Orca (DC Comics)

Last updated
Orca
Orcanightwing12.jpg
Grace Balin / Orca as depicted in Nightwing (vol. 4) #12 (March 2017). Art by Marcus To (penciller/inker) and Chris Sotomayor (colorist).
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Batman #579 (July 2000)
Created by Larry Hama (writer)
Scott McDaniel (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoGrace Balin
Dean Toye
Species Metahuman
Team affiliations Rogues Gallery
United States Military
Aquamarines
Abilities(Both):
  • Superhuman strength, stamina, durability, reflexes, and swimming
  • Enhanced olfactory sense
  • Sharp fangs and claws

(Balin):

  • Marine biology
  • Gene therapy

(Toye):

  • Transformation
  • Military mastery

Orca is the name of two fictional anti-hero characters who appear in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly known as one of the adversaries to the superhero Batman.

Contents

Publication history

The Grace Balin incarnation of Orca first appeared in Batman #579 (July 2000) and was created by Larry Hama and Scott McDaniel. [1]

The Dean Toye incarnation of Orca first appeared in Aquaman (vol. 8) #12 (February 2017), and was created by Dan Abnett and Philippe Briones.

Fictional character biography

Grace Balin

Grace Balin is a marine biologist who is paralyzed in an accident and experiments with orca tissue to regain her mobility, gaining the ability to transform into a monstrous orca hybrid. [2] [3] [4] While battling Batman, she is forced into an underwater cave and begins to revert to normal, forcing Batman to give her a serum to permanently transform her into Orca and prevent her from drowning. [5] [6] [7] In the One Year Later event, Orca dies under unspecified circumstances. [5] [8]

In "DC Rebirth", Orca appears alive as a member of the Whale's Enders and an enemy of Nightwing. [9] [3]

Dean Toye

"DC Rebirth" introduces a separate Orca, Dean Toye, a sergeant who transforms himself into an orca hybrid to combat the forces of Atlantis. [10]

Powers and abilities

Both Orcas possess immense physical attributes, an enhanced sense of smell, and the ability to operate underwater. [11] However, they must periodically rehydrate themselves to avoid drying out.

In other media

Related Research Articles

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

Nightwing is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The most prominent is Dick Grayson, who takes the name when he leaves his role as Batman's partner and sidekick Robin in his adulthood.

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

Clayface is an alias used by several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Most incarnations of the character possess clay-like bodies and shapeshifting abilities, and all of them are adversaries of the superhero Batman. In 2009, Clayface was ranked as IGN's 73rd-greatest comic book villain of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killer Croc</span> DC Comics character

Killer Croc is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Gerry Conway, Don Newton and Gene Colan, the character was introduced in Detective Comics #523. He has become one of the most enduring enemies of the superhero Batman and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up his rogues gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gorilla Grodd</span> Supervillain from DC Comics

Gorilla Grodd is a supervillain character appearing in American comic books and other media published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of The Flash. The character was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, and first appeared in The Flash #106. He is an evil, super-intelligent gorilla who gained mental powers after being exposed to a strange meteorite's radiation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clock King</span> Two fictional characters, supervillains published by DC Comics

The Clock King is the name of three supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first Clock King debuted in World's Finest Comics #111, and was created by France Herron and Lee Elias.

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

Parasite is the name of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Each iteration of the character has the ability to temporarily absorb the life force, attributes, memories, and superpowers of anyone through physical touch. The most well-known and recurring incarnation is Rudy Jones, who has become one of Superman's most enduring enemies and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up his rogues gallery. In 2009, Parasite was ranked as IGN's 61st Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Manta</span> Comics character

Black Manta is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy, the character first appeared in Aquaman #35. He has since endured as the archenemy of the superhero Aquaman.

Gizmo is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of the Teen Titans.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psycho-Pirate</span> Comics character

The Psycho-Pirate is the name of two supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

Copperhead is the name of several supervillains appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, mostly as enemies of the superhero Batman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firefly (DC Comics)</span> Supervillain created by DC Comics

Firefly is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by France Herron and Dick Sprang, he made his debut in Detective Comics #184. Initially portrayed as a criminal who utilized lighting effects to commit robberies, Firefly was later reimagined as a sociopathic pyromaniac with an obsessive compulsion to start fires following Crisis on Infinite Earths' reboot of the DC Universe in the 1980s. This darker depiction of the character has since endured as one of the superhero Batman's most recurring enemies and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up his central rogues gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Banshee</span> DC Comics villain

Silver Banshee is the name of two supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, with both primarily as opponents of Superman. The first, Siobhan McDougal, made her debut in Action Comics #595 while the second, Siobhan Smythe, debuted during the New 52 in Supergirl vol. 6 #7.

Shrike is the name of multiple characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Shark</span> Comic book character

King Shark is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character, also known as Nanaue, was created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett. King Shark's first key appearance was in Superboy #0 as a cameo before making his first full appearance in Superboy #9. The character serves as an adversary to Aquaman, Flash, Batman, and Superboy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magpie (character)</span> Fictional character of the DC Universe

Magpie is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She was created by John Byrne, and first appeared in The Man of Steel #3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarecrow in other media</span> DC character Scarecrow in other media

The Scarecrow, a supervillain in DC Comics and an adversary of the superhero Batman, has been adapted in various forms of media, including films, television series, and video games. The character has been portrayed in film by Cillian Murphy in The Dark Knight Trilogy, and in television by Charlie Tahan and David W. Thompson in the Fox series Gotham, and Vincent Kartheiser in the HBO Max streaming series Titans. Henry Polic II, Jeffrey Combs, Dino Andrade, John Noble, Robert Englund, Elijah Wood and others have provided the Scarecrow's voice in animation and video games.

References

  1. Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 281. ISBN   9780345501066.
  2. Sawan, Amer (May 14, 2021). "Joker's Partner Punchline Just Got Pulverized by Gotham's Silliest Villain". CBR. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Melrose, Kevin (December 22, 2016). "Nightwing Ushers in the Year of Orca (Seriously)". CBR. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  4. Matadeen, Renaldo (August 22, 2021). "Suicide Squad: King Shark's Future Depends on Batman's Weirdest Villain". CBR. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Harley, Joel (January 3, 2022). "Batman's Most Ridiculous Villain Just Became King Shark's Savior". CBR. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  6. Batman #579. DC Comics.
  7. Joker: Last Laugh #2. DC Comics.
  8. Detective Comics #819. DC Comics.
    • All-Star Batman #2. DC Comics.
    • Nightwing (vol. 4) #11 - #12. DC Comics.
    • Nightwing (vol. 4) #32. DC Comics.
    • The Joker (vol. 2) #2 - #4. DC Comics.
  9. Aquaman (vol. 8) #14. DC Comics.
    • Batman Vol. 1 #579 (July 2000)
    • Batman Vol. 1 #581 (September 2000)
    • Aquaman Vol. 8 #12 (February 2017)
  10. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  11. Kurland, Daniel (July 23, 2023). "10 Batman Villains You Didn't Even Know Existed". CBR. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  12. Injustice 2 #1. DC Comics.
  13. Injustice 2 #42. DC Comics.