Mal Duncan

Last updated
Mal Duncan
Vox Post Crisis.jpg
Mal Duncan as Vox in Teen Titans (vol. 3) #36 (July 2006), art by Tony Daniel.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Teen Titans #26 (March–April 1970)
Created by Robert Kanigher (writer)
Nick Cardy (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoMalcolm Arnold "Mal" Duncan
Species Metahuman
Team affiliations Doom Patrol
Teen Titans
Notable aliasesGuardian, Hornblower, The Herald, Vox
Abilities
  • Skilled hand to hand combatant and kickboxer
  • Exceptional physical condition

Artificial lungs and voice box grant:

  • Hypersound control and manipulation
  • Hypersonic blasts, bursts and waves

Formerly:

  • Use of horn that creates inter-dimensional rifts, portals, vortexes and wormholes in between space and time, and project hypersonic blasts

Malcolm Arnold "Mal" Duncan, currently known as Vox (also known as the Guardian, Hornblower, and Herald), is a superhero appearing in media published by DC Comics. Introduced in April 1970, he is DC's first African-American superhero. [1]

Contents

Publication history

Mal Duncan made his first appearance in Teen Titans #26, and was created by Robert Kanigher and Nick Cardy. [2]

In that issue, the African-American Mal kissed the Caucasian Lilith Clay goodbye, in a scene considered to be the first interracial kiss in comic book history. [3] When editorial director Carmine Infantino objected to the scene, thinking it too controversial, editor Dick Giordano kept the scene, but colored it in blue as a night scene, to draw less attention to the moment. Giordano recalls receiving many letters about the kiss, both hate mail (including one death threat) and many supportive letters approving of the kiss. [4]

Fictional character biography

Pre-Crisis

Mal Duncan, art by Chuck Patton and Romeo Tanghal. Mal Pre-Crisis.jpg
Mal Duncan, art by Chuck Patton and Romeo Tanghal.

Malcolm "Mal" Duncan [note 1] saves the Teen Titans from a street gang called the Hell Hawks by beating their leader in a boxing match. [5] Recruited by the Teen Titans, Mal feels unworthy due to his lack of abilities, and stows away on a rocket flight, which nearly costs him his life. [5] [6] After a time, Mal discovers a strength-enhancing exoskeleton and the costume of the Guardian. Using these, he becomes the second Guardian. [7]

After assuming the Guardian mantle, Mal fights Azrael, the Angel of Death. Believing it to be a hallucination, Mal is surprised to awaken with the mystical Gabriel's Horn. Having defeated Azrael, Mal is permitted to live, provided he never loses another fight. The horn grants Mal unspecified powers, whenever the odds are against him in battle. Armed with the horn, Mal assumes the name Hornblower. [8]

Mal soon returns to his Guardian identity, claiming that too many people knew who he was.

Post-Crisis

Following Crisis on Infinite Earths , Mal never took the identity of Guardian and built Gabriel's Horn himself. When Gargoyle implants a virus in the horn to free himself and the Antithesis, Mal destroys it and retires. [9]

During the JLA/Titans event, Mal acquires a new Gabriel's Horn, [10] and later, he and Bumblebee join the short-lived Titans LA. [11] In Titans Tomorrow , an alternate timeline variant of Mal becomes president of the Eastern United States.

When Doctor Light captures Green Arrow, taking him hostage and demanding to see the Titans, Mal, Bumblebee, and about two dozen other former Titans are assembled to fight him. [12] He and Bumblebee then join a team of heroes gathered by Troia to embark on an ominous mission into deep space during Infinite Crisis . [13] The group eventually encounters a rift in the universe caused by Alexander Luthor, who is re-creating the multiverse. The team of heroes in space temporarily stop Luthor, but in the resulting chaos they are scattered; some are killed, while others go missing for varying lengths of time, including Mal and Karen.

52

In 52 , Mal resurfaces, but his lungs and vocal cords are damaged after Gabriel's Horn explodes. He is given cybernetic implants that recreate the Horn's abilities and joins the Doom Patrol alongside Bumblebee. [14] [15] [16]

The New 52

In The New 52, a reboot DC's continuity, Mal is introduced as an award-winning film composer and the husband of Karen, who is pregnant with their daughter. [17] He is later kidnapped by Mister Twister, who reveals that as a teenager, Mal was a member of the original Teen Titans under the name Herald. The Titans had allowed their memories of each other to be erased to defeat Twister, but he now seeks to use Mal's sonic abilities to summon a demon. [18] When Karen (who has now gained superpowers of her own) and the former Titans arrive, they are able to defeat Mister Twister once and for all. [19]

DC Rebirth

Following this incident during DC Rebirth , Mal reveals to Karen that he underwent a procedure to remove his superpowers so that the couple could live a normal life. [20] When Karen helps the Titans battle the Fearsome Five, Mal steals armor from Titans Tower to back her up. However, by the time he reaches the battle, Psimon has removed Bumblebee's memories. [21] [22]

Mal works with Gnarrk to hunt down H.I.V.E., believing that they can restore Karen's memory. [23] During one of these raids, Mal and Gnarrk are brainwashed and turned into avatars of Mister Twister. After Karen's memories are restored, Mal helps the Titans take down Twister and the Key. [24]

Powers and abilities

Formerly, his Gabriel Horn could open up multi-dimensional portals and generate strong sonic blasts. He now relies more on his artificial lungs and voice box to achieve the same effects. He also has a background in kickboxing, and hand-to-hand combat, and is in exceptional physical condition.

In the New 52 continuity, Mal possesses sonic and harmonic abilities that he projects by using his voice.

In other media

Television

Miscellaneous

Notes

  1. ↑ His surname "Duncan" is revealed in Teen Titans #44 (November 1976), and his formal first name "Malcolm" is revealed in Teen Titans #45 (December 1976). Prior to these issues, he is known simply as "Mal".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teen Titans</span> DC Comics superheroes

The Teen Titans are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, frequently in eponymous monthly series. As the group's name indicates, the members are teenage superheroes, many of whom have acted as sidekicks to DC's premier superheroes in the Justice League. The original team later becomes known as the Titans when the members age out of their teenage years, while the Teen Titans name is continued by subsequent generations of young heroes. First appearing in 1964 in The Brave and the Bold #54, the team was formed by Kid Flash, Robin, and Aqualad (Garth) before adopting the name Teen Titans in issue 60 with the addition of Wonder Girl to their ranks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starfire (Teen Titans)</span> Fictional DC Comics superhero

Starfire is a superheroine created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez appearing in American comic books created by DC Comics. She first debuted in a preview story inserted within DC Comics Presents #26. Since the character's introduction, Starfire is a major reoccurring character in Teen Titans and various other iteration of the team, sometimes depicted as the team's leader, and a significant love interest for Dick Grayson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lilith Clay</span> Comics character

Lilith Clay, also known as Omen, is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Robert Kanigher and Nick Cardy, Lilith made her first appearance in Teen Titans #25 and commonly appears as a member of the eponymous group. She is depicted as the best friend of Donna Troy and the second hero to join the original Teen Titans after its founders, following Roy Harper. Although her origin and powers have varied significantly throughout her history, she is consistently seen as both precognitive and psychic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wally West</span> Fictional character

Wallace Rudolph "Wally" West is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics as the original Kid Flash and the third Flash. His power consists mainly of superhuman speed. The nephew of Iris West, he first appeared in Flash #110 (1959), which depicted his transformation into Kid Flash. Under the mantle of Kid Flash, Wally was depicted as a teenage sidekick to his uncle-by-marriage, Barry Allen, and a founding member of the Teen Titans. After Barry's death in Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985, Wally took on the role of the Flash in 1986, and was the main Flash in DC's lineup until Barry returned in The Flash: Rebirth in 2009. He would later return as the main Flash in 2021, as part of the Infinite Frontier relaunch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kole</span> Superhero from the DC Universe

Kole Weathers is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bumblebee (DC Comics)</span> Comics character

Bumblebee is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics and other related media, commonly as a member of the Teen Titans. She first appeared as Karen in December 1976's Teen Titans #45, and adopted the Bumblebee identity three issues later. Historically, Bumblebee is sometimes considered DC Comics' first Black woman superhero character, though this distinction is also accorded to Nubia, a less traditional costumed crimefighter than Bumblebee, who debuted three years earlier in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Troy</span> DC Comics superhero

Donna Troy is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She is the original Wonder Girl and later temporarily adopts another identity, Troia. Created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani, she first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #60. Donna has been commonly featured in stories involving the Teen Titans, which she originally joined during their second adventure and is since depicted as a founding member of the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killer Moth</span> Fictional supervillain

Killer Moth is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, usually as an adversary and dedicated original foil personality of Batman. Like Batman, he has no superpowers and relies on his technical equipment, including a Mothmobile and numerous gimmicks. Killer Moth originally wore a garish costume of purple and green striped fabric, with an orange cape and moth-like mask. In Underworld Unleashed, Killer Moth is transformed into the monster Charaxes with superhuman abilities.

Gnarrk is a fictional character in DC Comics. He is a caveman who has been a member of various versions of the Teen Titans in the comic books in the early 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monsieur Mallah</span> Fictional character from DC Comics

Monsieur Mallah is a supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. He is the gorilla servant of and, in time, the partner to Gorilla Grodd and the Brain, while serving as an enemy of the Doom Patrol, Justice League, and the Teen Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psimon</span> Fictional supervillain

Psimon is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.

Danny Chase is a fictional superhero in DC Comics publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mento (character)</span> Comics character

Mento is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titans Tomorrow</span>

"Titans Tomorrow" is a storyline of a possible alternate future in the DC Comics Universe, from Teen Titans vol. 3 #17–19 (2005), by Geoff Johns and Mike McKone. The story arc has been collected as part of the Teen Titans: The Future is Now trade paperback.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mammoth (comics)</span> Comics character

Mammoth is a supervillain appearing in media published by DC Comics. Alongside his twin sister Shimmer, he is a founding member of the Fearsome Five and enemy of the Teen Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garth (comics)</span> Fictional superhero from DC Comics

Garth is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Robert Bernstein and artist Ramona Fradon, He first appears in Adventure Comics #269. The character is commonly associated with both Aquaman and the Teen Titans alongside the team's various incarnations.

Mister Twister is the name of three supervillains appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beast Boy</span> Fictional character

Beast Boy is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He has also gone under the alias Changeling. Created by writer Arnold Drake and artist Bob Brown, he is a shapeshifter who possesses the ability to transform into any animal he chooses. The character first appeared in Doom Patrol #99 and is usually depicted as a member of the Doom Patrol and the Teen Titans.

References

  1. ↑ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 133. ISBN   978-1-4654-8578-6.
  2. ↑ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 142. ISBN   978-1-4654-5357-0.
  3. ↑ Sacks, Jason; Dallas, Keith (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 21. ISBN   978-1605490564.
  4. ↑ Eury, Michael (2003). Dick Giordiano: Changing Comics, One Day at a Time. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 51–52. ISBN   9781893905276 . Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  5. 1 2 Teen Titans #26 (March–April 1970)
  6. ↑ Teen Titans #27 (May–June 1970)
  7. ↑ Teen Titans #44 (November 1976)
  8. ↑ Teen Titans #45 (December 1976)
  9. ↑ Secret Origins Annual #3 (1989)
  10. ↑ JLA/Titans #1-3 (December 1998-February 1999)
  11. ↑ Titans Secret Files #2 (October 2000)
  12. ↑ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #22 & 23 (May & June 2005)
  13. ↑ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #29 (October 2005)
  14. ↑ 52 #4 & 5 (May 31 & June 7, 2006)
  15. ↑ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #35 (June 2006)
  16. ↑ Beatty, Scott; Wallace, Dan (2008). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 109. ISBN   978-0-7566-4119-1.
  17. ↑ Titans Hunt #1
  18. ↑ Titans Hunt #5
  19. ↑ Titans Hunt #8
  20. ↑ Titans (vol. 3) #8
  21. ↑ Titans (vol. 3) #10
  22. ↑ Titans (vol. 3) #12
  23. ↑ Titans (vol. 3) #13-14
  24. ↑ Titans (vol. 3) #15-19
  25. ↑ "Herald Voice - Teen Titans (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 21, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  26. ↑ "Guardian / Mal Duncan Voice - Young Justice (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 21, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  27. ↑ Ratcliffe, Amy (March 17, 2012). "WonderCon: Young Justice Season 2's Alien Invasion". IGN. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Teen Titans Go! #50 - Graduation Day (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.