Delivery-Boy Man (in-universe comic)

Delivery-Boy Man is a comic book written and inked by Philip J. Fry. After conquering Erth, Invader X abducts Leelis Lane, and it's up to Delivery-Boy Man to rescue her. It was featured in the Season 6 episode "Lrrreconcilabe Ndndifferences".

First Version
A spaceship shoots Erth five times, causing it to explode. After seeing it destroyed, an alien reptile says he is conquering the planet, which actually doesn't make much sense. Leelis Lane interrupts him, calling him Invader X, and announces Delivery-Boy Man. The superhero fires lasers from his eyes with the laser eye power, blasting the spaceship that destroyed Erth. He then uses the hand magnet power to get the supervillain's gun and unbuckle Leelis Lane. Invader X asks him to stop, but Delivery-Boy Man decides to save her love once and for all by reversing time. His actions manage to bring back the lasers the spaceship fired at Earth. Consequent and strangely, these lasers blow it up. Later, while having a meal with Leelis Lane, Delivery-Boy Man says that everything is alright... and they kiss. The next panel shows the credits: the comic book was "written and inked by Fry!!!"

This first version has 9 panels.

Second Version
Leelis Lane has apparently been constructively criticising Invader X, and he seems to be getting fed up with it. As a result, he is going to shoot her... if Delivery-Boy Man takes one more step, that is. Unfortunately, as in this version he has no ridiculous powers, there's nothing useful he can do. With nothing on his way, Invader X shoots and disintegrates Leelis Lane. After she dies, Delivery-Boy Man starts crying.

This second version has 5 panels.

Third Version
Invader X is going to shoot Leelis Lane in her forehead. However, Delivery-Boy Man jumps in front of the X death ray. Sadly, he does it too soon. The alien reptile hasn't shot yet. The superhero is defenseless. Luckily, he has recurred to his metiowishing power to telepatically make a meteorite break in the room and fall over Invader X. Nearing his death, the supervillain screams. Leelis Lane says her hero had saved her by random chance, but he reveals to her what really happened, and they kiss.

This third version has 6 panels.

Production
Fry's writing is influenced by events in his real life. Examples of this include Leela's contructive criticism to the first version of the comic book becoming part of the dialogue in the second version and Fry saving Leela from being shot by Lrrr inspiring the actions of Delivery-Boy Man in the third version.

Reception

 * Fry thinks it's wonderful.
 * Leela said the hero in the first version has too many powers.
 * Leela said she doesn't care about the hero because all he does is cry. Interestingly, this reaction made Fry cry too.
 * Leela said the ending of the third version is good, but not great.
 * Bender didn't like the first version.
 * Sergio Aragonés said the first version stinks.

Ads

 * X-Ray Spectacles
 * Real Vomit
 * Farnsworth Novelty Disintegrator Ray

Trivia

 * An actual Delivery-Boy Man comic book, based on the events of "Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences", was released as a promotional item at Comic Con 2010 a month prior to its airing.
 * Grrrl bought a Farnsworth Novelty Disintegrator Ray, so she probably bought a copy of the comic book as well.

Cultural References

 * The origin story of Devilery-Boy Man is a parody of/was ripped off from the origins of Superman (the hero's original parents were scientists on another planet and was adopted by an Earth couple), Batman (the parents were shot by a mysterious man), Spider-Man (bit by a radioactive spider, or in this case, "stung" by a spider's stinger even though spiders do not have stingers in real live), Wolverine from X-Men (the metal claws), and Wonder Woman (the Wonder Woman costume was meant to be sent to Planet Amazonia, a reference to the fact that Wonder Woman is an Amazonian princess).

Goofs

 * If time really had been reversed, the lasers the spaceship fires at Earth shouldn't have been fired at itself. However, this is probably an intentional goof, as Fry is not a professional writer, or, for that matter, a very smart person.

Characters

 * Delivery-Boy Man
 * Invader X
 * Leelis Lane