Tawky Tawny
Encyclopedia
Tawky Tawny is a character in DC Comics
and a supporting character of the Marvel Family
. He is a humanoid and well mannered tiger
who wishes to be a part of human society and is a close friend of the Marvel Family
.
living in the jungles of India. When his mother was killed, he was raised by the son of a missionary. When the tiger had grown to full size, he was accused of killing someone. To prove his innocence, the village hermit gave the tiger a serum that not only gave him the ability to speak, but allowed him to stand upright like a human. Upon hearing about the city years later, Tawny decided to travel to North America and live there. He snuck onto a boat bound for Fawcett City. He tried to fit in, but, as a full-grown tiger, inadvertently caused a panic, which drew the attention of Captain Marvel
. After the two talked, Captain Marvel realized that Tawny was a peaceful and reasonable person who did not mean to cause any trouble, and got him a job as a museum curator at the local museum.
.
Later, in Freddy Freeman
's trials to become the new champion, his rival Sabina had killed five of Freddy's informants. The other informant turned out to be Tawky Tawny. When Sabina tried to get Tawky to snap on the information she needed, Tawky ended up turning into a Smilodon
shouting that "Times have changed." Tawky had the upper hand until Sabina started using her Viking armor. Just then, Mercury arrived and stopped the fight. Freddy arrived and rushed to Tawky Tawny's side who instructed Freddy to follow Mercury.
During the Final Crisis
, Tawky Tawny joined up with the All-Star Squadron
and faced off against the new and improved Kalibak
(who has been reborn as a Tigerman). Tawky managed to slay Kalibak and gain leadership of the Tigermen.
's "Captain Marvel: The Monster Society of Evil" mini-series, Tawky Tawny was presented as an ifrit
disguised as a homeless man who can take the form of a tiger. Tawky was a friend of Billy Batson when they lived on the streets. Billy learned of Tawky's true form when two Crocodile-Men attacked the city. After the fight, Tawky explained to Billy that he is an ifrit. He became the voice of reason for Captain Marvel and Mary Marvel
and revealed to them about Doctor Sivana
and Mister Mind
's plot to take over the magical realm, allowing Captain Marvel to defeat them.
reality, Tawky Tawny is a companion of Captain Thunder. He appears to be an ordinary tiger, kept on a leash by one of six children who each possess one of the powers of Shazam. When the children transform into Captain Thunder, Tawny becomes a Smilodon
in armor (looking not unlike He-Man
's companion Battle Cat
).
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...
and a supporting character of the Marvel Family
Marvel Family
The Marvel Family is a group of fictional characters, a team of superheroes in the Fawcett Comics and DC Comics universes. Created in 1942 by writer Otto Binder and Fawcett artists C. C...
. He is a humanoid and well mannered tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
who wishes to be a part of human society and is a close friend of the Marvel Family
Marvel Family
The Marvel Family is a group of fictional characters, a team of superheroes in the Fawcett Comics and DC Comics universes. Created in 1942 by writer Otto Binder and Fawcett artists C. C...
.
Pre-Crisis
Tawky Tawny started out as a normal tigerTiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
living in the jungles of India. When his mother was killed, he was raised by the son of a missionary. When the tiger had grown to full size, he was accused of killing someone. To prove his innocence, the village hermit gave the tiger a serum that not only gave him the ability to speak, but allowed him to stand upright like a human. Upon hearing about the city years later, Tawny decided to travel to North America and live there. He snuck onto a boat bound for Fawcett City. He tried to fit in, but, as a full-grown tiger, inadvertently caused a panic, which drew the attention of Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
. After the two talked, Captain Marvel realized that Tawny was a peaceful and reasonable person who did not mean to cause any trouble, and got him a job as a museum curator at the local museum.
Post-Crisis
In the Post-Crisis DC Universe, Mister Tawny was originally a stuffed doll given life by Lord Satanus and then again by Ibis the InvincibleIbis the Invincible
Ibis the Invincible is a fictional character, a comic book superhero originally published by Fawcett Comics in the 1940s and then by DC Comics beginning in the 1970s. Like many magician superheroes introduced in the Golden Age of Comics, Ibis owes much to the popular comic strip character Mandrake...
.
Later, in Freddy Freeman
Captain Marvel Jr.
Captain Marvel Jr. is a fictional character, a superhero originally published by Fawcett Comics and currently in the . A member of the Marvel Family team of superheroes, he was created by Ed Herron and Mac Raboy, and first appeared in Whiz Comics #25 in December 1941.Captain Marvel Jr.'s...
's trials to become the new champion, his rival Sabina had killed five of Freddy's informants. The other informant turned out to be Tawky Tawny. When Sabina tried to get Tawky to snap on the information she needed, Tawky ended up turning into a Smilodon
Smilodon
Smilodon , often called a saber-toothed cat or saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct genus of machairodonts. This saber-toothed cat was endemic to North America and South America, living from near the beginning through the very end of the Pleistocene epoch .-Etymology:The nickname "saber-tooth" refers...
shouting that "Times have changed." Tawky had the upper hand until Sabina started using her Viking armor. Just then, Mercury arrived and stopped the fight. Freddy arrived and rushed to Tawky Tawny's side who instructed Freddy to follow Mercury.
During the 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...
, Tawky Tawny joined up with 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:...
and faced off against the new and improved Kalibak
Kalibak
Kalibak is a fictional character, a deity and supervillain published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in New Gods #1 .- Fictional character biography :...
(who has been reborn as a Tigerman). Tawky managed to slay Kalibak and gain leadership of the Tigermen.
Powers and Abilities
Tawky Tawny has the strength roughly equivalent to that of an adult tiger along with his species' claws and fangs which he can use to deadly effect if necessary, although he is a normally a peaceful man. Thanks to the Tenth Age of Magic, Tawky Tawny has the ability to turn into a smilodon.Earth-5
In Jeff SmithJeff Smith
Jeff Smith may refer to:*Jeff Smith , coach in the Minnesota Twins' organization*Jeff Smith , councillor in Manchester*Jeff Smith , creator of the comic book Bone...
's "Captain Marvel: The Monster Society of Evil" mini-series, Tawky Tawny was presented as an ifrit
Ifrit
Ifrit—also spelled, efreet, ifreet, afreet, and afrit —are supernatural creatures in Arabic and Islamic cultures...
disguised as a homeless man who can take the form of a tiger. Tawky was a friend of Billy Batson when they lived on the streets. Billy learned of Tawky's true form when two Crocodile-Men attacked the city. After the fight, Tawky explained to Billy that he is an ifrit. He became the voice of reason for Captain Marvel and Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine, originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze, she first appeared in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 in...
and revealed to them about Doctor Sivana
Doctor Sivana
Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana is a fictional comic book supervillain. Created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck, he first appeared opposite superhero Captain Marvel in Whiz Comics #2 by Fawcett Comics...
and Mister Mind
Mister Mind and the Monster Society of Evil
Mister Mind is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain created for Fawcett Comics, and now owned and published by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and C. C...
's plot to take over the magical realm, allowing Captain Marvel to defeat them.
Flashpoint
In the FlashpointFlashpoint (comics)
Flashpoint is an American comic book crossover story arc published by DC Comics. Consisting of an eponymous core limited series and a number of tie-in titles, the storyline premiered in May 2011...
reality, Tawky Tawny is a companion of Captain Thunder. He appears to be an ordinary tiger, kept on a leash by one of six children who each possess one of the powers of Shazam. When the children transform into Captain Thunder, Tawny becomes a Smilodon
Smilodon
Smilodon , often called a saber-toothed cat or saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct genus of machairodonts. This saber-toothed cat was endemic to North America and South America, living from near the beginning through the very end of the Pleistocene epoch .-Etymology:The nickname "saber-tooth" refers...
in armor (looking not unlike He-Man
He-Man
He-Man is a fictional heroic character featured in the Masters of the Universe media franchise. In most variations, he is the alter ego of Prince Adam...
's companion Battle Cat
Battle Cat
Battle-Cat is a fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise. He is a large green tiger, with yellow stripes who serves as He-Man's fighting mount.-Battle Cat :...
).
Television
- Tawky Tawny was a supporting character in The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! voiced by Alan OppenheimerAlan OppenheimerAlan Oppenheimer is an American character actor and voice actor. He has performed numerous roles on live-action television since the 1960s, and has had an active career doing voice work in cartoons since the 1970s.-Early life:...
.
- 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 "The Malicious Mr. Mind," Tawky Tawny appears as Mary Batson's stuffed toy tiger.
- In the Young JusticeYoung Justice (TV series)Young Justice is an American animated television series created by Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti for Cartoon Network. Despite its title, it is not an adaptation of Todd Dezago and Todd Nauck's Young Justice comic series, but rather an adaptation of the entire DC Universe with a focus on young...
episode "Alpha Male" with it's vocal effects provided by Dee Bradley BakerDee Bradley BakerDee Bradley Baker is an American voice actor. He is noted as his long-running-role as Klaus Heissler in American Dad! and other various characters including Squilliam Fancyson in the hit TV series SpongeBob SquarePants, Nightcrawler in X-Men: Legends and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance...
. This version is a genetically-engineered tiger that Captain Marvel freed and befriended from the mind-control collars planted on it by BrainBrain (comics)The Brain is a fictional character, a supervillain in the and frequent enemy of the Doom Patrol. He is a French mastermind and criminal genius...
and Monsieur MallahMonsieur MallahMonsieur Mallah is a fictional character, a superintelligent gorilla supervillain in the and the criminal and romantic partner of the Brain. Monsieur Mallah first appeared in Doom Patrol Monsieur Mallah is a fictional character, a superintelligent gorilla supervillain in the and the criminal and...
. He tells the tiger he will visit it again and calls it "Mr. Tawny".
Film
- Tawky Tawny appeared in the animated short Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black AdamSuperman/Shazam!: The Return of Black AdamSuperman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam is a 2010 short animated film, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos and written by Michael Jelenic, featuring George Newbern and Jerry O'Connell reprising their roles from Justice League Unlimited as Superman and Captain Marvel who team-up to do battle with the...
voiced by Kevin Michael RichardsonKevin Michael RichardsonKevin Michael Richardson is an American actor and voice actor who currently stars as Cleveland Brown, Jr. in The Cleveland Show...
. He appears as a grungy homeless guy calling Billy Batson "Captain." But when Black AdamBlack AdamBlack Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. Originally created as a one-shot villain for Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family team of superheroes, Black Adam was revived as a recurring supervillain after DC Comics began publishing Captain...
threatens to continue his destruction, Tawny reveals his real identity as a mystical tiger to SupermanSupermanSuperman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
and Captain MarvelCaptain Marvel (DC Comics)Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
. Black Adam recognizes Tawky Tawny as Shazam's lackey. To evade being banished further by Shazam upon being threatened by Tawky, Black Adam quotes "Shazam" and turns into a withered old man that turns to dust. After seeing Tawky in action, Superman replies to Captain Marvel "You have some unusual friends".
External links
- Tawky Tawny at DC Wiki
- Tawky Tawny at Comic Vine
- Tawky Tawny at Shazam Wiki