Key (comics)
| The Key | |
|---|---|
|
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | (I) All Star Comics #57 (March 1951) (II) Justice League of America #41 (December 1965) |
| Created by |
(I) John Broome (script), Frank Giacoia (art) |
| In-story information | |
| Team affiliations |
Intergang Injustice League Society |
| Notable aliases | Star Tsar |
| Abilities | Key-shaped blaster; Enhanced senses, super-intelligence, and telepathy due to psycho-chemical use; Uses psycho-chemicals and viruses to control others; Telepathic control over others (former power) |
(I) John Broome (script), Frank Giacoia (art)
The Key is the name of two fictional supervillains in the DC Comics universe. The most widely known version, the "Modern Age" villain that first appeared in 1965, is a long-time and highly dangerous opponent of the Justice League. The character continues to appear in Justice League and Batman comics, with a ghoulish (rather than human) appearance since 1997.
The original Key first appeared in All Star Comics #57 and was created by John Broome and Frank Giacoia.
The second Key first appeared in Justice League of America #41 and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowski.
The Golden Age Key's sole appearance was in All Star Comics in 1951, which featured the last Golden Age appearance of the Justice Society of America. In this story, the Key is the head of a major crime syndicate and uses various agents around the world to engage in crime. While escaping from the Justice Society in a cable car moving over a gorge, the Key leaps out to avoid capture, presumably falling to his death. (This version of the Key has not been seen since.)
The second Key debuted in Justice League of America (volume 1) #41 (December 1965). The unidentified man known as the Key develops mind-expanding "psycho-chemicals" that activate his 10 senses. Assisted by henchmen known as "Key-Men" and a "key blaster" gun, the Key has several failed run-ins with the Justice League of America (JLA). The Key first drugs the Leaguers, which not only causes them to disband the Justice League but also physically blinds them to the existence of the Key and his Key-Men. The Key fails to take into account Hawkman's sidekick, Hawkgirl, who frees him from the drug's effects. They free the other Leaguers, and the Key is imprisoned.
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