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Adversaries:
New Teen Titans |
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| The Puppeteer |
| The Disruptor |
| Trident |
| Godiva |
| Children of the Sun |
| Eric Forrester |
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The Puppeteer
The Puppeteer plots against the Titans in
NEW TEEN TITANS #9 [1981] |
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Changeling recruited Robin to investigate a series of mysterious deaths among the Board of Directors of Dayton Industries, of which he is in charge in the absence of his foster-father, Steve (Mento) Dayton. Robin traced the murders to Green Lantern's old foe, the Puppeteer, who was now in league with the H.I.V.E. Through his robot puppets, Puppeteer took control of Cyborg, Kid Flash, Starfire, and Wonder Girl, and turned them against their teammates. Raven's soul-self was finally able to break their trance, and the Titans united to battle Puppeteer and his toy robotic army. When the villain was defeated, the H.I.V.E., attempted to destroy him for his failure - but the Puppeteer escaped.
Later, Wildebeest sprang the Black Trident from jail, as well as Gizmo, the Puppeteer and the Disruptor. Trident, Gizmo and Disruptor engaged the Titans while Wildebeest captured a pregnant Mother Mayhem. The Puppeteer remained with the Wildebeest; Disruptor,Trident and Gizmo believed The Wildebeest may have killed him; The final fate of Puppeteer is unrevealed.
New Teen Titans #9 [1981]: Changeling asks Robin to help investigate the murders of several Dayton Industries executives, which are traced to Green Lantern's old foe, the Puppeteer.
New Teen Titans (second series) #41-42 [1988]: Wildebeest recruits the Puppeteer, the Disruptor, Gizmo and Trident to attack the Titans.
The Disruptor
Alias: Michael Beldon
| The Disruptor makes his debut in NEW TEEN TITANS #20 [1982]. |
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Michael Beldon is the son of 'Brains' Beldon, a criminal genius that had tangled with Batman. 'Brains' wanted a seat in the criminal organization, the H.I.V.E. To prove himself, he created a high-tech costume that could disrupt the natural flow/order of things. Meanwhile, his son Michael constantly sought his father's approval. In a bid to earn the respect of his father, Michael wore the costume and called himself the Disruptor.
At the H.I.V.E.'s request, the Disruptor hunted down the members of the Teen Titans. If The Disruptor could kill them, the seat in the H.I.V.E. would be given to 'Brains' Beldon. Disruptor was effective in combat, almost killing Cyborg, Changeling and Wonder Girl with his disruption powers. Kid Flash himself was captured by the Disruptor and his father, "Brains" Beldon. The Titans counterattacked, only to have the Disruptor turn their own powers against them, until he was defeated by Raven's soul-self.
Upon his defeat, the H.I.V.E. rescinded their offer to 'Brains' Beldon. Michael Beldon went to jail, taking the rap for his father. Nonetheless, his father rebuffed him, leaving Michael devastated.
Later, Wildebeest sprang the Black Trident from jail, as well as Gizmo, the Puppeteer and the Disruptor. These villains were eventually recaptured by the Titans. The Disruptor resurfaced later to battle Arsenal's team of Titans; He was defeated once again.
The Disruptor's suit enables him to disrupt the natural flow of things. This includes super-powers and the natural elements, as well as various forms of energy.
New Teen Titans #20 [1982]: The Disruptor attacks several of the Titans because his father wants the H.I.V.E.'s prized seventh seat; First appearance of Disruptor.
New Teen Titans (second series) #41-42 [1988]: Wildebeest recruits the Puppeteer, the Disruptor, Gizmo and Trident to attack the Titans.
The Titans Secret Files #1 [1999]: In a "lost pages" segment (written by Jay Faerber, with art by Rick Mays), discover what took place between the end of Arsenal's Titans and the beginning of the Atom's group. Arsenal's team battles the Disruptor.
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Trident
Alias: Sammy Jaye, 'Prof,' Unknown
At one time, the three alter egos of Trident were operatives of the H.I.V.E., with Prof being a weapons design specialist. Eventually they decided to team up and strike out on their own. Each adopted the costume and code-name of Trident, and each was armed with a powerful trident. The weapon had three tines: the right shot fire, the left shot ice, and the middle released a blast of devastating force.
Trident operated in New York City, each criminal taking turns at committing several large robberies. It was believed that Trident was only one person. Eventually, the Sammy Jaye Trident tried to cheat his two partners out of their share of loot. The other two killed Sammy, and his costumed body was discovered by the New Teen Titans. It was Starfire who eventually figured out that there was more than one Trident.
Some time after the two surviving Tridents were imprisoned, Wildebeest sprang the Black Trident from jail, as well as Gizmo, the Puppeteer and the Disruptor. These villains were eventually recaptured by the Titans.
SammyJaye was an average thug who seemed uneducated. Prof is intelligent, and his language reflects this. The black Trident is an ex-Golden Gloves boxer.
Trident carries his super-powered weapon developed by the 'Prof.' The trident had three tines: the right shot fire, the left shot ice, and the middle released a blast of devastating force.
New Teen Titans #33 [1983]: While Robin is casing Anthony Scarapelli's home with Adrian Chase, the other Titans puzzle over their encounters with a villain calling himself Trident; Starfire deduces that Trident is actually three different criminals who wear the same costume. First appearance of Trident.
New Teen Titans (second series) #41-42 [1988]: Wildebeest recruits the Puppeteer, the Disruptor, Gizmo and Trident to attack the Titans.
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| Godiva is ready for her close-up in NEW TEEN TITANS (second series) Annual #3 [1987]. |
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Godiva is a mysterious foe of the Titans: A vain beauty who claims to be the offspring of a Chinese prince and an African princess, Godiva is a mercenary who works on espionage, assassination and theft missions for whomever can pay her fee. Her base of operations is in the Swiss Alps.
The New Teen Titans first encountered Godiva in France after she kidnapped John and Cherie Chase, Danny Chase's parents. The Chases had information on a spy satellite that Godiva planned to steal and sell to the highest bidder. Danny eventually saved the Titans, but Godiva escaped. As a result of Danny's actions and his powers, he was allowed to stay with the Titans. It can be said that Godiva was responsible for bringing Danny and the Titans together.
Godiva clashed with the Titans a second time, assassinating a British spy who was taking refuge at a secret agent retirement home. Godiva got away yet again by distracting the Titans with an explosion that appeared to kill Nightwing-and by dropping the British agent to his death.
Godiva is rather psychotic. She is unreliable and unstable, almost childlike in manner. Godiva is very self-absorbed; a video cameraman follows her everywhere, at her orders. Godiva stares into mirrors constantly, obsessed with her beauty.
Sometimes Godiva treats her encounters with the Titans as a game, even stealing kisses from Cyborg, which he cannot stand. She has an almost pathological need to be the center of attention. Despite her frivolous behavior, Godiva does have a knack for getting the job done and escaping unscathed.
Godiva is a health nut in every sense of the word. She has been known to shoot or "fire" (as in, throw a firebomb at) her employees for smoking or eating red meat. Her macabre sense of humor almost rivals the Joker in this respect.
In addition to her Control Power, Godiva has in the past been backed up by attack copters and henchmen, all sporting a stylized "G." Godiva is extremely persuasive; Whether this is a meta-human ability or simple charm remains to be seen. But her employees have been known to act as mindless puppets.
New Teen Titans (second series) Annual #3[1988]: The elegant mercenary Godiva makes her debut, capturing Central Bureau of Investigation agents, John and Cherie Chase. First appearance of Danny Chase and Godiva.
New Teen Titans (second series) #44 [1988]: Godiva assassinates a British spy, battles the Titans, and escapes.
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Children of the Sun
| Raymond Dark swears vengeance in NEW TEEN TITANS (second series) Annual #5 [1989]. |
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Raymond Dark worked with fellow scientist Silas Stone (father of Vic Stone, Cyborg) at Westchester Sciences. Dark proposed use of nuclear power, but Silas thought his measures were too unstable. Dark went over his head and accused Silas of being a communist sympathizer. Under a cloud of suspicion, Silas was forced to leave Westchester Science, and he assumed a job at S.T.A.R. Labs with his wife, Elinore.
Westchester Sciences read Silas' report after he had left, and ultimately agreed with his findings. They pulled the plug on his projects. Furious, Dark left the company and swore revenge on Silas Stone, who he blamed for his misfortunes.
Dark left and created his own company, which he called the Children of the Sun. Garbed in a black hooded robe, Dark had become obsessed and power mad. In his words: "So now we push ahead to create a new sun. To create a world greater than any God ever did. We are greater than Hyperion and Thia! We are greater than Zeus and Hera! And one day we will be worshipped!" To this end, Dark created a process which granted super powers, but would kill its victims in a number of hours. He recruited people to his cause and sent them on suicide missions to further his vision to cleanse the world to make it ready for his eventual rule.
Vicki Grant (who possessed the H dial: a mystical device that granted the user new super powers each time it was 'dialed') moved to San Francisco and fell in with a bad crowd. She was eventually recruited and corrupted by the evil Children of the Sun, who taught her how to draw the power of the dial into herself. Now motivated towards destruction for destruction's sake, she decided to use her powers to kill Chris King, her former H dial partner and boyfriend. She would have succeeded had the New Titans not intervened. With their help, Chris escaped Vicki's wrath; when she fled, he vowed to someday find her and help her reform.
The Children of the Sun, under the direction of member Carl Vesper, next attacked the Titans in their dreams through a mysterious man known as Muse. Raven was able to rally the Titans to defeat him.
Some time later, Dark attacked the Titans when he learned that Cyborg was the son of Silas Stone. The Titans fought his super-powered dupes and eventually found the lair of the Children of the Sun. Meanwhile, Dark's followers grew tired of his obsessions regarding Silas Stone, which they thought was detracting from their true goals. They revolted and killed Dark, intent on still carrying out his new-world vision.
The Titans inverned, however, and tracked them down. The remaining Children of the Sun attempted to board a submarine and escape. However, during their escape, the sub exploded, thus putting an end to the Children of the Sun.
Raymond Dark apparently had some sort of super powers, most likely acquired through the wealth of scientific equipment at his disposal. He was able to emit flames from his hands. The Children of the Sun were able to bestow super-powers to regular mortals, but the powers would kill them in a short period of time.
New Teen Titans (second series) #45-46 [1988]: It is revealed that the Children of the Sun abducted Vicki Grant and taught her how to draw the power of the H-dial into herself. Now motivated towards destruction for destruction's sake, she decides to use her powers to kill Chris King - until the New Titans intervene and save him. First appearance of the Children of the Sun, post-Crisis.
New Teen Titans (second series) Annual #4 [1988]: The Children of the Sun attack the Titans in their dreams through a mysterious man known as Muse. Raven is able to rally the Titans to defeat him, and he is left incoherent and mentally shocked.
New Teen Titans (second series) Annual #5 [1989]: The Children of the Sun target Cyborg when they learn he is the son of Silas Stone. Their leader, Damien Dark, blames Silas for past misfortunes and later founded the Children of the Sun, an elitist group. The Titans fight his super-powered dupes and eventually find the lair of the Children of the Sun - which is destroyed along with Dark and his followers. First appearance of Raymond Dark. Origin of the Children of the Sun, post-Crisis. Apparent demise of Children of the Sun and Raymond Dark.
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Vicki Grant
Alias: Dial H for HERO
Dial H for HERO
Bad Girl: Evil Vicki Grant - under the influence of the Children of the Sun -
vexes Chris King in NEW TEEN TITANS (second series) #46 [1988]. |
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The origins of Vicki's powers stretch back over ten years, to the day a teenager named Robby Reed accidentally fell into a subterranean cavern. there, Robby discovered a strange device shaped like a telephone dial and inscribed with an extraterrestrial language. The dial had ten spaces; each labeled with an alien letter. Robby, a child prodigy, deciphered enough of the inscriptions to be able to dial the alien equivalent of the letters H-E-R-O, which instantly transformed him into a super-hero called Giant-Boy. The change wore off when he dialed O-R-E-H, and each time thereafter that Robby used the dial to fight crime, he became a completely different costumed character, each with his own strange and marvelous power.
Robby's career ended abruptly when he was forced into dialing S-P-L-I-T during a case and became two people - the benevolent Wizard and the evil Master, who hid the H-dial and began creating an army of super-villains with which to rule me world. In order to combat the Master, the Wizard built two new H-dials and lured two teenagers-Chris King and Vicki Grant-into finding them and discovering their wonderful powers. Unlike the heroic identities conjured up by the original dial, Chris and Vicki's transformations lasted only one hour, but each dial still allowed its wearer to enjoy a new and completely random super-hero form each time it was used.
Chris and Vicki baffled numerous super-villains in their hometown of Fairfax; many of them created by Robby Reed's evil alter-ego. During their final confrontation with the Master, the Wizard-who had finally found the original H-dial-intervened and reunited with the Master, at last allowing Robby to return to normal. Though Chris and Vicki's mission to oppose the Master was now complete, Robby allowed them to keep their dials and gave his own to their friend, Nick Stevens.
Dial T for Trouble
| Vicki Grant returns to normal in SUPERBOY AND THE RAVERS #13 [1997] |
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After their high-school graduation, Vicki Grant (who possessed the H dial: a mystical device that granted the user new super powers each time it was 'dialed') moved to San Francisco and fell in with a bad crowd. She was eventually recruited and corrupted by the evil Children of the Sun, who taught her how to draw the power of the dial into herself. Now motivated towards destruction for destruction's sake, she decided to use her powers to kill Chris. She would have succeeded had the New Titans not intervened. With their help, Chris escaped Vicki's wrath; when she fled, he vowed to someday find her and help her reform.
After that time, Vicki Grant encountered Hero Cruz, who had acquired her H-dial by accident. She first savagely attacked Hero Cruz, but was then reunited with her dial. She dialed and was able to change back into normal Vicki Grant. Shaken from her experience, Vicki stayed with the family of Sparx (of the Ravers) to recuperate.
By dialing H-E-R-O on the mythical H-dial, Vicki Grant can transform into a different super-powered hero. Through the Children of the Sun, Vicki's dial powers became internalized, allowing her to transform without the aid of the dial. This drove her over the edge.
Hero Cruz has surmised that the transformations are something of a psychological manifestation of the dialer. Thus, his friendly affection for Sparx manifested as romantic feelings in one of his guises (even though Hero is gay). Likewise, Vicki Grant's horrific transformations were linked to her poor self image at the time.
New Teen Titans (second series) #45-46 [1988]: Chris [Dial H for HERO] King is being chased by an insane and vengeful Vicki [Dial H for HERO] Grant, his former girlfriend. It is revealed that the Children of the Sun abducted Vicki and taught her how to draw the power of the dial into herself. Now motivated towards destruction for destruction's sake, she decides to use her powers to kill Chris King - until the New Titans intervene and save him. First appearance of the Children of the Sun, post-Crisis.
Superboy & the Ravers #13 [1995]: Ex-Dial-H-Hero Vicki Grant encountered Hero Cruz. She first savagely attacked Hero Cruz, but was then reunited with her dial. She dialed and was able to change back into normal Vicki Grant. After the battle, Hero finally confessed the truth to Sparx: The reason he didn't respond to her flirtations was that he was gay.
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The so-called "Crisis on Infinite Earths" caused time blips that retro-actively changed reality. To clarify, below is an entry that tells the original origin story of the character(s) in question.
Thia (the ancient Titan goddess of the sun) freed herself from her imprisonment in Tartarus and roamed the earth as a human woman. Taking many mortal husbands and lovers, she bore many children, who have since become the most politically and economically most powerful people on earth (they call themselves the Children of the Sun). Lilith Clay was one of those children. Lilith's father was the owner of Sun Publishing, and was killed by Thia once he served his purpose (like all of Thia's previous lovers). Lilith was later lost to her mother when a young nurse abducted her as a child.
As Lilith entered adulthood, Thia sensed her presence. Thia appeared to Lilith and explained her origins, as she abducted her to Olympus, where she sought to take over the home of the fabled gods. Thia overcame Zeus and freed the mythical Giants to attack the gods and ancient Titans. All but three of the ancient Titans perished. Meanwhile, the Teen Titans rushed to the rescue of their teammate, Lilith.
The Teen Titans encountered a young girl named Kole, a crystal spinner under the thrall of Thia. The Teen Titans were able to free the Amazons from a crystal prison and defeat Thia's mythological minions. Hyperion (Thia's husband) attacked Thia, sacrificing himself to destroy her, and the two perished together in flames. When the battle ended, Zeus decreed the surviving Titans and Lilith, who was recognized as a demi-goddess, remain in Olympus. Lilith was officially instated as a goddess and remained in Olympus.
Meanwhile, Carl Vesper (son of Thia) learned of his mother's death. He resolved that the Children of the Sun will use their influence to rule the world.
Thia possesses vast godlike powers, including powerful fire-blasts, flight and teleportation, as well as unbelievable strength and durability as well as immortality.
Marv Wolfman, on Thia's absence in New Teen Titans #11-12: "Okay, Thia wasn't there for a story that I should've done by issue #22, and because we got involved in doing the runaways story in those specific months, since it was done in coordination with the National Runaways Association and September and October were crucial months we had to have it printed then. So we had to move, shift all our stories around. I will be doing the Thia story. There is a reason for that. Somebody actually guessed it, though went to the wrong conclusion, they assumed Wonder Girl's mother was Thia. We'll be doing a story about Thia and Wonder Girl very shortly, and it was very important that she not be there for that reason."
New Teen Titans (second series) #7-10 [1985]: Lilith discovers her true origin as the daughter of Thia, renegade member of the legendary Titans. First appearance of Thia in issue #7. First appearance of Kole in issue #9. First appearance of Children of the Sun in issue #9. Lilith is proclaimed a goddess and leaves the Titans in issue #10. The events of this issue have been negated by the Crisis on Infinite Earths.
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Eric Forrester's secret exposed!
From NEW TEEN TITANS (second series) #67 [1990]. |
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The Titans first encountered Eric Forrester when he was undergoing experiments testing his meta-human powers at S.T.A.R. Labs. It appeared that Eric had the ability to interface with any type of computer and access its information. Extremely good-looking and cocky, Eric immediately flirted with the female Titans, who quickly rebuffed him.
Eric later romantically pursued Raven. Raven had just begun exploring her emotions, now free from Trigon's evil influence. Eric was anxious to take their relationship to the next level, although Raven was hesitant. Raven's fellow Titans learned of her relationship with Eric and were suspicious.
Shortly afterward, Raven agreed to a more physical relationship with Eric. Before their relationship could be consummated, Jericho intervened. He revealed that Eric was interfacing with computers and selling the stolen information. In using his powers, Eric became somewhat of a soul vampire; By getting involved physically with women, he feed off their lives, leaving them lifeless husks. It was the only way to preserve his own humanity. His constant interfacing with machines threatened to make him a living machine unless he siphoned the humanity of others. Eric sought out Raven when he learned of her soul self, which would sustain him for a long period of time.
Jericho and Raven are able to defeat Eric, and with the help of Raven's soul self, the souls Eric had previously absorbed were set free. This also ultimately destroyed Eric Forrester as well.
Eric Forrester could interface with computer systems, but use of his powers cost him his humanity.
New Teen Titans (second series) #48 [1988]: The Titans observe Sarah Charles as she examines Eric Forrester for meta-human abilities; Eric makes himself known to the female members of the team. First appearance of Eric Forrester.
New Titans #66-67 [1990]: Eric Forrester romantically pursues Raven. Raven had just begun exploring her emotions, now free from Trigon's evil influence. Shortly afterward, Raven agrees to a more physical relationship with Eric. Before their relationship could be consummated, Jericho intervenes, and prevents Forrester from absorbing Raven's soul-self, which he needed to sustain his humanity. This also ultimately destroys Eric Forrester as well. Raven makes amends with her mother, Arella, who started a ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
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