BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - Pope John Paul II is being reborn in a Colombian comic book as a super-hero battling evil with an anti-Devil cape and special "chastity pants". The first episode of the "Incredible Popeman" is about to go on sale in Colombia and shows the late Polish pontiff meeting comic-book legends such as Batman and Superman to learn how to use superpowers to battle Satan. "The pope was a real-life super-hero, of flesh and blood," said Colombian artist Rodolfo Le n, a non-practicing Catholic who has been working on the comic book for about a year.

　　Like any self-respecting super-hero, the Incredible Popeman has a battery of special equipment. Along with his yellow cape and green chastity pants, Popeman wields a "faith staff" with a cross on top and carries holy water and communion wine. In the comic book, the pope dies and is reborn with super-powers beyond the doctrinal infallibility that Roman Catholic doctrine gave him on earth.

　　Le n said he was saddened by the death Saturday of John Paul II, whom he admired. The artist, who worried that some people might be offended by his new comic-book hero, said the reception so far has been good. The book will be sold in predominantly Catholic Colombia and Poland, and publishers in Mexico, Canada and the US have also expressed interest, Le n said.