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Damage (comics)
Encyclopedia
Damage is a DC Comics
superhero
who first appeared in a comic book
of the same name during the Zero Hour crisis
. He is the son of the original Atom Al Pratt. He has been a member of the Titans, the Freedom Fighters
, and Justice Society of America
.
student
Grant Emerson, had just moved with his parents to a new home in suburban Atlanta. His parents moved often due to their work for the Symbolix corporation and Grant usually felt like an outsider among other kids. At his new school, Grant suddenly discovers he is a superhuman
with incredible strength and the ability to produce explosive blasts. During the Zero Hour
crisis, Grant's powers became the spark that restarted the universe after it was destroyed by Parallax
; thanks to Damage's powers, the new universe evolved along natural lines, guided by nature rather than the will of Parallax.
A superhero/supervillain battle, involving Baron Blitzkrieg
, Iron Munro
, and others, results in extensive damage to downtown Atlanta. Damage is arrested for his part in the extensive damage. Sarge Steel
is able to cut a deal for him: he would be banned from Georgia and remanded into custody of the then federally sponsored Titans team, led by Arsenal
(formerly Speedy, Green Arrow's sidekick). Around this time Damage deals emotionally with the murder, at the hands of a supervillain, of a schoolmate he cares for. After a while, Damage leaves the Titans to find his origins.
was involved in an experiment at Symbolix called Project: Telemachus, where he took DNA samples he had collected from various superheroes and injected them into a fitting vessel: Grant. The heroes Grant shares DNA with are: Atom (Al Pratt), Flash (Jay Garrick), Green Lantern (Alan Scott
), Wildcat (Ted Grant), Hawkman (Carter Hall), Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol), Hourman (Rex Tyler), Black Canary
(Dinah Lance), Doctor Mid-Nite (Charles McNider), Starman (Ted Knight
), Miss America
(Joan Dale), Johnny Quick (Johnny Chambers)
, Liberty Belle (Libby Lawrence), Martian Manhunter
(J'onn J'onzz - John Jones), Flash (Barry Allen), Aquaman
, Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan
), and Atom (Ray Palmer). Symbolix was allied with Shadowspire
through Shadowspire's leader Baron Blitzkrieg
. The Baron became a recurring foe in Damage's series, starting with #3. Grant eventually learns that he is the son of Al Pratt, the original Atom
, and his wife Mary. Grant is forced to go underground after leaving the Titans, since he violated his parole by doing so.
When the original five Titans reformed the group, Arsenal nominates Damage for membership. Arsenal managed to erase Grant's criminal records, so he was no longer a fugitive, and Grant joins the team. Grant participates in multiple adventures, including a confrontation with demons from hell in Day of Judgment
#1. Later, Damage confronts something he had buried for a long time: he had been victim of abuse at the hands of his foster father. After opening up to Roy Harper
(Arsenal's real name), Grant takes a leave of absence and seeks peace and healing on the Navajo reservation where Roy was raised as a child until he became the ward of Green Arrow
.
He helps the current Justice Society of America
against Imperiex
and the villainous team of Obsidian
, Eclipso
, and Mordru
, both times as part of a modern All-Star Squadron
. He has since been seen with a new team of government-sponsored Freedom Fighters
, whose activities are yet unknown. He also has something of a brotherly relationship with Atom Smasher, the godson of his father, the original Atom. It was thought that Grant had a brother, Walter, who was recently killed by Walter's superhero daughter, Manhunter
, aka Kate Spencer. However, it turns out that Walter is actually the son of Iron Munro
and Phantom Lady
- an odd parallel to Damage's paternity search, as at one stage it appeared that Grant might be the couple's child.
in Infinite Crisis
#1. Damage is one of the survivors, though his face is severely scarred by Zoom
, although this isn't revealed until later.
Damage appears in the relaunched Justice Society of America released in December 2006. He wears a full mask and a costume similar to that of his father and Atom Smasher, featuring a biohazard
symbol. He also has a significantly gruffer and more cynical attitude, partly because, as the villain Rebel insinuates, Damage was left badly scarred, but alive, by Zoom. Zoom later encounters the Justice Society, claiming to have maimed, but not killed, the boy intentionally, to give him a defining tragedy, and the fight leads to Georgia. Damage leaps into the state, despite his ban from entering, catches up with Zoom, and holds him hostage. Liberty Belle
calms Damage down, but Zoom escapes and hurls debris at his face with the intent to kill him. Liberty Belle speeds in, saves Damage, and knocks out Zoom. When the police are ready to arrest Damage for violating his ban, the Justice Society stands up for him and he is released, but it is not yet known if this action has caused the ban to be dropped. Damage remains on the team, essentially in Atom Smasher's place (Jakeem's Thunder's Thunderbolt has even called him "Atom Smasher Two" jokingly).
Damage's face is later healed by the reborn Gog
. This is enough to restore his former cheerful and outgoing personality, pushing him to attempt making contact with the new Judomaster
. Since neither of them can understand the language spoken by the other (Grant doesn't know Japanese, while Judomaster can't speak or understand English), their relationship is difficult, but the ongoing attraction is there (later it is inferred that they are "together" in some romantic way). When the JSA learns that Gog transformed a group of people who would harm others into trees and intends to keep overkill punishing the wicked, they are divided on the subject. Grant and Judomaster, among others, side with Gog, and keep the rest of the JSA from trying to stop him.
Damage is then sent back to America to preach the will of Gog to the masses, showing a fanatical devotion to the Old God and a strong streak of vanity about his improved looks. When the concerned Stargirl is sent to speak with him, and asks him to rethink his feelings about Gog, he instead attacks her. Atom Smasher defeats Damage in combat and brings him to Al Pratt's home. Damage was prompted to renounce Gog, and learn by the example of Al Pratt, who, despite suffering borderline dwarfism
; a height handicap that was a matter of ridicule in the early days of his membership in the original Justice Society, that is, until he received his powers, led a simple lifestyle and had a fulfilling existence. Instead, he renounces Al Pratt, blowing up his home and the records of his adventures and claiming to have always been abandoned by him, while Gog will be always at his side. Called by Magog
, he rejoins Gog, but there he's asked to kneel and show him his devotion (and expecting the rest of his followers to do the same). When some question this request, Gog becomes angry, even going as far as to threaten them.
The rest of the JSA arrive, having learned from Sandman
that Gog is rooting himself into the Earth, and if he remains for one more day, the Earth will die if he ever leaves; this leaves them with the one option of killing Gog and separating his head from the Earth, which is the only way to save the planet. The other society members following Gog attempt to protect him, until they see him attempt to attack a society member. All of the followers take up the fight, and Gog punishes them all by taking away his blessings as he threatened, including Damage's face, leaving him inconsolable. In retaliation, Damage unleashes a full-power blast against Gog, with little effect. Eventually, Gog is destroyed and the split in the Society is healed. After Gog's defeat, Damage, pained over losing his face again, attempts to push away Judomaster, only for her to kiss him, showing him that it doesn't matter what he looks like, she is attracted to him, not his face.
. Damage was saved from Black Lantern Al Pratt by Atom, but was then killed by Black Lantern Jean Loring
. His death and the subsequent collection of his heart was the final one needed to bring about the rise of Nekron
. Atom then made a futile attempt to stop one of the black rings from turning Damage's corpse into a Black Lantern before Loring uses her own technology to shrink him, Mera
, and herself into the fully transformed Damage's ring.
While the other Black Lanterns continue their assault on the JSA headquarters, Damage claims that he has retained his original personality and mind and is not influenced by Nekron and his corps. While he does supposedly sacrifice himself in order to destroy the other Black Lanterns (Mr. Terrific
says that Damage's explosions don't necessarily harm him and that he's probably still "alive") his sacrifice also allows Lois Lane from Earth-2 to reanimate her deceased husband, with Mr. Terrific saying he knew they'd find a way to outsmart them, implying Damage was in fact just another Black Lantern.
Following the Blackest Night, a funeral for Damage is held, attended by the JSA and with Judomaster
doing the eulogy
for Damage. It is then revealed that Damage, having foreseen his death by one of Sand's prophetic dreams, had recorded his last will for Judomaster, wishing her a better life, and revealing he'd had planned, in the attempt of giving her a happier life, to get cosmetic surgery on his scarred face. Spurred by his will, Sonia Sato decides to fund anonymously several relief funds for the victims of collateral damages caused by Grant's powers, thus giving him closure and a legacy.
during Zero Hour (Although he only gained the energy necessary to do this thanks to other heroes such as Green Lantern
, the Ray
and Waverider
absorbing and converting Parallax
's energy into something that he could then process). The aged Damage in Young Justice: Sins of Youth had the ability to fly. While the current Damage cannot harness this ability yet, he can "leap" by firing his energy at the ground, sometimes traveling great distances, as shown most recently in Justice Society of America #8. At one point in his ongoing series it is implied that he potentially possesses all of the powers of the heroes whose DNA he shares. Towards the end of his ongoing series a middle aged man in unusual clothes is shown several times quietly observing Grant. Although the series was canceled before this plotline could be addressed it is strongly implied that this man was a future version of Grant and he is shown possessing powers, including flight, which the current version of Damage does not.
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...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
who first appeared in a comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
of the same name during the Zero Hour crisis
Zero Hour (comics)
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time is a five-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by DC Comics in 1994. In it, the former hero Hal Jordan, who had until then been a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps, mad with grief after the destruction of...
. He is the son of the original Atom Al Pratt. He has been a member of the Titans, the Freedom Fighters
Freedom Fighters (comics)
Freedom Fighters is a DC Comics comic book superhero team made up of characters acquired from the defunct company Quality Comics. Although the characters were created by Quality, they never were gathered in a group before acquired by DC...
, and Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
.
Fictional character biography
High schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
Grant Emerson, had just moved with his parents to a new home in suburban Atlanta. His parents moved often due to their work for the Symbolix corporation and Grant usually felt like an outsider among other kids. At his new school, Grant suddenly discovers he is a superhuman
Superhuman
Superhuman can mean an improved human, for example, by genetic modification, cybernetic implants, or as what humans might evolve into, in the near or distant future...
with incredible strength and the ability to produce explosive blasts. During the Zero Hour
Zero Hour (comics)
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time is a five-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by DC Comics in 1994. In it, the former hero Hal Jordan, who had until then been a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps, mad with grief after the destruction of...
crisis, Grant's powers became the spark that restarted the universe after it was destroyed by Parallax
Parallax (comics)
Parallax is a fictional comic book supervillain in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks for Green Lantern vol...
; thanks to Damage's powers, the new universe evolved along natural lines, guided by nature rather than the will of Parallax.
A superhero/supervillain battle, involving Baron Blitzkrieg
Baron Blitzkrieg
Baron Blitzkrieg is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe, originally residing on Earth-Two. He first appeared in World's Finest Comics #246...
, Iron Munro
Iron Munro
Iron Munro is a fictional superhero, who first appeared in Shadow Comics #1 , published by Street & Smith. He is loosely based on Aarn Munro, the hero of a series of short stories written by John W. Campbell in the 1930s...
, and others, results in extensive damage to downtown Atlanta. Damage is arrested for his part in the extensive damage. Sarge Steel
Sarge Steel
Sarge Steel is a detective/spy character published by Charlton Comics during the 1960s. As he was published during the time of Charlton's Action Heroes line of superheroes, and had loose ties to some, he is sometimes included with that group...
is able to cut a deal for him: he would be banned from Georgia and remanded into custody of the then federally sponsored Titans team, led by Arsenal
Roy Harper (comics)
Roy Harper is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe. He was known for over fifty years as Green Arrow's teenage sidekick Speedy. He first appeared alongside his mentor in More Fun Comics #73...
(formerly Speedy, Green Arrow's sidekick). Around this time Damage deals emotionally with the murder, at the hands of a supervillain, of a schoolmate he cares for. After a while, Damage leaves the Titans to find his origins.
Parentage
He learns that Vandal SavageVandal Savage
Vandal Savage is a fictional character, a supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 1 #10 , and was created by Alfred Bester and Martin Nodell....
was involved in an experiment at Symbolix called Project: Telemachus, where he took DNA samples he had collected from various superheroes and injected them into a fitting vessel: Grant. The heroes Grant shares DNA with are: Atom (Al Pratt), Flash (Jay Garrick), Green Lantern (Alan Scott
Alan Scott
Alan Scott is a fictional character, a superhero in the and the first superhero to bear the name Green Lantern.-Publication history:The original Green Lantern was created by young struggling artist Martin Nodell, who was inspired by the sight of a New York Subway employee waving a red lantern to...
), Wildcat (Ted Grant), Hawkman (Carter Hall), Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol), Hourman (Rex Tyler), Black Canary
Black Canary
Black Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...
(Dinah Lance), Doctor Mid-Nite (Charles McNider), Starman (Ted Knight
Starman (Ted Knight)
Starman is a fictional comic book superhero in the , and a member of the Justice Society of America. Created by artist Jack Burnley and editors Whit Ellsworth, Murray Boltinoff, Jack Schiff, Mort Weisinger, and Bernie Breslauer, he first appeared in Adventure Comics #61 .-Fictional character...
), Miss America
Miss America (DC Comics)
Miss America is a fictional comic book superheroine from the . She was first created by Quality Comics in Military Comics #1 , and was carried over to DC Comics when they purchased Quality in the 1950s...
(Joan Dale), Johnny Quick (Johnny Chambers)
Johnny Quick (Johnny Chambers)
Johnny Quick is a Golden Age DC Comics character with the power of superhuman speed. He was a superhero who appeared mostly in More Fun Comics during the Golden Age...
, Liberty Belle (Libby Lawrence), Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
(J'onn J'onzz - John Jones), Flash (Barry Allen), Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
, Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
), and Atom (Ray Palmer). Symbolix was allied with Shadowspire
Shadowspire
Shadowspire was a fictional criminal organization which appeared in DC Comics. Their first recorded appearance was in Deathstroke #53. The group was created by Tom Joyner and Mike Collins.-History:...
through Shadowspire's leader Baron Blitzkrieg
Baron Blitzkrieg
Baron Blitzkrieg is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe, originally residing on Earth-Two. He first appeared in World's Finest Comics #246...
. The Baron became a recurring foe in Damage's series, starting with #3. Grant eventually learns that he is the son of Al Pratt, the original Atom
Atom (comics)
The Atom is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe.There have been five characters who have shared the Atom codename. The original Golden Age Atom, Al Pratt, was created by Ben Flinton and Bill O'Connor and first appeared in All-American Publications'...
, and his wife Mary. Grant is forced to go underground after leaving the Titans, since he violated his parole by doing so.
When the original five Titans reformed the group, Arsenal nominates Damage for membership. Arsenal managed to erase Grant's criminal records, so he was no longer a fugitive, and Grant joins the team. Grant participates in multiple adventures, including a confrontation with demons from hell in Day of Judgment
Day of Judgment (comics)
Day of Judgment was a DC Comics limited series and crossover storyline during the autumn of 1999. The limited series was written by Geoff Johns, with art by Matthew Dow Smith....
#1. Later, Damage confronts something he had buried for a long time: he had been victim of abuse at the hands of his foster father. After opening up to Roy Harper
Roy Harper (comics)
Roy Harper is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe. He was known for over fifty years as Green Arrow's teenage sidekick Speedy. He first appeared alongside his mentor in More Fun Comics #73...
(Arsenal's real name), Grant takes a leave of absence and seeks peace and healing on the Navajo reservation where Roy was raised as a child until he became the ward of Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
.
He helps the current Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
against Imperiex
Imperiex
Imperiex is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Superman #153 , and was created by Jeph Loeb and Ian Churchill...
and the villainous team of Obsidian
Obsidian (comics)
Obsidian is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in All-Star Squadron #25 , and was created by Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordway. According to an Infinity, Inc...
, Eclipso
Eclipso
Eclipso is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. The character is the incarnation of the Wrath of God and the Angel of Vengeance that turned evil and was replaced by the Spectre...
, and Mordru
Mordru
Mordru is a fictional character, a supervillain in the DC Comics' main shared universe.Mordru is the most prominent Lord of Chaos who is fated to survive even after the end of the universe, although he is usually shown as a powerful wizard...
, both times as part of a modern All-Star Squadron
All-Star Squadron
The All-Star Squadron is a DC Comics superhero team that debuted in a special insert in Justice League of America #193 . Created by Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway.-The concept:...
. He has since been seen with a new team of government-sponsored Freedom Fighters
Freedom Fighters (comics)
Freedom Fighters is a DC Comics comic book superhero team made up of characters acquired from the defunct company Quality Comics. Although the characters were created by Quality, they never were gathered in a group before acquired by DC...
, whose activities are yet unknown. He also has something of a brotherly relationship with Atom Smasher, the godson of his father, the original Atom. It was thought that Grant had a brother, Walter, who was recently killed by Walter's superhero daughter, Manhunter
Manhunter (Kate Spencer)
Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in publications from DC Comics. Kate Spencer is the eighth DC Comics character depicted using the name Manhunter, and the first female to do so. The character first appears in Manhunter Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in...
, aka Kate Spencer. However, it turns out that Walter is actually the son of Iron Munro
Iron Munro
Iron Munro is a fictional superhero, who first appeared in Shadow Comics #1 , published by Street & Smith. He is loosely based on Aarn Munro, the hero of a series of short stories written by John W. Campbell in the 1930s...
and Phantom Lady
Phantom Lady
Phantom Lady is a fictional superheroine, one of the first female superhero characters to debut in the 1940s Golden Age of Comic Books. Originally published by Quality Comics, the character was subsequently published by a series of now-defunct comic book companies, and a new version of the...
- an odd parallel to Damage's paternity search, as at one stage it appeared that Grant might be the couple's child.
Freedom Fighters and Justice Society of America vol. 3
Several members of the modern Freedom Fighters team are killed by the Injustice SocietySecret Society of Super Villains
The Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
in Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
#1. Damage is one of the survivors, though his face is severely scarred by Zoom
Zoom (comics)
Zoom is a fictional comic book supervillain from the DC Comics universe. He is primarily associated with the superhero Wally West, the third Flash and is the third of the Reverse-Flashes...
, although this isn't revealed until later.
Damage appears in the relaunched Justice Society of America released in December 2006. He wears a full mask and a costume similar to that of his father and Atom Smasher, featuring a biohazard
Biological hazard
Biological hazards, refer to biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans. This can include medical waste or samples of a microorganism, virus or toxin that can impact human health. It can also include substances harmful to animals...
symbol. He also has a significantly gruffer and more cynical attitude, partly because, as the villain Rebel insinuates, Damage was left badly scarred, but alive, by Zoom. Zoom later encounters the Justice Society, claiming to have maimed, but not killed, the boy intentionally, to give him a defining tragedy, and the fight leads to Georgia. Damage leaps into the state, despite his ban from entering, catches up with Zoom, and holds him hostage. Liberty Belle
Jesse Chambers
Jesse Chambers is a fictional comic book character in the . Chambers, who first used the superhero name Jesse Quick and later Liberty Belle, is the daughter of Golden Age heroes Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle...
calms Damage down, but Zoom escapes and hurls debris at his face with the intent to kill him. Liberty Belle speeds in, saves Damage, and knocks out Zoom. When the police are ready to arrest Damage for violating his ban, the Justice Society stands up for him and he is released, but it is not yet known if this action has caused the ban to be dropped. Damage remains on the team, essentially in Atom Smasher's place (Jakeem's Thunder's Thunderbolt has even called him "Atom Smasher Two" jokingly).
Damage's face is later healed by the reborn Gog
Gog (comics)
Gog is the name of several different fictional characters in the comics published by DC Comics. The first version first appeared in New Year's Evil: Gog #1, , and was created by Mark Waid and Jerry Ordway.-The Kingdom:...
. This is enough to restore his former cheerful and outgoing personality, pushing him to attempt making contact with the new Judomaster
Judomaster
Judomaster is the name given to three fictional superheroes published by DC Comics. The first Judomaster debuted in Special War Series #4 published by Charlton Comics, and was created by Joe Gill and Frank McLaughlin.-Hadley Jagger:...
. Since neither of them can understand the language spoken by the other (Grant doesn't know Japanese, while Judomaster can't speak or understand English), their relationship is difficult, but the ongoing attraction is there (later it is inferred that they are "together" in some romantic way). When the JSA learns that Gog transformed a group of people who would harm others into trees and intends to keep overkill punishing the wicked, they are divided on the subject. Grant and Judomaster, among others, side with Gog, and keep the rest of the JSA from trying to stop him.
Damage is then sent back to America to preach the will of Gog to the masses, showing a fanatical devotion to the Old God and a strong streak of vanity about his improved looks. When the concerned Stargirl is sent to speak with him, and asks him to rethink his feelings about Gog, he instead attacks her. Atom Smasher defeats Damage in combat and brings him to Al Pratt's home. Damage was prompted to renounce Gog, and learn by the example of Al Pratt, who, despite suffering borderline dwarfism
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
; a height handicap that was a matter of ridicule in the early days of his membership in the original Justice Society, that is, until he received his powers, led a simple lifestyle and had a fulfilling existence. Instead, he renounces Al Pratt, blowing up his home and the records of his adventures and claiming to have always been abandoned by him, while Gog will be always at his side. Called by Magog
Magog (comics)
Magog is a fictional character in the comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Kingdom Come #1 , and was created by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. In 2009, Magog was ranked as IGN's 75th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time....
, he rejoins Gog, but there he's asked to kneel and show him his devotion (and expecting the rest of his followers to do the same). When some question this request, Gog becomes angry, even going as far as to threaten them.
The rest of the JSA arrive, having learned from Sandman
Sandy Hawkins
Sanderson "Sandy" Hawkins, formerly known as Sandy, the Golden Boy, Sands, Sand, and currently as Sandman, is a fictional character, superhero in the DC Comics universe created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris. He first appeared in Adventure Comics #69.-Golden Age:The Character of Sandy the Golden...
that Gog is rooting himself into the Earth, and if he remains for one more day, the Earth will die if he ever leaves; this leaves them with the one option of killing Gog and separating his head from the Earth, which is the only way to save the planet. The other society members following Gog attempt to protect him, until they see him attempt to attack a society member. All of the followers take up the fight, and Gog punishes them all by taking away his blessings as he threatened, including Damage's face, leaving him inconsolable. In retaliation, Damage unleashes a full-power blast against Gog, with little effect. Eventually, Gog is destroyed and the split in the Society is healed. After Gog's defeat, Damage, pained over losing his face again, attempts to push away Judomaster, only for her to kiss him, showing him that it doesn't matter what he looks like, she is attracted to him, not his face.
Blackest Night
During the Blackest Night event, the JSA were attacked by their fallen members, now reanimated as Black LanternsBlack Lantern Corps
The Black Lantern Corps is a fictional organization of revenants appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The group is composed of deceased fictional characters that seek to eliminate all life from the DC Universe.-Publication history:...
. Damage was saved from Black Lantern Al Pratt by Atom, but was then killed by Black Lantern Jean Loring
Jean Loring
Jean Loring is a fictional character in comic books published by DC Comics, formerly associated with superhero the Atom for whom she was a supporting character and primary love interest. She first appeared in Showcase #34 , created by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane...
. His death and the subsequent collection of his heart was the final one needed to bring about the rise of Nekron
Nekron
Nekron is a comic book supervillain appearing in books published by DC Comics, specifically those related to Green Lantern. Created by Mike W. Barr, Len Wein and Joe Staton, the character, who exists as an embodiment of Death, first appeared in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2...
. Atom then made a futile attempt to stop one of the black rings from turning Damage's corpse into a Black Lantern before Loring uses her own technology to shrink him, Mera
Mera (comics)
Mera is a fictional undersea queen that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Aquaman #11 , and was created by Jack Miller and Nick Cardy.-Publication history:...
, and herself into the fully transformed Damage's ring.
While the other Black Lanterns continue their assault on the JSA headquarters, Damage claims that he has retained his original personality and mind and is not influenced by Nekron and his corps. While he does supposedly sacrifice himself in order to destroy the other Black Lanterns (Mr. Terrific
Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)
Michael Holt is a fictional character, a comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics. First appearing in Spectre #54 , he is the second character to take up the Mister Terrific mantle....
says that Damage's explosions don't necessarily harm him and that he's probably still "alive") his sacrifice also allows Lois Lane from Earth-2 to reanimate her deceased husband, with Mr. Terrific saying he knew they'd find a way to outsmart them, implying Damage was in fact just another Black Lantern.
Following the Blackest Night, a funeral for Damage is held, attended by the JSA and with Judomaster
Judomaster
Judomaster is the name given to three fictional superheroes published by DC Comics. The first Judomaster debuted in Special War Series #4 published by Charlton Comics, and was created by Joe Gill and Frank McLaughlin.-Hadley Jagger:...
doing the eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
for Damage. It is then revealed that Damage, having foreseen his death by one of Sand's prophetic dreams, had recorded his last will for Judomaster, wishing her a better life, and revealing he'd had planned, in the attempt of giving her a happier life, to get cosmetic surgery on his scarred face. Spurred by his will, Sonia Sato decides to fund anonymously several relief funds for the victims of collateral damages caused by Grant's powers, thus giving him closure and a legacy.
Powers and abilities
Damage can generate a power charge that enhances his strength, durability, speed, and reflexes to superhuman levels. If he doesn't use the energy in the aforementioned manner he is forced to expend it in a discharge, most notably the time he started another Big BangBig Bang
The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model that explains the early development of the Universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the Universe was once in an extremely hot and dense state which expanded rapidly. This rapid expansion caused the young Universe to cool and resulted in...
during Zero Hour (Although he only gained the energy necessary to do this thanks to other heroes such as Green Lantern
Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually in those starring the Green Lantern Corps, an extraterrestrial police force of which Rayner is a member. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks, Rayner first appeared in Green Lantern vol...
, the Ray
Ray (comics)
The Ray is the name of four fictional characters, all superheroes in the DC Comics universe.The first Ray was a Quality Comics character who was one of those purchased by DC Comics. He was later retconned as a member of the Freedom Fighters...
and Waverider
Waverider
A waverider is a hypersonic aircraft design that improves its supersonic lift-to-drag ratio by using the shock waves being generated by its own flight as a lifting surface. To date the only aircraft to use the technique is the Mach 3 supersonic XB-70 Valkyrie, which was waverider-like with its...
absorbing and converting Parallax
Parallax (comics)
Parallax is a fictional comic book supervillain in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks for Green Lantern vol...
's energy into something that he could then process). The aged Damage in Young Justice: Sins of Youth had the ability to fly. While the current Damage cannot harness this ability yet, he can "leap" by firing his energy at the ground, sometimes traveling great distances, as shown most recently in Justice Society of America #8. At one point in his ongoing series it is implied that he potentially possesses all of the powers of the heroes whose DNA he shares. Towards the end of his ongoing series a middle aged man in unusual clothes is shown several times quietly observing Grant. Although the series was canceled before this plotline could be addressed it is strongly implied that this man was a future version of Grant and he is shown possessing powers, including flight, which the current version of Damage does not.