Thunder and Lightning (comics)

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Thunder and Lightning
Thunder and lightning gan and tavis willliams.JPG
Thunder (left) and Lightning (right) as depicted in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #23 (January 1987).
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance New Teen Titans #32 (1983)
Created by Marv Wolfman
George Pérez
In-story information
Alter egoGan and Tavis Williams
Team affiliations Teen Titans
Abilities
  • Electrokinesis
  • Psychic link

Thunder and Lightning are a duo of superpowered brothers appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily in association with the Teen Titans.

Contents

The two have made limited appearances in media outside comics, with S. Scott Bullock and Quinton Flynn voicing the characters in Teen Titans (2003).

Publication history

Thunder and Lightning first appeared in New Teen Titans #32 and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez. [1]

Fictional character biography

Gan and Tavis Williams are twin brothers and the sons of an unnamed Vietnamese woman and American soldier Walter Williams. Originally conjoined twins, they were separated with magic. As children, the two manifest superpowers, but are unable to control them and quickly burn themselves out without regular infusions of their father's blood. They take the aliases Thunder and Lightning, respectively, and set off to America to search for their father. The two cause major disturbances in St. Louis and engage in battle against the Teen Titans. After their motives are revealed, the Titans decided to help the pair. [2]

Months later, the Teen Titans and S.T.A.R. Labs are working on a cure for Thunder and Lightning's powers. At the same time, Raven discovers that Walter Williams is an alien and is currently being held prisoner by H.I.V.E. When they locate Walter, H.I.V.E. controls Walter's mind and forces him to attack Thunder and Lightning, who kill him. S.T.A.R. Labs takes blood from Walter's body and uses it to create a cure that allows Thunder and Lightning to control their powers. [3] Thunder and Lightning relocate to San Francisco, where they work as security guards at S.T.A.R. Labs. [4]

During the Salvation Run storyline, Thunder and Lightning arrive to give food to Martian Manhunter. Martian Manhunter asks why they are here on this planet. When they offer to help Martian Manhunter, Bane attacks them. Despite being shocked by Lightning, Bane defeats them as Lex Luthor arrives. [5] Luthor keeps the two alive, later using them as power sources for his teleporter. The two are seemingly killed when the teleporter device self-destructs. [6]

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Thunder and Lightning (renamed Alexei and Alya) are reintroduced as members of the Ravagers. [7]

Powers and abilities

Thunder and Lightning are able to control their namesakes and possess a psychic link that allows them to communicate with each other.

Other versions

The original Thunder and Lightning battle Superman. From Superman #303. ThunLight.jpg
The original Thunder and Lightning battle Superman. From Superman #303.

An unrelated Thunder and Lightning appear in Superman #303 (September 1976), and were created by Elliot S. Maggin and Curt Swan. They are two separate identities for a shapeshifting android created by the supervillain Whirlicane. [8]

In other media

References

  1. ↑ 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. 310. ISBN   978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ↑ Wolfman, Marv  ( w ), Pérez, George  ( p ), Tanghal, Romeo  ( i ), Roy, Adrienne  ( col )."Thunder and Lightning!" The New Teen Titans ,vol. 1,no. 32(June 1983).DC Comics.
  3. ↑ Wolfman, Marv  ( w ), Pollard, Keith  ( p ), Tanghal, Romeo  ( i ), Roy, Adrienne  ( col )."Feedback!" The New Teen Titans ,vol. 1,no. 36(November 1983).DC Comics.
  4. ↑ Isabella, Jenny Blake  ( w ),Patton, Chuck ( p ),Vey, Al ( i ),Eiber, Shelley ( col )."Second Thoughts"Teen Titans Spotlight,vol. 1,no. 16(November 1987).DC Comics.
  5. ↑ Sturges, Lilah  ( w ), Chen, Sean  ( p ),Wong, Walden ( i ), Kalisz, John  ( col )."Burning Down The World" Salvation Run ,vol. 1,no. 6(June 2008).DC Comics.
  6. ↑ Sturges, Lilah  ( w ), Chen, Sean  ( p ),Wong, Walden; Faucher, Wayne ( i ), Kalisz, John ; Chu, Tom S. ( col )."We Gotta Get Out of this Planet" Salvation Run ,vol. 1,no. 7(July 2008).DC Comics.
  7. ↑ Mackie, Howard  ( w ), Churchill, Ian  ( p ), Rapmund, Norm ; Churchill, Ian ( i ),Sollazzo, Alex ( col )."Children of Destiny"Ravagers,vol. 1,no. 1(July 2012).DC Comics.
  8. ↑ Conway, Gerry  ( w ), Swan, Curt  ( p ), Oksner, Bob  ( i )."When Lightning Strikes... Thunder Kills!" Superman ,vol. 1,no. 303(September 1976).DC Comics.
  9. ↑ "Thunder Voice - Teen Titans (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 19, 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.
  10. ↑ "Lightning Voice - Teen Titans (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 19, 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.
  11. ↑ "Teen Titans Go! #6 - Storm (Issue)". Comic Vine . Retrieved July 19, 2024.
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