - Union County Shoeless - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:23 pm: Buddy Guy is also a super hero. - lake county democrat - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:23 pm: Since Lincoln has been taken, I’ll nominate Milton Olive III (whose memory Olive Park is dedicated to) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_L._Olive_III - Bruce Rauner's Only Friend - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:26 pm: Anne Burke because all the news coming out of the federal building is not the Ed Burke she knows. - Annonin' - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:29 pm: Would prefer to pick Rosalie from Gabatoni’s, but since she abandoned dine-in not so sure. Sam Madonia is net best choice. - ArchPundit - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:30 pm: Kitty Pryde of Deerfield. - ArchPundit - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:31 pm: Oh yeah, explain. Kitty Pryde is an X-Men member who can phase through solids and has gone from being a teen to leader of the team and is canonically from Deerfield. Overall a very cool superhero. - Lake County Mom - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:33 pm: My knee jerk response was Ernie Banks, but while sports figures can be inspiring, I don’t see how they can be called heroic. I’m going with Carol Marin. When she left Channel 5 over the Jerry Springer fiasco, she made a big sacrifice to safeguard local news. I thought that was incredibly brave. - Inverted Pyramid - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:34 pm: Bill Swerski’s Superfans. The Justice League of Illinois super heroes. - The Magnificent Purple Walnut - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:42 pm: I have had two Super Heroes in my life. Both gone now. Bill Veeck and my late father. - AC - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:46 pm: Roland Burris, since no one in Illinois history has made such efforts to memorialize themselves. If superhero isn’t already listed as one of the accomplishments at his mausoleum, he can easily have that added. - Matt Jones - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:51 pm: Green lantern. It was my daughter who informed me that it is green lantern corps willpower that powers the ring. It is now our thing as we confront the health challenges I face. All her idea and I’ve embraced it! So GL all the way! - Third Reading - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:55 pm: Clark Kent was one heck of a reporter for the Metropolis (IL) Daily Planet. - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 12:57 pm: Luke Appling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQMQB3tiUfg - Steve Rogers - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:00 pm: Johnny Blaze, aka Ghost Rider. Because a skeleton with a flaming skull, come on, that’s just awesome. Also, Johnny Blaze is from DeKalb. - Lt Guv - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:04 pm: Richard Ogilvie. Had the courage and vision to successfully handle the tax beast in his time. Cost him a 2nd term, but it needed to be done. - Interim Retiree - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:09 pm: I honor U.S. Grant. He played a huge role in defeating the South & pa big time abolitionist. Also my 96 year old father, as he taught me to respect all people no matter what. - Nieva - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:10 pm: Big Jim Thompson was my favorite. He had superpowers when working both sides of the aisle. - Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:11 pm: The superhero of superheroes, Superman. - Dysfunction Junction - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:11 pm: Rich Miller, Troll Hunter. Explanations in red font above. - Keyrock - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:13 pm: Ab Mikva. The man nobody sent. - Keyrock - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:16 pm: Terry Hake and Brocton Lockwood are also in the superhero firmament. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:21 pm: Ada B. Wells, Jane Addams… both superheroes, both giants. Closer to home in Kendall… Wayne and Garth, Aurora, IL… they even fought the evils of tee-vee and radio execs. - Because I said so.... - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:23 pm: Roland Burris because he needs another title on his headstone. - Swampy Corn - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:24 pm: Jake & Elwood. Their use of unorthodox methods while on a mission from God saved untold numbers of children from life on the streets. - JoanP - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:28 pm: John Peter Altgeld. He did the righteous thing, pardoning the Haymarket Martyrs, though he knew it would destroy him politically. And George Ryan, for clearing out Death Row. - Sayitaintso - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:41 pm: U.S. Grant as well. Reading his memoirs currently, and while neither tall or smoke free, man, could he write. And win civil wars. - Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:42 pm: Superman…because Truth,Justice and The American Way. - The Drummer - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:42 pm: Ted Kord, aka Blue Beetle. We have the same waistline. - SOIL M - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:45 pm: My first thought was of course Superman, but he has been taken already. Robert Wadlow was head and shoulders above anyone else that ever came from this State. No one has stood as tall as he. - Imaginary brass rings - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:46 pm: The late, great Road Warriors, Chicago’s own animal and hawk. Few other tag teams were as larger than life as they were. - Paddyrollingstone - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:58 pm: The Magnificent Purple Walnut - I have had two Super Heroes in my life. Both gone now. Bill Veeck and my late father. Agreed 100%, although I would add my grandfather in there. - walker - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:59 pm: US Grant - Chuck - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 2:01 pm: Superman. He’s from Metroplois. - Drake Mallard - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 2:15 pm: Bruce Trash Can Van Man. A legend in his own mind. - Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 2:21 pm: Dawn Clark Netsch, our fiscal policy super queen. I would also add her oft found sidekick, Bill Luking —- who reads all the bills now?????/ - Tommydanger - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 2:26 pm: I know of a foster family that has opened their hearts and home to a profoundly disabled child for the past 15 years. Even as the minor has reached the stage where he may no longer be able to be maintained in the home, they are willing to move to be near the minor where the minor may be placed in the future so that they may continue to be a part of the minor’s life. I’m not sure they are superheroes as that would seem to be inadequate. I’d have to say they are superhero saints. - Dysfunction Junction - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 2:28 pm: Chili Bowl Mullet Man. Springfield locals understand why. Others probably never will. - Huh? - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 2:39 pm: The cooks at Robinson’s Ribs in Oak Park. Why? Because Robinson’s ribs are #1. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 2:40 pm: ===—- who reads all the bills now?????/=== John Amdor. - Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 2:44 pm: Tough call…lots of choices Marvel: Kitty Pryde was always my favorite X-man (see above explanation) DC: Superman - If you haven’t had your picture taken with Superman in Metropolis, what are you doing with your life? Actor: Bill Murray; great sense of humor but also a solid actor. Political (past): Paul Simon (the one with the bow tie); he was a statesperson, honest, straightforward, followed the data…everything we want and need in a political leader. Political (current): Susana Mendoza; she is a statesperson, honest, straightforward, follows the data…everything we want and need in a political leader. - Peanut Gallery - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 3:00 pm: I concur with Dysfunction Junction. Chili Bowl Mullet Man for President. - Southern IL Bob Too - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 3:14 pm: John Russell, in an article titled “The Tradition of the Piasa” claims that a local Southwestern Illinois Indian chief, named Chief Ouatoga, managed to slay the Piasa Bird using a plan given to him in a dream from the Great Spirit. If true, Chief Ouatoga would qualify as an Illinois Superhero. - Carbondale Chronicle - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 3:20 pm: I know there are several snarky answers but I’m going to get serious for my response. The person I choose as Illinois’ Super Hero is Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Not only is she a great athlete and one of the greatest female athletes of all-time, her desire to give back to a struggling area and being a role model for young women is second to none. We need more Jackie’s in this world. - JoanP - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 3:31 pm: @ Huh? - Summer isn’t summer until I’ve had a pulled pork sandwich from Robinson’s - preferably at an outdoor concert/art fair. - Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 3:32 pm: Also, for the record, no one has ever seen Scott Kennedy and Bruce Banner in the same room…just sayin - Commisar Gritty - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 3:37 pm: John Amdor’s dog 🐕 - Sal - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 3:44 pm: Abe Lincoln, for sure. - Nick Name - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 3:57 pm: Charles Darwin and George Harrison, both of whom visited Cairo. - Mama - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 4:15 pm: All the people in the medical field as they worked and still work under insane stress due to COVID-19. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 4:43 pm: Chef Ra, known also as “Chef”, “Rasta James” or “Rasta Jimmy”, had the most uncanny mind control powers of any person I have ever met. His superpowers predated his psychedelic infusion, he was elected class president his senior year in Urbana, I bet those class reunions were something. - Dance Band on the Titanic - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 4:57 pm: Hank McCoy AKA The Beast from the X-Men. Super strong, agile, fast and smart. Plus blue fur and sharp claws. From Dundee, IL. - Say What? - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 5:06 pm: Your Mom Your Dad - Still Waiting - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 5:08 pm: Ferris Bueller. He was Cameron’s hero anyway. - Rich Hill - Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 6:22 pm: Sarah’s Circle. https://sarahs-circle.org Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.