Hyena (comics)
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| Hyena | |
|---|---|
 Both Hyenas, from Fury of Firestorm #11 Artist Pat Broderick |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | (Day) Firestorm #4 (September 1978) (Shi) Fury of Firestorm #10 (March 1983) |
| Created by | (Day) Gerry Conway (writer) Al Milgrom(artist) (Shi) Gerry Conway (writer) Pat Broderick (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | - Summer Day - Dr. Jivan Shi |
| Team affiliations | (Both) Secret Society of Super Villains |
| Abilities | (Both) Were-hyena Superhuman strength, agility, and speed when transformed Razor-sharp claws when transformed |
Hyena is the name of two fictional supervillains published by DC Comics. The first Hyena debuted in Firestorm #4 (September 1978), and was created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom. The second Hyena debuted in Fury of Firestorm #10 (March 1983), and was created by Gerry Conway and Pat Broderick.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
Both were-hyenas had problems with authority and resented Firestorm for interfering in their vendettas. The unique feature of the Hyenas was that they turned into were-hyena forms whenever they were under great emotional stress, not only when there was a full moon. This meant that they could attack foes in broad daylight, and that they would revert back into their human forms when their emotional tension was relieved.
[edit] Summer Day
Summer Day first appeared in Firestorm #4. Summer is the older sister of Ronald Raymond's girlfriend, Doreen Day. Summer's father was a police officer who resented Summer because he wanted a son instead of a daughter. Over the years, Summer tried everything she could to live up to her father's expectations, including joining the police academy, but nothing she did pleased him. When she failed at becoming a police cadet, he refused to speak to her. This was the final straw for Summer, and she developed an immense hatred for her father and all policemen. In an attempt to get away from her troubles at home, she joined the Peace Corps. One night in Africa, she found a native wounded by an arrow. When she called for help, he turned around and bit her face, causing her to pass out. She later discovered that the native had turned into a were-hyena and would have killed her if one of the Corpsmen hadn't shot the creature. Sometime later, after having an argument with her father on the night of the full moon, Summer first changed into The Hyena.
The Hyena quickly became noted for viciously stopping any criminals she encountered, while also viciously attacking any police officers. This was because she wanted to stop criminals, but also hated the police. The very sight of a police uniform filled her with the urge to kill. Luckily for criminals and the police, someone or something (usually Firestorm) stopped her before she went too far. For a long time it was assumed that The Hyena was male and in costume. It wasn't until the Firestorm adventure at the back of Flash #304 that the truth about The Hyena was revealed. After this adventure, Summer was sent to a treatment facility in Arizona in the hope that modern medicine would cure her. It didn't, and she continues to be plagued by both the were-hyena curse and an increasing madness that seems to be a result of the curse. Summer wrote of being driven mad [1] and (explaining why the Hyenas are so vengeful).
[edit] Jivan Shi
Doctor Jivan Shi first appeared Fury of Firestorm #10. He was a psychiatrist whom Summer Day had fallen in love with while he was attempting to treat her were-hyena condition. He also had issues with authority, but in his case it was with doctors rather than police officers. This was because he had a successful medical practice in India, but had to start all over in America, becoming "a lowly intern". One night, as Summer and Jivan were embracing, Summer transformed into The Hyena and infected Jivan with the were-hyena curse. According to Who's Who in the DC Universe #10, Jivan purposely manipulated Summer into becoming the Hyena so he could become a were-hyena himself and get his revenge on the doctors who had demoted him. As The Hyena, he would have killed many people if not for the efforts of Firestorm and Day as The Hyena. During the battle with Shi, Firestorm became infected with the were-hyena curse himself. He was cured soon afterwards by an African healer who was killed before he could give Firestorm the secret that would cure the other Hyenas.[2]
Professor Stein noted that being The Hyena seemed to have warped Jivan Shi's mind.[3] According to Fury of Firestorm #10-13, the madness suffered by the were-hyenas is one's bestial side taking over coupled with an exaggeration of negative emotions.
[edit] Infinite Crisis
Deadshot killed one of the Hyenas after a prison break out.[4] Which died is unknown, although other supervillains speculated that the surviving Hyena, appearing soon thereafter in Batman #647, looked possibly female, particularly from behind, but neither Deathstroke nor Black Mask cared to verify.
[edit] One Year Later
One of the Hyenas (the one that Deadshot didn't kill) appeared as a member of the Injustice League in the Justice League of America Wedding Special. That unnamed Hyena is one of the villains featured in Salvation Run. In Batman #647, the surviving Hyena has a different appearance from that portrayed in Salvation Run. He or she resembled a Spotted Hyena and had brown fur, orange eyes, and a skinny abdomen. Either way, this Hyena was shot and killed by Parademons attacking the villains' camp.[5]
A pack of at least five new were-hyenas, presumably suffering from the same curse as Summer and Jivan, were seen in San Francisco some time after the death of their remaining predecessor. They were promptly defeated and permanently returned to human form thanks to Zatanna, Vixen, and Black Canary. How these people came to bear the curse of the Hyena in the first place is unknown, though a remark from a woman who had been transformed into one of the Hyenas indicates that it was against their will.[6]
[edit] Powers and abilities
- Both of the Hyenas can speak, which frightens their victims and makes them wonder what sort of foe they're facing. When the Hyenas talk, they also laugh maniacally. This laugh (described as worse than The Joker's by a policeman in Firestorm #4) further frightens and unnerves the victim. The Hyenas possess super-human strength, agility, and speed. They can leap great distances and are skilled fighters. They specialized in close quarters fighting.
- The primary weapons of The Hyenas are their razor sharp claws. Early on, Day used gimmicks to augment her natural claws. In Firestorm #5, she was armed with "vibro-claws", diamond edges claws vibrating at ultra-sonic frequency. With these claws, The Hyena could cut down a street light with one slash.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- DCU Guide: Hyena - Summer Day
- DCU Guide: Hyena - Jivan Shi
- Firestorm Rogue’s Gallery on Nuclear Reactions
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