Thunderbolt (DC)
The Thunderbolt is a comic cosmic being who features in DC Comics.
Contents[hide] |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Yz
Johnny Thunder took Peachy Pet to a museum exhibit on ancient Egyptian history, but she was unimpressed, calling it history’s junkyard. Johnny studied the flight stone, an artifact found in an ancient Egyptian prison, and Peachy speculated that Egyptian cops used it to hit prisoners over the head. A thief ran into security at the museum, and hid inside Tuto-Toniah’s sarcophagus. It was enchanted, and once he entered he disappeared, only to reappear on the flight stone. He fled, and Johnny wanted to tell the security guards what he saw, but Peachy forbade him, saying they would think he was crazy. She said she knew he was crazy but she did not want other people to know too. The next morning Johnny read a newspaper report that said Tuto-Toniah’s sarcophagus had been stolen, and Johnny summoned the Thunderbolt to get to the bottom of the case. They found the same thief Johnny had seen at the museum in a bank loading money into the stolen sarcophagus. He opened it, showing Johnny the money was gone before locking Johnny inside. Johnny reappeared at the flight stone, which the thief had also taken and stashed in his hideout. The thief's gang tied Johnny up, but he chewed through his gag and summoned Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt brought the flight stone to the police station, and the next time the thief tried to make a getaway by hiding in the sarcophagus he found himself under arrest. (Flash Comics v1 #70)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
At some point, he came to fall under the servitude of Saradin who became his first master and controlled him for a period of 73 years. (JSA v1 #79)
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
Thunderbolt's abilities, thanks to his magical powers, are quite vast; however, he is limited by only being able to execute Jakeem's (or, originally, Johnny's) exactly worded order. Yz must always follow the orders to the letter; if the user speaks a slang when giving an order, he will interpret it literally. (All-Star Comics v1 #3)
Due to his electrical nature, Yz is damaged when he is in contact with water. (Justice League of America v1 #37)
Yz's actions were governed by the strange rules of the djinn. For example, when he was with Johnny Thunder in Cuba, he refused any order from Johnny if not spoken in Spanish. (All-Star Comics v1 #9) Killing seems to be taboo under these laws, and Yz could not fulfill orders to kill anyone. (Justice League of America v1 #37)
Notes
- The Thunderbolt was created by John B. Wentworth and Stan Aschmeier where he made his first appearance in Flash Comics v1 #1 (January, 1940).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In Justice League Unlimited, the Yz incarnation of the Thunderbolt appeared in the setting of the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe in a non-voiced role. This version was shown as having become a member of the expanded Justice League.
- In Stargirl, the Thunderbolt appeared in the setting of the live-action television series where his laughter was heard in the first season by an uncredited actor whilst in the second season he was voiced by actor Jim Gaffigan with actor Seth Green voicing him in the third season. He resided in a pen wielded by Johnny Thunderbolt who used the genie's power as a member of the Justice Society of America. However, it was said that the Thunderbolt's powers were unpredictable and the bearer had to be very specific when using a wish making it not very effective for use in the field. This version requires strict rules to grant wishes, such as specific wording, and was previously a member of the Justice Society of America alongside Johnny Thunder until the latter was killed in an attack by the Injustice Society and Thunderbolt was left trapped in his pen for over 10 years after Johnny wished for him to return to it and wait for a new owner. In the episode "Summer School: Chapter Three", Pat Dugan's son Mike obtains the pen and befriends Thunderbolt. Following a confrontation with Shade, Mike unknowingly wishes for the pen to end up in better hands, causing it to be teleported to his friend Jakeem Williams. Thunderbolt and Jakeem later assist Stargirl's JSA and their allies in fighting Eclipso.
Appearances
- Flash Comics v1: (1940)
- All-Star Squadron v1:
- JLA v1:
- JSA v1:
- Justice Society of America v3:
- DC Universe: Rebirth v1:
- Teen Titans:
External Links
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