The Reign of the Superman

Before Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel created the Superman we know today, they had to work on their ideas. One step of Superman's evolution was the short story (created by Jerry and Joe) "The Reign of the Superman". However, the titular character is a villain that has nothing to do with popular version of the character.
Story
Professor Ernest Smalley, a chemist / mad scientist, found Bill Dunn at breadline and offered him food and clothes exchange for being part of some experiments. A potion Bill got from Samelly gave him telepathic powers. Intoxicated by his power, Bill killed Smalley and decided to take over the world. He discovered his powers are temporary and cannot recreate it without the scientist. As such, he lost his powers and had to return to the breadline.
Later References
Because of its influence on the evolution of Superman, it has been referenced several times. Following the "Death of Superman", there was a storyline called "The Reign of the Superman". In issue 35 of the series 52, there was a story called "Rain of the Supermen". The Tangent Comics has a story "Tangent: Superman's Reign", which featured a version of Superman with psychic powers (as well as physical powers).
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reign_of_the_Superman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_versions_of_Superman

Mystery Incorporated

They have no talking dog.

I did a post on the Silver Age homage 1963. So, I decided to talk about the Fantastic Four homage, Mystery Incorporated, from that comic.
History
Our future-heroes were four astronauts that landed on an asteroid. When they stepped on colored tiles under several alien statues, they gained super powers. When they returned to Earth, they became superheroes and somehow gained a Baxter Building-like base called the Mystery Mile. They have encounter alternate reality versions of themselves. Their enemies include an unnamed villain from another timeline and alternate reality Russians that had the powers of the Mystery Inc. members.
Members

• Biff Baker / Planet- He has the ability to transform into a being with a green, planet-like head. In this form, he has super strength, invulnerability and three fingers. He is Tommy's older brother. He is based on the Thing.  
• Jeannie Morrow / Neon Queen- She has the ability to turn herself into a gaseous form. She is based on the Invisible Woman. 
• Tommy Baker / Kid Dynamo- He has the ability to generate energy and transform into a form of pure energy. He was a weakness to water in said form. He is Biff's younger brother. He is based on the Human Torch.
• Craig Crandall / Crystal Man- He is a scientist. He has the ability to generate crystal and reshape the crystals he creates. He is based on Mr. Fantastic.  

Reference:
1963 issue 1

Scarlet Scarab

Abdul Faoul
In World War 2, Abdul Faoul was an archaeologist that unearthed a ruby-colored scarab created by the Elementals. When he touched it, he came the superhero Scarlet Scarab. He helped Namor and the Human Torch fight the fanatic Sons of the Scarab. He battled the Nazis and Britains. In the 1950s, the scarab disappeared. As such, he looked for it until he died.
Mehemet Faoul
Son of Abdul, Mehemet inherited the Scarlet Scarab costume. He looked for the scarab and found it. He became the new Scarlet Scarab and became the new superhero of Egypt.
Powers
Both version gained superpowers when they touched their ruby scarab. The heroes have flight, super strength, invulnerability and energy blasts. Mehemet managed to fight Thor to a standstill.
References:
http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/scarscbi.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlet_Scarab

Dkrtzy RRR

This is what a living math equation look like?

The Guardians of the Universe have recruited a squirrel, mushroom person, a moronic dog man and whatever Penelops is for the Green Lanterns. However, Dkrtzy RRR is one the oddest members.
History
Dkrtzy RRR is a "bio-sentient" math equation. He was discovered by the mathematician Timph Rye. Timph found him while trying to see it would be possible for willpower to be "derived formulaically". He became the Green Lantern of Space Sector 188 under unknown circumstances. Mr. RRR's tendency of mind wiping people have been controversial among the Guardians of the Universe (although not enough to put him on supension or fire him). According to Green Lantern Tomar-Re, only the Guardians can be aware of Dkrtzy's presence.
Powers
He has a Green Lantern ring and lantern thus giving him the powers derived from the them. He can enter people mind and erase their mind. The latter is his preferred method of attack.
References:
http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Dkrtzy_Rrr_(New_Earth)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Green_Lanterns#Dkrtzy_RRR

Red Mask

The Red Mask has only appeared in one comic: Animal Man issue 7.
History
In 1945, he (we are never given his real name) gained his superpower from touching a meteorite. He discovered his powers when he accidentally killed his dog, Roy. His wife left him because of his power. Because superheroes don't tend to kill people (this was before the Dark Age), he became a super villain and took inspiration from "The Masquerade of the Red Death" for his name. He teamed with the villain Veil, who could phase through matter via entering an alternate dimension, and battled Captain Triumph. RD won several red robots from Doctor Fang (a minor Batman villain) in a poker game. Due to a side-effect of his powers, the Veil became hopelessly insane and was locked up in the basement of the Arkham Asylum. The Red Mask retired. In the 1989, the Red Mask discovered he was dying from an illness affecting his lungs. As such, he decided to get out his costume and have his robots attack Miami. However, his robots were easily defeated by Animal Man and the local police. After telling Animal Man his life story, the Red Mask tried to fulfill his life dream of flying and fell to his death.
Powers and Abilities
The Red Mask had the ability to kill anyone he touched. He claimed clothes don't protect people from his power. However since everything prior to 1989 is told in flashback, we only see him use his power once. Because of the latter, we don't know the limits of his powers.
He also has an army of red-colored robots. There are two types of these robots: the normal ones and the flying ones that explode. However since a simple hand gun is enough to damage them, the robots pose very little of a threat.
References:
Vertigo Animal Man tradepaperback Volume 1

NFL Superpro

There have been a lot of products that have superheroes to advertise them to the point TvTropes (a website that analyze recurring tropes in fiction) has a page devoted it ("Product As Superhero" in case you were wondering). Here is one of the most infamous example.
Overview
Phil Grayfield was a sport reporter that was unable to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a football player. He interviewed a football superfan / scientist that created a indestructible football suit. Thieves broke in and burned his NFL stuff except the suit. Phil gained invulnerability, super speed and strength from a mix of chemicals he knocked onto himself and the fire. Using the suit, he became a football-themed crime fighter and called himself "Superpro".
His allies were the Happy Campers. They were average Joes turned into superheroes by a scientist named Carragone. Their members include the super fast jogger Streak / Frank Moody, the overweight African-American immune to physical harm Girth / Tabby Walsh, the penny-firing Almighty Dollar / Pennington Pennypacker and the probability-predicting Korean member Calculator / Kwong Dee. Superpro's villains were the ninja Quick Kick, the steroid-abusing giant Bennings, the time-slicing Instant Replay and the crime boss Marco Sanzionare.
Reception
NFL Superpro has called one of the worst Marvel Comics of recent years if not "the worst comic book ever created" (Chicago Sports Review said that). The main complaints were the plots and characters. For example, why didn't the thieves steal and then sell the NFL stuff? Fabian Nicieza claimed he wrote the comic in exchange for NFL tickets
References:
http://www.comicvine.com/nfl-superpro/4005-21607/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_Superpro

Weeping Gorilla Comix

Weeping Gorilla Comix is a fictional comic in the comic Promethea. WGC is an in-joke about how having the color purple, weeping characters or a gorilla will supposedly increase comic book sales.
Overview
The Weeping Gorilla Comix series consists of one-panel comics. The comics are about a depressed and mopey gorilla (only referred to as the "Weeping Gorilla"). The gorilla is always accompanied by thought balloons that have self-pitying or depressing thoughts in them (such as "She gets the kids and the house. I get the car.", "Why do good things happen to bad people?" and etc.). The only other character is the rarely appearing Chuckin' Duck. Chuckin' Duck is a happy-go-lucky and optimistic duck whose word balloons tends to be more positive (such as "Heh heh! I got out of Internet trading just in time!").
The comic is popular in the American Best Comics (the publisher of Promethea) universe. The Weeping Gorilla appears as a minor villain in the realms of ideas by making anyone near it sad like him. In Greyshirt: Indigo Sunset, Weeping Gorilla and Chuckin' Duck are recurring motif. The comic appears in Strong's Terrific Tales # 5.
References:
Promethea volume 1 trade paperback
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weeping_Gorilla_Comix#Weeping_Gorilla_Comix