Black Hand (comics)
| Black Hand | |
|---|---|
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Green Lantern (vol. 2) #29 (June 1964) |
| Created by |
John Broome, Gil Kane |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | William Derek Hand |
| Team affiliations |
Black Lantern Corps Indigo Tribe The Society Underground Society |
| Partnerships |
Nekron Scar |
| Notable aliases | Dr. Wilbur Palm |
| Abilities | Previously: Absorbs lifeforce energy from living creatures to recreate his destroyed hand. Created and wields a device which siphons energy from green power rings and mimics their abilities. Formerly: Indigo corpsmen Wears an indigo power ring Currently: Undead being (Black Lantern) Wears a black power ring |
Black Hand (real name William Derek Hand) is a fictional DC Comics supervillain and a recurring foe to Green Lantern.
Black Hand first appeared in Green Lantern (vol. 2) #29 (June 1964) and was created by John Broome and Gil Kane. The character's name is a tribute to DC writer and Batman co-creator Bill Finger, on whom the character was based.
William Hand is born an inventive genius; developing a penchant for speaking in extremely old clichés later in life. William's family, the Hands, are renowned in Coastville (a suburb of Coast City, California); however, he grows to dislike them early in life. He feels the best way to distance himself from them, especially his three brothers (David, Peter and Joe), is to start a life of crime. After extensive study, he becomes an expert criminal and evades police at every turn. Eventually, his criminal behavior escalates into becoming a costumed supervillain; dubbing himself "Black Hand" (an inside joke he conceives that refers to his status as the "black sheep" of the Hand family).
In preparation for an inevitable battle with the Coast City-based Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Hand makes his most noteworthy invention. The device he creates is able to absorb the residue of a Green Lantern power ring's energy from any object that it touches. Once fueled by this energy, his device can then be used much the same way as a Green Lantern ring. In one crime spree, he uses his device to persuade the general public the items he has stolen have, in fact, never been touched. Hand also tends to break the fourth wall, speaking directly to the reader about his plans to confront Hal Jordan.
For a while, he retires from a life of crime and attempts to run an adult theatre. This new lease on life is ended abruptly by Guy Gardner and his girlfriend Ice. Black Hand develops a phobia of super-heroes. While trying to reorganize his life into more peaceful pursuits, he encounters Justice League members at the World Trade Center restaurant and has a mental breakdown.
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