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Key (comics)
Encyclopedia
The Key is the name of two fictional supervillain
s in the DC Comics
universe.
Key's sole appearance is in 1951's All Star Comics
#57, which features the last Golden Age appearance of the Justice Society of America
. In this story, the Key is the head of a major crime syndicate, and uses various agents around the world in his misdeeds. While escaping from the Justice Society in a cable car moving over a gorge, the Key leaps out to avoid capture by the JSA, presumably falling to his death (as this version of the Key hasn't been seen since).
, the man who would be known as the Key develops mind-expanding "psycho-chemicals" that activate his ten senses and help him plan crimes mere humans can never hope to understand. Armed with these plans, a series of henchmen known as the "Key-Men", and a "key blaster", the Key has several failed run-ins with the JLA
.
The Key returns in JLA #8 (August 1997), after spending years in hibernation. The psycho-chemicals he has been ingesting have altered his appearance into a pale, cadaverous form, and heightened his mental abilities. He manages to infiltrate the JLA headquarters, and traps the team in fantasy realms of their own creation- ranging from Kal-El as the Green Lantern of Sector 2813, a now-retired Bruce Wayne going back into action when Tim Drake and his son face the Joker as he dies of cancer, and a powerless Wonder Woman facing Nazi archaeologists unleashing demons-, intending to siphon off the energies of their inevitable victory in order to increase his power. He almost succeeds if not for the intervention of Connor Hawke
, who beams up to the JLA headquarters while the Key is present due to a pre-arranged meeting to discuss him becoming a member of the League. He eventually returns to fight Batman in Arkham Asylum after infecting the asylum with an airborne toxin to heighten aggression, attempting to provoke the Dark Knight into murdering him so he could escape life itself, but the plan proves unsuccessful.
In the aftermath of the "World without a Justice League" storyline (JLA, #120-#125) when the Justice League is disassembled, the Key, now with telepathic powers thanks to a cybernetic implant, tries to destroy the League. After a long battle with Batman
, Green Arrow
, Black Canary
, and Manitou Dawn
, he is beaten and sent to "the dream realm", a place for telepaths, where he can think in peace. He somehow escapes, as he is later seen fighting in the Battle of Metropolis.
After this, he appeared in Justice League of America (volume 2) #17, as leader of a group of villains seeking to avoid being sent to the prison planet. The story suggests that the other villains are looking to the Key to facilitate their escape from JLA holding cells when they see fit to do so, but the League has prepared for this and ensured that the power dampeners in the cells prevent his enhanced intelligence from working as well as the more physical abilities of the other villains. Later, in issue #37, he is shown acting as a middle man between Roulette
and an unseen master. In Final Crisis
, he is part of Libra's
Secret Society of Super Villains.
The Key’s psycho-chemicals have allowed him to access the 90% of the human brain that is untapped. This has vastly increased his intelligence and expanded his range of senses. He has created a programmable psycho-virus that initiates a dream-like flu. The flu takes over the central nervous system and allows the Key to produce structured hallucinations; he is then able to steal the energy from the mind of the infected person.
The Key has several robot servants that he uses to perform tasks for him. The androids have some resistance to physical attack, and also have offensive capabilities.
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
s in the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe.
Golden Age Key
The Golden AgeGolden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
Key's sole appearance is in 1951's All Star Comics
All Star Comics
All Star Comics is a 1940s comic book series from All-American Publications, one of the early companies that merged with National Periodical Publications to form the modern-day DC Comics. With the exception of the first two issues, All Star Comics primarily told stories about the adventures of the...
#57, which features the last Golden Age appearance of the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
. In this story, the Key is the head of a major crime syndicate, and uses various agents around the world in his misdeeds. While escaping from the Justice Society in a cable car moving over a gorge, the Key leaps out to avoid capture by the JSA, presumably falling to his death (as this version of the Key hasn't been seen since).
Modern Age Key
The second Key debuted in Justice League of America (volume 1) #41 (December 1965). Originally a chemist with IntergangIntergang
Intergang is a fictional organized crime group in Superman and other DC comics. Armed with technology supplied by the villainous New Gods of the planet Apokolips, it is a potent foe who can seriously challenge the most powerful superheroes...
, the man who would be known as the Key develops mind-expanding "psycho-chemicals" that activate his ten senses and help him plan crimes mere humans can never hope to understand. Armed with these plans, a series of henchmen known as the "Key-Men", and a "key blaster", the Key has several failed run-ins with the JLA
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
.
The Key returns in JLA #8 (August 1997), after spending years in hibernation. The psycho-chemicals he has been ingesting have altered his appearance into a pale, cadaverous form, and heightened his mental abilities. He manages to infiltrate the JLA headquarters, and traps the team in fantasy realms of their own creation- ranging from Kal-El as the Green Lantern of Sector 2813, a now-retired Bruce Wayne going back into action when Tim Drake and his son face the Joker as he dies of cancer, and a powerless Wonder Woman facing Nazi archaeologists unleashing demons-, intending to siphon off the energies of their inevitable victory in order to increase his power. He almost succeeds if not for the intervention of Connor Hawke
Connor Hawke
Connor Hawke is a DC Comics superhero who operated as the second Green Arrow, created by Kelley Puckett and Jim Aparo. Connor is the son of Oliver Queen, the original Green Arrow, and his former girlfriend Moonday "Sandra" Hawke...
, who beams up to the JLA headquarters while the Key is present due to a pre-arranged meeting to discuss him becoming a member of the League. He eventually returns to fight Batman in Arkham Asylum after infecting the asylum with an airborne toxin to heighten aggression, attempting to provoke the Dark Knight into murdering him so he could escape life itself, but the plan proves unsuccessful.
In the aftermath of the "World without a Justice League" storyline (JLA, #120-#125) when the Justice League is disassembled, the Key, now with telepathic powers thanks to a cybernetic implant, tries to destroy the League. After a long battle with Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
, Black Canary
Black Canary
Black Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...
, and Manitou Dawn
Manitou Dawn
Manitou Dawn is a fictional superhero character in the DC Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Dawn and her late husband Manitou Raven hail from the Obsidian Age of Atlantis, circa 1000 BC. They were born in North America, from a tribe which would one day become the Apache Tribe. Few...
, he is beaten and sent to "the dream realm", a place for telepaths, where he can think in peace. He somehow escapes, as he is later seen fighting in the Battle of Metropolis.
After this, he appeared in Justice League of America (volume 2) #17, as leader of a group of villains seeking to avoid being sent to the prison planet. The story suggests that the other villains are looking to the Key to facilitate their escape from JLA holding cells when they see fit to do so, but the League has prepared for this and ensured that the power dampeners in the cells prevent his enhanced intelligence from working as well as the more physical abilities of the other villains. Later, in issue #37, he is shown acting as a middle man between Roulette
Roulette (DC Comics)
Roulette is a supervillainess in the DC Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Roulette's grandmother was a Golden Age villain of the same name, who ran a conventional casino and fought Mister Terrific . The current Roulette believes Terry Sloane to be her grandfather, but it is indicated...
and an unseen master. In Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
, he is part of Libra's
Libra (DC Comics)
Libra is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America #111, published in June 1974, where he formed the first incarnation of the Injustice Gang...
Secret Society of Super Villains.
Powers and abilities
Originally The Key carries a blaster in the shape of a key.The Key’s psycho-chemicals have allowed him to access the 90% of the human brain that is untapped. This has vastly increased his intelligence and expanded his range of senses. He has created a programmable psycho-virus that initiates a dream-like flu. The flu takes over the central nervous system and allows the Key to produce structured hallucinations; he is then able to steal the energy from the mind of the infected person.
The Key has several robot servants that he uses to perform tasks for him. The androids have some resistance to physical attack, and also have offensive capabilities.
Television
- In Justice League UnlimitedJustice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
, the Golden-Age Key (voiced by Corey BurtonCorey BurtonCorey Burton is an American voice actor, perhaps best known as Count Dooku, Ziro the Hutt and Cad Bane in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Brainiac in the DC animated universe and Spike Witwicky and Shockwave in the Transformers universe...
) is seen as a member of the Secret SocietySecret Society of Super VillainsThe Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
. His skills seem more oriented to penetrating secure areas with a key shaped gun that can easily open doors as well as fulfill mundane ballistic means. In his premier episode I Am Legion, the Key also displayed some form of intangibility to save Lex LuthorLex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
from a police manhunt. In a commentary, it was said that he was originally going to be possessed by, or be connected to, BrainiacBrainiac (comics)Brainiac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #242 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
, and play an important role in the season finale. However, he was dropped in favor of a resurrected DarkseidDarkseidDarkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
. In the finale, he sided against Lex Luthor and was subsequently frozen by Killer FrostKiller FrostKiller Frost is the name of two fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. They are both supervillains that appear mainly as foes of the superhero Firestorm.-Crystal Frost:...
.
Video games
- The Key is a villain featured in the video game Justice League HeroesJustice League HeroesJustice League Heroes is a console video game for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable systems. It is based on DC Comics' premiere superhero team, the Justice League of America. It was developed by Snowblind Studios and published and distributed by Warner Bros...
voiced by Carlos AlazraquiCarlos AlazraquiCarlos Jaime Alazraqui is an American actor, comedian, impressionist and voice actor. He is best known for his role as Deputy James Garcia on the Comedy Central series Reno 911!. His voice-over work includes the role of Bobbi Fabulous on Phineas and Ferb, the Taco Bell chihuahua, Denzel Q...
.
Miscellaneous
- The Key appears in issue 5 of the comic book adaptionBatman: The Brave and the Bold (comics)Batman: The Brave and the Bold is an American comic book series published by DC Comics. It is based on the TV series of the same name.-UK Title:The UK version is published by Titan Magazines and the first issue was released on 11 March 2010...
to Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
.
External links
- http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=key2#history