Tim Trench
Encyclopedia
Tim Trench is a fictional comic book
detective
in the DC Comics universe
. He was first introduced in Wonder Woman
v1 #179 (Nov.-Dec. 1968) and recently met his demise in 52
Week 18 (Sept. 2006)
Wonder Woman
, Timothy Trench's first appearance (seen as a shadowy figure on page 23) was in Wonder Woman
vol. 1 no. 179 (Nov.-Dec. 1968) and his first formal appearance was the next issue. A middle-aged tough guy and private eye, Trench carried a single gun, which he lovingly referred to as "Lulu". He was intended as a knockoff of Sam Spade
, from the Maltese Falcon, using the word "gunsel" as Spade did to refer to low-level hoodlums and mentioning his late partner Archie Miles (Spade's partner was Miles Archer). Tim aided Wonder Woman and I Ching
in defeating the terrorist Doctor Cyber
, but Wonder Woman's long-time boyfriend Steve Trevor
was killed in the process. Trench exited with issue #182 (May-June 1969), taking with him a box of gems stolen from Doctor Cyber.
Trench was reintroduced in Detective Comics
#460 (June 1976) with a two-part back-up feature in Detective Comics
. Appearing considerably younger, the tough-talking gumshoe Trench was located in St. Louis
with an office above a repertory theatre, overseen by Box-Office Sadie, that consistently screens Humphrey Bogart
films. Trench had abandoned "Lulu" for twin .357 Magnum
s housed in shoulder holsters.
Twenty years later, Trench resurfaced having joined the superhero team Hero Hotline
. Trench was costumed in brown hat and gloves, green jacket, domino mask and a shirt with a big red "T" on it. The only chronicled mission Trench underwent as a member of the team was witnessed in the Vertigo title Swamp Thing
and Trench was absent from all the action, having been caught in traffic.
Week 18, Trench was revealed to have been a member of The Croatoan Society. Its members included Ralph Dibny, Detective Chimp
, Edogawa Sangaku and Traci Thirteen. It was at a scheduled meeting of these detectives at the House of Mystery
that his body was discovered, wearing the helmet of Doctor Fate
. When his body was touched, it turned to liquid.
Investigation by Dibny, Detective Chimp and the Shadowpact
, revealed that Trench's death came as a result of his attempt to assume the mantle of Dr. Fate without paying due sacrifice first. Later, this was revealed to be a deception by Felix Faust
, who intentionally killed Trench to lead Dibny on a quest.
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...
detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
in the DC Comics 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...
. He was first introduced in Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder 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....
v1 #179 (Nov.-Dec. 1968) and recently met his demise in 52
52 (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 (Sept. 2006)
Fictional character biography
Introduced as an ally of the pre-CrisisCrisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder 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....
, Timothy Trench's first appearance (seen as a shadowy figure on page 23) was in Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder 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....
vol. 1 no. 179 (Nov.-Dec. 1968) and his first formal appearance was the next issue. A middle-aged tough guy and private eye, Trench carried a single gun, which he lovingly referred to as "Lulu". He was intended as a knockoff of Sam Spade
Sam Spade
Sam Spade is a fictional character who is the protagonist of Dashiell Hammett's 1930 novel The Maltese Falcon and the various films and adaptations based on it, as well as in three lesser known short stories by Hammett....
, from the Maltese Falcon, using the word "gunsel" as Spade did to refer to low-level hoodlums and mentioning his late partner Archie Miles (Spade's partner was Miles Archer). Tim aided Wonder Woman and I Ching
I Ching
The I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
in defeating the terrorist Doctor Cyber
Doctor Cyber
Doctor Cyber is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. The character is a supervillain who fought Wonder Woman several times in stories taking place before the Crisis on Infinite Earths...
, but Wonder Woman's long-time boyfriend Steve Trevor
Steve Trevor
Steve Trevor is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics, as the primary love interest of Wonder Woman. He first appeared in All Star Comics #8 .-Golden Age:...
was killed in the process. Trench exited with issue #182 (May-June 1969), taking with him a box of gems stolen from Doctor Cyber.
Trench was reintroduced in Detective Comics
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
#460 (June 1976) with a two-part back-up feature in Detective Comics
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
. Appearing considerably younger, the tough-talking gumshoe Trench was located in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
with an office above a repertory theatre, overseen by Box-Office Sadie, that consistently screens Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
films. Trench had abandoned "Lulu" for twin .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
s housed in shoulder holsters.
Twenty years later, Trench resurfaced having joined the superhero team Hero Hotline
Hero Hotline
Hero Hotline is a fictional DC Comics corporate superteam introduced in Action Comics Weekly #637, January . They were created by Bob Rozakis and Stephen DeStefano.-History:...
. Trench was costumed in brown hat and gloves, green jacket, domino mask and a shirt with a big red "T" on it. The only chronicled mission Trench underwent as a member of the team was witnessed in the Vertigo title Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
and Trench was absent from all the action, having been caught in traffic.
52
After his death 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, Trench was revealed to have been a member of The Croatoan Society. Its members included Ralph Dibny, Detective Chimp
Detective Chimp
In the fictional DC Universe, Detective Chimp is a deerstalker-wearing chimpanzee with human-level intelligence who solves crimes, often with the help of the Bureau of Amplified Animals, a group of intelligent animals that also includes Rex the Wonder Dog...
, Edogawa Sangaku and Traci Thirteen. It was at a scheduled meeting of these detectives at the House of Mystery
House of Mystery
The House of Mystery is the name of several horror-mystery-suspense anthology comic book series. It had a companion series, House of Secrets.-Genesis:...
that his body was discovered, wearing the helmet of Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear in books published by DC Comics. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55...
. When his body was touched, it turned to liquid.
Investigation by Dibny, Detective Chimp and the Shadowpact
Shadowpact
The Shadowpact is a group of magic-based heroes who fought against the Spectre in the 2005 limited series Day of Vengeance, published by DC Comics. They are a sort of Justice League for the supernatural elements of the DC Universe...
, revealed that Trench's death came as a result of his attempt to assume the mantle of Dr. Fate without paying due sacrifice first. Later, this was revealed to be a deception by Felix Faust
Felix Faust
Felix Faust is a fictional character and supervillain who appears in stories published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in 1962 as an adversary of the Justice League of America...
, who intentionally killed Trench to lead Dibny on a quest.