After being struck by a rogue meteorite, Jefferson Reed finds himself gifted with a wide array of superpowers. His usual, cowardice, nature is turned around when his community asks for his help.
Meteor Man may not be the first African American superhero to be in a movie but he was one of the earliest examples and the first to show up with a budget. The character arrived in front of audiences long before Black Panther, Blade, or even Steel. Robert Townsend wrote, directed, and starred in the film which hit theaters in 1993. It told a family friendly story about a meek school teacher, Jefferson Reed, who would rather run from a fight than face it head on. He’s often looked down upon as other members of his community, and even his own family, refuse to show fear over a gang that has recently started to occupy their otherwise peaceful community. Things change when a wayward meteor strikes him as he walks home, granting Jefferson a seemingly endless amount of superpowers.
His power set includes flight, invulnerability, heat vision, super speed and so much more. We see him bark to speak with dogs, gawk awkwardly at folks with his x-ray vision, and even grow a super garden full of incomprehensibly large vegetation in an effort to feed as many people as he can. Most of his powers are seen once, and never again. This was a classic scenario often seen during the Golden Age Superman era, where Clark seemed to have whatever power he needed to solve that week’s problem. I’m sure Townsend had this in mind while writing the project, as the opening title card is very reminiscent of the one seen in the Christopher Reeves Superman films. However, Meteor Man is no Superman, as he often finds the least combative way to solve the problems put before him.
Robert Townsend is joined by a who’s-who of 90’s culture. From Jefferson’s fame comes Maria Gibbs as Maxine Reed, Meteor Man’s mother and costume designer. Robert Guillaume, who comes from a fantastic history of sitcom television, plays his father… The following year he voiced Rafiki, Simba’s mentor in The Lion King. Jefferson’s neighbor is played by James Earl Jones while Eddie Griffin takes on the role of his best friend. Marvel fans will get to see Don Cheadle’s menacing side as he plays a member of the gang terrorizing the neighborhood… The Golden Lords. While on the topic of gangs, I can’t help but mention the fictional inclusion of the real world Bloods and The Crips, who were played by musical groups Naughty by Nature and Cypress Hill respectively. One might be turned away from the film when Bill Cosby shows up, but you can take comfort in knowing that he has no speaking lines and we don’t see much of him.
The film’s visual effects invoke a feeling of nostalgia, reminding the viewer of a time when films had to work harder to get the job done. Nothing about the effort feels weak or rushed though. Meteor Man is a visual time capsule that reminds us what superhero films were like when they didn’t have to adhere to the rules of a comic book, or find a home somewhere within an expanding cinematic universe. It found its identity within the visual effects of the day. The score and soundtrack helped pull it all together as well. Shanice did “It’s For You”, a Pop / R&B song, for the movie while a second single, “Don’t Waste My Time” was provided by Lisa Taylor. Together, the music and visuals take the viewer back to the 90’s in a movie that was already radiating charm.
While the film didn’t get any sequel, it did receive a six issue mini-series from Marvel comics that was set in its standard continuity where Peter Townsend’s character got to meet Spider-Man. The legacy continues in the shadows of Marvel comics, with the latest nod to Meteor Man coming as an appearance by the film’s gang, The Golden Lords, in the series Mile Morales: Spider-Man back in 2019. This doesn’t place Meteor Man at the top of any comic book fan’s lists, but it does validate his existence as a superhero worthy of being included among the rest of them. Robert Townsend’s Meteor Man is simply an upbeat story about a “zero” who’s given every opportunity to become a literal hero, and what it meant to do so. The journey changes Jefferson, not just physiologically, but mentally as well. The story is less about his powers and more about finding the importance of community and one’s role within it. It’s a classic story that tries to remind the viewer that there’s strength in unity, and value in the sense of self worth. It’s real “feel good” stuff that’s still worthy of a family movie night to this very day.
Sadly, as of the time of writing this, Meteor Man isn’t available to watch on any streaming service. If you want to watch the comedic take on a nobody being put through an amazing transformation and using it for the greater good, you’re going to have to track down a Blu-Ray, DVD, or perhaps even a VHS tape. But mark my words, you’ll have fun with this film and it’ll definitely earn its place within your superhero film collection.
