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Alpha (DC Comics)
Encyclopedia
Alpha is a fictional character
in the DC Comics
universe. He is a martial artist created by writer Kelley Puckett
and artist Damion Scott
as a villain to Batgirl
, and he first appeared in Batgirl #35 (2003).
. Years later, once Cassandra had become Batgirl
, she encountered Alpha again. Working as an international terrorist-for-hire, Alpha had planted a fusion bomb
in Gotham City
, only to be struck with amnesia
before he could leave the city. Once she tracked him down, Batgirl saved Alpha from mob members that he had betrayed. She convinced the amnesiatic Alpha that he was a heroic Secret Agent
named Michael Sommers (explaining his skills and equipment), and enlisted his help in locating the nuclear device.
Alpha was able to remember that the bomb was at city limits, but as he arrived at the location with Batgirl, Alpha remembered his true identity and turned on her. Although he had found happiness in his brief time believing himself a hero, ultimately he felt that people could not change who they were. Batgirl then revealed to him that she was Cain's daughter, and that she had become a hero despite being trained by Cain, Alpha, and others to become an assassin, proving that people can change. Although Alpha locked her in his base with the bomb and escaped, he had a last-second change of heart and deactivated the weapon remotely.
Some time later, Alpha reappeared as a member of the new League of Assassins
formed by Nyssa Raatko
, the daughter of Ra's al Ghul
. Lady Shiva
, Cassandra's mother and the sensei
of Nyssa's League, had Alpha instruct David Cain's other student, the insane "Mad Dog
". Alpha and Batgirl were both present during the disastrous rebirth of Mr. Freeze
's wife Nora Fries
as the monstrous Lazara, and several League members died in the resulting chaos. Due to the conflict between their loyalty to Shiva and Nyssa and their near-worship of Batgirl, the League split at that point, with several members pledging themselves to Cassandra. Several more members of the League (including all the defectors except one) died when The Mad Dog went on a killing spree. Alpha then revealed that his true loyalties lay with Cassandra, and he attempted to kill The Mad Dog in order to save her. This went against Cassandra's code against killing, and she prevented him from doing so. The Mad Dog was successful in killing Batgirl (who gave her life to protect the last of the defected assassins), although she was able to knock The Mad Dog unconscious before perishing. Cassandra was quickly restored to life in a Lazarus Pit
by Shiva. Alpha's fate is unknown.
style popularaized by martial artist actor Chow Yun-fat
and director John Woo
, and the Gun Kata developed by Kurt Wimmer
for the films Equilibrium
and UltraViolet
.
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...
in the 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...
universe. He is a martial artist created by writer Kelley Puckett
Kelley Puckett
Kelley Puckett is a comic book writer. He is the creator of the character Cassandra Cain, the Batgirl who succeeded Barbara Gordon and who was succeeded herself by Stephanie Brown, as well as the second Green Arrow, Connor Hawke.-References:...
and artist Damion Scott
Damion Scott
Damion Scott is an American comic book artist and writer.-Career:Scott is a graduate of The Kubert School. His drawing style is influenced by the graffiti art and the Hip hop culture...
as a villain to Batgirl
Cassandra Cain
Cassandra Cain is a fictional character in the , one of several who has served as Batgirl, an important character in the Batman comic book franchise. Cassandra's backstory presents her as the daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva, she was deprived of speech and human contact during her...
, and he first appeared in Batgirl #35 (2003).
Fictional character biography
An extraordinarily skilled martial artist, Alpha was one of the instructors hired by assassin David Cain to train his young daughter CassandraCassandra Cain
Cassandra Cain is a fictional character in the , one of several who has served as Batgirl, an important character in the Batman comic book franchise. Cassandra's backstory presents her as the daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva, she was deprived of speech and human contact during her...
. Years later, once Cassandra had become Batgirl
Batgirl
Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
, she encountered Alpha again. Working as an international terrorist-for-hire, Alpha had planted a fusion bomb
Nuclear weapon design
Nuclear weapon designs are physical, chemical, and engineering arrangements that cause the physics package of a nuclear weapon to detonate. There are three basic design types...
in Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
, only to be struck with amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
before he could leave the city. Once she tracked him down, Batgirl saved Alpha from mob members that he had betrayed. She convinced the amnesiatic Alpha that he was a heroic Secret Agent
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
named Michael Sommers (explaining his skills and equipment), and enlisted his help in locating the nuclear device.
Alpha was able to remember that the bomb was at city limits, but as he arrived at the location with Batgirl, Alpha remembered his true identity and turned on her. Although he had found happiness in his brief time believing himself a hero, ultimately he felt that people could not change who they were. Batgirl then revealed to him that she was Cain's daughter, and that she had become a hero despite being trained by Cain, Alpha, and others to become an assassin, proving that people can change. Although Alpha locked her in his base with the bomb and escaped, he had a last-second change of heart and deactivated the weapon remotely.
Some time later, Alpha reappeared as a member of the new League of Assassins
League of Assassins
The League of Assassins is a group of fictional comic book villains, an organization of killers formerly led by Ra's al Ghul, an enemy of Batman in the DC Comics Universe.-Doctor Ebeneezer Darrk:...
formed by Nyssa Raatko
Nyssa Raatko
Nyssa Raatko is a fictional character, an assassin and terrorist created by Greg Rucka and Klaus Janson for the Batman series of comic books.-Fictional character biography:...
, the daughter of Ra's al Ghul
Ra's al Ghul
Ra's al Ghul is a DC Comics supervillain and is one of Batman's greatest enemies. His name in Arabic has been translated in the comics as "The Demon's Head" and references the name of the star Algol. Created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams, he was introduced in Batman #232's...
. Lady Shiva
Lady Shiva
Lady Shiva is a fictional comic book character co-created by Dennis O'Neil and Ric Estrada, and published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter as an antagonist of Richard Dragon...
, Cassandra's mother and the sensei
Sensei
' is a Japanese word that basically means "person born before another." In general usage, it means "master" or "teacher," and the word is used as a title to refer to or address teachers, professors, professionals such as lawyers, CPA and doctors, politicians, clergymen, and other figures of authority...
of Nyssa's League, had Alpha instruct David Cain's other student, the insane "Mad Dog
The Mad Dog (comics)
The Mad Dog is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, associated with the Batman mythos, created by writer Andersen Gabrych and artist Ale Garza...
". Alpha and Batgirl were both present during the disastrous rebirth of Mr. Freeze
Mr. Freeze
Mr. Freeze, real name Dr. Victor Fries , is a DC Comics supervillain, an enemy of Batman. Created by Bob Kane, he first appeared in Batman #121 ....
's wife Nora Fries
Nora Fries
Nora Fries is a fictional character from DC Comics and a supervillainess enemy of Batman known as Lazara. She is the wife of villain Mr. Freeze, and is introduced in Batman: The Animated Series.-History on Batman: The Animated Series:...
as the monstrous Lazara, and several League members died in the resulting chaos. Due to the conflict between their loyalty to Shiva and Nyssa and their near-worship of Batgirl, the League split at that point, with several members pledging themselves to Cassandra. Several more members of the League (including all the defectors except one) died when The Mad Dog went on a killing spree. Alpha then revealed that his true loyalties lay with Cassandra, and he attempted to kill The Mad Dog in order to save her. This went against Cassandra's code against killing, and she prevented him from doing so. The Mad Dog was successful in killing Batgirl (who gave her life to protect the last of the defected assassins), although she was able to knock The Mad Dog unconscious before perishing. Cassandra was quickly restored to life in a Lazarus Pit
Lazarus Pit
A Lazarus Pit is a fictional natural phenomenon in the . They are primarily found in the Batman titles and are commonly used by Ra's al Ghul for their restorative powers.-Fictional history:...
by Shiva. Alpha's fate is unknown.
Fighting style
Alpha notably combined martial arts with gunplay, in a manner reminiscent of the Gun fuGun fu
Gun fu, a portmanteau of gun and kung fu, is the style of sophisticated close-quarters gunplay seen in Hong Kong action cinema and in Western films influenced by it. It often resembles a martial arts battle played out with firearms instead of traditional weapons...
style popularaized by martial artist actor Chow Yun-fat
Chow Yun-Fat
Chow Yun-fat, SBS is an actor from Hong Kong. He is best known in Asia for his collaboration with filmmaker John Woo in heroic bloodshed genre films A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard Boiled; and to the West for his role as Li Mu-bai in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...
and director John Woo
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
, and the Gun Kata developed by Kurt Wimmer
Kurt Wimmer
Kurt Wimmer is an American screenwriter and film director.Wimmer is of German descent, he attended the University of South Florida and graduated with a BFA degree in Art History. He then moved to Los Angeles where he worked for 12 years as a screenwriter before making his 2002 film, Equilibrium...
for the films Equilibrium
Equilibrium (film)
Equilibrium is a 2002 American science fiction action film written and directed by Kurt Wimmer. It stars Christian Bale as John Preston, a warrior-priest and enforcement officer in a future dystopia where both feelings and artistic expression are outlawed and citizens take daily injections of drugs...
and UltraViolet
Ultraviolet (film)
Ultraviolet is a 2006 American science fiction action film written and directed by Kurt Wimmer and produced by Screen Gems. It stars Milla Jovovich as Violet Song and Cameron Bright as Six. It was released in North America on March 3, 2006...
.