| Mister Terrific | |
|---|---|
 Michael Holt and Terry Sloane, both versions of Mr. Terrific. Cover ofJSA #70, art byDave Gibbons | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Terry Sloane: Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942) Michael Holt: Spectre (vol. 3) #54 (June 1997) |
| Created by | Terry Sloane: Charles Reizenstein Hal Sharp Michael Holt: John Ostrander Tom Mandrake |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Terry Sloane Michael Holt |
| Team affiliations | Justice Society of America Justice League Checkmate All-Star Squadron Black Lantern Corps Terrifics |
Mister Terrific is the name of twosuperheroes in theDC Comics Universe.
The originalGolden Age hero,Terry Sloane, was a millionaire with a photographic memory and athletic skills who became a superhero after rescuing a woman from suicide. He formed the "Fair Play Club" to combat juvenile delinquency and was a member of theJustice Society of America. He was killed in a 1979 story.
The second Mister Terrific debuted in 1997.Michael Holt was inspired by Sloane's story. Also highly skilled and intelligent, Holt invented the T-Sphere, a versatile device controlled by his mask and earpieces. He served in the Justice Society of America and had a short-lived standalone comic book series. The "Mister Terrific" concept was also adapted into other versions and storylines.
Edi Gathegi portrays Michael Holt / Mister Terrific in theDC Universe (DCU) filmSuperman.
TheGolden Age's Mister Terrific wasTerry Sloane, a self-made millionaire whosephotographic memory, Olympic-level athletic skills, and mastery of themartial arts made him aRenaissance man. The character first appeared inSensation Comics #1 (January 1942).[1]
After graduating college at age 13, he eventually became a renowned business leader in the community. Having accomplished all his goals, he felt there were no challenges left for him to pursue, leading him towards suicidal tendencies. However, upon seeing a young woman jump from a bridge, Sloane reacted quickly and saved the woman, Wanda Wilson. Sloane assisted Wanda's brother, who had been caught up in a gang, by adopting a superhero identity: the Mister Terrific persona. This provided him with what he had been missing; a sense of accomplishment. He then created the "Fair Play Club" to stymie growing juvenile delinquency.[2] He also became an active member of theJustice Society of America until the team was dissolved when theHouse Un-American Activities Committee ordered them to reveal their secret identities or disband. In the end, they chose the latter to protect themselves and their families from potential retribution from those they had fought in the past if their identities became known. Following the dissolution of the JSA, Mr. Terrific retired along with many of the others.
Years later, Sloane came out of retirement and joined with the reformedJustice Society of America. While attending their annual meeting with theJustice League of America, he was killed by his old enemy theSpirit King, who had possessed the body ofJay Garrick to infiltrate the JLA's satellite headquarters.[3]
In 1997, the mantle of Mister Terrific was passed on toMichael Holt, an equally talented man who held five black belts, had won the Olympic Decathlon and held many degrees and doctorates in a wide spectrum of fields. While contemplatingsuicide after the accidental death of his wife and unborn child, he was met by theSpectre, who told him about Terry Sloane. Inspired by Sloane's life story, he took the name "Mister Terrific"[4] and later joined the currentJustice Society of America, eventually serving as its chairman. He is the inventor of the T-Sphere, an artificially intelligent miniature device that he controls with his mask and earpieces. Holt served as the White King in the restructuredCheckmate but eventually returned to full-time duties with the JSA. Holt was apparently killed inJustice Society of America #30/31 (Aug/Sept 2009), but returned to life shortly afterwards.
Michael Holt appears inSmallville Season 11: Chaos #3.
In 2011, Holt became the title character in his ownMister Terrific comic book, as part ofThe New 52, but this was a short run, ending in 2012 after eight issues. He has since appeared in the DC book Earth 2 following his series's cancellation, along with the new incarnation of Terry Sloane.
Writer Gerry Conway and artist Dick Dillin crafted a tale of foul play aboard the JLA satellite, during the team's annual get-together with Earth-2's JSA. Mr. Terrific...was murdered before he could expose a turncoat among the heroes.
