Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes
| Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Mike Donahue |
| Written by | Vincent J. Roth |
| Produced by | Vincent J. Roth |
| Starring | Vincent J. Roth John T. Venturini Joey Bourgeois Robert Hurt |
| Cinematography | Matt McFarland Greg Kimble |
| Edited by | Peter Gahan |
| Music by | Ken Fix |
Production company | Surge of Power Enterprises LLC |
| Distributed by | Ariztical Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes is a 2004 American independent superhero comedy film directed by Mike Donahue and written by Vincent J. Roth. The film is known for featuring cinema's first openly gay superhero.
It premiered at festivals in 2004, received a limited theatrical release in 2006 and is available on DVD and for streaming on some platforms. The film launched the Surge of Power franchise and was followed by the sequel Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel (2018).
Plot
Gavin Lucas, a corporate attorney and comic book fan, gains superhuman abilities after a sabotaged laboratory experiment involving scientist Ronald Richards and Richards’ former partner Hector Harris. With Richards’ reluctant assistance, Gavin designs a battle suit and becomes the superhero Surge of Power, defending Big City. Harris, transformed by the same accident, develops the ability to control metal and becomes the villain Metal Master. Their conflict escalates into a series of confrontations that culminate in a final showdown.[1][2][3]
Cast
Main roles
- Vincent J. Roth as Gavin Lucas / Surge[4]
- John T. Venturini as Hector Harris / Metal Master[5]
- Joey Bourgeois as the Young Man[6]
- Robert Hurt as Ronald Richards[7]
Cameos
- Noel Neill – bank robbery bystander[8]
- Lou Ferrigno – passerby[9][10]
- Nichelle Nichols – retired superhero Omen[9]
- Len Wein and Marv Wolfman – comic book writers[11]
- Forrest J. Ackerman, Alison Arngrim, Trev Broudy, Bernard Fox, Marty Krofft, Lisa Loring, Rose Marie, Erin Murphy, Butch Patrick, Liz Sheridan, Bobby Trendy.[12][13]
Background, production and release
The project was developed by Vincent J. Roth, a California attorney and comic book fan, who conceived the idea of combining a superhero narrative with a gay lead character. Roth also wrote the script, served as executive producer, and starred as Gavin Lucas. The film was directed by Mike Donahue and produced by Ray Quiroga and Tom Tangen alongside Roth.[12][14][15]
Filming took place primarily in California with cinematography by Matt McFarland. The film was edited by Peter Gahan, with music composed by Ken Fix. Production used digital effects typical of low-budget films of the early 2000s, and relied on community support, volunteer contributions, and rented sets.[16]
The film also features cameo appearances by notable figures from science fiction and comic book media, which reviewers observed as a way of connecting the production to established fan culture.[12][17]
Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes premiered at film festivals in 2004 and received a limited theatrical release in March 2006. A DVD release followed in May 2006, with later streaming availability including Netflix between 2009 and 2013.[3][4][18]
Reception and criticism
The film received a mixed critical response. Reviewers criticized its limited budget, simplified special effects, and performance that was below industry standard. In a 2018 review of the sequel, The Hollywood Reporter referred to Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes as “a film that virtually no one has heard of,” noting its limited recognition outside niche audiences. On the other hand, some acknowledged its cultural significance as one of the earliest films to present an openly gay superhero.[19][20]
Sequel
Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel
External links
- Official website
- Surge of Power at IMDb
- Website for the sequel: Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel
- https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/surge_of_power_the_stuff_of_heroes
References
- ^ "Johnny's Movie Club: Surge Of Power". Fanboys of the Universe. May 22, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Etemesi, Philip (August 21, 2024). "10 Indie Superhero Gems That Aren't Marvel or DC". MovieWeb. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ a b "DVD Talk". DVD Talk. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ a b Nichols, Larry (April 5, 2017). "Sequel to indie superhero flick screened at Philly Comic Con". Philadelphia Gay News. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ "Review: 'Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel' ineptly parodies superheroes". Los Angeles Times. January 4, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ "Joey Bourgeois". FilmAffinity. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes (2004). Retrieved September 18, 2025 – via MUBI.
- ^ Murthi, Vikram (July 5, 2016). "Noel Neill, First Actress To Play Lois Lane On Silver Screen, Dies At 95". IndieWire. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ a b Patta, Gig (December 20, 2024). "Surge of Power: Where There's Smoke – Vincent Roth on Comic Book Movies, 20-Year Franchise, and Nichelle Nichols". LRMonline. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ "Bruce Vilanch Appears In The New Gay SuperHero Movie, "Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel"". December 7, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ "Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes - Film (2004)". SensCritique (in French). Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes (2005). Retrieved September 18, 2025 – via Letterboxd.
- ^ "Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ^ "Surge of Power: Where There's Smoke". Film Threat. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (April 1, 2017). "'Surge of Power' Star on Creating an Indie Gay Superhero Movie Years Before 'Power Rangers'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ "Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes review (2004) - Qwipster's Movie Reviews". Qwipster. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Zonkel, Phillip (January 3, 2018). "Surge of Power, first gay superhero in a movie, returns in a sequel". Q Voice News. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Michael (February 5, 2025). "In Conversation with Vince Roth on Surge of Power: Where There's Smoke". Indieactivity. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Scheck, Frank (January 4, 2018). "'Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ "The Independent Critic - "Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel" Brings in the New Year". The Independent Critic. Archived from the original on August 25, 2025. Retrieved September 18, 2025.