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Mal Duncan
Comics character From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Malcolm Arnold "Mal" Duncan, currently known as Vox (also known as the Guardian, Hornblower, and Herald), is a superhero appearing in media published by DC Comics. Introduced in April 1970, he is DC's first African-American superhero.[1]
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Publication history
Mal Duncan made his first appearance in Teen Titans #26, and was created by Robert Kanigher and Nick Cardy.[2]
In that issue, the African-American Mal kissed the Caucasian Lilith Clay goodbye, in a scene considered to be the first interracial kiss in comic book history.[3] When editorial director Carmine Infantino objected to the scene, thinking it too controversial, editor Dick Giordano kept the scene, but colored it in blue as a night scene, to draw less attention to the moment. Giordano recalls receiving many letters about the kiss, both hate mail (including one death threat) and many supportive letters approving of the kiss.[4]
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Fictional character biography
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Pre-Crisis
Malcolm "Mal" Duncan[note 1] saves the Teen Titans from a street gang called the Hell Hawks by beating their leader in a boxing match.[5] He is recruited into the Titans, but feels unworthy due to his lack of superpowers.[5][6] Mal later discovers a strength-enhancing exoskeleton and the costume of the Guardian, with which he becomes the second Guardian.[7]
Mal later battles Azrael, the angel of death, and obtains the horn of Gabriel, which grants him unspecified powers whenever the odds are against him in battle. Armed with the horn, Mal assumes the name Hornblower.[8]
Mal soon returns to his Guardian identity, claiming that too many people knew who he was.
Post-Crisis
In post-Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity, Mal Duncan never became Guardian and built Gabriel's Horn himself, assuming the identity of Herald. However, Mal is forced to destroy the horn after the villain Gargoyle infects it with a virus that will enable him and his master Antithesis to escape from Limbo. Mal and Karen retire from heroics and move to California.[9]
During the JLA/Titans event, Mal acquires a new Gabriel's Horn,[10] and later, he and Bumblebee join the short-lived Titans LA.[11] In Titans Tomorrow, an alternate timeline variant of Mal becomes president of the Eastern United States.
52
Four weeks after disappearing in space during the Infinite Crisis event, Mal is rescued from a Zeta Beam transport accident. His lungs and vocal cords have been damaged after Gabriel's Horn exploded in his face, and parts of Red Tornado have been embedded in his chest.[12] One year after Infinite Crisis, Mal joins the Doom Patrol alongside his wife Bumblebee.[13][14] Now known as Vox, Mal has been given a synthesized voice box which can create sonic blasts and open dimensional portals.
The New 52
In The New 52, a reboot of DC's continuity, Mal is introduced as an award-winning film composer and the husband of Karen, who is pregnant with their daughter.[15] He is later kidnapped by Mister Twister, who reveals that as a teenager, Mal was a member of the original Teen Titans under the name Herald. The Titans allowed their memories of each other to be erased to defeat Twister, who now seeks to use Mal's sonic abilities to summon a demon.[16] When Karen (who has now gained superpowers of her own) and the former Titans arrive, they are able to defeat Mister Twister once and for all.[17]
DC Rebirth
In DC Rebirth, Mal reveals to Karen that he underwent a procedure to remove his superpowers so that the couple could live a normal life.[18] When Karen suits up as Bumblebee to help the Titans battle the Fearsome Five, Mal steals armor from Nightwing's room in Titans Tower to back her up. However, he is unable to stop Psimon from removing Bumblebee's memories of Mal and their baby.[19] After Bumblebee's memories are restored, Mal helps the Titans take down Mister Twister and the Key.
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Powers and abilities
Formerly, his Gabriel Horn could open up multi-dimensional portals and generate strong sonic blasts. He now relies more on his artificial lungs and voice box to achieve the same effects. He also has a background in kickboxing, and hand-to-hand combat, and is in exceptional physical condition.
In the New 52 continuity, Mal possesses sonic and harmonic abilities that he projects by using his voice.
In other media
Television
- Mal Duncan as Herald appears in Teen Titans, voiced by Khary Payton.[20] This version is an honorary member of the eponymous group.
- Mal Duncan as Guardian appears in Young Justice, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.[21] This version is initially a high school student before joining the Team as their mission coordinator.[22] In the episode "Cornered", Duncan assumes the Guardian suit and equipment to battle Despero. In the third season, Young Justice: Outsiders, Duncan retires to focus on his relationship with his wife Karen Beecher and their daughter Rhea.
Miscellaneous
- Mal Duncan as Herald appears in Teen Titans Go!.[23]
- Mal Duncan as Guardian makes non-speaking appearances in DC Super Hero Girls as a student of Super Hero High.
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Notes
- His surname "Duncan" is revealed in Teen Titans #44 (November 1976), and his formal first name "Malcolm" is revealed in Teen Titans #45 (December 1976). Prior to these issues, he is known simply as "Mal".
References
External links
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