Solomon Grundy (DC)
Solomon Grundy is a male comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Cyrus Gold
In 1894, the wealthy merchant Cyrus Gold was murdered and his body disposed of in Slaughter Swamp. Gold's corpse was reanimated in 1944, as a huge shambling figure with almost no memory of its past life. Gold murdered two escaped criminals who were hiding out in the marsh and stole their clothes. He showed up in a hobo camp and when asked about his name, one of the few things he could recall was that he was "born on a Monday." One of the men at the camp mentioned the nursery rhyme character Solomon Grundy, and Gold adopted the moniker. Strong, vicious, and nearly mindless, Solomon Grundy fell into a life of crime — or perhaps returned to one, according to his scattered residual memories — attracting the attention of the Green Lantern. Grundy proved to be a difficult opponent, unkillable as he was already dead and with an inherent resistance to Scott's powers which could not affect wood. Their first fight ended when Grundy was hurled under a train. (All-American Comics v1 #61)
He was revived by a criminal named Baron of York, using concentrated chlorophyll, which left him green. The now green Grundy, along with the Baron gang, started a wave of crimes across the USA, until Grundy killed Baron. Alan Scott was able to defeat him when, after a long chase, they arrived at a place with a petrified forest. Something about Grundy's altered physiology with chlorophyll made him as immobile as the trees around him. (Comic Cavalcade v1 #13)
Grundy eventually mastered the use of the stored up emerald energy he had absorbed over the years from the many battles with his arch-foe, and returned to Earth to battle Green Lantern, along with Hourman and Doctor Fate. At this point, he had temporary mastery over all wooden objects, though he subsequently lost this power with his next death. (Showcase v1 #55)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Cyrus Gold
Some claimed that Cyrus was a miser and a pervert who killed kids whose bodies were left in Slaughter Swamp. Though others had said that Cyrus Gold was an innocent victim of mob injustice. The Seven Unknown Men that were based in Slaughter Swamp were aware of both accounts of Cyrus Gold's life. (Seven Soldiers v1 #0)
According to one account, the Parliament of Trees were responsible for the transformation of Cyrus Gold when they looked to create a new champion but the process was not complete thus creating a failed plant elemental who called himself Solomon Grundy. (Swamp Thing v2 #68)
Solomon Grundy consistently haunted Gotham City, and has been known to take residence in the Gotham sewer system. In the early years, his primary enemy was Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern, though he also fought Batman as well. During The Long Halloween, he struck up an odd kinship with Harvey Dent. (Batman: The Long Halloween v1 #12)
For a time, a new innocent, child-like Grundy lurked in the sewers of Opal City, where he was befriended by Starman Jack Knight, who affectionately referred to him as Solly. (Starman v2 #10) Solly also became friends with Starman Mikaal Tomas, and sacrificed himself to save Mikaal from being crushed by a collapsing building. This left Grundy in critical condition. In return for his sacrifice (as well as trying to stop the old Grundy from reemerging), Jack and Ted Knight and Alan Scott enlisted the aid of the Floronic Man, who like Grundy was a creature of The Green, to try and save his life. Woodrue was accompanied by Batman, and had them all eat seeds, allowing them to enter the consciousness of Grundy in order to pull out the Solly aspect of Grundy's personality, rather than one of Grundy's evil versions. Unfortunately, the bad aspects of Grundy were too overwhelming and the Solly version couldn't be saved. When the heroes returned to the normal world, Grundy disappeared. Grundy's next appearance saw the return of his malicious persona, where he was found by Jack Knight on a strange blue planet, apparently having landed there when he was cast into orbit by Alan Scott and Dr. Fate in the 40's. The crash on the planet killed him, apparently allowing him to resurrect with a different body on Earth. This suggests that Grundy's consciousness may be able to inhabit multiple bodies, though only one at a time. This new Grundy had a much higher intelligence than normal, but claimed to have no knowledge of Jack Knight or his previous exploits on earth since he was cast into orbit. This version of Grundy was summarily destroyed. (Starman v2 #34) Mikaal Tomas was the next to battle Grundy. This Grundy displayed an average intelligence and was once again malicious. However, when as assassin (Frankie Soul) tried to take out Mikaal with a sniper rifle, Grundy sensed the coming shot and stepped in front of it, sacrificing himself once again to save Mikaal. With his dying words Grundy claimed that this was not a result of the Solly personality reemerging, but was unable to explain why he had done it. (Starman v2 #49)
He later came to be under the mental control of Gorilla Grodd where he was sent to attack Batman and Superman for President Luthor where he looked to claimed the one billion dollar bounty. (Superman/Batman v1 #3)
Grundy was shown to had join the ranks of the Society and participated in their attack against the Secret Six. During the fight, he encountered the Rag Doll Peter Merkel Jr. who came to befriend Grundy leading to him turning against the Society. (Villains United v1 #5)
He was exiled to the Prison Planet during Salvation Run, where a large number of supervillains were exported several lightyears into space, and left to fend for themselves on a foreign planet. He joined Lex Luthor's camp, but was killed in the gigantic Parademon raid shortly before the villains could escape. (Salvation Run v1 #7)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Cyrus Gold
During the War of Jokes and Riddles, Grundy came to side himself with the Joker's faction in the war against the Riddler that engulfed Gotham. (Batman v3 #28)
Solomon Grundy is among the villains that protected Ingrid Karlsson during a riot at Arkham Asylum. Before Ingrid was killed by an inmate using a rogue Batarang despite the villains getting her away from the riot, she gave birth to Astrid Arkham who would later become Arkham Knight. (Detective Comics v1 #1004)
The sorceress Selena created a mindless clone of Solomon Grundy from his DNA sample to serve as the muscle for the Fatal Five and fought Supergirl. (Supergirl v7 #12)
Overview
Personality and attributes
Powers and abilities
Solomon could establish a mystical link with the Earth itself, and if he wished then nobody could lift him. (Superman v1 #301)
At Slaughter Swamp, his regenerative powers were even stronger where his severed limbs returned and reattached themselves to his torso in seconds. (Solomon Grundy v1 #5)
Notes
- Solomon Grundy was created by Alfred Bester and Paul Reinman where he made his first appearance in All-American Comics v1 #61 (October, 1944).
Alternate Versions
- In JLA Secret Files and Origins 2004 v1 #1 (2004), an alternate version of the character named Sir Solomon Grundy appeared on an Earth located in the Anti-Matter Universe.
- In Earth 2 v1 #3 (2012), an alternate version of Solomon Grundy appeared on Earth-Two in the post-Flashpoint Multiverse. This version had been a simple poor man who worked his fingers to the bone in order to support his anxious wife Pinney and newborn child. In 1898, he worked at the local butcher shop while constantly under the watchful eye of his morally dubious boss, Henry Pittance. One day his wife ran out of the office of his employer after what had appeared to be a molestation incident as evident by her screaming, though he quickly fell back in line when Henry ordered it. Later on, his wife would commit suicide over the incident leading to him following her in death where he became approach by the Grey to become their agent in the world leading to his revival as an undead monster named Solomon Grundy.
In other media
Television
- In Challenge of the Super Friends, Solomon Grundy appeared in the setting of the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Jimmy Weldon.
- In Justice League Action, Solomon Grundy appeared in the setting of the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Fred Tatasciore.
- In Gotham, Solomon Grundy appeared in the setting of the live-action television series where he was portrayed by actor Drew Powell. This version was originally Butch Gilzean who was a mob enforcer working for gangster Fish Mooney.
- In Stargirl, Solomon Grundy appeared in the setting of the live-action DC Universe television series.
Films
- In Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Solomon Grundy appeared in the setting of the animated film where he was voiced by uncredited actor Corey Burton.
Video games
- In DC Universe Online, Solomon Grundy appeared in the setting of the MMORPG where he was voiced by actor David Jennison.
- In Injustice: Gods Among Us, Solomon Grundy appeared in the setting of the fighting video game where he was voiced once again by actor Fred Tatasciore.
Appearances
- All-American Comics v1: (1944)
- Justice League of America v1:
- Superman/Batman v1:
- Justice League of America v2:
- Solomon Grundy v1:
- Earth-2 v1:
External Links
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