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Roulette (DC Comics)
Encyclopedia
Roulette is a supervillainess in the DC Comics
universe
.
during one of her schemes, she has come to view him as an unworthy successor to Sloane.
Her casino ("The House") is a superhuman gladiatorial arena, capturing heroes with teleporter technology similar to Holt's T-Spheres, and pitting them against each other, while various supervillains bet on the outcome.
In her debut, she captured most of the current Justice Society and forced them to fight each other; Mr. Terrific and Dr. Mid-Nite were forced to play a chess
game where the loser would be electrocuted, Sand
and Hawkman had to reach Hawkgirl while infected with a fast-acting lethal virus (of which Kendra had enough of the cure for one) while Black Adam
clashed with Atom Smasher.
However, all managed to escape their traps; Black Adam and Atom Smasher's fight lasted so long that the mind-controlling drugs used on them to heighten their hostility towards each other wore off, Sand remained in his earth form to slow the spread of the virus until another cure could be found by Dr. Mid-Nite, and Mr. Terrific and Dr. Mid-Nite managed to reach a draw in their chess game, destroying the electronic board while the game re-set itself. Roulette teleported them away before they could capture her, however.
A wall of fallen heroes was the only indication of the many DC Comics heroes who had been killed in battle in "The House." The names include Firebrand
, Impala
, Maxi-Man
, Ram
of the New Guardians, Flyboy and the Hybrid
(minus Pteradon).
Roulette and the House reappear in Formerly Known As The Justice League, in which she captures the Super Buddies
. The subliminal programming which prevented heroes escaping fails to work on Fire because her native language is Portuguese, and she releases the others. When this is followed by Mary Marvel
shorting out her aggressor chip due to extreme stress, Roulette decides they have won and orders them teleported away.
. He did so, using his knowledge of nerves and their debilitation, and though she felt he had "cheated" she gave him the name of a model who had surgically implanted wings. After Dr. Mid-Nite left, she called the owner of the surgical clinic, who later proved to be Delores Winters
, and told her of the hero's investigation into the implants and operations.
Roulette also appears in The Brave and the Bold
#1 (2007), with Firebug
's gauntlets, attempting to destroy the fabled Book of Destiny, until an alien villain with a probability-based weapon steals it from her; it transpires she had been dating the thief of the book, and that she had read the book. This took a serious blow to her sanity, as she saw too much of the future to withstand the information.
In the Justice League of America vol. 2 , #35 (Sept. 2009) story Royal Pain, Roulette has a game going with Amos Fortune
. They each play with cards that represent the JLA and the Royal Flush Gang; in turn, they each bet that one can beat the other, respectively. Eventually, though, it is revealed that Roulette was merely gathering data on the JLA, Fortune and his Gang. She is shown to be working—perhaps against her will—under the Key
, and his as-yet-unknown master.
), automated security devices, a series of death traps, and at least one metahuman on staff who can negate super-powers.
The pins she uses to tie her hair up in a bun also double as daggers for close combat.
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
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
.
Fictional character biography
Roulette's grandmother was a Golden Age villain of the same name, who ran a conventional casino and fought Mister Terrific (Terry Sloane). The current Roulette believes Terry Sloane to be her grandfather, but it is indicated that her grandfather was actually Terry’s brother Ned. Both Roulette and Ned have been added into Mr. Terrific's history, and do not appear in the original stories. Having encountered the second Mister TerrificMister 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....
during one of her schemes, she has come to view him as an unworthy successor to Sloane.
Her casino ("The House") is a superhuman gladiatorial arena, capturing heroes with teleporter technology similar to Holt's T-Spheres, and pitting them against each other, while various supervillains bet on the outcome.
In her debut, she captured most of the current Justice Society and forced them to fight each other; Mr. Terrific and Dr. Mid-Nite were forced to play a chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
game where the loser would be electrocuted, Sand
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...
and Hawkman had to reach Hawkgirl while infected with a fast-acting lethal virus (of which Kendra had enough of the cure for one) while Black Adam
Black Adam
Black Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. Originally created as a one-shot villain for Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family team of superheroes, Black Adam was revived as a recurring supervillain after DC Comics began publishing Captain...
clashed with Atom Smasher.
However, all managed to escape their traps; Black Adam and Atom Smasher's fight lasted so long that the mind-controlling drugs used on them to heighten their hostility towards each other wore off, Sand remained in his earth form to slow the spread of the virus until another cure could be found by Dr. Mid-Nite, and Mr. Terrific and Dr. Mid-Nite managed to reach a draw in their chess game, destroying the electronic board while the game re-set itself. Roulette teleported them away before they could capture her, however.
A wall of fallen heroes was the only indication of the many DC Comics heroes who had been killed in battle in "The House." The names include Firebrand
Firebrand (DC Comics)
Firebrand is a name that has been used by four heroes by DC Comics.-Rod Reilly:Published by Quality Comics from August 1941 to November 1942, Rod Reilly was the bored and wealthy socialite son of a steel tycoon, who decided to fight crime with his servant and friend, "Slugger" Dunn...
, Impala
Impala (DC Comics)
Impala is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Super Friends #7 , and was created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Ramona Fradon....
, Maxi-Man
Maxi-Man (comics)
Maxi-Man is the name of two DC Comics heroes. The first was created by Len Wein and Joe Phillips and first appeared in Mister Miracle Vol. 2 # 9 . The second was created by Jodi Picoult and Drew Johnson and first appeared in Wonder Woman Vol. 3 # 6 .-Henry Hayes:Henry Hayes worked in a successful...
, Ram
Ram (comics)
Ram is a fictional Japanese superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Millennium #2 , and was created by Steve Engelhart and Joe Staton.-Fictional character biography:...
of the New Guardians, Flyboy and the Hybrid
Hybrid (DC Comics)
The Hybrid are a fictional group of supervillains appearing in DC Comics. Their first appearance as a group was in New Teen Titans vol. 2, #24, which was marketed in October 1986...
(minus Pteradon).
Roulette and the House reappear in Formerly Known As The Justice League, in which she captures the Super Buddies
Super Buddies
Super Buddies are a team of comic book superheroes in the DC Comics universe who appeared in the six-issue Formerly Known as the Justice League miniseries in 2003, and its 2005 sequel, I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League...
. The subliminal programming which prevented heroes escaping fails to work on Fire because her native language is Portuguese, and she releases the others. When this is followed by Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine, originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze, she first appeared in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 in...
shorting out her aggressor chip due to extreme stress, Roulette decides they have won and orders them teleported away.
Post Infinite Crisis/One Year Later
She has appeared in JSA Classified (#19, Jan 2007). Dr. Mid-Nite had infiltrated her current fight club location in search of information regarding purported organ-napping. She agreed to give him information only if he beat her bodyguard in a game of arm wrestlingArm wrestling
Arm wrestling is a sport with two participants. Each participant places one arm on a surface with their elbows bent and touching the surface, and they grip each other's hand...
. He did so, using his knowledge of nerves and their debilitation, and though she felt he had "cheated" she gave him the name of a model who had surgically implanted wings. After Dr. Mid-Nite left, she called the owner of the surgical clinic, who later proved to be Delores Winters
Delores Winters
Delores Winters is a DC Comics character, originally named Dolores Winters. Until recently her main role in DC Universe history has been as a body occupied by the Ultra-Humanite in the 1940s, but she has made more significant appearances in current continuity.-History:In the early 1940s Delores was...
, and told her of the hero's investigation into the implants and operations.
Roulette also appears in The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983...
#1 (2007), with Firebug
Firebug (comics)
Firebug is the name of three DC Comics supervillains.-Joe Rigger:Firebug first appeared in Batman #318 . Joe Rigger was a soldier and demolitions expert who returned to Gotham City when his family had been killed in three separate building-related accidents. His sanity slipping, Rigger vowed that...
's gauntlets, attempting to destroy the fabled Book of Destiny, until an alien villain with a probability-based weapon steals it from her; it transpires she had been dating the thief of the book, and that she had read the book. This took a serious blow to her sanity, as she saw too much of the future to withstand the information.
In the Justice League of America vol. 2 , #35 (Sept. 2009) story Royal Pain, Roulette has a game going with Amos Fortune
Amos Fortune (comics)
Amos Fortune is a DC Comics supervillain who first appeared in Justice League of America #6 .-Fictional character biography:...
. They each play with cards that represent the JLA and the Royal Flush Gang; in turn, they each bet that one can beat the other, respectively. Eventually, though, it is revealed that Roulette was merely gathering data on the JLA, Fortune and his Gang. She is shown to be working—perhaps against her will—under the Key
Key (comics)
The Key is the name of two fictional supervillains in the DC Comics universe.-Golden Age Key:The Golden Age Key's sole appearance is in 1951's All Star Comics #57, which features the last Golden Age appearance of the Justice Society of America. In this story, the Key is the head of a major crime...
, and his as-yet-unknown master.
Powers and abilities
Roulette has no apparent superhuman abilities, but is a genius when calculating odds and gambling winnings . Roulette has robot security dogs (designed like the guard dogs of ApokolipsApokolips
In the DC Comics fictional shared Universe, Apokolips is the planet ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series. It is also integral to many DC Comics stories. The planet is considered the opposite of New Genesis....
), automated security devices, a series of death traps, and at least one metahuman on staff who can negate super-powers.
The pins she uses to tie her hair up in a bun also double as daggers for close combat.
Television
- Roulette debuted in the second season of the animated television series Justice League UnlimitedJustice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
, voiced by Virginia MadsenVirginia MadsenVirginia Madsen is an American actress and documentary film producer. She came to fame during the 1980s, having appeared in several films aimed at a teenage audience...
. She was first seen in the episode "The Cat and the Canary" where she ran the no-holds-barred "Meta-Brawls" featuring costumed fighters battling in a cage. The fight ring highlighted the distrust of metahumanMetahumanMetahuman is a term to describe superhumans in DC Comics' shared universe, the DC Universe. It is roughly synonymous with both mutant and mutate and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes. Use of the term in reference to superheroes was coined in 1986 by author George R. R...
s by civilians, as evidenced by the many paying spectators who cheered non-metas like WildcatWildcat (comics)Wildcat is the name of several fictional characters, all DC Comics superheroes. The first and most famous of these is Ted Grant, a long-time member of the Justice Society of America...
on and execrated the metahumans. Green ArrowGreen ArrowGreen 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...
and Black CanaryBlack CanaryBlack 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...
directly confronted Roulette's Meta-Brawl (beginning a relationship in the process). They were forced to battle other participants of Meta-Brawl including SportsmasterSportsmasterThe Sportsmaster is the name used by two DC Comics villains who used their sports skills for criminal purposes. The original Sportsmaster first appeared in All-American Comics #85 , and was created by writer John Broome and artist Irwin Hasen....
, BloodsportBloodsport (comics)Bloodsport is the name of three DC Comics mercenary villains, they are enemies of Superman.-Robert DuBois:First appearing in Superman Vol. 2 #4...
, ElectrocutionerElectrocutionerElectrocutioner is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe. The current version first appeared in Detective Comics #644, , and was created by Chuck Dixon, Tom Lyle and Scott Hanna.-Unnamed Buchinsky:...
, Atomic SkullAtomic SkullAtomic Skull is the name of two different DC Comics supervillains.-Albert Michaels:Albert Michaels was a brilliant but distinctly unfriendly scientist-administrator at S.T.A.R. Labs with a rare nervous system disorder that short-circuited the electrical impulses in his brain, creating painful and...
, HellgrammiteHellgrammite (comics)Hellgrammite is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in DC Comics. He first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #80 .-Fictional character biography:...
, TracerTracer (comics)Tracer is the name of two fictional supervillains published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League Europe #16 , and was created by Keith Giffen, Gerard Jones and Bart Sears...
, Evil StarEvil Star-Guy Pompton:Guy Pompton, owner of Ace Movie Rental Agency and a crime lord, dons a costumed identity in 1948 to stop a movie studio from completing a film using a script that will expose his criminal activities...
, and AmygdalaAmygdala (comics)Amygdala is the alias of DC Comics character Aaron Helzinger, who is a sometime opponent of Batman. He has reduced mental capacity, is prone to outbursts of violence and has super-strength due to medical experimentation on his brain, chiefly the removal of his amygdala.As demonstrated in...
. In the episode "Grudge Match," Roulette overhauled the premise of Meta-Brawl in the face of falling profits. She utilized Lex LuthorLex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
's Secret SocietySecret Society of Super VillainsThe Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
(along with the assistance of SonarSonar (comics)Sonar is a DC Comics supervillain. He first appeared in Green Lantern #14, July , and was created by John Broome and Gil Kane.-Fictional character biography:...
) mind-control technology to brainwash female Leaguers (including VixenVixen (comics)Vixen is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics universe. She debuted in Action Comics #521 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Bob Oksner.-Publication history:...
, Fire, Hawkgirl, Wonder WomanWonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
, and Black CanaryBlack CanaryBlack 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...
) to create the re-imagined "Glamour Slam". This tournament was destroyed and the heroines rescued by a team-up between the resuscitated Canary and HuntressHuntress (Helena Bertinelli)Huntress is a fictional character in the DC Universe. Based upon the Earth-Two character Helena Wayne, she is one of several DC characters to bear the Huntress name...
(in itself a first, as Huntress and Canary had been in opposition since their violent altercation seasons earlier). Roulette and Sonar are arrested at the episode's conclusion.
- Steph SongSteph SongSteph Song is a Malaysian-born actress raised in Canada and Australia. She was voted Sexiest Woman in the world by Asian readers of FHM magazine...
played Victoria Sinclair / Roulette in "Roulette", a ninth season episode of SmallvilleSmallvilleSmallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
. Her name is given as Victoria Sinclair. Like her comic book counterpart, she has no super-human abilities but is a skilled martial artist. She is hired by Chloe to put Oliver QueenGreen ArrowGreen 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...
through a series of games and challenges to ultimately convince him to re-embrace his heroic identity as Green Arrow. In one of the final tests, Roulette dresses up a bound and gagged Lois LaneLois LaneLois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
in her trademark red qipaoQipaoThe cheongsam is a body-hugging one-piece Chinese dress for women; the male version is the changshan. It is known in Mandarin Chinese as the qípáo Wade-Giles ch'i-p'ao, and is also known in English as a mandarin gown...
, almost causing Oliver to kill Lois on sight. Unlike the caucasian comic book version, this Roulette is an Asian mercenaryMercenaryA mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
and actress who completes whatever assignment she is paid for. However, she notably threatened Lois on her own initiative. She then reappears in the episode "Prophecy" (season 10) as she is assigned by Toyman to kill Tess Mercer.