Firefly (DC Comics)
| Firefly | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance |
Lynns Detective Comics #184 (June 1952) Carson Batman #126 (1959) |
| Created by |
Lynns France Herron Dick Sprang Carson Bill Finger Sheldon Moldoff |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Garfield Lynns Ted Carson |
| Team affiliations | Secret Society of Super Villains |
| Abilities |
(Pre-Crisis) Use of tricks with colored lights (Post-Crisis) Expert in pyrotechnics and explosives Insulated battlesuit equipped with a flamethrower, grenade launchers, incendiary devices, jetpack and wings that allow flight |
Firefly is the name of two fictional supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, with both being enemies of Batman.
The first Firefly (Garfield Lynns) appeared in Detective Comics #184 (June 1952) created by France Herron and Dick Sprang.
The second Firefly (Ted Carson) appeared in Batman #126 and was created by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff.
The first iteration of Firefly is introduced as Garfield Lynns, a down-and-out film special effects expert who attempts to rob a theatre by faking a fire, but was stopped by Batman and Robin. He escapes, and in the darkness Batman sees a distant firefly, which he mistakes for Lynns' lit cigarette and chases in the wrong direction. Inspired, Lynns becomes the Firefly, using various lighting effects and optical illusions in his crimes. As a costumed criminal, Firefly has fought not only Batman and Robin, but also the Creeper and the Outsiders.
The second iteration of Firefly is Ted Carson, an ostentatiously wealthy gold mine heir who gambles away the family fortune and turns to crime to maintain his lifestyle. He is also Bruce Wayne's rival for the affections of Kathy Kane (aka Batwoman). His first time as Firefly occurred when he crashes the party at the Carson Mansion where Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson were attending. Batman and Robin attempt to interfere with Firefly's theft of gold nuggets from the Carson Family's first gold strike, but Firefly blinds them momentarily with a powerful light beam from his helmet and ensures his gang's getaway. Later, Wayne finds Kathy spurning him for Carson causing him to exclaim that he now has both the Firefly and Carson to worry about. Soon, Batman, Robin, and Batwoman are summoned to combat the Firefly at the Gotham Glassworks, but they discover that the Firefly possesses a sonic weapon that can shatter glass and are forced to take cover while the criminals flee, though one of the criminals is caught. Later, Bruce calls upon Kathy, only to find Carson already there. After a few minutes, Ted gets up to leave and asks Bruce to see Kathy to dinner. She pleads a headache and gets Bruce's raincoat still leaving him in the dark as to whether or not she suspects him of being Batman. After Bruce leaves, a fallen paper reveals to Kathy the Firefly's plans to rob the Gotham Museum of Natural History. She becomes Batwoman and travels to Carson's house. Batwoman tells Ted to become Batman and accompany her to foil the Firefly's plans as she reveals that she saw him change from a uniform into civilian clothes at the party. Carson leaves, and emerges in his uniform which happens to be Firefly's costume. He proceeds to tie Batwoman up and joins his gang at the museum attempting to steal silver relics. But Batman and Robin have deduced his next crime-site and Batwoman has freed herself, and the crime-fighters bring the criminals down.
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