| Grace Choi | |
|---|---|
 Grace Choi, as she appeared in the issue ofThe Other History of the DC Universe#5. Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli (pencils), Andrea Cucchi (inks), and Jose Vallarrubia (colors) | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Outsiders (vol. 3) #1 (August 2003) |
| Created by | Judd Winick (writer) Tom Raney (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Amazon-Metahuman Hybrid |
| Team affiliations | Outsiders Birds of Prey |
| Abilities |
|
Grace Choi is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. The character was created by writerJudd Winick and artistTom Raney, first appearing inOutsiders (vol. 3) #1 (August 2003) in theModern Age of Comic Books.[1] Choi is introduced as a youngAsian American woman using her powers ofsuperhuman strength, healing, and enhanced durability to make a living as a nightclub bouncer, who is reluctantly recruited by her superhero acquaintanceRoy Harper to join his new crew of heroes, theOutsiders.
In the course of their adventures, Grace comes to take pride in her work as a vigilante, and discovers that she is descended from a tribe ofAmazons, explaining her better-than-human abilities. While working with the Outsiders, she enters into a relationship with her teammateThunder, the daughter of superhero and Outsider-founding memberBlack Lightning.
Outside of comics, Choi appears in theArrowverse television seriesBlack Lightning, portrayed byChantal Thuy.
Grace Choi is a 7 foot tallAsian-American woman withmetahuman strength who sportstattoos styled along PacificFirst Nations lines on both of her arms and a circular sun design around her navel.
Grace's history was explored in detail in the "Outsiders: Most Wanted" arc, in which it was revealed that she was one of the surviving victims of a prostitution ring that exploited abducted and runaway children as its "merchandise". Upon reaching puberty, Grace used her then-nascent metahuman powers to escape, and spent the next several years living independently, until her recruitment into the Outsiders.
Though initially the source of Grace's powers was not revealed, when the team was captured by theBrain andMonsieur Mallah inOutsiders (vol. 3) #39, they noted that Grace has been enhanced more than "her kind" usually is. The Outsiders were confused by that remark, leading Mallah to laugh and comment: "You mean they don't know what you are?" Later, Grace'sAmazon lineage was revealed.
In her first appearance inOutsiders (vol. 3) #1, she was the bouncer for the metahuman nightclub Chaney's inMetropolis; Arsenal recruited her for the newly formed Outsiders. She and Arsenal were old friends but she was not very keen on joining until he told her the Outsiders job would pay her three times more than her bouncer job.[2]
Grace Choi remains a member of the Outsiders, and assisted in toppling the regime ofMali. She gets along quite well with the team's newest member,Captain Boomerang II, and the two have been involved in the somewhat questionable interrogation of some soldiers, involvingtorture. It has been revealed that Grace has been secretly involved in a relationship with Thunder (Anissa Pierce). After an unsuccessful mission inNorth Korea involvingCheckmate,Nightwing hands over the Outsiders toBatman, who elects to decide on his own roster culminating in DC Comics' relaunch of theBatman and the Outsiders title.
Grace features in theAmazons Attacklimited series where during an attack on theUnited States by the Amazons, she encounters theBana Amazons. One of its members tells her that she is actually part of their tribe, the explanation for earlier allusions by others to "her kind."[3] This did not entirely explain Grace's metahuman powers, however, both the Bana and Themysciran Amazons possess true metahuman strength, speed, and durability. In the aftermath of the war, Batman assignsWonder Woman and Grace to a cleanup mission which serves as an audition for his new Outsiders roster. Grace identifies herself as half-Amazonian and displays a deep knowledge of Bana-Mighdall history. Batman and Wonder Woman accept that she is a Bana, and it is confirmed when Grace successfully handles a bomb engineered so that only women with BanaDNA might control it.[4] Diana and Grace end their joint mission describing each other as cousins.
Grace was briefly shown working alongside theBirds of Prey when they attempted to stop a group of villains from killing theSecret Six and takingNeron's "Get Out of Hell Free" card from them.[5]
Pleased with her performance, Batman welcomes Grace as the final member of his Outsiders. Despite being angry that Thunder "washed out" during Batman's try-outs and has been excluded from the team, she accepts. She then invites Thunder back onto the team without Batman's permission. Followingthe apparent death of Bruce Wayne, the Outsiders fall into a trap set bySimon Hurt, and most of the team members are severely injured. The group is disbanded shortly thereafter, and is replaced by a new team of Outsiders.
Some time later, Grace shows up inWonder Woman #600 as a member of Wonder Woman's all-female team of heroes.[6]
Many months after her departure from the Outsiders, Grace is shown in a live-in relationship with Anissa, with both women now in a state of semi-retirement following Anissa's recovery. WhenBlack Lightning arrives at Grace and Anissa's apartment with his small band of fugitive heroes, Grace comes to his aid and helps fight off the attacking members of theJustice Society of America. In the ensuing battle, Grace rendersStargirl andMister America unconscious, telling them not to threaten her "in-law". After the battle with the JSA, both Grace and Thunder agree to join up with Black Lightning's small team of Outsiders, who are tasked byAmanda Waller with travelling to Markovia and capturingGeo-Force and his rogue faction of the team.[7] Following a massive battle in Markovia, both teams of Outsiders are disbanded by Batman, and the individual heroes return home.[8]
Grace Choi possesses metahuman levels of strength, heightened durability and endurance, as well as regeneration and increased healing.[2]
