R. J. Brande
R. J. Brande is a comic character who features in DC Comics.
Contents[hide] |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
R. J. Brande
He was considered the third richest sentient in the universe with his Stargate technology with the United Planets being entirely dependent on him. (Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #0)
Whilst on a shuttle, he along with others were being transported to Metropolis Spaceport when they were beset upon by armed gunmen who were targeting him. He was only saved by the actions of three teenagers with powers namely Garth Ranzz, Rok Krinn and Imra Ardeen. Ardeen used her telepathy to determine that the attackers had been hired by Brande's cousin Doyle who had fallen under debt to a gambling syndicate and intended to take over the company by murdering R. J. After seeing the teenagers in action, he requested that they meet him at his office where he believed that they could use their powers to fight crime. He suggested that they form an organisation that could battle criminals and injustice across the universe. At first, the three young heroes were reluctant as they were only teenagers but Brande highlighted how Superman along with his cousin Supergirl had similarly started being heroes at their age. Upon being convinced, the Legion of Super-Heroes were created with Brande bankrolling them as he used his business empire to create the Legion of Super-Heroes Headquarters. (Superboy v1 #147)
After Earthwar, when the UP President embezzled his fortune, Brande rejected the offer of reimbursement, and started amassing a new fortune. Shortly thereafter, his parental link with Reep Daggle, Chameleon Boy, was discovered. The shock would drive Reep to rash actions which would ultimately lead to a brief incarceration on prison planet Takron-Galtos. While imprisoned, Reep lost his powers due to the high radiation exposure caused by Ol-Vir's super-vision. The pair fully reconciled when father and son returned to Durla to locate the legendary Temple which was said to reinvigorate lost shapeshifting abilities. While Reep eagerly stepped into the cascading energies, Brande refused, stating that he had grown fond of his human form.
After Chameleon Boy learns that Brande is his father, he imprisons himself on the prison planet Takron-Galtos and loses his powers to Ol-Vir's radioactive vision. He and Brande return to Durla to regain their abilities, with Brande backing out because he has grown fond of his human form. (Legion of Super-Heroes v2 #301)
Marte Allon and Wynn Allon met R.J. Brande to discuss her stepping down as President of Earth. Brande disliked being crowded by her Science Police detail, but Marte said Chief Zendak insisted they accompany her after the death threat case. She admitted she was happy to be stepping down and returning to teaching, hoping to spend more time with her family. Brande grumbled that the U.P. computers would select a new President who would triple his paperwork and create new trouble for the Legion. Marte asked if that was avoidable, and Brande replied that with money like his anything was avoidable. (Legion of Super-Heroes v3 #3)
R.J. Brande had a back-alley meeting with a group of Proteans, but was spotted by an interested observer. (Legion of Super-Heroes v3 #9)
R.J. Brande had another meeting with the Proteans, this time on his own estates, to discuss the Protean freedom movement. Unknown to them they were being spied on by agents of Leland McCauley. It still rankled McCauley thta he was the second richest man in the universe behind R.J. Brande, and he was trying to locate his former pet Protean, who had been freed when the U.P. made the resolution that Proteans were sentient beings. McCauley knew his former pet knew his business secrets and could get him in a world of trouble if the Protean ever revealed all the illegal activities he was involved in. (Legion of Super-Heroes v3 #13) Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl had dinner with R.J. Brande, and he said he felt ancient because the three teens he convinced to form a superhero club were now retiring from the Legion. They said it was more like a semi-retirement and discussed the Legion prospects that showed up for the membership drive. (Legion of Super-Heroes v3 #14)
After Leland McCauley attempts to kill him, Brande embarks on an odyssey that lasts several years. (Legion of Super-Heroes v3 #17)
Reboot
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Overview
Personality and attributes
Powers and abilities
Ren was a Durlan, a race of alien beings that can shape-shift at any time for any length of time with little limitation on size or shape. As such his physiology is in constant flux and he hardly takes his original orange Durlan form.
In the 30th century, he was regarded as the richest man in the known worlds who had a powerful business empire under his control. (Superboy v1 #147)
He was said to be the only person alive that knew the secrets of Stargate technology that was essential for interstellar travel as the alternative was through slower warpspeed fuel. (Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #0)
Notes
- R. J. Brande was created by E. Nelson Bridwell where he made his first appearance in Adventure Comics v1 #350 (November, 1966) but was later revealed as a Durlan in Invasion! v1 #2 (February, 1989).
- On Tim Callahan’s blog, Legion editor KC Carlson commented that, "BTW, did I ever tell you that, in the Legion reboot, our R.J. Brande was actually the Martian Manhunter? We waited too long to reveal it and then Dan Raspler (JLA editor) wouldn't let us do it because it might screw up J'onn. At this late date, I'm not sure if it was a good idea or not, but we did plant some clues. (And don't forget, he was at Garth and Imra's wedding LONG before we ever got close to the book.)"
In other media
Television
- In Legion of Super-Heroes, R. J. Brande appeared in the animated series as Chameleon Boy's father where he was voiced by actor Lex Lang. He was not named initially with Chameleon Boy in "The Man from the Edge of Tomorrow" simply referring to his father being rich but made his actual appearance in the episode "In the Beginning". He was the rich head of Brande Industries of the 31st century that made its business by manufacturing stars and was supported by his trusted partner Doyle. During one journey onboard a ship, an attempt was made on his life by assassins but this was thwarted by the young Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl. The three later decided to form a team of super-heroes and tracked the mastermind to being Doyle. In gratitude, Brande thanked the heroes and aided them financially as he helped support them to become the Legion of Super-Heroes. Years later, the still alive Doyle arranged for Grimbor the Chainsmen to capture Brande bring him to the Brande Industries stellar nursary facility where he intended to kill him by causing the stars to collapse into a black hole but was stopped once more by the Legion. In this animated continuity, no reference was made to Brande being a Durlan and he appeared as a heavyset, moustachioed, wealthy Texan kind of figure.
Appearances
- Adventure Comics v1: (1966)
- Superboy v1:
- Legion of Super-Heroes:
External Links
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