Is there ever a group of kids who together summon a superhero?

[stelok]

As far as I can find out, there are three examples.

Psi-Hawk (Psi-Force)
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Flashpoint version of Captain Marvel

Is there other examples that I do not know about?

There are similarities between Psi-Hawk and Captain Planet. They are both superheroes summoned by a group of kids together.

I wonder if Psi-Force's existence has influenced the creation of Captain Planet and the Planeteers?

[MRP]

Jack Kirby's Forever People who are New Genesis equivalent of teenagers together summon the Infinity Man.

-M

[Scott Harris]

Yes, there may be earlier examples of this idea, but as far as I know, Forever People is the first time this came up. I suspect that Jim Shooter was a big fan of this concept, because not only was it used in Psi-Force in his New Universe line, he also used it in Team America, which he wrote. The people in Team America aren't teens, but otherwise it's the same basic concept.

[shaxper]

The original Firestorm was a kid and his college professor.

Cloak and Daggar were kids who needed each other to summon their own alter egos.

[dogwelder]

[Phil Maurice]

Funny. A friend and I were just talking about this concept today. I think the Wonder Twins may owe something to an earlier Hanna-Barbera show called Shazzan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shazzan):



And there was also a live-action Sid and Marty Krofft show called "Wonderbug," in which a group of teens were able to transform a shambling heap of a jalopy into a super-powered dune buggy, via a "magic horn."

[dogwelder]

[Phil Maurice]

I don't know whether you'd consider Hanna-Barbera's "The Funky Phantom" a superhero, though he was summoned by a group of kids, and did have paranormal abilities:



And of course, there was Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot:

[KurtW95]

I can't believe nobody brought up the Teen Brigade. They formed the Avengers!

[Phil Maurice]

I can't believe nobody brought up the Teen Brigade. They formed the Avengers!

But that's summoning MULTIPLE superheroes. The OP clearly asked for the singular!

[Phil Maurice]

What's most interesting about this concept is the thoroughly Biblical idea of someone conjuring a frightening and formidible power to protect and defend themselves. It must date back to the earliest awakenings of mankind.

It's the purest wish-fulfillment, and so not surprising that we see it again and again throughout history, in legend, mythology and lore: The Old Testament God, angels, fairy godmothers, The Golem, etc. We like to think of ourselves as "protected." That these ideas persist in the modern age is a testament to their power over even the most enlightened reason.

[stelok]

Oh, I see. Thanks fellas, for the info.

I have no idea about the Infinity Man.