NHL’s Guardian Project superheroes are here (uh … run for your lives?)

Jan 10, 2011, 2:23 PM EDT

But the Guardian Project was supposed to bring balance to the NHL, not leave it in darkness! Here’s one of the new hockey superheroes — there’s one for each NHL team — released by the creators at the Guardian Project; a joint PR effort between the league and Stan Lee-led SLG Entertainment. “The Blackhawk” looks, as one Chicago-area reader of the project’s Facebook page notes, as if his primary power is passing gas. Another writes: “What are they guarding us against? Bad officiating?”

Ten Guardians have been revealed so far (we’ll get a closer, live-action look during the All-Star Game on Jan. 30), which means, 20 more to go!

What fear can The Maple Leaf instill with his superpower of wilting and falling off a tree. — John H.

for the habs- a stinky guy with an annoying accent and shoots pountine gravy from his hands haha. — Zachary Nutland

What is Stan going to do, bring back Darkwing Duck for Anaheim? I don’t see how he could possibly make that cool. Thank God I’m a Sharks fan. — Lawrence King

National Hockey what?… Robin Hollier

A new NHL Guardian is revealed each day on their Facebook page. And if the project keeps in step with per capita statistics in the U.S. and Canada, at least one of them will be gay. Also, will The Coyote’s power include sneaking illegal immigrants across the border? Just asking.

So snarky comments aside, these are supposed to appeal to kids, to get a whole new generation jazzed for the NHL. But if I were a kid from Edmonton, I’m not sure I could get excited about our guy.