| Captain Boomerang | |
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.png) George "Digger" Harkness as Captain Boomerang, as depicted inThe Flash #148 (November 1964). Art byCarmine Infantino (pencils) and Murphy Anderson (inks). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | The Flash #117 (December 1960) |
| Created by | George "Digger"Harkness: John Broome Carmine Infantino Owen Mercer: Brad Meltzer Michael Turner |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | George "Digger" Harkness (Captain Boomerang I) Owen Mercer (Captain Boomerang II) |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Suicide Squad Justice League Secret Society of Super Villains Rogues |
| Notable aliases | Mirror Master II |
| Abilities |
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Captain Boomerang is the name of twosupervillains appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics, who respectively serve as enemies to both theBarry Allen andWally West versions of theFlash.[1] Created by writerJohn Broome and artistCarmine Infantino, the first Captain Boomerang,George "Digger"Harkness, first appeared inThe Flash #117 (December 1960). He has also been a prominent member of theSuicide Squad since its second iteration in the late 1980s. During the 2004 storylineIdentity Crisis, George Harkness is killed and his son,Owen Mercer, created byBrad Meltzer andMichael Turner, takes over his father's role as Captain Boomerang for a period of time. However, during the 2009–2010Blackest Night storyline, Owen is killed and Harkness returns to life, resuming his role as Captain Boomerang, and, overwhelmed by grief and rage, evolves as a dangerous threat after the loss of his son.
Both Harkness and Mercer have been adapted from the comics into various forms of media, including television series, feature films, and video games. In particular, Harkness appeared in theArrowverse television seriesArrow, portrayed byNick E. Tarabay, and theDC Extended Universe filmsSuicide Squad (2016) andThe Suicide Squad (2021), portrayed byJai Courtney. Additionally, Mercer appears in the Arrowverse seriesThe Flash, portrayed byRichard Harmon.
George "Digger" Harkness appeared inThe Flash #117 (December 1960) and was created by writerJohn Broome and artistCarmine Infantino.[2] Throughout the first several years of the character's existence, Captain Boomerang spoke with an American accent. Beginning in the late 1980s, he developed an Australian accent.
Owen Mercer first appeared inIdentity Crisis #2 (2004), and was created byBrad Meltzer andRags Morales.
Secretly the illegitimate son of an American soldier and an Australian woman, Harkness was raised in an Australian town called Korumburra in poverty, during which time he developed great skill in makingboomerangs, and in using them as weapons. As a young adult, he was hired as a performer and boomerang promoter by a toy company which was, unbeknownst to him, owned by his biological father. It was at this time that he developed the Captain Boomerang persona that he would continue to use in his later criminal career.[3] Audiences ridiculed him, and a resentful Harkness turned to using his boomerangs for crime.
When he began committing crimes, he threw suspicion off himself by briefly pretending another man was impersonating him, showing his 'parents', (really other crooks) to the Flash after the Flash caught him next to a crime scene. He nearly succeeded in killing the Flash after knocking him out with a boomerang, then tying him to a giant boomerang that he fired, which then got sent into space and then fell into the ocean. However, the Flash escapes from his friction-proof bonds by quickly vibrating his molecules. He also increased the boomerang's velocity so much he was able to use it to defeat and jail Harkness and the two crooks.
Boomerang becomes a recurring enemy of theFlash and joins theRogues, a group of villains dedicated to opposing Flash.[4] Later on, Harkness joins theSuicide Squad in exchange for a pardon.[4] However, his grating personality and blatant racism cause considerable friction among his teammates, and he is considered to be a dangerous, vicious, cowardly and undependable member. Boomerang attempted to bring some levity to his SUICIDE SQUAD stretch by becoming "The Mad Pieman", secretly splattering his teammates with "Boomerang Pies" while he played innocent. Amanda Waller was not amused and banished Boomerang to a deserted island as punishment.
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Captain Boomerang was killed in theIdentity Crisis miniseries byJack Drake, father ofTim Drake. Digger had been sent by thereal killer to attack Jack Drake, only the killer double-crossed Digger and sent Drake a warning and a pistol to defend himself. The killer later defended the action by saying that Boomerang was hired because he was such an incompetent that Jack would only need to pull the trigger and he would be safe. Digger managed to kill Drake but not before he was shot himself.[5]
In theBlackest Night crossover, his remains are reanimated as a member of theBlack Lantern Corps, and he joins the reanimated Jack and Janet Drake, John and Mary Grayson,Tony Zucco, and the original Batman's deceased rogues gallery members in an attempt to killBatman andRed Robin.[6] Digger manages to escape and join in the mass battle against the heroes where he is brought back to life and rejuvenated. He appears confused as to what is going on before being knocked out by the Flash.[7]
Following his resurrection, Captain Boomerang is at one point contacted by theLife Entity, who instructs him to throw a boomerang atDawn Granger.[8] After seeing the vision, his powers go out of control, causing him to attack everyone, including his fellow Rogues.[9] Afterwards, Captain Boomerang sneaks into Iron Heights, where Professor Zoom is locked up. Boomerang releases him, in hopes that Zoom might help him better understand his version of the Entity's message. However, Zoom refused to answer and escaped as Digger was confronted by the Rogues.[10] Captain Cold beats up Digger for freeing Zoom, then Digger explains to him the importance of the Entity's message.[11] Later, Captain Boomerang is contacted once again by the Entity, who tells him that he must complete his task, prompting Digger to travel toStar City forest, which by now is surrounded by a white barrier. While there, Captain Boomerang discovers that he is the only one who can enter the forest.[12] Within the forest, Captain Boomerang finds Dawn and throws a boomerang at her.Hawk, however, fails to catch the boomerang and instead, the boomerang is caught by Deadman, who ended up dying in the process and Hawk is left to knock Captain Boomerang unconscious. After the Entity proclaims Captain Boomerang has completed his task, and his life is restored to him, the Entity reveals to them that the boomerang was part of a plan to free Hawk from his role as an avatar of war from theLords of Chaos: his act of saving Dawn would have broken the hold the Lords of Chaos have on Hawk and allow Hank to be true to himself.[13]
George Harkness returns as Captain Boomerang inThe New 52, a 2011 reboot of the DC Comics universe.[14] Captain Boomerang and a new character calledYo-Yo join the Suicide Squad to replace the deceased membersSavant and Voltaic. He tells the team that he is the new field commander for the Suicide Squad, having been placed in that position by Amanda Waller.[15] But this is further revealed to be a set-up orchestrated to give them a bargaining chip to bypass an armed Basilisk militia led by the sister of one of his victims. Realizing the trap, Boomerang attempts to use a detonator he was given that is supposed to be connected to the microbombs in each Squad member's skin. It fails to function, and Deadshot mocks him for thinking that Waller would trust him with that kind of power before shooting his hand.[16]
| Captain Boomerang | |
|---|---|
 Captain Boomerang (Owen Mercer), panel fromIdentity Crisis #6 (January 2005), art byRags Morales | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Identity Crisis #3 (October 2004) |
| Created by | Brad Meltzer Rags Morales |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Owen Mercer |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Team affiliations | Rogues The Society Outsiders Suicide Squad Black Lantern Corps |
| Notable aliases | Owen Harkness, Captain Boomerang Jr., Silver Boomerang |
| Abilities | Utilizes various trick and weaponized boomerangs Limited superhuman speed called "speed bursts" |
At the beginning of the 2004Identity Crisis storyline, "Digger" Harkness a.k.a. Captain Boomerang found himself an obsolete villain in the modern world of supervillains. Regularly going up to the supervillain satellite looking for jobs, asking favors from theCalculator, he was at the end of his rope looking for a job to put him on the map again.
During this time he felt it was finally time to reach out to the son he never raised,Owen Mercer. Before Harkness's death, the two bonded. Taking up his father's legacy, he became the second Captain Boomerang.Captain Cold, brother toGolden Glider (who was believed to be Owen's mother), took Owen in as one of theRogues.[17]
Though Owen initially had no real attachment to the Rogues (and even voiced various, albeit short, opinions out loud), he grew to enjoy the purpose and sense of family the team offered after finding that his father's body had been stolen for use in a lab (which was later revealed to be part of a plan to get memories from Harkness).
Around this time theRogue War storyline began, in which the "reformed" Rogues fought the Rogues under Captain Cold. Ashley Zolomon is told by Harkness himself (he is briefly revived by the "reformed" Rogues as part of an experiment) that Golden Glider is not Owen's real mother. Later, it is revealed inFlash #225 (January 2006) that Meloni Thawne is the mother of Owen Harkness, formerly Owen Mercer, the new Captain Boomerang, having conceived him by the original Boomerang while he was trapped in the 30th century.
During the 2005–2006Infinite Crisis storyline, Owen was part ofAlexander Luthor Jr.'sgroup of villains. He, Captain Cold, andMirror Master were sent to guard a factory against theOutsiders, under the command ofDeathstroke (who was actuallyArsenal in disguise). When the ensuing battle between Outsiders and Rogues destroyed the machinery in the factory, the Rogues and other villains would not help in the fight at all and then at the explosion, he is saved by the Outsiders, while the Rogues left them at the base to blow up. He is then turned over to the authorities off-panel.
During the52 series, Owen is part of aSuicide Squad sent byAmanda Waller to attackBlack Adam.
In the 2006One Year Later storyline, Owen is imprisoned inIron Heights Penitentiary. There he finds himself being the cellmate ofBlack Lightning, who was arrested for a murder that Deathstroke committed.[4] It is soon discovered that the other inmates have learned of Black Lightning's identity and are planning to murder him. The Outsiders become aware of this and attempt to break Black Lightning out of jail. Unfortunately it goes terribly wrong. As they escape, Black Lightning asks that they take Owen with them, which they grudgingly agree. As they escape, the Outsiders' jet, thePequod, is shot down, and while the team escapes, the world believes them dead.
Because of this event and the Freedom of Power Treaty, the team now works covertly. Most of the current Outsiders were believed dead until a botched mission revealed their presence to the world. His history as a Rogue has been exploited several times by team leaderNightwing from torturing dictators to taking down a clonedJay Garrick. However, it is revealed that his desire to join the Outsiders comes from his desire for a family. Nightwing allowed him to join his team partially because Arsenal felt he would be worthy, and because Owen has been striving to find a family since the death of his father and the outbreak of the Rogue War.
Owen searched out the currentRobin because of their connection, where their fathers killed one another. While Robin originally believed Owen was searching for him to finish the fight his father started, inRobin #152, Owen revealed that he wished to make amends with the younger hero, and has offered his assistance to help Robin destroy a bomb created by theJoker. The two later spend the following night spreading out old hideouts of several villains. Afterward, Robin gained a bit of civil respect for Boomerang despite what their fathers did to one another. Boomerang attempted to shake hands with Robin, but Robin refused the gesture feeling unready to make that step.
At some point during his tenure with the Outsiders, Captain Cold approached the mercenaryDeathstroke with an offer concerning Owen. In exchange for kidnapping Deathstroke's daughterRose (who had betrayed her father and joined theTeen Titans) and delivering her to her father, Deathstroke would track down the Outsiders and turn Owen over to the Rogues. The villains planned to force Owen to cooperate with the team by administering the same mind-controlling agent that Deathstroke had used on his daughter as well as Batman's partnerCassandra Cain. However, this plan fell apart when Rose escaped and helped the Teen Titans defeat the Rogues, which led to Deathstroke backing out of the deal.[18]
Owen has also developed a close friendship with Supergirl,Kara Zor-El.[4] After Supergirl returned from her time away with Power Girl, Kara began looking to start a normal life on Earth and went out a 'date' with Owen, during which they spoke of their past problems. Kara has nicknamed Owen 'Boomer'. Although the pair often flirts with one another, they have never progressed to a romantic relationship. This comes primarily from the fact that Kara continues to show interest in Nightwing, and jokingly says that what she and Owen has is more of a brother-sister relationship, in which he has an unhealthy fixation on his 'little sis'.
Feeling rejected after Kara's relationship with Power Boy, Owen goes to a bar where he meetsCassandra Cain (Batgirl), who at the time was being mind-controlled by Deathstroke, and who had been hired to kill Supergirl. Cassandra kidnaps and tortures Owen to lure Supergirl. Unfortunately, this proves unnecessary, as Kara had tracked down Cassandra on her own, without any knowledge of Owen's kidnapping. Batgirl nearly manages to defeat Supergirl, but is defeated when Kara grows Krypton Sunstones which impale her foe. Kara then rushes Owen to the hospital where he is treated. While still in medical care, it is discovered that Power Boy has been stalking Kara.
Following Kara's break-up with Power Boy, the Earth was overtaken by spirits from the Phantom Zone, which began to emerge from within Superman. Kara managed to defeat the Phantoms and return the Earth to normal. Afterwards, inSupergirl #19 Kara begins to make amends with all the people who she has hurt since arriving on earth. Amongst them, Boomer, to whom she apologises for letting him get hurt and leading him on. During this conversation, the matter of Owen's relationship with Kara is finally clarified. When asked by Kara how he feels about her leading him on, Owen replies, "Well, if I may ... for me to have been 'led on' would presume I thought I had a shot with you ... For me to think I had a shot with a sixteen-year-old girl -- crystal-powered hypersleep whatever junk aside ... that would mean I am a dirtbag with a thing for jailbait. Which I am not".
InCheckmate #13-15, crossover withOutsiders #47-49, Checkmate abducts all members of the Outsiders exceptNightwing, allowing him to infiltrate their headquarters to offer them a deal: The Outsiders will not be shut down over their actions in Africa in exchange for infiltrating Oolong Island on behalf of Checkmate. During the operation, Nightwing, Owen, and Checkmate'sBlack Queen are taken captive byChang Tzu, and the latter two are tortured and experimented on. AfterBatman rescues the Outsiders overNorth Korean territory, and Nightwing hands over the team to him, Owen and Nightwing are paired with each other in "auditions" for the new lineup. Pushed too far, feeling he does not need to prove himself anymore, Owen returns to the Suicide Squad although Batman feels he could make a good double agent.[4]
InAll Flash #1, Owen as part of the new Suicide Squad captures two of the Rogues that are responsible forBart Allen's murder,Heat Wave andWeather Wizard, in Louisiana. InCountdown #39, he and the rest of the Squad chase afterPiper andTrickster inGotham City after they had escaped capture from Squad memberDeadshot. The Squad however is just as unsuccessful as Deadshot, and the two Rogues escape capture.[19] Owen is killed by his father, the first Captain Boomerang, and resurrected as a Black Lantern shortly afterward.[20]
Owen Mercer is resurrected followingThe New 52 andDC Rebirth relaunches, which rebooted the continuity of the DC universe.[21]
Captain Boomerang carries a number of boomerangs in his satchel. He is an expert at throwing the weapons and as well as ordinary boomerangs he has a number with special properties, including bladed, explosive, incendiary, and electrified boomerangs. Upon his resurrection, Digger finds he has the ability to create boomerangs out of energy that explode on contact.[22] However, this new ability is lost when he completes the task given by the Life Entity.[23]
The original Captain Boomerang then began to train his son Owen Mercer before he died. He has exhibited creativity in his boomerangs by creating "razorangs" and an acid-spewing boomerang. Owen has also exhibited "speed bursts", short bursts of limited super speed over short distances, most notably when throwing boomerangs. These were even possible during the time period that Owen fully contained theSpeed Force, usually displayed as his ability to throw boomerangs at high velocities, rather than running.[24] However, duringChang Tzu's experiments, he claimed he believed Mercer could access the Speed Force, and Mercer denied having super speed at all anymore, but Chang Tzu was able to activate Owen's speed involuntarily, causing him great pain.[25] The exact source of this power remains unrevealed. Regardless, as ofJustice Society of America #8, the Speed Force appears to have returned and is accessible to all former speedsters once more.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)| The Flash Family |
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