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Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)

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Michael Holt
Michael Holt as Mister Terrific as he appeared on a splash page of The Terrifics #4 (May 2018).
Art by Evan "Doc" Shaner.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSpectre (vol. 3) #54 (cover dated June 1997)
Created byJohn Ostrander
Tom Mandrake
In-story information
Alter egoDr. Michael Curtis Holt
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsJustice Society of America
Checkmate
Terrifics
Justice League
Abilities
  • Genius-level intellect
  • Proficient scientist, engineer, and physician
  • Use of T-Spheres
  • Invisibility to technology
  • Skilled athlete and martial artist
Mister Terrific
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing
GenreSuperhero
Publication dateSeptember 2011 – April 2012
No. of issues8
Creative team
Written byEric Wallace
Artist(s)Gianluca Gugliotta, Scott Clark, James Taylor

Michael Holt is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the second character to take up the Mister Terrific mantle.

Holt has been substantially adapted into media outside comics. Michael Beach, Hannibal Buress, and Kevin Michael Richardson, among others, have voiced the character in animated television series and films. Echo Kellum portrayed a version of the character renamed Curtis Holt in the CW Arrowverse series Arrow. Edi Gathegi will play the character in the 2025 film Superman, set in the DC Universe (DCU).

Publication history

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Michael Holt was created by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake and first appeared in Spectre (vol. 3) #54 (June 1997).[1]

Fictional character biography

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Michael Holt showed remarkable intelligence at a very young age, reading comprehension and ability to assimilate the works of Neils Bohr, Albert Einstein, Max Planck, and Richard Feynman, a pantheon of theoretical physicists.[2] Michael grew up with his mentally challenged older brother, Jeffrey, whom he loved dearly. When Jeffrey died at the age of 12, Michael was devastated.[3]

Holt displayed "a natural aptitude for having natural aptitudes" (as he calls it), easily picking up and retaining complex skills and abilities that others spend their entire lives perfecting. Before he began his career as a superhero, he already possessed 14 Ph.Ds (two in engineering and physics—including doctorates and master's degrees in law, psychology, chemistry, political science, computer science, rocket science, and mathematics[4][5])—is a self-made multi-millionaire[2] with a high tech firm called Cyberwear (subsequently sold to Waynetech[4]), and is a gold medal-winning Olympic decathlete.

The accidental deaths of his wife and unborn child were a devastating blow to Holt. He considered himself responsible for the accident, as he made his wife late for church by arguing with her about the value of religion. While contemplating suicide, the Spectre (Jim Corrigan) told him about Terry Sloane, the Golden Age superhero known as Mister Terrific. Inspired by Sloane's life story, Holt took the name Mister Terrific[6] and later joins the current Justice Society of America (JSA), eventually serving as its chairman.

Initially, he wore ordinary clothes and a leather jacket with Sloane's "Fair Play" emblem on the back. Later, he switched to a T-shaped mask composed of electronic nanites, a black and white costume with red trim, and a collarless jacket in the same colors (the black sections of tunic and jacket forming a "T") with "Fair Play" written on the sleeves and "Terrific" across the back.

For a time, he acted as spokesperson for Hourman's Tylerco and consulted with the company on industrial espionage and security matters, in exchange for it helping fund a youth center Terrific has started.[7]

Holt, as he appeared on the cover of JSA #76, during the Infinite Crisis events.Art by Alex Ross.

Holt had a friendly rivalry with Batman, his opposite number in the Justice League of America (in his identity as Bruce Wayne, Batman owned Holt's business). Holt encountered Sloane twice through time travel, with Sloane expressing pride in having so worthy a successor. Holt has been noted as the most intelligent member of the JSA in its history, surpassing his predecessor. He was also known as the third-smartest person in the world,[8] and this notion now appears to be widespread within the DC Universe.[9]

Justice Society of America chairmanship

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During a conflict over leadership of the Justice Society between former chairman Hawkman and then-current chairman Sand, Terrific was elected as the JSA's new chairman by his teammates, despite not actively seeking the office.[10] He served in this capacity until the team disbanded following the Infinite Crisis.

Mr. Terrific currently remains a member of the reformed Justice Society of America. He resumed his chairmanship from the last incarnation of the team,[11] but his leadership responsibilities in Checkmate eventually prompt him to relinquish the position to Power Girl.[12]

Infinite Crisis

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Main article: Infinite Crisis

Mr. Terrific is part of the team assembled by Batman for an attack on the Brother Eye satellite responsible for controlling the OMACs. He plays a critical role as his invisibility to technology allows him to reach the satellite's propulsion system, sending it crashing to Earth. During this time, he meets and befriends another African American superhero—Black Lightning.

One Year Later

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Main article: One Year Later

In the "One Year Later" storyline, Holt is still a member of the JSA, and he has also become part of the United Nations Security Council's intelligence agency, Checkmate. He holds the position of White King's Bishop initially, but when the previous White King (Alan Scott) is forced to resign, he becomes Checkmate's new White King, complicating his relationship with Sasha Bordeaux, Checkmate's Black Queen. He has also given up his chairman position, which has been taken over by Power Girl. Mr. Terrific has also established an ill-defined mentorship with Firestorm over the missing year.

Holt is forced to face his issues with faith once again when the JSA confront Gog, a God of the Second World. Not only is Gog incapable of hearing Terrific due to his lack of faith, but during a trip to the Earth-Two of the new multiverse, Holt encounters his Earth-Two counterpart, who is now a devout believer after having a religious experience on the day his wife survived her accident.

Final Crisis

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Main article: Final Crisis

During the Final Crisis of Humanity, the war between Darkseid and the human world, Mister Terrific, along with Cheetah and Snapper Carr, are left trapped in the ruins of Checkmate headquarters, unable to get past the brainwashed metahuman, and caring for Sasha, who prefers using her OMAC programming to shut down her bodily functions rather than falling prey to the Anti-Life Equation. Forcefully waking up Sasha, thus condemning her, Michael Holt has no choice but to activate a new OMAC population, programmed to obey him rather than Brother Eye, and to protect the last few humans against the new Justifiers.

Death and return

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In Justice Society of America vol. 3 series, Mr. Terrific takes over the research, just as the low-level villain Tapeworm appears on the news, taking hostages and demanding that Wildcat show himself. All-American Kid and King Chimera must remain in the brownstone, Mister Terrific retreats to his lab, and the rest of the team leaves to help Wildcat. All-American Kid goes into the lab and stabs Mister Terrific in the back, pretending to have been mind controlled.[13] Justice Society members arrive back at headquarters to discover Mr. Terrific has been attacked, and Doctor Mid-Nite tends to his wounds.[14] In the end, Mister Terrific succumbs to his injuries and Alan Scott reports that he has died.[15] However, Scott is able to use the power of the Green Flame to slow down time around Mister Terrific's body in the hopes that he can be healed before brain death occurs.[16] Michael is restored to life by the magic of the new Doctor Fate, and attacks All-American Kid, revealing that he is actually the teenage psychopath known as Kid Karnevil, and subdues him.[17] For a short time during his recovery, Michael is forced to use a wheelchair, although he still finds time to upgrade Mister America's whip.[18]

The New 52

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In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Mister Terrific received a self-titled ongoing series written by Eric Wallace and drawn by Roger Robinson.[19] Holt begins sporting a new costume designed by Cully Hamner.[20] He is also in a relationship with Karen Starr.

On January 12, 2012, DC announced that it would be ending six of the lowest-selling New 52 titles in April, replacing them with six different titles in the revamp's second wave.[21] Mister Terrific was cancelled with issue #8 in April 2012.[22] The series ends with Mister Terrific being displaced to a parallel universe, leading to his appearances in Earth-2.[23]

DC Rebirth

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In The Terrifics, Mister Terrific joins the eponymous team alongside Metamorpho and Plastic Man after they are exposed to Dark Multiverse energy that bonds them to one another.[24]

In The New Golden Age, Mister Terrific adopts Terry Sloane's former sidekick Quiz Kid after he is transported to the present.[25][26][27]

Religious beliefs

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While being held captive by Onimar Synn on an adventure with the Justice Society on Thanagar, Holt first expresses his disbelief in souls and that he is uncomfortable with the notion of reincarnation after witnessing the return of teammate Hawkman. Holt states, "when my wife, Paula, was killed in a car accident ... she was gone. I didn't feel her 'soul' around me. Didn't feel anything".[28] He later elaborates on this by explaining that his lack of faith extends back prior to his wife's death, and states that he blames himself for her death as he delayed her going to church because the two of them argued about the merits of faith. Holt believes that she would have avoided the accident if she had not been arguing with him. He acknowledges the irony of this given such factors as the Spectre's role in his origin, and his encounter with the likes of the Spirit King, but he still maintains his skepticism about faith and religion.

After a near-death experience where he sees his wife and unborn child (whom he decides to name 'Terry' after the original Mister Terrific), Holt's atheism is shaken and he agrees to attend a church service with teammate Doctor Mid-Nite.[29]

However, this attempt to find religion apparently is not satisfying as Holt is also seen getting into a theological discussion with Ragman during the Infinite Crisis. When asked if he has faith in anything, Terrific answered, "Sure I do. I've got faith in my team."[8]

During Thy Kingdom Come, when Power Girl is transported to the Earth-2 pre-Crisis universe, she meets her world's Michael Holt, who is a priest. During the same storyline, the mainline Holt admits to Doctor Mid-Nite that he feels his issues with faith stem from his inability to understand it, confessing that he wants to believe but something inside him will not let him.

Powers, abilities, and equipment

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Michael Holt is among the smartest people on Earth, being skilled in multiple fields of medicine, engineering, science, and martial arts.[4][8][30] Holt's mask doubles as a communication system and enables him to detect various forms of energy.[31] He wields "T-Spheres", floating robotic spheres with multiple functions that include holographic projection, hacking into other machines, and generating energy bursts.[32]

Other versions

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  • An alternate universe variant of Michael Holt from Earth-2 appears in Justice Society of America (vol. 3). This version is a college professor who became a devout Christian after his wife was nearly killed in an accident.[33][34]
  • An alternate universe variant of Michael Holt appears in Flashpoint.[35]
  • An alternate universe variant of Michael Holt appears in DCeased: A Good Day to Die. He attempts to find a cure for the Anti-Life Equation virus before being killed by an infected Big Barda.

In other media

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Television

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Mr. Terrific as he appears in Justice League Unlimited.

Film

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Video games

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Miscellaneous

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Michael Holt appears in Smallville Season 11: Chaos #3. This version is a billionaire, the CEO of HoltCorp, and an associate of Bruce Wayne and Ted Kord.[45]

Merchandise

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  • Michael Holt / Mister Terrific received a figure in the DC Universe Classics line.
  • Michael Holt / Mister Terrific received a figure in the Target-exclusive Justice League Unlimited line.

References

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  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 207. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ a b JSA #13, pg.1
  3. ^ 52 #39, pg.22
  4. ^ a b c JSA #28, pg. 11
  5. ^ JSA #53, pg. 8
  6. ^ Manning, Matthew K. (2010). "1990s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 279. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. The Spectre ongoing series was nearing its end, but that didn't stop writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake from pooling their creative forces to create one of the DCU's newest shining stars...An inspired and reborn [Michael] Holt then picked up the mantle of Mr. Terrific.
  7. ^ JSA #5, pg.6
  8. ^ a b c Infinite Crisis # 5, pg. 1
  9. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) # 2, pg. 3
  10. ^ JSA #27, pg.17-18
  11. ^ 52 #39, pg. 22, Backup Origin
  12. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) # 4
  13. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #29 (July 2009)
  14. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #30 (August 2009)
  15. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #31 (September 2009)
  16. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #32 (October 2009)
  17. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #33 (November 2009)
  18. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #34 (December 2009)
  19. ^ Hyde, David (2011-06-01). "The New Justice | DC Comics". Dcu.blog.dccomics.com. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  20. ^ DCE Editorial (2011-06-09). "Project: Up Up and Runway | DC Comics". Dcu.blog.dccomics.com. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  21. ^ Albert Ching (January 12, 2012). "Six Titles In, Six Out in 'Second Wave' of DC's NEW 52" (Press release). Newsarama. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  22. ^ DC Comics. "On Sale April '12" (Press release). DC Comics. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  23. ^ "DC Comics' FULL June 2012 Solicitations". Newsarama.com. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  24. ^ The Terrifics #1 - 3
  25. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 4) #5 - #9. DC Comics.
  26. ^ Jay Garrick: The Flash #3. DC Comics.
  27. ^ Jay Garrick: The Flash #6. DC Comics.
  28. ^ JSA # 26, pg. 8-9
  29. ^ JSA # 62, pg. 17-21
  30. ^
    • Hawkman (vol. 3) #24 (September 1995)
    • JSA (vol. 1) #12 (July 2000)
    • JSA (vol. 1) #17 (December 2000)
    • JSA (vol. 1) #67 (January 2005)
  31. ^
    • JSA (vol. 1) #49 (August 2003)
    • JSA (vol. 1) #84 (June 2006)
    • JSA All-Stars #7 (August 2010)
  32. ^
    • JSA (vol. 1) #31 (February 2002)
    • JSA (vol. 1) #41 (December 2002)
    • JSA (vol. 1) #61 (July 2004)
    • JSA (vol. 1) #71 (May 2005)
    • JSA (vol. 1) #78 (December 2005)
    • JSA Classified #29 (October 2007)
  33. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #19
  34. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #20
  35. ^ Flashpoint: The Outsider #1 (June 2011)
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h "Mr. Terrific Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 4, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  37. ^ Abrams, Natalie (July 17, 2015). "Arrow casts Mr. Terrific for season 4". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  38. ^ Mitovich, Matt (4 April 2016). "Arrow Season 5: Echo Kellum Promoted to Series Regular as Curtis". tvline.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  39. ^ Siegel, Lucas (June 5, 2016). "New Justice League Action Characters Officially Revealed". Comicbook.com. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  40. ^ Couch, Aaron (January 7, 2019). "Justice League vs. The Fatal Five Sets Voice Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  41. ^ Couch, Aaron (July 21, 2021). "DC's Injustice Sets Cast for Animated Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  42. ^ Harvey, James (December 5, 2023). "Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths, Part One Arrives January 2024, Press Details". The World's Finest. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  43. ^ Breznican, Anthony (July 21, 2023). "Superman Legacy Cast Adds Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi and Nathan Fillion: EXCLUSIVE". Vanity Fair.
  44. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  45. ^ Smallville Season 11: Chaos #3
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