2002

Movies and TV

Jefferson Reed, also known as Meteor Man, is a fictional superhero character originating from the 1993 film Meteor Man, written, directed, and starring Robert Townsend.

In the film, Reed is a mild-mannered schoolteacher in Washington D.C. who gains superpowers after being struck by a radioactive meteorite. These powers include flight, super strength, invulnerability, X-ray vision, and the ability to absorb information from books through touch.

Initially hesitant, Reed decides to use his newfound abilities to combat the rising crime and gang violence plaguing his neighborhood. He adopts the moniker "Meteor Man" and becomes a symbol of hope and justice. However, his powers prove to be temporary, creating a ticking clock element to his heroic endeavors.

While the film was intended to launch a franchise, no sequels or television spin-offs materialized. Despite this, Meteor Man remains a notable figure in the landscape of Black superhero representation in media, particularly within the 1990s.