Thomas Kalmaku
Encyclopedia
Thomas Kalmaku is a fictional character
, a supporting character
associated with Green Lantern
in comic books published by DC Comics
. He was created by writer John Broome
and penciler Gil Kane
.
mechanic at Ferris Aircraft, also the employer of test pilot Hal Jordan
. In the Silver Age he was referred to as Pieface; however, this has not been used for some time. As one journalist described:
In his early appearances Kalmaku had a girlfriend named Terga. They later married, but have since separated.
Kalmaku was one of the few people who knew Jordan's secret, and kept a journal of Green Lantern's adventures, which he later published as a biography of Jordan. In several stories, as a non-costumed sidekick
, he either assisted the hero, or required rescuing.
During the Millennium
crossover, Kalmaku is revealed to be one of the "Chosen" who forms the New Guardians
. He has the superpower to bring out the best in people. He resides with the team for some time on a small island. When Guy Gardner
appears on a boat to take over the team, Tom tries to calm the situation, as he and the team only wish to help Guy with his obvious anger problems. The situation degenerates and Guy is forcibly removed from the island by the power of Gloss
. Later, Tom leaves the team to be with his family.
The graphic novel
Legacy: The Last Will and Testament of Hal Jordan focuses on Kalmaku, and his immense difficulty dealing with the aftermath of Jordan's rampage and killings. In it he goes on a final mission on Jordan's behalf, eventually reconstructing the planet Oa
and the Great Battery, and fixing his relationship with his son, daughter, and wife.
It is later revealed that he is about to become an equal partner in Carol Ferris
's aircraft company. It is also mentioned that the Guardians of the Universe
once offered Kalmaku a Power Ring, but that he turned it down, with a simple "Naw." It had originally been revealed in Legacy that Kalmaku was Jordan's choice to be his replacement.
Kalmaku was briefly featured in the Green Lantern: Secret Origin
storyline, which reworked some of the earlier parts of the Green Lantern mythos. In this new origin, Kalmaku greatly disliked being called "Pieface" by an arrogant pilot, and was defended by Jordan, who had just joined Ferris Aircraft.
's DC: The New Frontier
miniseries (2003-2004), which is an alternate-universe story set in the 1950s. Here, Thomas angrily objects to the name Pieface when Hal Jordan first uses it, but quickly forgives him when he realizes there was no ill intent (Jordan had just overheard other pilots using the nickname).
event, Thomas Kalmaku is still Hal Jordan's aide. While inspecting an alien Abin Sur
's survivor crashed aircraft, Tom and Hector Hammond
are studying the spaceship technology as a stealth aircraft
. After Hal's death, Tom gives Carol Ferris
a gift from Hal saying that he always loved her.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a supporting character
Supporting character
A supporting character is a character of a book, play, video game, movie, television or radio show or other form of storytelling usually used to give added dimension to a main character, by adding a relationship with this character...
associated with Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
in comic books published by 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...
. He was created by writer John Broome
John Broome (writer)
John Broome , who additionally used the pseudonyms John Osgood and Edgar Ray Meritt, was an American comic book writer for DC Comics.-Early life and career:...
and penciler Gil Kane
Gil Kane
Eli Katz who worked under the name Gil Kane and in one instance Scott Edward, was a comic book artist whose career spanned the 1940s to 1990s and every major comics company and character.Kane co-created the modern-day versions of the superheroes Green Lantern and the Atom for DC Comics, and...
.
Fictional character biography
Thomas Kalmaku was introduced in Green Lantern vol. 2, #2 (Oct. 1960) as a young InuitInuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
mechanic at Ferris Aircraft, also the employer of test pilot Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
. In the Silver Age he was referred to as Pieface; however, this has not been used for some time. As one journalist described:
In his early appearances Kalmaku had a girlfriend named Terga. They later married, but have since separated.
Kalmaku was one of the few people who knew Jordan's secret, and kept a journal of Green Lantern's adventures, which he later published as a biography of Jordan. In several stories, as a non-costumed sidekick
Sidekick
A sidekick is a close companion who is generally regarded as subordinate to the one he accompanies. Some well-known fictional sidekicks are Don Quixote's Sancho Panza, Sherlock Holmes' Doctor Watson, The Lone Ranger's Tonto, The Green Hornet's Kato and Batman's Robin.-Origins:The origin of the...
, he either assisted the hero, or required rescuing.
During the Millennium
Millennium (comics)
"Millennium" was a comic book crossover story line that ran through an eight-issue, self-titled, limited series and various other titles cover dated January and February 1988 by DC Comics. The limited series was published weekly, which was a departure for an American series...
crossover, Kalmaku is revealed to be one of the "Chosen" who forms the New Guardians
New Guardians
New Guardians is a short-lived series published by DC Comics. It was a spin-off from the Millennium event,and ran for twelve issue, from 1988 through 1989, before being canceled. It is also the name of the group of characters who appeared in the series. The characters first appeared in Millennium...
. He has the superpower to bring out the best in people. He resides with the team for some time on a small island. When Guy Gardner
Guy Gardner (comics)
Guy Gardner is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He is a core member of the Green Lantern family of characters, and for a time was also a significant member of the Justice League family of characters.He was created by John Broome and Gil Kane in Green Lantern...
appears on a boat to take over the team, Tom tries to calm the situation, as he and the team only wish to help Guy with his obvious anger problems. The situation degenerates and Guy is forcibly removed from the island by the power of Gloss
Gloss (comics)
Gloss is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Millennium #2 , and was created by Steve Engelhart and Joe Staton.-Fictional character biography:...
. Later, Tom leaves the team to be with his family.
The graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
Legacy: The Last Will and Testament of Hal Jordan focuses on Kalmaku, and his immense difficulty dealing with the aftermath of Jordan's rampage and killings. In it he goes on a final mission on Jordan's behalf, eventually reconstructing the planet Oa
Oa
Oa is a fictional planet that lies at the center of the DC Comics universe. Since its inception, Oa has been the planetary citadel of the Guardians of the Universe and the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps...
and the Great Battery, and fixing his relationship with his son, daughter, and wife.
It is later revealed that he is about to become an equal partner in Carol Ferris
Carol Ferris
Caroline "Carol" Ferris is a character in the . She is one of many characters who has used the name Star Sapphire, and is a long-time love interest of Hal Jordan, the Silver Age Green Lantern. Her original design was based on Elizabeth Taylor...
's aircraft company. It is also mentioned that the Guardians of the Universe
Guardians of the Universe
The Guardians of the Universe, alternatively known as the Guardians or Oans are a fictional extraterrestrial race in the DC Comics universe. They first appeared in Green Lantern Vol. 2 #1 , and were created by John Broome and Gil Kane. Here they do not reveal their existence to Hal, bringing his...
once offered Kalmaku a Power Ring, but that he turned it down, with a simple "Naw." It had originally been revealed in Legacy that Kalmaku was Jordan's choice to be his replacement.
Kalmaku was briefly featured in the Green Lantern: Secret Origin
Green Lantern: Secret Origin
"Secret Origin" is a comic book story arc published in Green Lantern #29-35 by DC Comics. Written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Ivan Reis, the story retells the origin of Earth's first Green Lantern Corps member Hal Jordan for the New Earth continuity...
storyline, which reworked some of the earlier parts of the Green Lantern mythos. In this new origin, Kalmaku greatly disliked being called "Pieface" by an arrogant pilot, and was defended by Jordan, who had just joined Ferris Aircraft.
DC: The New Frontier
Tom makes a brief appearance in Darwyn CookeDarwyn Cooke
Darwyn Cooke is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer, artist, cartoonist and animator, best known for his work on the comic books Catwoman, DC: The New Frontier, The Spirit and Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter.-Career:...
's DC: The New Frontier
DC: The New Frontier
DC: The New Frontier is an Eisner, Harvey, and Shuster Award-winning six-issue comic book limited series written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke, published by DC Comics in 2003-2004. It was then collected into two trade paperback volumes from 2004–2005 and then an Absolute Edition in 2006...
miniseries (2003-2004), which is an alternate-universe story set in the 1950s. Here, Thomas angrily objects to the name Pieface when Hal Jordan first uses it, but quickly forgives him when he realizes there was no ill intent (Jordan had just overheard other pilots using the nickname).
Flashpoint
In the alternate timeline of 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...
event, Thomas Kalmaku is still Hal Jordan's aide. While inspecting an alien Abin Sur
Abin Sur
Abin Sur is a fictional character and a superhero from the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Showcase #22 : "SOS Green Lantern". He was a member of the Green Lantern Corps and is best known as the predecessor of Green Lantern Hal Jordan, whom Abin Sur's power ring chose as his replacement...
's survivor crashed aircraft, Tom and Hector Hammond
Hector Hammond
Hector Hammond is a DC Universe supervillain who is primarily an enemy of Green Lantern. The character was created by John Broome and Gil Kane, and originally appeared in Green Lantern # 5...
are studying the spaceship technology as a stealth aircraft
Stealth aircraft
Stealth aircraft are aircraft that use stealth technology to avoid detection by employing a combination of features to interfere with radar as well as reduce visibility in the infrared, visual, audio, and radio frequency spectrum. Development of stealth technology likely began in Germany during...
. After Hal's death, Tom gives Carol Ferris
Carol Ferris
Caroline "Carol" Ferris is a character in the . She is one of many characters who has used the name Star Sapphire, and is a long-time love interest of Hal Jordan, the Silver Age Green Lantern. Her original design was based on Elizabeth Taylor...
a gift from Hal saying that he always loved her.
Television
- A similar character called KairoKairo (Superman/Aquaman Hour)Kairo is the alien sidekick of DC Comics' Silver Age Green Lantern Hal Jordan, as featured in the 1967 Filmation animated series The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure. The character was voiced by Paul Frees....
appeared in The Superman/Aquaman Hour of AdventureThe Superman/Aquaman Hour of AdventureThe Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure is a Filmation animated series that aired on CBS from 1967 to 1968. Premiering on September 9, 1967, this 60-minute program included a series of six-minute adventures featuring various DC Comics superheroes....
voiced by Paul FreesPaul FreesPaul Frees was an American voice actor and character actor.-Biography:He was born Solomon Hersh Frees in Chicago...
. Like Tom, Kairo knew Green Lantern's secret identity and like Tom, Kairo was a mechanic.
Film
- Taika WaititiTaika WaititiTaika Waititi , also known as Taika Cohen, is a New Zealand-born film director, writer, painter, comedian and actor named as one of Varietys "ten new directors to watch" in 2007....
portrays Kalmaku in the live-action film, Green LanternGreen Lantern (film)Green Lantern is a 2011 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett and Tim Robbins, with Martin Campbell directing a script by Greg Berlanti and comic book writers Michael Green and Marc...
as engineer working at Ferris aircraft, in addition being Hal Jordan's best friend, and the first person Jordan turns to when he receives the ring. This version, unlike his comic book counterpart, is American and not Asian.