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Scorch (DC Comics)
Encyclopedia
Scorch is a character appearing in DC Comics
.
, Aubrey Sparks was transformed into Scorch during the short "Emperor Joker
" storyline. The Joker uses power stolen from Mr. Mxyzptlk to create an alternate universe in which Superman is a villain and creates his own warped version of the Justice League
, which includes a psychopathic Scorch, a demonic doppelgänger of the Earth-Angel Supergirl
. She attempts to help Bizarro
capture Superman
. After Joker is defeated, Mr. Mxyzptlk decides to keep several of the new characters by adding them to the restored reality. Thus, Scorch continues to exist after the conclusion of the "Emperor Joker" story arc.
Scorch is later seen in Superman in Action Comics
#774 doing battle with Superman and the Martian Manhunter
.
Scorch was also later seen in "The Gift" (Superman in Action Comics #783), as a generic villain with no observable goals. She sets a park on fire and fights Superman.
Scorch later (JLA #78-89) enlisted the aid of the Manhunter in trying to make sense of her confused memories (later explained as a side effect of the Joker's tampering). Scorch offered to help the Manhunter learn to overcome his weakness to fire, and ultimately fell in love with him. In the process, she inadvertently released the personality of "Fernus" that had been hidden inside the Manhunter for his entire life. Later it is revealed that several millennia ago, the Oa
ns had transformed the Martians from the "Burning Martian" form into the current one. That was done to stop them from incinerating entire worlds as part of their reproductive cycle, but J'onn breaking the psychological block that made him vulnerable to fire also broke the block on his genetic memories of the Burning. Now free, Fernus attempted to have Scorch destroy an unnamed village for this purpose but her reluctance saw him changing his plans to setting the earth ablaze with the aid of the entire world's nuclear arsenals. After that plan was foiled by the JLA, he then set a city afire to provide him with the energy needed to reproduce. While the JLA engaged him, Scorch attempted to draw all of the flames from the city into herself. Fernus defeats the JLA and attacks Scorch sending her into a coma, and releasing the flames she had absorbed back into the city. Fernus was ultimately defeated, but despite medical treatment, Scorch was not expected to recover from her coma.
Scorch reappeared in Superman #225. A brushfire had erupted in the western United States, threatening homes. Reporter Jimmy Olsen
was on assignment to cover the story when a villain named Effigy emerges from the blaze and causes Olsen's plane to crash. Superman arrives, but is ambushed by Effigy and Scorch, who appears to explain why she had started the fire. She had been roused from her coma (apparently by Despero
) and was led to believe that the JLA was a great threat. As her accomplices (Effigy, Plasmus
, and Heat Wave
) engaged Superman, Scorch realized she had made an error and helped Superman defeat them. Superman rescued Olsen, and left the villains to Scorch.
In the recent Martian Manhunter mini-series, Scorch was mentioned, as the Martian survivors sought her for help. The way Scorch was mentioned in the story indicates that her origin was not changed significantly by Infinite Crisis
. Also, it was revealed that Scorch has been kept under a sort of house arrest by the DEO
.
In Teen Titans #51, Scorch is one of several people under the control of Starro
. She briefly fought Miss Martian
.
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...
.
Fictional character biography
Originally a normal human from Pisboe, VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Aubrey Sparks was transformed into Scorch during the short "Emperor Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
" storyline. The Joker uses power stolen from Mr. Mxyzptlk to create an alternate universe in which Superman is a villain and creates his own warped version of the Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
, which includes a psychopathic Scorch, a demonic doppelgänger of the Earth-Angel Supergirl
Linda Danvers
Linda Danvers, formerly known as Supergirl, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. She debuted in Supergirl #1 , and was created by Peter David and Gary Frank...
. She attempts to help Bizarro
Bizarro
Bizarro is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp as a "mirror image" of Superman and first appeared in Superboy #68...
capture 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...
. After Joker is defeated, Mr. Mxyzptlk decides to keep several of the new characters by adding them to the restored reality. Thus, Scorch continues to exist after the conclusion of the "Emperor Joker" story arc.
Scorch is later seen in Superman in Action Comics
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
#774 doing battle with Superman and the 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...
.
Scorch was also later seen in "The Gift" (Superman in Action Comics #783), as a generic villain with no observable goals. She sets a park on fire and fights Superman.
Scorch later (JLA #78-89) enlisted the aid of the Manhunter in trying to make sense of her confused memories (later explained as a side effect of the Joker's tampering). Scorch offered to help the Manhunter learn to overcome his weakness to fire, and ultimately fell in love with him. In the process, she inadvertently released the personality of "Fernus" that had been hidden inside the Manhunter for his entire life. Later it is revealed that several millennia ago, the Oa
Oa
Oa is a fictional planet that lies at the center of the DC Comics universe. Since its inception, Oa has been the planetary citadel of the Guardians of the Universe and the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps...
ns had transformed the Martians from the "Burning Martian" form into the current one. That was done to stop them from incinerating entire worlds as part of their reproductive cycle, but J'onn breaking the psychological block that made him vulnerable to fire also broke the block on his genetic memories of the Burning. Now free, Fernus attempted to have Scorch destroy an unnamed village for this purpose but her reluctance saw him changing his plans to setting the earth ablaze with the aid of the entire world's nuclear arsenals. After that plan was foiled by the JLA, he then set a city afire to provide him with the energy needed to reproduce. While the JLA engaged him, Scorch attempted to draw all of the flames from the city into herself. Fernus defeats the JLA and attacks Scorch sending her into a coma, and releasing the flames she had absorbed back into the city. Fernus was ultimately defeated, but despite medical treatment, Scorch was not expected to recover from her coma.
Scorch reappeared in Superman #225. A brushfire had erupted in the western United States, threatening homes. Reporter Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen is a fictional character who appears mainly in DC Comics’ Superman stories. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White...
was on assignment to cover the story when a villain named Effigy emerges from the blaze and causes Olsen's plane to crash. Superman arrives, but is ambushed by Effigy and Scorch, who appears to explain why she had started the fire. She had been roused from her coma (apparently by Despero
Despero
Despero is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Justice League of America #1 Despero is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Justice League of America #1 Despero...
) and was led to believe that the JLA was a great threat. As her accomplices (Effigy, Plasmus
Plasmus
Plasmus is a fictional DC Comics supervillain and an enemy of the Teen Titans.-Fictional character biography:Otto Von Furth was a mine worker in East Berlin, Germany until an unexpected cave-in trapped him and four fellow miners for seven days. During those days, Otto's co-workers died, leaving him...
, and Heat Wave
Heat Wave (comics)
Heat Wave is a fictional villain in the DC Universe and a primary foe of the Flash.-Fictional character biography:Born on a farm outside Central City, Mick Rory became fascinated with fire, as a child. This fascination turned into an obsession and one night, he set his family's home ablaze...
) engaged Superman, Scorch realized she had made an error and helped Superman defeat them. Superman rescued Olsen, and left the villains to Scorch.
In the recent Martian Manhunter mini-series, Scorch was mentioned, as the Martian survivors sought her for help. The way Scorch was mentioned in the story indicates that her origin was not changed significantly by 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...
. Also, it was revealed that Scorch has been kept under a sort of house arrest by the DEO
Department of Extranormal Operations
The Department of Extranormal Operations is a fictional government agency in the DC Universe appearing in several comic books published by DC Comics. It was co-created by Dan Curtis Johnson and J. H...
.
In Teen Titans #51, Scorch is one of several people under the control of Starro
Starro
Starro is a fictional supervillain that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Brave and the Bold #28 , and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky....
. She briefly fought Miss Martian
Miss Martian
Miss Martian is a superhero in the . Miss Martian was created by Geoff Johns and Tony Daniel and first appeared in Teen Titans #37 . Miss Martian is named "Megan Morse" after Marvel Comics associate editor Ben Morse's wife, Megan...
.
Powers and abilities
- Pyrokinesis — Scorch can create heat intense enough to melt various metals. She can easily manipulate flames, even those not of her creation. She has also been seen using this ability to smother flames by absorbing them into her body.
- Heat resistance — The only time Scorch has been shown injured by heat was when she attempted to absorb the flames caused by a nuclear explosion. Presumably this indicates her body can withstand temperatures well above 3,000°F.
- Teleportation — Scorch can disappear in a cloud of smoke or burst of flame and reappear elsewhere.
- Scorch can also take on a human appearance. Although she was stated to have this ability by J'onn J'onzz, she has not been shown using it. (J'onn mentions that she cannot maintain this form for long.)