El Dorado (superhero)
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El Dorado is a fictional Hispanic superhero featured in various incarnations of the Super Friends animated series created by Hanna-Barbera. He was voiced by Fernando Escandon.
[edit] Character history
First appearing as minor character in the All New Super Friends Hour animated shorts which aired in 1977 and later in The World's Greatest Super Friends and The Super Friends Legendary Super Powers Show as a full-time member, El Dorado was one of several attempts to encourage diversity within the show. Originally from Mexico, El Dorado spoke with an accent and sporadically slipped into his native language, adding words like "rapido" to normal conversation and replacing nearly every instance of "yes" with "si". Like other ethnic characters added within the last few years of the show, he was seen as somewhat stereotypical. Another potentially offensive trait of this character is the fact that the golden city of El Dorado is actually a Colombian myth, not a Mexican one. Or better, a precolonialist myth, before both Mexico and Colombia were independent.
No true origin was given for El Dorado's generous number of powers, which included mind reading, casting illusions, teleportation (by wrapping himself up in his cape), and the ability to fire lasers from his eyes. It is assumed that most of his talents are given to him by the objects he wears, which may have come from the mythical city he is named after. Knowledgeable about Mexican history, he assisted the Super Friends whenever they were forced to enter unfamiliar ruins or areas in Central America.
El Dorado was created solely for the Super Friends series and has never appeared in a DC comic. From his set of powers, he appears to be closest to the Martian Manhunter in the comics.
[edit] Trivia
- El Dorado was scheduled to be one of the few Hanna-Barbera original heroes (along with Black Vulcan and the Wonder Twins) to receive an action figure after Samurai. However, the Super Powers Collection line was cancelled before the figures could be made. [1]
