Monocle (comics)
Encyclopedia
Monocle is a DC Comics
supervillain
and a recurring foe to Hawkman
. He first appeared in Flash Comics
#64 (April-May 1945): "The Man with the Magic Monocle
s".
Decades later, after being released from prison, he is invited by the Ultra-Humanite
to join his Secret Society of Super Villains
which battles Hawkman along with the rest of the Justice Society of America
and the Justice League of America. He along with his colleagues are defeated and banished into an interdimensional limbo until the Ultra from 1942 contacts his future counterpart, enlisting the aid of all criminals then present in limbo. Monocle briefly resides once more in 1942 until he and his allies are defeated once again, this time at the hands of the All-Star Squadron
.
Monocle joins up with a new version of the Secret society in JLA-80 Page Giant #1 (1998), but judging from the story's end, this entire adventure is a tall tale told between two other supervillains; Sonar II
and the Rainbow Raider
.
Monocle appears with Merlyn
and other various villains and ex-Suicide Squad
members in the mini-series Identity Crisis (2004). Though his appearance in Identity Crisis sets him up for the big time, he is killed by the most recent Manhunter
(Kate Spencer
) in Manhunter # 9 (June 2005).
In Blackest Night #1, it is revealed that Monocle's remains were gathered by the Justice League along with the remains of several other deceased super-villains after Nightwing found out about a rash of graverobbings.
like beam capable of cutting through most materials, and yet another emits an intense beam of white light capable of blinding an opponent. The monocles can be operated either when being held by Monocle or remotely, though Monocle tends to use them most often while holding them over his eye.
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...
supervillain
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...
and a recurring foe to Hawkman
Hawkman
Hawkman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940....
. He first appeared in Flash Comics
Flash Comics
Flash Comics was an anthology comic book published by All-American Publications and later National Periodicals . The title ran for 104 issues between January 1940 to February 1949. Although the name of the comic book was Flash Comics, the Flash was only one of many different series featured in the...
#64 (April-May 1945): "The Man with the Magic Monocle
Monocle
A monocle is a type of corrective lens used to correct or enhance the vision in only one eye. It consists of a circular lens, generally with a wire ring around the circumference that can be attached to a string. The other end of the string is then connected to the wearer's clothing to avoid losing...
s".
Fictional character biography
Jonathan Cheval is an honest businessman in the field of optics; however due to the scheming of a criminal he loses his business. Determined to get revenge on the people that cheated him, Cheval invents a number of monocles that can emit beams of energy. He is eventually captured by the Golden Age Hawkman after killing two of the criminals, although the remaining one is jailed with him.Decades later, after being released from prison, he is invited by the Ultra-Humanite
Ultra-Humanite
The Ultra-Humanite is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #13 , and was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster...
to join his Secret Society of Super Villains
Secret Society of Super Villains
The Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
which battles Hawkman along with the rest 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 ....
and the Justice League of America. He along with his colleagues are defeated and banished into an interdimensional limbo until the Ultra from 1942 contacts his future counterpart, enlisting the aid of all criminals then present in limbo. Monocle briefly resides once more in 1942 until he and his allies are defeated once again, this time at the hands of the All-Star Squadron
All-Star Squadron
The All-Star Squadron is a DC Comics superhero team that debuted in a special insert in Justice League of America #193 . Created by Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway.-The concept:...
.
Monocle joins up with a new version of the Secret society in JLA-80 Page Giant #1 (1998), but judging from the story's end, this entire adventure is a tall tale told between two other supervillains; Sonar II
Sonar (comics)
Sonar is a DC Comics supervillain. He first appeared in Green Lantern #14, July , and was created by John Broome and Gil Kane.-Fictional character biography:...
and the Rainbow Raider
Rainbow Raider
Rainbow Raider is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe. His real name is a pun based on the acronym "ROYGBIV" , a mnemonic for the colors of a rainbow.He first appeared in The Flash vol...
.
Monocle appears with Merlyn
Merlyn (DC Comics)
Merlyn is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He is an archer created by writer Mike Friedrich, artist Dick Dillin, and inker Neal Adams as an archvillain of the hero Green Arrow, and he first appeared in Justice League of America #94 ....
and other various villains and ex-Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad, also known as Task Force X , is a name for two fictional organizations in the DC Comics Universe. The first version debuted in The Brave and the Bold #25 , and the second in Legends #3...
members in the mini-series Identity Crisis (2004). Though his appearance in Identity Crisis sets him up for the big time, he is killed by the most recent Manhunter
Manhunter (comics)
-Golden Age:The first of DC's Manhunters was a non-costumed independent investigator, Paul Kirk, who helped police solve crimes during the early 1940s. Though the series was titled "Paul Kirk, Manhunter", Kirk didn't use the Manhunter name as an alias...
(Kate Spencer
Manhunter (Kate Spencer)
Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in publications from DC Comics. Kate Spencer is the eighth DC Comics character depicted using the name Manhunter, and the first female to do so. The character first appears in Manhunter Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in...
) in Manhunter # 9 (June 2005).
In Blackest Night #1, it is revealed that Monocle's remains were gathered by the Justice League along with the remains of several other deceased super-villains after Nightwing found out about a rash of graverobbings.
Powers and abilities
The Monocle created a number of special monocles that emit different types of rays or beams. For example, one fires a destructive ray, another emits a laserLaser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
like beam capable of cutting through most materials, and yet another emits an intense beam of white light capable of blinding an opponent. The monocles can be operated either when being held by Monocle or remotely, though Monocle tends to use them most often while holding them over his eye.
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...
, Monocle is seen as one of the latest recruits to 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...
. He appears in the episodes "Alive!" and "Dead Reckoning", but has no lines. He sided with Grodd against Luthor during the fight between the Society's members. - Monocle makes a quick one-shot cameo appearance in the 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...
episode "Knights of Tomorrow!", where he is shown being defeated by the BatmanBatmanBatman 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...
and RobinDick GraysonDick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
.
Film
- Monocle has a cameo appearance in the animated film Justice League: The New Frontier. He is seen during the famous speech by John F. KennedyJohn F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
.
Video games
- The Monocle is mentioned in Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The VideogameBatman: The Brave and the Bold – The VideogameBatman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame is a video game based on the comic book character Batman and the television cartoon series Batman: The Brave and the Bold. It was developed by WayForward Technologies and distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment...
by Hawkman when he is talking about how Gentleman GhostGentleman GhostGentleman Ghost is a fictional character, a supervillain published by DC Comics publications. He first appeared in Flash Comics #88 , and was created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert.-Fictional character biography:...
reminds him of the Monocle.