Gizmo (comics)
Encyclopedia
Gizmo is a fictional character
, a supervillain
from DC Comics
. He was created by George Pérez
and Marv Wolfman
, and he first appeared in The New Teen Titans #3 (January 1981) as a founding member of the Fearsome Five
, a supervillain team that frequently fought the Teen Titans and the Outsiders
.
inventor who can turn seemingly innocuous objects like vacuum cleaner
s into dangerous weapon
s. Gizmo created a corporation which supplied technology to various persons, including criminals. Hoping to increase his wealth, Gizmo joined the Fearsome Five through an ad placed in the Underworld Star, a criminal underground newsletter, by the psychopathic criminal Doctor Light.
After a number of unsuccessful conflicts with the Teen Titans, (and Superman
in Adventures of Superman #430) Gizmo went straight for a while, and took a job at S.T.A.R. Labs
, until his former Fearsome Five teammate Psimon
, after having been seemingly killed by his teammates, resurfaced looking for revenge, and shrank Gizmo to microscopic size. Years later, Gizmo found a way to revert to his normal size, and took up a life of crime once again, partnering with his former teammate, Mammoth
.
In a storyline in Outsiders
#12–15 (July–October 2004), frequent Captain Marvel
archenemy Dr. Sivana gathered Gizmo and the others, and put the team to work for him in a scheme to short sell
Lexcorp
stock by having them steal its accounts from its corporate building in Metropolis
, and then driving down the stock by killing all the people in the building, and destroying two other Lexcorp properties. At the latter of the two, a microchip
processor factory of Lexcorp's subsidiary
, Kellacor, the Five were confronted by the Outsiders
. After escaping, the criminally unsophisticated Five urged Sivana to take Lexcorp's nuclear missile
facility near Joshua Tree
, California
. When Sivana refused, Psimon asserted that they would take it anyway, and in response, Sivana killed Gizmo with a laser blast to the head, and severed relations with the remaining four, warning them that he would kill them if they ever crossed his path again. Sivana used the money he made from the scheme to purchase a tropical island off the coast of Thailand
to use as his lair, and the remaining members of the Five were defeated in their plan to take the facility and fire a nuclear missile at Canada
.
Whether the remaining members will take on a new member, find a way to revive Gizmo (as had been done with his teammate Shimmer
), or change their name to the Fearsome Four (as Sivana sarcastically suggested after killing Gizmo) remains to be seen.
Gizmo appeared in undead form, summoned by Brother Blood
to prevent the Teen Titans from freeing Kid Eternity
, in Teen Titans #31 (2006). In Birds of Prey
#120-121 (2008), Gizmo was reanimated by the geniuses at Macintech Research & Development, a technology company located in Platinum Flats. He disposed of their C.E.O and earned his seat on the Silicon Syndicate, a sinister group of high-tech criminals. Gizmo retained most of his brain function, but is still missing his eye and is partially decomposed.
, the diminutive teen followed in his father's footsteps and became the second Gizmo, a high-tech super-thief. He battles Cyborg
as a member of Mr. Orr's "Cyborg Revenge Squad."
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...
, a supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
from 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...
. He was created by George Pérez
George Pérez
George Pérez is a Puerto Rican-American writer and illustrator of comic books, known for his work on various titles, including Avengers, Teen Titans and Wonder Woman.-Biography:...
and Marv Wolfman
Marv Wolfman
Marvin A. "Marv" Wolfman is an award-winning American comic book writer. He is best known for lengthy runs on The Tomb of Dracula, creating Blade for Marvel Comics, and The New Teen Titans for DC Comics.-1960s:...
, and he first appeared in The New Teen Titans #3 (January 1981) as a founding member of the Fearsome Five
Fearsome Five
The Fearsome Five is a fictional group of comic book supervillains from DC Comics. They were created by George Pérez and Marv Wolfman, and first appeared in The New Teen Titans #3 , going on to become recurring adversaries for that superhero group...
, a supervillain team that frequently fought the Teen Titans and the Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
.
Mikron O'Jeneus
A bald dwarf who flies around on a jet pack, Gizmo is a geniusGenius
Genius is something or someone embodying exceptional intellectual ability, creativity, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of unprecedented insight....
inventor who can turn seemingly innocuous objects like vacuum cleaner
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner, commonly referred to as a "vacuum," is a device that uses an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dust and dirt, usually from floors, and optionally from other surfaces as well. The dirt is collected by either a dustbag or a cyclone for later disposal...
s into dangerous weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s. Gizmo created a corporation which supplied technology to various persons, including criminals. Hoping to increase his wealth, Gizmo joined the Fearsome Five through an ad placed in the Underworld Star, a criminal underground newsletter, by the psychopathic criminal Doctor Light.
After a number of unsuccessful conflicts with the Teen Titans, (and Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
in Adventures of Superman #430) Gizmo went straight for a while, and took a job at S.T.A.R. Labs
S.T.A.R. Labs
S.T.A.R. Labs, is a fictional research facility, and comic book organization appearing in titles published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Superman vol. 1 #246 , and was created by Cary Bates and Rich Buckler.-Publication history:...
, until his former Fearsome Five teammate Psimon
Psimon
Psimon is a fictional comic book supervillain from DC Comics created by George Pérez and Marv Wolfman. He first appeared in New Teen Titans #3 as one of the founding members of the Fearsome Five, which became a frequent enemy of the Teen Titans, Superman, and the Outsiders.-Fictional character...
, after having been seemingly killed by his teammates, resurfaced looking for revenge, and shrank Gizmo to microscopic size. Years later, Gizmo found a way to revert to his normal size, and took up a life of crime once again, partnering with his former teammate, Mammoth
Mammoth (comics)
Mammoth , a fictional character that is a comic book supervillain from DC Comics. The character was created by George Pérez and Marv Wolfman.-Fictional character biography:...
.
In a storyline in Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
#12–15 (July–October 2004), frequent Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
archenemy Dr. Sivana gathered Gizmo and the others, and put the team to work for him in a scheme to short sell
Short selling
In finance, short selling is the practice of selling assets, usually securities, that have been borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical assets back at a later date to return to that third party...
Lexcorp
LexCorp
LexCorp is the fictional company founded by Lex Luthor in the popular DC Comics Superman series. It made its first proper appearance in John Byrne's The Man of Steel miniseries, which established the post-Crisis Superman setting...
stock by having them steal its accounts from its corporate building in Metropolis
Metropolis
A metropolis is a very large city or urban area which is a significant economic, political and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections and communications...
, and then driving down the stock by killing all the people in the building, and destroying two other Lexcorp properties. At the latter of the two, a microchip
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
processor factory of Lexcorp's subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
, Kellacor, the Five were confronted by the Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
. After escaping, the criminally unsophisticated Five urged Sivana to take Lexcorp's nuclear missile
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
facility near Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree, California
Joshua Tree is a census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2010 census, up from 4,207 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Joshua Tree is located in the Mojave Desert at ....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. When Sivana refused, Psimon asserted that they would take it anyway, and in response, Sivana killed Gizmo with a laser blast to the head, and severed relations with the remaining four, warning them that he would kill them if they ever crossed his path again. Sivana used the money he made from the scheme to purchase a tropical island off the coast of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
to use as his lair, and the remaining members of the Five were defeated in their plan to take the facility and fire a nuclear missile at Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Whether the remaining members will take on a new member, find a way to revive Gizmo (as had been done with his teammate Shimmer
Shimmer (comics)
Shimmer is a fictional character, a supervillain in the DC Comics universe. She was created by George Pérez and Marv Wolfman and first appeared in New Teen Titans #3 .-Fictional character biography:...
), or change their name to the Fearsome Four (as Sivana sarcastically suggested after killing Gizmo) remains to be seen.
Gizmo appeared in undead form, summoned by Brother Blood
Brother Blood
Brother Blood is the name of two fictional comic book characters in the DC Universe. The first Brother Blood debuted in New Teen Titans vol. 1 #21 , and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.-First Blood:...
to prevent the Teen Titans from freeing Kid Eternity
Kid Eternity
Kid Eternity is a comic book superhero who first premiered in Hit Comics #25, published by Quality Comics in December, 1942. The character - as well as all of Quality's intellectual properties were sold to DC Comics in 1956...
, in Teen Titans #31 (2006). In Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey (comic book)
Birds of Prey is a comic book series published by DC Comics that features the adventures of the heroine Oracle and her group of superheroines. The group is initially based in Gotham City and later operates in Metropolis and then relocates once more to "Platinum Flats", California, a new locale...
#120-121 (2008), Gizmo was reanimated by the geniuses at Macintech Research & Development, a technology company located in Platinum Flats. He disposed of their C.E.O and earned his seat on the Silicon Syndicate, a sinister group of high-tech criminals. Gizmo retained most of his brain function, but is still missing his eye and is partially decomposed.
O'Jeneus
In DC Special: Cyborg issue 5 a new Gizmo debuted, the son of the first Gizmo. He is based visually on the animated Gizmo. After graduating from the villainous H.I.V.E AcademyH.I.V.E.
The H.I.V.E., which stands for the Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination, is a DC Comics supervillain organization.-1st Incarnation:...
, the diminutive teen followed in his father's footsteps and became the second Gizmo, a high-tech super-thief. He battles Cyborg
Cyborg (comics)
Cyborg is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appears in a special insert in DC Comics Presents #26...
as a member of Mr. Orr's "Cyborg Revenge Squad."
Powers and abilities
Gizmo is capable of creating unbelievable weaponry by transforming one machine into another. In his tiny hands, using state-of-the-art technology, an ordinary vacuum cleaner, for example, can easily be converted into a deadly, unstoppable tank.Television
- In the Teen Titans animated seriesTeen Titans (TV series)Teen Titans is an American animated television series based on the DC Comics characters of the same name. The show was created by Glen Murakami, developed by David Slack, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It premiered on Cartoon Network on July 19, 2003, and the final episode "Things Change"...
, Gizmo (voiced by Lauren TomLauren TomLauren Tom is an American actress and voice actress perhaps best known for her roles as Lena St Clair in The Joy Luck Club, Julie in the TV series Friends, and for providing the voices for both mother and daughter characters on two animated TV comedy series: on Futurama she voices Amy Wong and her...
in earlier appearances and by Tara StrongTara StrongTara Lyn Strong is a Canadian actress, voice-over artist, singer, who is best known for her voice work in cartoons.-Early life and career:...
in "Revved Up" and in "Titans Together") is a recurringRecurring characterA recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a prime time TV series, who appears from time to time during the series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in an episode, sometimes being the main focus...
villain from the H.I.V.E AcademyH.I.V.E.The H.I.V.E., which stands for the Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination, is a DC Comics supervillain organization.-1st Incarnation:...
. Gizmo was redesigned into a probably pre-teen kid (as opposed to being a middle-aged dwarf as he was in his comic book form which was later adapted in the comics as the son of the original Gizmo). He works with JinxJinx (DC Comics)Jinx is a fictional character, a supervillainess appearing in the DC Comics universe. She first appeared in Tales of the Teen Titans #56 , and was created by Marv Wolfman and Chuck Patton.-Publication history:...
and MammothMammoth (comics)Mammoth , a fictional character that is a comic book supervillain from DC Comics. The character was created by George Pérez and Marv Wolfman.-Fictional character biography:...
most of the time, although in the episodes "Car Trouble", "Revved Up", "Crash", and "Winner Take All", he is seen conducting solo acts. Gizmo's main gadget is a harness that can deploy wings, large mechanical spider legs, a device that creates holographHolographA holograph is a document written entirely in the handwriting of the person whose signature it bears. Some countries or local jurisdictions within certain countries give legal standing to specific types of holographic documents, generally waiving requirements that they be witnessed...
ic copies of himself, and a technological suit of armor. His knowledge of computers and incredible hacking skills make him a formidable foe for the Titans (though constructing a Level 4 Containment Field is hard, even for him). He also has a short temper and swears in pseudo profanity ("crud" and "snot" are his most frequently used terms). He has a special enmity with CyborgCyborg (comics)Cyborg is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appears in a special insert in DC Comics Presents #26...
and was able to tell that something was wrong with him when Cyborg went undercover as "Stone" at the H.I.V.E. Academy. He is also scared by Raven easily in "Crash" when she makes her head look like that of a movie monsters. He later forms The H.I.V.E. Five with Jinx, Mammoth, See-More, and Private H.I.V.E. He was sent with Billy Numerous to capture KoleKoleKole Duval is a girlKole Weathers is a fictional superheroine in the DC Universe. She is a former member of the Teen Titans.-Fictional character biography:...
and Gnarrk, but failed when Kole turned into a boomerang and severed his spider legs. During the final battle of "Titans Together", he was knocked unconscious by a giant hex from the reformed Jinx while trying to escape. Kid FlashWally WestThe Flash is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash....
placed him in the Brotherhood of EvilBrotherhood of EvilThe Brotherhood of Evil is a group of DC Comics supervillains, archenemies of the original Doom Patrol and the Teen Titans.-Origins:The Brotherhood of Evil was founded by the engimatic villain the Brain. In the beginning, the group's motivation was world domination...
's freezing machine, taking him out for the rest of the battle. Gizmo is the only villain to appear in all five seasons of Teen Titans (as opposed to SladeDeathstrokeDeathstroke the Terminator , originally simply the Terminator, and known by the Teen Titans as Slade, is a fictional character, a supervillain and sometimes antihero in the DC Comics Universe. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in The New Teen Titans #2...
, who is seen only once in the third season as an illusion and as a Slade-bot in the last season). Gizmo has also made several appearances in Teen Titans Go!Teen Titans Go!Teen Titans Go! is a comic book series that was published by DC Comics. It is based on the 2003 animated TV series Teen Titans which is itself loosely based on the team that starred in the popular 1980s comic The New Teen Titans. The series was written by J...
. He is the main villain in issue #9.
Video games
- Gizmo is a boss in both Teen TitansTeen Titans (video game)Teen Titans is a video game for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance system. The game is based on the television show Teen Titans and features the five main characters on the show: Robin, Raven, Beast Boy, Starfire, and Cyborg. The game's boss characters are Gizmo, Jinx, Mammoth, and Brother Blood...
video games.