#Steven mandragora

[feel-the-fire]

Fuckin Facebook targeting my weakness for big guys who could treat me right while crushing a man’s skull like a sparrow egg. Steven Mandragora from DCAU…

AND HE WAS VOICED BY GLENN SHADIX OH GOD YES

[docgold13]

Heroes & Villains The DC Animated Universe - Paper Cut-Out Portraits and Profiles

Mandragora

Formerly the chief enforcer for the Bertinelli Crime Family, Steven Mandragora was a merciless killer.  He was additionally a metahuman, possessing greatly enhanced strength and resiliency.

Never far from Boss Franco Bertinelli, Mandragora was meant to act as a bodyguard to Franco and his family.  And yet his young daughter, Helena found him all but unbearably frightening.  It was not Mandragora intimidating appearance that scared Helena, but rather the sinister way in which he glared at her and her family.  

Helena was right to be afraid of Mandragora.  He had plotted behind his boss’ back and staged a coup to take over his criminal operations. He murdered Franco Bertinelli and his wife.  Helena only survived because she was able to hide in the closet, yet the poor child watched it all and it left her significantly traumatized.  She grew up to become the vengeful vigilante known as the Huntress and went on to join the Justice League.  

Steven Mandragora, meanwhile, reigned as a criminal kingpin for several years before his enemies drove him into hiding.  He resurfaced some time later having brokered a deal with the federal government to testify against other mobsters in exchange for immunity and protective custody.  The Huntress had been seeking out Mandragora for over a decade and this was her best opportunity to kill him and avenge her parents.  

Mandragora had never intended on testifying.  He was merely stringing the feds along, buying time as his cronies secured his young son so that he could flee with his child to a non-extradition country.  He escaped his protective detail with The Huntress and The Question in pursuit.  

In the end, The Huntress prevented Mandragora from escaping.  Although she wanted to kill him, seeing him with his young son changed her mind.  She could not bare to kill a parent in front of their child in the same way that she was forced to see her own parents murdered.  Instead The Huntress handed the villain over to the authorities and he spent the rest of his life in prison.  

Actor Glenn Shadix voiced Steven Mandragora with the vile cad featuring in the sixth episode of the second season of Justice League Unlimited, ‘Double Date.’  

[eatember]

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[skarchomp]

sometimes a character design fucking rules in a vacuum but then the story tries to frame it as disgusting and bad and it just kills the whole mood. this post is mainly about steven mandragora from justice league unlimited.

[theknightofivanhoe]

Justice League: Question's Hard Drive Ch 7: Bad Moon Rising

Table of Contents

A little treat included in this chapter for anyone who likes their old-school rock music. And a little dive into Helena's past pre-Justice League...

Since their little heart-to-heart over when she could eventually disclose what her nightmares had been about, Question still found Helena spending the journey sitting quietly as he drove on down the freeway. Even after the reassurance he had given her, she still had that very strangely withdrawn expression, staring out at the vehicle lights passing through the darkness. He couldn’t believe he was thinking this, but Question felt unsettled by this change, even the lack of snarky, flirtatious comments Helena would always make. It could only imply just how badly her past had affected her, enough to reveal the cracks in her tough, battle-hardened Huntress persona; cracks that might, or possibly might not relate how her parents’ deaths had affected her. Question promptly reminded himself, concentrating on getting to the cinema, that he would eventually find out if this trauma was even related to her previous grudge on Steven Mandragora, or if it was something else entirely.  

Soon a new decision popped into his head, though he was still afraid of how Helena might react. Glancing quickly at her as she peered out the window, he reached down for the radio. ‘Here goes.’ he thought, and with a click, the radio buzzed with static. Helena turned to Question, not staying anything as a newsman’s voice made it through all the noise. “ - another big day for Lex Luthor’s run for the presidency as he nets a huge donation from billionaire Cameron Kaiser! Mr Luthor brought Mr Kaiser onstage at his Gotham rally hailing the tycoon’s support as significant to his campaign!” Question just groaned at what he heard. Helena just raised an eyebrow at him. Definitely not what he had been hoping for. “ - Of course the endorsement has drawn mixed responses over Kaiser’s past when he briefly served a prison sentence for insurance fraud and an incident with Gotham’s most dangerous criminal genius, the Joker. But Luthor was adamant that Kaiser had only left prison a better man on the path to redemption, which he has made into a strong message for his campaign itself. And we’ll have further developments about the presidential race following a little oldie but goldie and tonight, it looks like there’s a bad moon on the rise…” 

The next thing Question and Helena heard was the funky intro to a certain 1960s rockabilly tune. As the rhythm broke out, Question grew too embarrassed to even know what to do or say. Helena’s facial expression stayed unreadable. Then the singing started. 

‘I see the bad moon a-risin’! I see trouble on the way! 

I see earthquakes and lightnin’! I see bad times today!’ 

As the echoey lyrics and retro groove blared on, Question waited for Helena to protest, ready to kill the music if she did so.  

‘Don’t go around tonight! It’s bound to take your life! 

There’s a bad moon on the rise!’ 

Question’s hand was at the button for off, before he caught sight of the corners of Helena’s mouth twitching. Her eyes glinted in what seemed like amusement. 

‘I hear hurricanes a-blowin’! I know the end is comin’ soon! 

I fear rivers overflowin’! I hear the voice of rage and ruin!’ 

“Ah, sorry - ” Question went nervously over the music, but Helena’s hand slipped over his hand very gently. “Don’t be…” she replied, her stare laced with that romantic thrill he remembered from when they had been having dinner. “You mean you - you want it?” Question couldn’t tell if he was hearing her correctly. “Baby doll, I think we just found our song…” Helena was giving him that sweet smile, her eyes soft with endearment. 

‘Don’t go around tonight! It’s bound to take your life! 

There’s a bad moon on the rise, alright!’ 

For Question, this change in Helena’s mood was pretty welcome, the song clearly livening the journey up. “Then our song it’ll be.” he agreed, and pumped his foot on the gas pedal as the track broke into its catchy guitar solo. The increase in the car’s speed, accompanied by the tune, made Helena smile even wider as she watched Question drive. His sporty-looking automobile gliding through the traffic at night with that 60s beat thrumming away made for quite a spectacle. ‘Always the eccentric charm…’ Helena contentedly thought to herself. 

‘Hope you’ve got your things together! Hope you are quite prepared to die! 

Looks like we’re in for nasty weather! One eye is taken for an eye!’ 

“You know, Q, this little number’s got you written all over it.” Helena commented, lightly boogying to the song. “Really?” Question dryly asked with a small tilt of the head. “Oh come on.” Helena snorted. “All that Armageddon, end-of-the-world talk, it’s like this band wrote it with you in mind.” “I guess I should look into them about that…” Question suggested, mainly to humour her. “Now don’t be petty, Q.” Helena teased and leaned in, kissing his cheek, which he didn’t mind at all. “I might start blaring a vinyl of this through our flat if things get too boring.” “Wonderful…” grumbled the long-suffering Question. 

‘Well, don’t go around tonight! It’s bound to take your life! 

There’s a bad moon on the rise!’ 

Don’t go around tonight! It’s bound to take your life! 

There’s a bad moon on the rise!’

On the last guitar chord, Helena sat back and relaxed as the newsman’s voice returned. “And that was ‘Bad Moon Rising,’ that funky folk rock number by the rootin’ tootin’ Creedence Clearwater Revival who remain a favourite, particularly of those of you who know your 60s and 70s. Please, stay tuned as we bring further reports on - ” 

Although she was looking forward to the movie and was very much cheered by the song, Helena still found it hard to stay this way. Those memories from back at the restaurant were just waiting for the next ripe opportunity to stab at her heart once again. She turned from the view of the city buildings to her date himself who was getting her to the cinema. For over a minute, she fought to make a decision on what to say. The radio commentary went by in multiple garbled voices, before Question heard Helena’s soft voice. “Q, I’m going to tell you everything.” Hands still on the wheel and foot on the gas, Question didn’t look back at her. Was that in his head? “You’re - now?” he asked disbelievingly. He hadn’t wanted to force Helena into doing so. “I don’t want us to go on with our date unless I’ve got it all off my chest.” Helena insisted, turning to him to emphasise her point. “Well, I know-” Question could tell where she was coming from, but he still felt a little ashamed that he might have imposed all this upon her. “I don’t want to have made you - well - intimidated you into - ” “Q, I know what you mean.” Helena stated with a look of understanding on her attractive face, which had no mask, either the one she wore as Huntress or her emotional one, to hide her thoughts from her admirer. “I am ready for us to share this secret.” Question’s head inched her way, but turned back to the view of the highway. “You don’t want to wait till after the movie?” he suggested. “No, I won’t be able to enjoy the rest of our date until all of this is out of the way.” Helena reminded him, clearly unwilling to back out. “If anything happens to either of us, I just want you to know in case…” Her heart nearly sank at the very idea of losing Question. Even if she were unarmed, she would pull her enemies’ arms from their sockets if it meant protecting him. But what if Question made it out, but lost her? “Just…let me do this for you. I owe it to you for helping me with Mandragora.” “Okay, Helena.” Question’s deep, mysterious voice gusted through the dark-haired woman’s ears and she stared at him, even as he stared out at the road ahead. “I’m listening.” That was all Helena needed, before she thought back to that particular stage in her life. “All right.” she answered, the emotion her lightly husky voice weighed down by all the burden of her past. Casting her eyes on the vehicles shooting on through the night, Helena prepared herself. “It started a few years ago. I wasn’t long into my gig as Huntress, but wasn’t yet recruited into the Justice League. I was hot on Mandragora’s trail, following a few tips and breadcrumbs here and there, until I made it to Gotham City…” 

A few years ago...

In a recently-purchased apartment, a relatively decent, clean place with greyish-white walls and a row of tall windows overlooking office blocks and some of Gotham’s grander buildings, Helena Bertinelli was laying low to plan her crusade against the vile Steven Mandragora. One cool, clear afternoon, she had set up a pair of large black cylindrical tackling dummies on a gym mat in her living area. For several minutes she was throwing punches and karate chops at these dummies on either side of her. Grunting and yelling through her combat practice, she twirled in a number of roundhouse kicks with all the swiftness her athletics had earned her, her bare feet pounding into the rubber the way a nightstick would bludgeon a person. Her goal, to kill Mandragora where he stood for her parents’ deaths, sent electricity angrily buzzing through her body that she was personally forging into a dangerous weapon. After some more thrusting of fists and legs, Helena rolled herself down into a handstand and kicked one foot forward, the other behind so she caught both dummies. “Hyah!” With her biceps holding her up as firmly as a pair of steel girders, Helena instantly glanced at the framed photo sitting on the surface of the dining table. Halfway through landing her feet back on the mat to position herself in a cat-like crouch, she couldn’t help but take in the image of herself, when she was a young, pretty girl in an elegant purple dress happily sitting in her beautiful mother’s lap, the older lady classily dressed in a white gown capped with a gold necklace and her raven hair flowing in rich tresses. Laying a strong hand on the young Helena’s small shoulder was her father in one of his favourite black tuxes, the scar over his right eye and down the side of his square-jawed face serving as a story to tell of the close encounters he had gone through with all sorts of opponents. All of this, Helena’s world, all of it had been crushed under Steven Mandragora’s fists! Swallowing, she drew in a harsh breath and prepared herself to spring for one of the dummies. ‘God bless you, mother, and father.’ she prayed in her head. ‘Trust me, your little Helena’s gonna make you proud…’ 

The high-pitched bleeping of her cell phone punctured her train of thoughts, causing her to instantly drop her stance. An exasperated Helena sat herself down on the mat and crossed her legs in a lotus position. Her vibrating phone was sitting on the floor beside where she had been practising, making it easy for her to reach it. Helena picked it up and put it to her ear. “Hello?” She listened to the voice on the other end, staying in her yoga pose. “Yes, sir, uh, principle.” she responded. “Sure. Everything’s set. I called Miss Gordon. Yeah, I’ll be there to take the kids. Yeah…they’ll enjoy it there, I’m sure. Not at all, sir. Thank you, sir. See you then.” Ending the call, she placed the phone down before rising to her feet . 

Sparing another wistful glance at her childhood self in the photo, Helena contemplated the two lives she was leading since her parents’ deaths. By day she had high school students to teach English. By night, this teacher had justice to serve and scores to settle. Like that ‘Dark Knight’ guy everyone here in Gotham was talking about. Yes, Helena knew well that people were comparing her to…whoever that masked man was. After making a mug of coffee, she sat on her couch and looked out at the calm, sleepy streets below. She had no interest in partnering with Gotham’s own local hero. He held back too much. Helena sipped her drink, thinking back to the news she had seen of him and those kids, his so-called ‘family’ beating up madmen and robbers who they would hand over to the cops to lock away. She found it distasteful, the way they called themselves ‘caped crusaders’ and yet handled even the most psychotic criminals with such kid gloves. For their own sake, they would do well to stay out of her way when she located Mandragora. 

Hours later, when the sky over Gotham started to darken, Helena looked out at the sun rays faintly shining orange over the surrounding buildings. She headed into her bedroom and kneeled down, pulling open one of the drawers under her bed. Out of this drawer she lifted her mask, magenta with a metallic sheen, white lenses shaped like scowling eyes and horn-like prongs adding to its imposing design. Helena stared down at it, her past stoking her grief and rage like fire. The messages she had intercepted and discussions among criminal networks she had spied on would all culminate with this one moment, her against Mandragora, a moment that would end with one walking away alive, the other lying stone dead. It left Helena in a state of melancholy how she was mainly leading this life because of that one night at her family estate. Evening was already closing in, and it was time to continue the hunt. ‘Ready or not, Mandragora…’ Helena thought as she reached another hand into the drawer. ‘Here I come.’ 

A black-gauntleted fist bashed into the stubbly jaw of a bald man in a brown leather jacket. A frightened brunette girl in a green hoodie lay on the ground staring up at her rescuer who had leapt seemingly out of the shadows of the small alley. Dazed from the punch, the thug turned back to the woman glaring at him through her mask’s lenses.

Outfitted in a black crop top, matching bikini bottoms and tall high-heeled boots, the holster at her waist and her flowing cape coloured in the same striking magenta as her mask, Huntress raised her fists and parted her bare legs in preparation for the fistfight to come.

“Do excuse me if I make the streets a little safer for girls at night.” she taunted the thug who grew very angry at being challenged in this way. “I make girls like you PAY for messin’ with me!” The thug threw himself bodily at his attacker, the young girl he had been after screaming in fright. 

Huntress swung a foot in a karate kick that caught the man’s chest with one great smack! This got a gasp of pain from him, the girl gasped at what she had seen the mysterious woman do. Though he stumbled back, the man only snarled and lunged his hands forward to grab Huntress, who threw herself into a somersault over his head! Landing right behind the confused thug, she snatched him by his jacket collar, yanked him towards herself and headbutted him in his angry face! Howling as he clung to where she had just battered him, the thug had no intention of either surrendering or fleeing for safety. “You…I’m gonna -” He reached out for Huntress while keeping his left hand over his sore face, but she just wove straight past him and caught his right arm in both hands. “LET GO OF - ” The thug and Huntress wrestled with one another furiously, pulling and straining back and forth in the confines of the alley. All the girl could do was huddle up in fear against the wall, wondering how this was going to end. With a warlike yell, Huntress bent the thug’s arm. CRACK! The resulting sound got the thug screaming in agony. Huntress saw her chance, putting the sole of her boot to his stomach and shoving him to the ground flat on his back. Desperate to bring this woman down, the man caught her round the leg with his still-working left hand. “AGH! After this I swear I’ll -” Huntress just crashed her knee down onto his jaw, sandwiching his head painfully up against the stone! By now his injuries had become too much and all he could do was wail, the girl simply shocked at all this. “It’ll be alright, kid…” Huntress told her, pressing her knee against the thug’s head. The girl could only watch as this vigilante tortured the man groaning and whining under her weight. “Now get going, quick. I want to have a little word with this scum.” Being so afraid of both the man who had attacked her, and to an extent, the woman who had just come to her aid, the girl picked herself up and ran down the alley to find help. 

With the girl out of the way, Huntress glared down at the man she was keeping pinned to the ground, listening to his panicked cries. “Okay, punk…” she started, her knee like a vice over his head. “A while ago I heard you and your gang at that club back there having a pretty interesting discussion, before you decided to go after that defenceless girl for your own sick amusement.” “Take your - AGH! Take your knee off my head, you filthy little - ” The thug’s furious shouting became a cry of fear when Huntress drew her purple crossbow out of her holster, the tip of its arrow pointed squarely at his face. “Don’t even go there…” Huntress harshly warned, keeping the weapon steady and a finger on the trigger as her opponent shivered under her. “One of your pals mentioned someone I’m looking for.” Hearing all this, the thug found himself torn between two options. Either he could try to throw this woman off him and brutalise her for humiliating him and breaking his right arm, or he could spill so he would at least survive and see another day, particularly when he had a crossbow bolt hovering in front of his bruised face. “Uh…Uhh…” Whether he was intending to shout at her again or cooperate, Huntress’ rage bubbled to the surface even as she kept her knee on him. “Come on!” she barked instantly, the arrow ready to pierce the thug’s face. “Tell me what you were saying about Steven Mandragora, or I’ll - ” “Our boss!” the thug burbled, his skull feeling as though it could crack like an egg any second. At this, Huntress moved her knee, her crossbow still trained on his face. “Your boss…?” she repeated, giving him a sceptical look from under her mask’s lenses. “Our - our boss - our boss, he, he’s meetin’ up with this Mand - Mandr - Mandragora guy…” the thug confessed and slumped his head back, the fight well and truly taken out of him. “They’re talkin’ about - about a…about a partnership! Our group, we’re - we’re - plannin’ - plannin’ somethin’ major, somethin’ that’ll impress Man - Mandragora!” Huntress listened with a scowl as the thug explained this like a misbehaving boy who had to own up to his actions to his parents. “The boss - the boss wants - he wants Mandragora to…to cut him in on the action!” he weakly continued. “He wants a place in - in whatever Mandragora has planned! That’s all I know! Look - I just - I just do the things they tell me to do!” Huntress curled her lip contemptuously at how this brute lay there coming undone in such a pathetic fashion right after he had terrorised that poor girl. When she heard footsteps down the alley, the vigilante got to her feet. “Thank you. Now that you’ve been of some help, let’s hope your prison cell has cable.” Huntress aimed her crossbow over her head, fired a grappling bolt and went whooshing up to the rooftops, where she disappeared. “Aw, no! Not prison! You can’t do this! I’m innocent, I tell ya!” the thug shouted, but his broken arm and other bodily injuries prevented any chance he had of getting up and escaping. 

A man in a blue cap and trousers and grey jacket, a police officer, appeared beside a stern dark-haired woman in grey trousers and brown holster shoulder straps over her black shirt. Both were being led by the girl the thug had chased. “That’s him! He grabbed at me while I was walking home!” the girl told the two officers, pointing down at the man. “Okay, you know the drill.” the older woman, Renee Montoya, said to the cop who marched towards the thug. “No! She’s a dirty li’l liar! It’s not true! I never grabbed nobody!” the thug ranted, too weak to fight off the cop clapping handcuffs around his wrists. Montoya, a seasoned detective and one of the few reliable officers in Gotham’s Police Department, noticed the bruising on the thug’s face and how limp his right arm looked. “Doesn’t he look a little roughed up?” she asked the girl as the cop pulled the struggling criminal down the alley. “A woman in a mask, she appeared out of nowhere and protected me from him.” the girl answered, which got Montoya raising her eyebrows. “Yeah, might she have been a friend of a certain Dark Knight?” “I don’t know. Probably. But she really pounded the living heck out of the guy. For a minute I thought she was going to kill him.” the girl explained nervously. Montoya frowned at just how brutal this woman sounded. Whoever she was, she didn’t sound like someone from ‘his’ camp, unless one of them had gone crazy and he wasn’t paying much attention. “Well, at least she stopped short of doing that. And you’re safe, that’s what ma - ” Montoya was interrupted by the buzz of the radio on her belt, then a gruff male voice with a strong Brooklyn accent called out, “Bullock to Montoya! Come in, Montoya!” “Excuse me, kid.” Montoya told the girl and pressed a finger to her radio. “Go ahead, Bullock.” “We need you back here. They got a possible lead.” the man on the other end informed her. “They’re anticipatin’ some big mob-related activity any minute.” “I’ll be there pronto, Bullock.” Montoya assured him. “Look, don’t take long.” Bullock was urging her. “Sources say this could be somethin’ major-league. Even the commish has got the jitters.” Montoya huffed at this. “Come on, kid.” She turned to the girl and led her on. “I’ll just walk you home, then I gotta get back to it. Duty calls, you know.” Glad to have the extra protection, the girl followed Montoya out of the alley, though she curiously glanced behind her where that woman in the cape and mask had first appeared. Who was she? 

Elsewhere, Helena was walking down more of Gotham’s bleak, forbidding alleys. Except now she was now out of her Huntress mask, gloves, cape and boots. With the information she had handily got from the thug back there, she had put on a sharp-looking dark purple jacket over one of her seductively short black turtleneck minidresses with matching stiletto heels. Completing her undercover attire was a pair of earrings that each hung a tiny silver crucifix, a show of her Catholic faith. Holding her favourite satchel over her shoulder, she stayed alert for any figures that could pose the slightest threat. No matter how frighteningly claustrophobic the litter-strewn alleys looked, Helena strode on in the directions that would lead her that much closer to her goal. There would be more stepping stones before she found Steven Mandragora, but now she could see the pieces of the puzzle coming together. 

When she saw the next alley from across, Helena headed up to the double doors of the very same club where she had spied on those men. She could hear raucous guitar music pounding continuously from inside. ‘Here goes…’ she told herself.

As the music inside drowned out the clicking of her heels, she pushed her way through the doors into the seedy, dark space that was barely lit up by a reddish-purple glow. There were several people, tough-looking men and simpering women with glasses and bottles of alcohol crowded around tables and slot machines. The rock music screamed and roared on through Helena’s ears, but she put on her most innocent, airy smile in order to blend in. Sashaying past menacing goons who either leered at her or at other women, or just went on drinking, two of them at a table locked in an arm-wrestling match, she peered around the place hoping to find any of those other men she had overheard. Once she got to the bar where a short balding man in an apron and round spectacles sorted through some glasses, Helena took one of the tall seats and placed some dollar bills onto the counter. “Your driest martini, pal.” she requested. The bartender got out a bottle, filling a glass and adding a lemon slice before passing it to Helena who grinned in appreciation. Just as she took a sip, the rock tune still hammering on through the club, Helena noticed the bartender freezing and glancing past her. “>Huh-hum< S’cuse me, miss…” There was a British cockney accent in the male voice behind her instead of the expected American one. Rotating her seat with martini in hand, Helena looked up with that ever-innocent smile of hers at the tall, broad-shouldered man in a charcoal grey leather jacket, a black vest and blue jeans. It was one of the men she had eavesdropped on! He was staring down at her with a slightly suspicious expression on his strong-jawed face, his hair and sideburns shaven down to the barest stubble. “Y’do know this club’s private, right?” He seemed like he was trying to get her to leave without coming across as aggressive. “Oh, sorry, sir.” Helena responded, widening her smile and putting a hand to her chest to keep up her ‘brainless beauty’ facade. “I just - I - didn’t see any sign saying private in the first place. I swear I shan’t cause any trouble…” She sipped her martini as the British-accented man towered over her. “Yeah, well,” he started, thinking of what to say next. “I’m afraid there’s some delicate stuff - I - I mean - ” He stopped and Helena put her glass to her lips when she caught the little slip-up. ‘Delicate stuff…good, good…’ she thought, crossing her legs which she hoped would catch the Brit’s eye and give her an advantage over him. “I mean, it ain’t safe for you ‘ere, ma’am. Know wot I mean?” he explained awkwardly. Helena couldn’t let this man send her out, or she would lose Mandragora’s trail. But she also couldn’t risk making a wrong move and drawing too much attention to herself. “Relax, big guy…” she sweetly replied, lifting a hand and lightly poking the Brit in his wide chest, which did catch him slightly off-guard. “I always hang out in places like this. Besides, I’m starting to get a little comfy here…” For good measure, she traced her hand along her thigh and watched the Brit dropping his gaze downwards. “I - uh - well I think - ” He was trailing off, though it seemed he was still determined to see her out. “I dunno, I’ll ‘ave to ‘ave a word with -” 

“What’s going on, Lonny?” Another man’s voice, American-accented and younger this time, broke through the screams of guitar music and the chatter from the crowd.

It was another one of the men Helena had spied on. This one was tall and angular, possibly in his thirties if not late twenties. He had that classic ‘bad boy’ look about him, the way he wore his tar-black hair in a slick pompadour with a brown leather jacket, a purple polo shirt and black trousers. Lonny, the Brit, turned to this other man while Helena listened. “Well, you see, this lady ‘ere, she just came in without no permission. I’m just tryin’ ter let her know it’s priva - ” “It’s all right, Lonny, I got this.” the other man smoothly reassured him, turning to Helena who got a good look at his long-chinned face that featured an arrogant smirk and shockingly chiselled cheekbones. Those cheekbones made his face look as if it had been sculpted from marble. “Come on, guys, can’t a girl finish her pretty expensive martini?” she pleaded, shooting him and Lonny her most alluring look with pursed lips and eyelids lowered. The younger man with the cheekbones and pompadour (‘Elvis’ she decided to call him) clearly liked what he saw as his dark eyes hungrily took in the sight of this woman in a tight little minidress reclining in her seat, her jacket drooping around her so he could catch a hint of her upper arms and those crucifix earrings serving to sweeten the deal. “Better idea: why not have yourself an extra glass,” he proposed, settling down into the seat next to her and slapping some money onto the bar. “On me.” Then he said to the bartender, “And my usual.” Lonny grew confused at this. “But - but Par - ” “That’ll be all, thank you, Lonny.” the young man interrupted as the bartender placed a second martini and a beer bottle in front of him and Helena. Helena keenly observed ‘Elvis’ take the bottle for himself and move the other martini towards her. 

“Sorry about him. It’s not very often we get such a hot chick showing up at our little joint.” Aware of how guys like him had a habit of addressing her in this fashion, Helena gave this man a smirk of her own in order to appear flattered. “Believe me, tiger, you’ll find this chick’s more than just a pretty face…” Acting all laid-back, she rested an arm against the bar and sipped her martini. This got Elvis himself turning from his beer to the raven-haired woman whose company he seemed to really enjoy. “Indulge me, then, sweetie. What other nice little…assets do you squeeze in that tight little dress of yours?” Keeping herself from choking on her drink at that…turn of phrase, Helena tilted her head and stretched her lips into a wider smile to give the impression that his words amused her. “Well, I happen to have a few…connections.” She needed to drop a word or two that could get Elvis hooked. At least then she could compel him to spill any secrets he might be holding. “Will any of these…connections get mad that you’re hanging around the bar with me?” he asked partially in jest. Helena sipped from her glass and thought quickly. “Not bad, honey, but a relative of mine did some, well, business if you like, with Rupert Thorne.” Deciding this little namedrop would do nicely, she made sure to frown. “We’ve had to move on since then, what with that lunatic in the mask and cape, and all the other costumed animals trashing this city as we know it.” 

“Rupert Thorne, huh?” Elvis repeated with a certain amount of interest. “And what’s it to you?” Helena teased, hoping this was going the way she thought it was. “Not to worry, cutie.” Elvis arrogantly told her. “In a few short days, things in Gotham will be off to a fresh start.” “Fresh start? Do tell.” Helena persuaded, putting her glass to her lips. “Gladly. So tomorrow night, my uncle’s got me leading a little operation.” Elvis explained, taking a glug from his beer. “It’s gonna be a big one. After that, things are gonna change around here. See, babe, all those fedoras and Chicago typewriters are ‘Number 1 Ancient History street.’ Gotham City’s future lies in the very latest stuff, like what those masked geeks use, only we’re more daring, we have guts. Oh, and expect a bit of blood and guts along the way. When we get started, minds are gonna be blown, if our guns don’t blow ‘em first.” Listening to this psychopath loftily monologue about this bright future of his, Helena knew she had to steer the discussion to a certain name. “Wow. Can’t wait to hear about it…” she replied dryly and took another sip of her martini. Leaning towards the long-chinned Elvis lookalike, she decided to reel him even further in. “If you’d like, I could speak with my connections, see what they think if you succeed in this job, and they could soon have a little proposition in store for your uncle.” Elvis lifted an eyebrow and faced her with his continuous smirk. “A girl with some mob blood in her. I like it…” he drawled, his fingers dangling the beer bottle by its rim. Helena grinned back, when in reality she was simply anxious to have her parents’ killer in her sights and pull the trigger of her crossbow already. But she needed to keep this going just a little longer first. “Well, tiger, I always have an eye for business.” “In more ways than one, huh, babe?” Elvis purred, his ogling nearly causing Helena’s stomach to twist. But this wasn’t the time to feel disturbed. It was now or never. “There is one name I have…special interest in.” she mentioned as she prepared another sip of her drink. “Special interest? Do go on…” Elvis urged, hunched at the bar. It freaked Helena out how he looked like some predatory animal about to pounce. “You haven’t heard of a…Steven Mandragora, have you?” Helena questioned carefully, lightly holding her breath. “Heh, small underworld, huh?” Elvis responded smoothly as ever. The sounds of head-banging music and the crowd’s chatter came close to spoiling Helena’s focus. “You’re in luck actually. He’s meeting up with my uncle in a few days.” the man explained, which got her silently breathing out in relief. “A lot’s riding up on this job tomorrow. We’re already building a massive fortune, some of it from what the old gangs lost, thanks to those knights in long underwear.” He tipped the bottle to his mouth then smacked his lips at the refreshing flavour of beer. “All we have to do is pull off the mission and Mandragora himself will be sitting down to dinner with my uncle. From there, there’ll be a new boss in town.” 

Helena now decided she had this sucker right where she wanted him, and in a short while, he’d lead her to the other sucker who killed her parents. Putting down her now empty glass, she raised the one Elvis had ordered her. “Well, to a fresh start.” she replied. Elvis clinked his bottle against hers and they both swigged their drinks. “I don’t suppose you’d care to tell me where I can meet up with you tomorrow?” Helena then asked, gauging the oily-haired gangster for a reaction. “It’s a date, honey-bun.” he agreed with that simpering stare, which she was trying her best not to put her fist through. “The Jack C. Grissom building, down Palance Avenue, 11pm.” Helena winked at him and pointed at him with the same hand with which she was holding her martini. “Gotcha.” Then she tipped her glass to her lips. She hoped to catch this guy when he was executing whatever tomorrow’s plan was, but she might need his next location if she failed. 

Just then a black man with a short beard and a grey hoodie came into the club and went up to Lonny who was playing on a slot machine. Something the man said to Lonny got him gaping back in shock before he strode up to where his boss was still trying to smooth-talk Helena. “And what may I - Ugh! What is it now, Lonny?” Elvis demanded in annoyance, whipping his head back to his right-hand man. “It’s Wade! The coppers got ‘im! He’s ‘ad an arm broken and they’re marchin’ ‘im to the station.” Lonny explained worriedly. “Chill out, Lonny.” Elvis interrupted, looking away from the Brit. “I’m sure we didn’t tell him too much about tomorrow. They won’t get jack out of him.” Helena tried to hide her amused smirk, knowing exactly what they were on about. Lonny looked apprehensive over how Elvis so casually dismissed the news. “Uh, you sure? I think -” “Tomorrow goes as planned.” Elvis abruptly insisted, his back to the cockney goon. “Can’t a guy talk business with a hot babe? Get back to partying or something.” Helena watched as Lonny tried to argue further. Eventually he walked away, returning to the slot machine he had been playing on. “Where was I? Oh, yeah,” Elvis continued, sipping from his bottle before smiling at Helena flirtatiously. “So what may I call you, gorgeous?” Getting into character with her sweetest, sloppiest grin, Helena delicately sipped her drink. “The name’s Amy. Amy Casamento.” She couldn’t let this guy connect her either to Huntress or her civilian identity. At least using her mother’s maiden name would make her alias sound believable enough. “And you are…?” With his eyes hooded suggestively, the ‘bad boy’ leaned back against the bar and took a swig of his beer. “Call me Paris.” he answered, purplish-red light dancing across the side of his thin face. “Paris Franz.”

Chapter 6

Chapter 8: TBC

[fancoloredglasses]

The saga of the Huntress and the Question (so what do you think their ship-name should be? Let me know in the comments!)

[All images are owned by DC Comics and Warner Bros Discovery. I hope I’m too small-fry to sue...]

In Justice League (Unlimited), and in fact the entire Dini-verse, despite the fact that it was written for a younger audience, there are a large number of themes that surprisingly mature. One theme is romance.

Obviously Batman has Catwoman and Talia Al-Guhl and Superman has Lois Lane. However, the two Justice League series has four (including a love triangle)!

Green Arrow and Black Carnary

John Stewart and Hawkgirl…

…as well as Vixen

Batman and Wonder Woman (they never go anywhere with this, but it’s obvious they have feelings for one another. I’ll have to do a deep dive on this one of these days)

And finally, the subject of this week’s review. First, let’s discuss the participants, as most people aren’t comic geeks who love the minor heroes more than the marquee ones…

The Huntress debuted on Earth-2 (where DC stashed their Golden Age heroes until they were needed) prior to Crisis as Helena Wayne, the daughter of Bruce and Selina Wayne. Following Crisis, she was reimagined as Helena Bertinelli, the last surviving family member of a slain Mob Boss, who became a ruthless vigilante in an attempt to avenge her dead family.

Huntress makes her debut in a brief appearance fighting a bunch of robot spiders (but that’s not important for this review)

The Question was created by Steve Ditko as part of Charleton Comics’ “Action Line” (which was ended a year later). When Ditko joined DC Comics, the company (as a “gift”) bought the rights to the Action Line, dumping them on Earth-4 in the DC Multiverse and forgetting about them until Crisis (though they were re-imagined in Watchmen, with the Question being the inspiration for Rorschach)

In the comics, the Question was a very philosophical hero (starting out following the teachings of Ayn Rand in Charlton, and Zen Buddhism following Crisis). However, in JLU the Question is a cynical conspiracy theorist looking for everyone’s “angle”.

Question made his debut working with Supergirl and Green Arrow trying to find out why Supergirl was having disturbing dreams (while I won’t cover that for this review, it is kinda important as you’ll soon discover)

And now that we’ve established the players, on to the story!

NOTE: I will mainly be focusing the scenes involving Huntress and the Question. Any elements beyond their involvement I will likely ignore (unless it’s important later) If you would like to view the episodes in their entirety, they’re available on Max or behind your favorite paywall.

PREVIOUSLY ON…

Following the events of A Better World, an organization known as Cadmus (a government shadow ops group with off-the-books funding from Luthor) emerges of the League’s radar, performing such acts as illegal cloning (including a clone of Supergirl, which was the source of her bad dreams (told you it would be important)) The Question begins poking into Cadmus’s business after helping Supergirl and Green Arrow, trying to find the bottom of that rabbit hole.

Meanwhile, Lex Luthor has announced his candidacy for President (and is apparently doing well despite his criminal past. A criminal billionaire with no prior political career running for President? Like that could ever happen!)

Now, on with the show!

We open at the estate of Mafia Boss Steven Mandragora where a couple of his bodyguards are arguing about their secret scone recipe (sure, why not?) when they hear a noise in the bushes. Suddenly a figure from the bushes makes short work of them (but, this being for kids, doesn’t kill them despite using a crossbow) The figure then scales the building and enters the study.

You were expecting someone else?

Huntress uses an aerosol to spot the alarm beams and evade them. She then enters Mandragora’s bedroom and shoots the figure under the blanket (OK, this got dark quick!) However…

…as you may have guessed, Mandragora isn’t there. She then gets contacted by J’onn in the Watchtower and teleported.

Guess who’s in trouble? J’onn expels Huntress from the Justice League. As she goes to her quarters to gather her things…

Huntress enters the Question’s quarters, makes fun of his looks (what she thinks he looks like under his faceless mask) and his obsession before offering to help him with Cadmus in exchange for helping her track down Mandragora. (Something tells me she knows two things about Cadmus: Jack and Squat)

And where is Mandragora?

In a safe house being guarded by the FBI, Green Arrow, and Black Canary. Turns out Mandragora has promised to turn State’s Evidence against his fellow Mob Bosses in exchange for Witness Protection.

Meanwhile, the Question has found out about Mandragora’s location, and offers to tag along with Huntress.

Later, Mandragora’s goons, dressed as cops, attack the FBI while Canary and Arrow are on lookout duty outside. Then…

(Thanks to Princess Darkseid)

A wee bit later, as Huntress and the Question head to the waterfront, the Question reveals he knows Huntress knows nothing about Cadmus. Further, he knows about her connection to Mandragora.

So, if the Question knows why Huntress wants Mandragora, and that she has nothing to offer in exchange for his help, why is he helping?

Meanwhile, Canary (with Arrow riding behind) has caught up with them and demands that they stop. Question drives his car into a rail tunnel. Just one problem…

Question manages to turn into the side tunnel before the train hits him, but Arrow has to call for J’onn to teleport him and Canary. J’onn does so…over the bay where they land safely in the water.

Meanwhile, Question reveals that there’s a freighter from Mandragora’s country arriving shortly.

(Thanks to Unlimited)

So now the Huntress and the Question are An Item, but it’s not their last appearance together. This episode focused primarily on the Huntress’s obsession, while the next is all about the Question.

We open on Metropolis, where a warlord from Apokolips named Mantis is tearing up the city.

Fortunately, Superman is on the scene with an assist by Captain Atom (another Charlton import: Captain Nathanial Adams (USAF) was condemned for a crime he didn’t commit. He exchanged his death sentence for being a guinea pig for an experiment that turned him into a living nuclear reactor (similar to Firestorm, but with energy conversion instead of matter manipulation)) After a brief battle, Superman manages to activate Mantis’s Boom Tube and Captain Atom blasts Mantis through.

Following the attack, Lois Lane shows up looking for alone time with Superman, so Captain Adam makes himself scarce. After leaving, Captain Atom is summoned by General Eiling (calling the good Captain by his actual name)…

…and drafts him into Cadmus.

Meanwhile, the Question and the Huntress have a “date night” where they break into LexCorp to dig up information about Cadmus.

Eventually, Question manages to download the files, but Huntress now wants an actual date in return. (Exactly how can they have a date night like regular people when Huntress hasn’t even seen Question’s face? It’s not like he can eat while wearing that mask!)

Later in Question’s apartment (wait, why does he have an apartment? He has free housing in the Watchtower!)

(Thanks to Blue Kryptonite)

The Question goes to the Watchtower to confront Superman about this. Question reveals he knows what the Justice Lords did…and that events are lining up to make those same events happen in our universe!

Despite Superman’s assurances, the Question storms out of the Watchtower and to…

(Thanks again to Unlimited)

Huntress guesses that Cadmus must have Question.

Superman agrees to help Huntress rescue Question.

Obviously, Cadmus was expecting this. Fortunately for Huntress, Cadmus’s weaponry doesn’t affect Superman so she can hide behind him. Then Superman spots something and flies off, leaving Huntress to deal with Cadmus’s goon squad.

I think she's fine, if a bit annoyed.

They eventually find Question and free him…

…though he’s still a bit loopy (even for him) As they prepare to leave…

(You thought I casually mentioned Eiling drafting Captain Atom?)

The episode ends there and picks up on the next episode…

Fortunately, Superman manages to keep Captain Atom busy and gives Huntress his comlink so she can contact the Watchtower once she’s clear. One problem…

Huntress tell J’onn what he can do with his attitude and demands transport to save the Question (who, despite everything, is still a Member in Good Standing)

Later, in the infirmary, Question tells Huntress about the aerosol that seals/removes the mask from his face and changes his hair color, since he was having trouble breathing through it. After using the spray…

D’AWWWWWWW!

Now they can have a proper date night once he recovers!

Hope you enjoyed! Please let me know if there are any other JLU characters you would like to see a deep dive on (not that many got enough screen time to be able to)

[companion-showdown]

outfit suggestions for fasion show

Steven

cape from the Time Meddler

Dodo

from the Celestial Toymaker

from The Ark

Polly

Promo photo funky jacket (possibly a dress?) (can't tell/find what you're talking about, if you send me an image i'll include it)

The Faceless Ones

Jamie

kilt

Victoria

Victorian dress

Zoe

purple jumpsuit from the Mind Robber

feather boa from the Invasion

bubblewrap dress from the Five Doctors

PVC(?) coord from The Krotons

The Brigadier

sun bathing outfit from the TV Comics comic Doctor Who strip

Liz (literally everything, I will do my best)

from the Ambassadors of Death

Jo

from Day of the Daleks

fluffy blue jacket

from the Three Doctors

from the Time Monster

from Terror of the Autons

from The Mind of Evil

from The Claws of Axos

Sarah-Jane

Andy Pandy outfit (the Hand of Fear)

from Pyramids of Mars

from Genesis of the Daleks

from the Monster of Peladon (especially the jumper)

the seaside outfit from the beginning of Death to the Daleks 

Masque of Mandragora dress

from School Reunion

from The End of Time

Leela

Talons (all looks)

Fisherman’s outfit from Horror of Fang Rock

Romana I (literally everything, I will fit as much as possible)

from Androids of Tara

from the Ribos Operation

Romana II (multiple people said literally everything, I will fit as much as possible)

from Horns of Nimon

from State of Decay

from Destiny of the Daleks

from City of Death

from Shada

from Full Circle

Nyssa

from Snakedance

velvet pantsuit

Tegan

dress from Enlightenment

from Resurrection of the Daleks

Turlough

from Planet of Fire

Mel

polkadots (Paradise Towers)

from Dragonfire

Ace

the jacket

Grace Holloway

operation ballgown

Rose

dress fron Idiot's lantern

Dalek (the simple white tank top & bootcut jean combo just looks so good)

The Empty Child union jack tee

The Impossible Planet pink jacket

Jack

specifically post imortalitiy version

Martha

from Utopia

red leather jacket

Smith and Jones cold open

from the Lazarus experiment

Human Nature/Family of Blood flashbacks

from the Doctor's Daughter

Donna

dress from Unicorn and the Wasp

River

any from Husbands of River Song, but specifically the final red dress

regeneration outfit

Amy

red top, black mini-skirt

Clara

Victorian!Clara's first dress

from Time Heist

from the Caretaker, specifically the parent-teacher evening

from Robots of Sherwood

from Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS

from Deep Breath (Modern look & Victorian look)

from Mummy on the Orient Express

from Under the Lake

Nardole

byzantine outfit

Bill

original outfit

from Knock Knock

from Thin Ice

from Smile

Yaz

from Survivors of the Flux

Bernice Summerfield

I dig archeology pin (I cannont find a visual for this atm)

Fitz Kreiner

leather jacket

Frobisher

penguin (he can shapeshift, this is a choice he makes)

Evelyn Smythe

red cardigan

[zonerobotnik]

Where can I find adult crime lord Gideon with a body like Steven Mandragora from JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED

Uhh...not here. I draw him big, but not THAT big. Though, I haven't drawn him as a crime lord yet, I usually have him actually taking down crime lords through sneaky murder-y methods because they dared to mess with his town.

[becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys]

So we're looking up Lance Parkin's old timeline book, and while the English series can fill in some areas, there are still big gaps.

1190 - Capaldi whines at Robin Hood

Also 1190 - Hartnell visits the Crusades, with his best friend Barbara. Also Ian and Vicky are there.

1215 - Davison and the King's Demons, introducing everyone's favourite memorable companion, Kamelion

1273 - Sarah Jane joins and fights Sontarans (they are not Welsh yet but apparently this begins Sontarans dominating historical adventures)

1289 - Marco Polo! Hartnell and Barbara on their holidays, a classic (shame it no longer exists). Also Ian and Susan are there

And then BIG JUMP to

1454 - the Aztecs. Hartnell and Barbara bond heavily over the nature of Changing History and the ethical conundrums as Barbara tries to avert a genocide and Hartnell pleads with her, delivering the haunting line "You cannot change history, Barbara. Believe me. I know." with all the anguish and passion he was able to inject into the words. Also Ian and Susan are there

1492 - the Masque of Mandragora, mispronounced. Tom Baker and Sarah Jane run around Portmeirion meeting historical queer people and fighting an alien cult

1572 - the Massacre. Hartnell and Steven, the companion who mugs a man for his watch.

1590 - Smith and Amy and Rory meet fish vampires

So, even factoring in the old stuff... still a big jump! Nothing happens in the 1300s that the Doctor has EVER SEEN.

And in the earlier time block from 150 to 850 AD, Lance reckons Genesis of the Daleks happens in Earth's 760AD, but as the story takes place of Skaro I don't think it counts. So again, big historical gap.

This has made me realise that Rose and Donna really don't have a lot of past-episodes. Whole new thoughts about the structures of companion-eras. That and just 600 years of nothing between 150 and 850 + another 400 years between 1190 and 1590, feel like there's prime narrative to be had in those eras (not even a Shakespearian-inspired king story??)

Yeah, interestingly, there's a lot less historical stuff in the Welsh series in general. But I think we know why - when the show first launched it was designed to be semi educational, and the BBC also filmed a lot of historical stuff. That meant the Doctor Who team could borrow sets and costumes, so production costs stayed low. TV is made differently now.

But then, you still need to build future sets, too, and they manage that, so that'll only be one element of it. It's interesting! You notice weird stuff when you watch it this way

[robotnik-mun]

A thought has occurred to me. 

Willie Watt (from Batman Beyond) and Steven Mandragora (from Justice League Unlimited) would be REALLY great visual basis for a more realistic take on Snively and Robotnik.

I mean look ‘at em-

A shave here, a mustache there and you’re already in the ballpark. 

[feel-the-fire]

This scene was full of innuendos but THIS. FUCK.

[docgold13]

Heroes & Villains The DC Animated Universe - Paper Cut-Out Portraits and Profiles

The Huntress

Helena Bertinelli was the daughter of an organized crime overboss named Franco Bertinelli. As a child, she saw her parents murdered by Steven Mandragora, a lieutenant who killed his boss so to take over the Bertinelli empire.  Helena only managed to escape by hiding in a closet; yet she witnessed the whole ordeal and it scarred her for life.  

Sublimating her desire for revenge into crimefighting, Helena went on to become the Huntress.  She trained rigorously and became a world class gymnast and martial artist, capable of disarming and defeating multiple armed opponents.  Her weapons of choice were a self-reloading mini-crossbow and retractable bow-staff.

The Huntress was recruited into the Justice League when the team expanded its roster following the Thanagarian invasion.  Through the League’s resources, Huntress was finally able to track down Steven Mandragora who had recently resurfaced and was turning state’s witness as part of a plea deal.  

With the aid of The Question, The Huntress was able to take Mandragora down.  She had planning on killing him yet ultimately chose not when she saw that Mandragora was with his young son (a child roughly the same age Helena was when she saw her parents murdered).  Although she did not go through with her deadly act, Huntress' recklessness nonetheless resulted in her being expelled from the Justice League.

Undaunted, she continued to fight crime on her own, frequently teaming up with The Question (whom Helena had become romantically involved with).  When The Question was abducted by Project Cadmus, The Huntress alerted Superman and together they broke the Question free from his incarceration.  The Huntress was invited to rejoin the team but declined the offer.   

Some time later, The Huntress investigated strange behaviors on the part of Black Canary.  She discovered that Canary and other female member of the League were being mind controlled and forced to fight in Roulette’s Meta-Brawl.  Huntress and Black Canary worked together to free the others and Roulette’s operation was brought down.  

Actress Amy Acker voiced The Huntress with the headstrong heroine first appearing in the debut episode of the first season of Justice League Unlimited, ‘Initiation.’   

[torre-relogio-de-gotham]

Participação da Canário Negro nas Animações:

Liga da Justiça - Nova Fronteira (2008):

Ambas as versões da Canário Negro fazem aparições muito breves no filme, a primeira (Dinah Drake) aparecendo como membro da Sociedade da Justiça, enquanto a segunda Canário Negro (Dinah Lance) aparece no final do filme entre Supergirl e os Jovens Titãs (a próxima geração de heróis).

DC Showcase - Arqueiro Verde (2010):

Canário Negro aparece no curta DC Showcase: Arqueiro Verde. Aqui, Dinah Lance é ouvida em sua secretária eletrônica do Arqueiro Verde no início e aparece como Canário Negro no final, derrotando o Conde Vertigo usando seu Grito de Canário e é pedida em casamento pelo Arqueiro Verde.

Liga da Justiça - Crise Em Duas Terras (2010): 

Uma contraparte alternativa da Canário Negro de uma Terra Paralela, a vilã Rainha do Grito, aparece no filme animado Liga da Justiça: Crise Em Duas Terras, operando sob o comando de Johnny Quick, do Sindicato do Crime, atacando Caçador de Marte com seu Grito Sônico. 

Canário Negro também aparece mais tarde no filme como membro da Liga da Justiça teletransportada para a Torre de Vigilância para defender a mesma e lutar contra Superwoman, Capitão Super, Capitão Super Jr. e Tio Super. 

Canário Negro usa seu Grito de Canário contra Superwoman depois que ataca Raio Negro, e depois nocauteia Capitão Super Jr. usando seu poder quando ele está prestes a derrotar Nuclear. Sua ��nica frase no filme: "Quer ouvir um segredo?".

Lego Batman - O Filme (2017):

Canário Negro está entre os heróis presentes na festa de aniversário da Liga da Justiça, para a qual Batman não foi convidado.

Liga da Justiça (2001):

Sereia Negra, também conhecida como Donna Nance aparece como membro da Guilda da Justiça no episódio "Legends", é baseada no Canário Negro original (Dinah Drake).

Liga da Justiça Sem Limites (2004):

Canário Negro é membro da Liga da Justiça, fazendo sua primeira aparição no primeiro episódio intitulado "Initiation". Ela é apontada como a razão de Arqueiro Verde em aceitar a associação à Liga da Justiça. 

Canário Negro teve poucas aparições na primeira temporada, no entanto, fez aparições como personagem principal nos episódios seguintes. 

Canário Negro aparece como protagonista principal no episódio intitulado "The Cat and The Canary", um episódio que explorou seu relacionamento com o ex-mentor e colega da Liga da Justiça, Pantera e introduziu seu relacionamento com o Arqueiro Verde no Universo Animado da DC. 

Aqui, Pantera perdeu sua vontade de lutar contra o crime, quando começa a perceber que está velho demais para isso. Descobrindo que está lutando em uma arena ilegal de luta livre, que coloca os super-humanos sob a o comando de Roleta, Canário Negro tenta tirá-lo disso antes que seja expulso da Liga da Justiça. 

Canário Negro decide desafiar Pantera em uma luta, oferecendo sua vitória em troca do banimento de Pantera participar de combates em jaulas. Preocupado com Canário Negro, Arqueiro Verde a engana e a derruba com gás anestésico, e luta contra Pantera, fingindo sua própria morte e, assim, tirando o mesmo de sua angústia.

Canário Negro também aparece no episódio "Double Date". O episódio foi escrito por Gail Simone em homenagem às Aves de Rapina, mas o roteiro acabou colocando Arqueiro Verde e Questão no lugar da Batgirl. 

Neste episódio, Canário Negro e Arqueiro Verde perseguem Caçadora e Questão na busca de Caçadora por vingança contra o assassino de seus pais, o chefe da máfia, Steven Mandragora. A história termina com Steven Mandragora preso e a animosidade entre Canário Negro e Caçadora ainda não é resolvida.

O papel principal final de Canário Negro acontece em "Grudge Match". Aqui, Canário Negro é encontrada por Caçadora envolvida em mais uma das lutas sem trégua da Roleta ao longo de inúmeras noites, enquanto sua mente está sob controle pelo uso da tecnologia de controle mental de Grodd em sua comunicação da Liga da Justiça, cortesia da Legião do Mal. 

As lutas acontecem à noite e em sua consciência, pelo resto do dia, Canário Negro está desgastada, incapaz de combater o crime com eficiência. Com Caçadora rastreando-a, Canário Negro acorda depois que Caçadora finalmente destrói sua comunicação, cortando o sinal. Ao libertar Canário Negro, ambas são capturadas e são forçadas a enfrentar Mulher-Gavião e Vixen.

Com Canary e Huntress derrotando as duas e destruindo suas comunicações, Roleta finalmente as enjaula para lutar contra Mulher-Maravilha. Enquanto Vixen e Mulher-Gavião lutam para subjuga Mulher-Maravilha, Canário Negro e Caçadora escapam da arena e entram no centro de controle, derrotando Roleta e Sonar e cortando o sinal, interrompendo os ataques da Mulher-Maravilha. No final do episódio, Canário Negro e Caçadora se entendem e iniciam uma nova amizade, começando com uma luta.

No final da série no episódio "Destroyer", Canário Negro participa da batalha final contra Darkseid e seus Parademônios na invasão da Terra por Darkseid. Canário Negro luta ao lado de Arqueiro Verde. 

Canário Negro e Arqueiro Verde fazem sua última aparição enquanto correm para uma nova aventura antes dos sete membros principais da Liga da Justiça.

Batman - Os Bravos e Destemidos (2008):

Canário Negro apareceu em vários episódios de Batman: Os Bravos e Destemidos. Sua estréia acontece no teaser do episódio "Night of The Huntress!" e, desde então, fez aparições em "Mayhem of the Music Meister!", "The Golden Age of Justice!", "The Siege of Starro!", "The Mask of Matches Malone!" e participações especiais menores em vários outros episódios. 

Em "Era de Ouro da Justiça", sua mãe, a Canário Negro original (Dinah Drake) também apareceu em um flashback como membro da Sociedade da Justiça durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, embora essa versão tenha sido retratada com o Grito de Canário. 

É mostrado em outro flashback pouco antes de sua morte, que a Canário Negro original solicitou que Pantera cuidasse de sua filha. Esta versão da Canário Negro original morre em um prédio em chamas durante um resgate em vez de câncer.

Justiça Jovem (2010):

Canário Negro aparece como membro da Liga da Justiça na série animada, Justiça Jovem. Em 8 de julho, quando Superboy, Aqualad, Robin, Kid Flash e Miss Marte foram formados na unidade secreta de operações conhecida como Equipe, Batman apresentou Canário Negro como sua treinadora. 

Canário Negro e Arqueiro Verde foram atacados por Amazo e finalmente oderrotaram. O braço esquerdo de Canário Negro foi ferido durante a batalha, e mais tarde ela o enfaixou.

Superboy desdenha sobre como esse treinamento era inútil para ele, pois sentiu que seus poderes compensavam sua falta de experiência em combate. Canário Negro provou que ele estava errado, derrotando-o várias vezes enquanto tentava ensiná-lo a controlar seu temperamento e sua situação. 

Batman interrompeu a sessão de treinamento, no entanto, enviando a equipe em uma missão. Antes de sair, Canário Negro diz à Superboy que quando precisasse de sua ajuda, ela estaria lá para ele. Por fim, Superboy levou a lição a sério e, depois que a equipe derrotou Amazo, ele pediu sua ajuda.

Canário Negro compareceu ao funeral de Kent Nelson na Torre do Destino. Canárias Negras foi a terceira treinadora da equipe após o desaparecimento de  Tornado Vermelho. Depois que a equipe fugiu com Zatanna para encontrar Tornado, ela ficou ocupada acalmando Zatara. 

Depois que uma simulação telepática de treinamento deu terrivelmente errado, Canário Negro trabalhou como conselheira da equipe e dedicou um tempo para discutir os eventos com cada membro da equipe individualmente. 

Canário Negro fazia parte da equipe de incursão que atacou a segunda fortaleza de gelo. Do Super-Moto, usou seu Grito de Canário para enfraquecer os escudos da aeronave.

Dinah Lance e Oliver Queen foram chamados para a Caverna por Batman, que mostrou a eles imagens de segurança do que parecia ser um beijo entre Dinah e Superboy. Dinah fica chocada, ainda mais quando tem conhecimento que era Miss Marte que assumiu sua forma. 

Dinah desconta sua raiva em Oliver, que achou hilário, e então, decide conversar com M'gann. A essa altura, Dinah já havia superado a raiva, mas pediu a M'gann para ser ela mesma, pois suas ações, por mais inocentes que fossem, poderiam prejudicar as pessoas. A conversa foi interrompida por Batman, que solicitou a equipe para instruções de uma missão.

Em uma reunião da Liga da Justiça discutindo a possibilidade de expansão das fileiras, Canárias Negras foi um defensor da sugestão da Mulher Maravilha para mais mulheres. Ela também questionou se a idade deveria ser considerada biologicamente ou cronologicamente, depois que o Red Tornado sugeriu o Superboy. O Canário Negro esteve presente na conferência de imprensa sobre a indução de Atom, Doctor Fate, Icon, Plastic Man e Red Arrow na Liga.

Depois que a equipe apreendeu três criminosos fugitivos (Charada, Mammoth e Shimmer), Canário Negro ajudou Batman na transferência de biotecnologia alienígena estranha. Acompanhou Ícone à cerimônia de indução e ficou feliz por Foguete ter encontrado um lugar na equipe. 

Depois de ser escravo do controle mental da Luz, Canário Negro recebeu Vandal Savage a bordo da Torre de Vigilência com um silencioso ajoelhamento de obediência. Ela ataca a equipe, mas é derrotada depois que Foguete a prende em um campo de força com uma das bombas de fumaça de Robin. 

Depois de amarrada e amordaçada, Canário Negro é curada e se infiltra na Torre de Vigilância para libertar os outros membros da Liga da Justiça. No entanto, é capturada e novamente sofre lavagem cerebral. Após a batalha final, é libertada do controle de Vandal Savage e se reúne com Arqueiro Verde e Arqueiro Vermelho.

Liga da Justiça Ação (2016):

Canário Negro aparece pela primeira vez em uma foto no táxi do Taxista Espacial na 1ª Temporada, Episódio "Follow That Space Cab!".

Ela aparece pela primeira vez em uma participação completa na 1ª Temporada, Episódio 46 "Party Animal", na festa de Natal do Arqueiro Verde.

Liga da Justiça Ação (Web Série 2017): 

Canário Negro aparece pela primeira vez em uma selfie tirada pelo Taxista Espacial no episódio 8 "Selfie Help".

DC Super Hero Girls (2015): 

A Canário Negro original (Dinah Drake) faz uma pequena participação na 1ª temporada da série animada.

[ao3feed-westallen]

Catching

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2Nakfdb

by NBaban

Skylar Marie Jones was a simple senior student at Metropolis University until she made one wrong choice and is now indebted to the famous crime lord Steven Mandragora. She's working for one of his men to pay her debt when one day a possible business deal between one of Mandragora's shell company and Wayne Enterprises leaves her face to face with the billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne.

( Extensive DC knowledge not needed, I'll try to explain the concepts as much as I can, you don't need to be a superfan to understand- I promise)

- fast updates -

Words: 41379, Chapters: 15/?, Language: English

Fandoms: DCU, DC Extended Universe

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: F/M

Characters: Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Alfred Pennyworth, Original Female Character, Clark Kent, Diana (Wonder Woman), Barry Allen, Hal Jordan, Arthur Curry (DCU), J'onn J'onzz, Lois Lane, Iris West, Barbara Gordon, Wally West, The Team (Young Justice), Justice League (DCU), Original Characters, Joker (DCU), Harley Quinn, Steven Mandragora

Relationships: Bruce Wayne/Original Female Character(s), Past Clark Kent/Diana Prince, Clark Kent/Lois Lane, Barry Allen/Iris West

Additional Tags: bruce wayne allows himself to be happy, bruce wayne deserves to be happy, my first attempt at a slowburn, Falling In Love, Domestic Relationship, Wayne Family, original storyline, i love dick grayson with all of my heart, Not Beta Read, Angst and Tragedy, pov changes sometimes, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Bruce and Clark are best friends, there definitely is a bromance going on, barry has bromances with both oliver and hal, secret identities and secrets but OFC is too smart, Torture, Psychological Torture, Aftermath of Torture

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2Nakfdb

[theknightofivanhoe]

Justice League: Question’s Hard Drive Ch 2: Table for Two

Table of Contents

The journey in Question’s shiny royal blue 1960s Pontiac GTO was spent in deathly silence. Question himself focused on the road leading through the dimly-lit labyrinth of streets. Not a word was said between him or Huntress who sat looking out of the window. Right now Question’s mission had quite literally gone from infiltrating an office building in order to discover ties between CADMUS and Lex Luthor, to satisfying his scantily-clad, fiery-tempered vigilante girlfriend with a proper date in order to discover ties between CADMUS and Lex Luthor. Question was, Question was asking himself, which eating place could Huntress agree on without it being a front for the Court of Owls for instance? With all the connections that rattled through the detective’s head, the options were few.

“So, did you have a place in mind?” Question’s hushed inquiry pierced Huntress’ virtually unknown train of thoughts and she inclined her striking, tan face towards him. “The Princess of Mars club includes some rooftop tables.” she suggested, smirking romantically as she propped her elbow on the windowsill of her door and rested her head on her fist. “We can gaze up at the stars while we -.” “That’s a negative.” This terse response from the detective caught Huntress off guard. “I’m sorry?” she asked once she had processed this refusal. “That restaurant likely lets people on its roof so the Church of Blood has a vantage point to kidnap innocent families.” Question warned as he drove on. Huntress just pinched the bridge of her slim nose in despair. “Can we please not have another one of your idiot conspiracy theories again, Q? I’m worn out from tonight’s mission.” “Well I’ve got mountains of information to search if we’re going to connect CADMUS to Luthor.” Question replied intently. “Q, all I’d like is for us to just take it easy first, just for tonight.” Huntress protested. “Learn to work hard...and play hard.” She finished this with a devilish grin spreading on her lips, eyebrows bobbing up and down under her mask. This, along with how Huntress crossed her naked legs, was enough to send Question’s heart racing and remind him why their bond grew so strong since he joined in her pursuit of crime lord Steven Mandragora.

“So, how does some jazz and pasta at Brando’s Pastaria sound?” Huntress asked again. “That has Snaky Doyle’s name on it.” Question objected, but Huntress scoffed. “Snaky my butt! Anyway if you spot anything wrong, let your girl handle it.” “Like how you handled Black Canary?” Question shot back rather wryly. That got Huntress spluttering indignantly. “How about you don’t mention that blond bimbo in the middle of our date?” “I’m just saying - ” “Alright, one last try before I smash your head through the windshield; Corleone and Brazzi’s. And enough with your idiot conspiracies.” Huntress ended this with a certain amount of threat to her voice, facing the roadway again. “We went past the only lane that would have taken us there.” Question plainly told her. “...and?” Huntress asked, glaring at her bizarre admirer through the corner of her eye. “And there’s a good chance Corleone and Brazzi’s is a front for a sect of Kobr-” “Q!” “Okay, okay, Corleone and Brazzi’s it is!” The detective immediately backpedalled when Huntress sharply rounded on him again. The Pontiac was taken in an immediate u-turn now that the decision had been made. “Sometimes I wonder how…” Huntress muttered with a palm to her forehead. “Eccentric charm…” Question reminded her, focusing through his blank mask on the new route. This made Huntress smirk, her smokey dark eyes fixed on him and she propped her chin on her fist again. “Can’t argue with that…”

Corleone and Brazzi’s was not too shabby, a vast multi-storey restaurant in a thriving part of Hub city with classical-style pillars, statues and plants in large urns. Buzzing with relatively mild activity, the restaurant had men in tuxedos eating and drinking with ladies in elegant gowns and gentle piano music twinkling in the background over all the polite chatter. “Name…?” a moustached man standing over the guest list, the restaurant host, asked the figure that stepped up to him. “Question.” came the low, mysterious voice that caused the host to pause and look up at the visitor in the blue fedora and trench coat. “Questio - I’m sorry, I don’t quite foll - AAH!” He nearly leapt a foot in the air at the sight of a face that looked like nothing but skin, with no eyes, nose or mouth to speak of! Rooted to the spot as Question himself just fixed him with an eyeless stare, the host shivered all over. Other staff and guests stopped what they were doing in confusion and shock at what they heard. But the figure in the fedora lowered his head so the brim obscured his face before everyone else could also get a glimpse. The host, to whom Question had shown his masked face, could only stand up against his desk staring at him in pure fear. What was he to do?

“Don’t mind my date, sweetie.” A raven-haired woman appeared at Question’s side, smiling reassuringly. Out of her mask, gloves and boots and now wearing a gloss-black high-neck, sleeveless minidress with a pair of fashionable stiletto sandals and a black satchel slung on her shoulder, Helena lay a hand on Question’s shoulder while coiling her other arm snugly around his lower torso. “It’s not often Q-utie here ‘faces’ life at its fullest, is it, baby doll?” “…Table for two, please?” Underneath his mask, Question didn’t seem to take Helena’s teasing very well. “Name of Question and Helena…” Still nervous at this seemingly faceless man, the moustached host decided they didn’t look like they would cause any harm, hopefully. “Uhh…yes, yes, uh, certainly, Mr - uh - Question - uh - sir… We have - ah - ah, Table 5, it’s right - right by - by the window…you can hear the pianist pretty clearly, uh, sir…” he stammered, shakily writing on his list. His nervousness made it hard to jot the letters down. “You’re a peach, hun.” Helena commented in a sultry way, gently pulling Question along by his waist as her stilettos clicked across the waxed floor tiles.

“‘Faces life?’ Seriously?” Question hissed under his hat’s brim as they waded past the slightly apprehensive guests who he had to keep from seeing his mask. “Come on, Q! Is a sense of humour too conspiratorial for you too?” asked Helena who strutted beside him enjoying how people glanced at how gracefully she moved, not to mention her choice of attire. “It was Christmas cracker-tier.” Question said indignantly, “In fact, Christmas crackers are being looked into in connection with the - ” “What about the boys checking me out?” Helena interrupted his conspiracy-based rambling with a sly look. “You looking into that?” The minidress she now wore over her leotard didn’t show off her legs quite as much as the latter, but its hem was still short to the point of dangerous, earning some glances from some of the well-dressed men at tables the couple went past. Question noticed one man turn his head in Helena’s direction, his shoulders clenching threateningly. Pulling away from Helena’s arm, he towered over the man in the tuxedo, looking rather intimidating even as his hat’s brim hid his blank mask. “Ah…” the man uttered, trying no to shrink in his chair. “Saw something on the floor - uh, dropped something - my bit of bread - thought I’d dropped my bread…” he blabbered, immediately turning to the meal he was having. “Strange. I didn’t notice any bread on the floor…” Question nearly growled his words out, before Helena pulled him away to prevent an escalation. “Not now, baby doll…” Another man snuck a glance at her, only to get a clap round the head from the woman sitting next to him!

A reminder; Huntress is pretty sensitive to any mentions of Black Canary after their first battle in 'Double Date.'

Chapter 1

Chapter 3

[al-fletcher]

Two-Face story pitch (working title: “Caudillo”)

This post was mostly inspired by reviews and musings about Two-Face by @about-faces — all scans are also by him, so full credit to Hef here.

tl;dr — Harvey Dent and Helena Bertinelli clean up Santa Prisca together, until it all comes crashing down.

The nucleus of this idea originates from two different strands, the first being that according to Batman Annual #13 (“Faces”, by James Owsley/Christopher Priest and Michael Bair), Two-Face maintains a hideout in Santa Prisca:

(The guy in green is Batman is disguise, but that’s a long story so let’s put that aside for the time being...)

I swear the review from which I got this scan had Hef envisioning Two-Face sipping mojitos in a white suit on its balcony, but it appears my memory has failed me actually it was in the comments. At any rate, that image isn’t too far removed from this great piece by Dustin Nguyen, which pretty much forms my mental image of Harvey for this story:

(Source)

In further evidence of my increasing cretinousness, I swear Hef’s Face the Face review had something along the lines of pondering the possibility of Harvey and Huntress (Bertinelli, not Wayne) teaming up, but once again, it’s not there! I must be losing it. The last time they ever came close to working together was in No Man’s Land, which eventually ended in tears, but enjoy the little wave he gives her here for now:

(Source)

Anyway, I’d like to explore the potential dynamic between them, what with Harvey’s...unusual approach to law and order, and Helena’s usually-more-brutal-than-most-of-the-Batfamily methods, set in the context of Santa Prisca, that hive of lawlessness(, scum and villany), with just a small touch of ~social commentary~.

The actual plot would involve Helena travelling to Santa Prisca to hunt down associates of the people responsible for her family’s deaths and bring them to justice (TIL it appears that only the DCAU has Steven Mandragora as chief party to the massacre), and somehow being cognisant, maybe through Oracle, that Harvey Dent keeps a base there, and makes him her first point of contact.

Two-Face, who happens to be hiding out there at the moment, offers her a deal: if she helps him and his gang out (working name: the Double Cross Gang, employing double daggers ‡ as their symbol), he’ll gladly give her a lead. Additionally, Harvey, beyond his Gotham connections, recognises Helena because her family’s tragic end was one of the first cases he ever worked on as a mid-level deputy in the DA’s office, and he even interviewed her at one point.

The chief point in her even considering this partnership, or contract, is that Santa Prisca has recently fallen on hard times with natural disasters (be they earthquakes or tornadoes, seeing as the Caribbean has been struck by both in recent times), and in keeping with themes dating as far back as his Golden Age origin, Harvey is in fact acting as his district’s philanthropist:

(Source)

Under Harvey’s leadership, the Double Cross, or Dos Cruces, gang has been organising relief and providing protection against looters and other predatory gangs, forming a law unto itself (with obvious parallels to NML here), even subordinating the local police force under his control. Thus, Two-Face and Huntress strike up a working relationship not unlike a bizarro version of Gordon and Batman’s (and Harvey’s before the acid hit):

(Source)

The main difference here is that Two-Face is basically using Helena as chief enforcer against the chiefs of other gangs, leading to Helena being highly conflicted about the whole matter, seeing as she nominally should be acting in the interest of the law — but then again, in a place as lawless as Santa Prisca, what is justice, really? Is what Harvey’s doing any worse than what the local authorities could manage? Does that in any way justify his intervention?

I don’t know how exactly it would end — probably with some sudden yet inevitable betrayal, maybe by a local lieutenant fearful of an American takeover of their operation, or by Harvey’s disgruntled vassals in the police force — but it would (as with all things Harvey Dent, sadly) come crashing down, probably explosively since this is a comics-inspired story, after all.

If Batman was to appear at all in this story, it’d only be right at the end to bring Harvey back to Gotham, and maybe trade some musings with Helena as they contemplate the ruins.

That’s what I’ve got so far. What do you guys think?

N.B. “Caudillo” is a Spanish term meaning “leader” which eventually came to be adopted by military strongmen in the Latino world, and by everyone’s favourite falangist Francisco Franco himself, in case you didn’t already know.

@about-faces @possessedloser @mirrorfalls