The Beefeater
Encyclopedia
The Beefeater is a fictional character
, a comic book
superhero
published by DC Comics
. He appeared in his civilian identity as Michael Morice in Justice League International
Annual #3 (1989), and debuted as Beefeater in Justice League Europe
#20 (November 1990) in a story by Keith Giffen
, Gerard Jones
and Marshall Rogers
. His code name and appearance are both taken from the uniform of the Yeomen Warders
.
#20, typical of the farcical treatment given to the superhero genre in the 1980s and 1990s Justice League comics, the Beefeater is similar to the rude and pompous Basil Fawlty
, a character in the British television sitcom Fawlty Towers
. He is Britain's hero using a power-rod used by his father (The Beefeater of the Second World War
), to try and protect Britain
, but instead causes havoc as he goes.
Michael Morice is a staff member at the Justice League
London
embassy. Supporting him is his wife and Esteban, the latter of whom has a poor grasp of English (both resembling characters from Fawlty Towers
). Michael finds the original Beefeater's costume and power-rod in the attic. After accidentally blowing a hole in the attic floor, he is confronted by his wife, who dislikes the entire deal. Michael argues that the Beefeater has a long heroic tradition, such as fighting alongside General Glory
in World War II
. His wife, like most people, believe General Glory's adventures to be fictional comic book events, which is exactly what Glory's superior officers had wanted. Furthermore, she believes that the original Beefeater flubbed his first mission and spent the war in a Bulgaria
n prison
, only later to use the 'stick' for tricks down at the pub. It is not made clear which version is correct, especially with the subterfuge surrounding Glory. Michael, ever determined, leaves the embassy while his wife is trying to have Esteban contact Maxwell Lord
, the current League boss. After donning the costume he decides to join Justice League Europe, however the JLE Embassy's security system saw him as a threat and attacks him. The JLE, Kilowog
and Beefeater try to defend themselves from the security system, leading to the destruction of the embassy itself.
Morice later appears as caretaker of the JLE:s London embassy, closed down at the time. When the embassy is attacked by Despero
, Beefeater and the JLI Interpol
liaison, Inspector Camus, bravely battle the alien conqueror, but are savagely beaten. They survive, though, and stick together for some time.
, week 18 (Day 4), carrying Booster Gold
's coffin after attending a memorial in a Cincinnati church. Due to Gold's previous superhero mistakes, including staging fights for personal glory, he was very unpopular and this was all Skeets
could arrange. Beefeater's fellow pall-bearers are Mind-Grabber Kid, Yellow Peri
, Honest Abe and the Blimp
. Founding Justice League member Superman
, in his identity as Clark Kent, also attends. The Beefeater is briefly seen as one of the dozens of super-beings kidnapped by the forces of the Auctioneer. All entities are later freed unharmed. His old ally, Blue Jay
, is essential in this rescue.
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 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...
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 —...
published by 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 appeared in his civilian identity as Michael Morice in Justice League International
Justice League International
Justice League International is a DC Comics superhero team written by Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, with art by Kevin Maguire, created in 1987.-Publication history:...
Annual #3 (1989), and debuted as Beefeater in Justice League Europe
Justice League Europe
Justice League Europe was a DC Comics book run that was a spin-off of the comic book Justice League America ....
#20 (November 1990) in a story by Keith Giffen
Keith Giffen
Keith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
, Gerard Jones
Gerard Jones
For the entrepreneur see Gérard Jones.Gerard Jones is an award-winning American author and comic book writer.-Biography:Jones was born in Cut Bank, Montana, and raised in Los Gatos and Gilroy, California...
and Marshall Rogers
Marshall Rogers
Marshall Rogers was an American comic-book artist best known for his work at Marvel and DC Comics in the 1970s, particularly as one of the illustrators of Batman and Silver Surfer...
. His code name and appearance are both taken from the uniform of the Yeomen Warders
Yeomen Warders
The Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman of the Guard Extraordinary, popularly known as the Beefeaters, are ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London...
.
Fictional character biography
The Beefeater was introduced in the pages of Justice League EuropeJustice League Europe
Justice League Europe was a DC Comics book run that was a spin-off of the comic book Justice League America ....
#20, typical of the farcical treatment given to the superhero genre in the 1980s and 1990s Justice League comics, the Beefeater is similar to the rude and pompous Basil Fawlty
Basil Fawlty
Basil Fawlty is the main character of the British sitcom Fawlty Towers, played by John Cleese. The character is often thought of as an iconic British comedy character, and has been deemed unforgettable despite only a dozen half-hour episodes ever being made....
, a character in the British television sitcom Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
. He is Britain's hero using a power-rod used by his father (The Beefeater of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
), to try and protect Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, but instead causes havoc as he goes.
Michael Morice is a staff member at 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....
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
embassy. Supporting him is his wife and Esteban, the latter of whom has a poor grasp of English (both resembling characters from Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
). Michael finds the original Beefeater's costume and power-rod in the attic. After accidentally blowing a hole in the attic floor, he is confronted by his wife, who dislikes the entire deal. Michael argues that the Beefeater has a long heroic tradition, such as fighting alongside General Glory
General Glory
General Glory is the name of two DC Comics characters. It is mostly used by writers as a parody of Marvel's Captain America with exaggerated "patriotic values" and a sidekick called Ernie , who was similar to Bucky...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His wife, like most people, believe General Glory's adventures to be fictional comic book events, which is exactly what Glory's superior officers had wanted. Furthermore, she believes that the original Beefeater flubbed his first mission and spent the war in a Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, only later to use the 'stick' for tricks down at the pub. It is not made clear which version is correct, especially with the subterfuge surrounding Glory. Michael, ever determined, leaves the embassy while his wife is trying to have Esteban contact Maxwell Lord
Maxwell Lord
Maxwell Lord IV is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He is a shrewd and powerful businessman who was very influential in the formation of the Justice League International in DC Comics.-Before the League:...
, the current League boss. After donning the costume he decides to join Justice League Europe, however the JLE Embassy's security system saw him as a threat and attacks him. The JLE, Kilowog
Kilowog
Kilowog is a fictional superhero from DC Comics, and a member of the Green Lantern Corps.-Origins:A towering alien with a brutish and porcine appearance, Kilowog is renowned throughout the Green Lantern Corps as the primary trainer of the Corps' newest recruits...
and Beefeater try to defend themselves from the security system, leading to the destruction of the embassy itself.
Morice later appears as caretaker of the JLE:s London embassy, closed down at the time. When the embassy is attacked 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...
, Beefeater and the JLI Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
liaison, Inspector Camus, bravely battle the alien conqueror, but are savagely beaten. They survive, though, and stick together for some time.
52
Beefeater appears in 5252 (comic book)
52 was a weekly American comic book limited series published by DC Comics that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. The series was written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid with layouts by Keith Giffen...
, week 18 (Day 4), carrying Booster Gold
Booster Gold
Booster Gold is a fictional DC Comics superhero. Created by Dan Jurgens, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 and has been a member of the Justice League, DC Comics' all-star team of heroes. The character is initially depicted as a glory-seeking showboat from the future, using knowledge of...
's coffin after attending a memorial in a Cincinnati church. Due to Gold's previous superhero mistakes, including staging fights for personal glory, he was very unpopular and this was all Skeets
Skeets
Skeets is a fictional artificial intelligence robot from the future in the . Usually seen as a companion to Booster Gold, he co-stars in the limited series 52 and the subsequent Booster Gold vol...
could arrange. Beefeater's fellow pall-bearers are Mind-Grabber Kid, Yellow Peri
Yellow Peri
The Yellow Peri is a fictional character published by DC Comics. She first appeared in The New Adventures of Superboy #34 , and was created by Bob Rozakis and Kurt Schaffenberger.-Fictional character biography:...
, Honest Abe and the Blimp
Inferior Five
The Inferior Five are a parody superhero team that premiered in the DC Comics title Showcase #62 . Created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Joe Orlando and Mike Esposito , the group was intended as a parody not only of the Fantastic Four, but of all the superhero teams whose members had such great...
. Founding Justice League member 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 his identity as Clark Kent, also attends. The Beefeater is briefly seen as one of the dozens of super-beings kidnapped by the forces of the Auctioneer. All entities are later freed unharmed. His old ally, Blue Jay
Blue Jay (comics)
Blue Jay is a DC Comics superhero and a former member of the Champions of Angor, also known as the Justifiers. He has the ability to shrink to seven inches tall and grow blue wings which allow him to fly...
, is essential in this rescue.