| Reddy Kilowatt | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Alias |
The Mighty Atom |
|
First Appearance |
Advertisement in The Birmingham News (1926) |
|
Original Publisher |
Alabama Power Company |
|
Created by |
Ashton B. Collins, Sr. and Dan Clinton |
Origin[]
Reddy Kilowatt, the Electrical Servant, is a being made up of a red bolt of electricity for a body, a lightbulb for a head with sockets for ears and a smaller bulb for a nose, and dressed in white gloves and white shoes. He has served as a cartoon spokesman for electricity generation in the United States ever since his debut, having his copyright and trademark passed around by multiple electric companies over the years.
According to corporate lore, creator Ashton B. Collins, Sr. was inspired to create Reddy after witnessing an Alabama lightning storm. He imagined the bolts of lightning as the dancing limbs of a powerful creature that could be harnessed in the service of the public. Collins then asked his colleague, Dan Clinton, to create the first drawings of Reddy based on Collins' ideas and descriptions.
Powers and Abilities[]
As a being made of electricity, Reddy can discharge his energy to power electrical machinery, which he most often demonstrates by powering household appliances.
Notes[]
- Only Reddy's first design is in the public domain. His current design, created by Walter Lantz in 1946, is protected by copyright until 2042.
- The trademark for Reddy Kilowatt is currently owned by Xcel Energy, so he can only be used as a character within a story and not to advertise competing brands.