Terra (character): Difference between revisions
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* Terra appears in the ''[[Teen Titans (TV series)|Teen Titans]]'' animated series, voiced by [[Ashley Johnson]]. Like many characters in the series, Terra's backstory and appearance was modified for the cartoon series. The character was now more sympathetic, a tragic heroine along the lines of a "lost soul" rather than an irredeemable [[Psychopathy|psychopathic]] villainess. Terra is an attractive teenage girl with long, straight, blond hair and superpowers similar to those of her comics counterpart. Terra can manipulate the ground, rocks, and earth-like material around her. However, unlike her comic book counterpart, Terra has little control over her powers, which is a source of shame for her, and is ultimately what leads her to betray the Teen Titans. Introduced during Season 2 of the series, Terra first encounters the Titans while being chased by a giant [[scorpion]] monster. After defeating the monster, she parts ways with the Titans, among whom Beast Boy immediately develops a crush on her. Terra and Beast Boy spend time together as friends after their first meeting, with Terra confiding to Beast Boy her problems controlling her powers. Beast Boy agrees to keep this a secret, though after an encounter with [[Deathstroke|Slade]], the villain recognizes Terra's problems utilizing her powers and offers to help teach her how to control them. Terra refuses, but Slade would plant the seed of doubt regarding whether or not Beast Boy would keep his word, which comes to a head when [[Robin (comics)#Teen Titans|Robin]] asks Terra to become a Teen Titan. Terra accepts, but then suspects that Beast Boy broke his promise to keep her secret from the group, unaware that Robin had merely figured it out on his own. Terra flees the Tower and ultimately agrees to work for Slade in exchange for his training on how to master her abilities.<ref>{{Cite episode | title=Terra | episodelink=List of Teen Titans episodes#Season 2: 2004 | series=Teen Titans | serieslink=Teen Titans (TV series) | network=Kids WB | airdate=January 24, 2004 | season=2 | number=16}}</ref> After some time training under him, she returns to the Titans. By this point, Beast Boy confesses to Terra that he deeply is romantically in love with her and the two go on their first official romantic date together. While the two visit a [[amusement park|theme park]], Titans Tower is attacked by an army of Slade's robots, who are able to infiltrate the Tower because of information Terra provided to Slade. When Terra confesses to Beast Boy what she had done, Beast Boy rejects her, which only strengthens Slade's hold over her.<ref>{{Cite episode | title=Betrayal | episodelink=List of Teen Titans episodes#Season 2: 2004 | series=Teen Titans | serieslink=Teen Titans (TV series) | network=Kids WB | airdate=July 31, 2004 | season=2 | number=23}}</ref> Terra then begins to serve as somewhat of Slade's personal counterpart to the Titans. After defeating the Titans one by one and attempting to murder her former friends by crushing them in an avalanche, Terra is given a new costume designed to "control" her powers.<ref>{{Cite episode | title=Aftershock | episodelink=List of Teen Titans episodes#Season 2: 2004 | series=Teen Titans | serieslink=Teen Titans (TV series) | network=Kids WB | airdate=August 14, 2004 | season=2 | number=25}}</ref> In truth, though, the suit is a fail-safe, which allows Slade to remote-control her in the event that she disobeys him. After successfully taking over the city, Terra begins to reminisce over the good times she once had with the Titans, and slowly begins to regret what she has done. When it becomes apparent that Terra has failed to kill the Titans, Slade turns abusive toward her. He activates the costume and forces her to attack Beast Boy, nearly killing him. Terra was able to overcome her costume, and triggers a volcanic eruption that kills Slade and threatens to kill the Titans as well. In the end, Terra ultimately sacrifices herself to save her friends and the city by turning back the full force of the volcanic eruption, and is transformed into a solid stone statue in the process. Raven and Cyborg vow to find a way to reverse the effects as the Titans visit her resting place.<ref>{{Cite episode | title=Aftershock, pt. II | episodelink=List of Teen Titans episodes#Season 2: 2004 | series=Teen Titans | serieslink=Teen Titans (TV series) | network=Kids WB | airdate=August 21, 2004 | season=2 | number=26}}</ref> However, in the final episode of the series, "Things Change," her demise is called into question. After seeing a girl who looks exactly like her, but claiming not to be, and finding Terra's solid stone form missing from her final resting place, Beast Boy begins to question if Terra has really returned. The girl eventually convinces Beast Boy to let go of the past.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tv.com/teen-titans/things-change/episode/455418/recap.html | title=Things Change | accessdate=August 2, 2008 | work=TV.com | publisher=CNET Networks, Inc}}</ref> |
* Terra appears in the ''[[Teen Titans (TV series)|Teen Titans]]'' animated series, voiced by [[Ashley Johnson]]. Like many characters in the series, Terra's backstory and appearance was modified for the cartoon series. The character was now more sympathetic, a tragic heroine along the lines of a "lost soul" rather than an irredeemable [[Psychopathy|psychopathic]] villainess. Terra is an attractive teenage girl with long, straight, blond hair and superpowers similar to those of her comics counterpart. Terra can manipulate the ground, rocks, and earth-like material around her. However, unlike her comic book counterpart, Terra has little control over her powers, which is a source of shame for her, and is ultimately what leads her to betray the Teen Titans. Introduced during Season 2 of the series, Terra first encounters the Titans while being chased by a giant [[scorpion]] monster. After defeating the monster, she parts ways with the Titans, among whom Beast Boy immediately develops a crush on her. Terra and Beast Boy spend time together as friends after their first meeting, with Terra confiding to Beast Boy her problems controlling her powers. Beast Boy agrees to keep this a secret, though after an encounter with [[Deathstroke|Slade]], the villain recognizes Terra's problems utilizing her powers and offers to help teach her how to control them. Terra refuses, but Slade would plant the seed of doubt regarding whether or not Beast Boy would keep his word, which comes to a head when [[Robin (comics)#Teen Titans|Robin]] asks Terra to become a Teen Titan. Terra accepts, but then suspects that Beast Boy broke his promise to keep her secret from the group, unaware that Robin had merely figured it out on his own. Terra flees the Tower and ultimately agrees to work for Slade in exchange for his training on how to master her abilities.<ref>{{Cite episode | title=Terra | episodelink=List of Teen Titans episodes#Season 2: 2004 | series=Teen Titans | serieslink=Teen Titans (TV series) | network=Kids WB | airdate=January 24, 2004 | season=2 | number=16}}</ref> After some time training under him, she returns to the Titans. By this point, Beast Boy confesses to Terra that he deeply is romantically in love with her and the two go on their first official romantic date together. While the two visit a [[amusement park|theme park]], Titans Tower is attacked by an army of Slade's robots, who are able to infiltrate the Tower because of information Terra provided to Slade. When Terra confesses to Beast Boy what she had done, Beast Boy rejects her, which only strengthens Slade's hold over her.<ref>{{Cite episode | title=Betrayal | episodelink=List of Teen Titans episodes#Season 2: 2004 | series=Teen Titans | serieslink=Teen Titans (TV series) | network=Kids WB | airdate=July 31, 2004 | season=2 | number=23}}</ref> Terra then begins to serve as somewhat of Slade's personal counterpart to the Titans. After defeating the Titans one by one and attempting to murder her former friends by crushing them in an avalanche, Terra is given a new costume designed to "control" her powers.<ref>{{Cite episode | title=Aftershock | episodelink=List of Teen Titans episodes#Season 2: 2004 | series=Teen Titans | serieslink=Teen Titans (TV series) | network=Kids WB | airdate=August 14, 2004 | season=2 | number=25}}</ref> In truth, though, the suit is a fail-safe, which allows Slade to remote-control her in the event that she disobeys him. After successfully taking over the city, Terra begins to reminisce over the good times she once had with the Titans, and slowly begins to regret what she has done. When it becomes apparent that Terra has failed to kill the Titans, Slade turns abusive toward her. He activates the costume and forces her to attack Beast Boy, nearly killing him. Terra was able to overcome her costume, and triggers a volcanic eruption that kills Slade and threatens to kill the Titans as well. In the end, Terra ultimately sacrifices herself to save her friends and the city by turning back the full force of the volcanic eruption, and is transformed into a solid stone statue in the process. Raven and Cyborg vow to find a way to reverse the effects as the Titans visit her resting place.<ref>{{Cite episode | title=Aftershock, pt. II | episodelink=List of Teen Titans episodes#Season 2: 2004 | series=Teen Titans | serieslink=Teen Titans (TV series) | network=Kids WB | airdate=August 21, 2004 | season=2 | number=26}}</ref> However, in the final episode of the series, "Things Change," her demise is called into question. After seeing a girl who looks exactly like her, but claiming not to be, and finding Terra's solid stone form missing from her final resting place, Beast Boy begins to question if Terra has really returned. The girl eventually convinces Beast Boy to let go of the past.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tv.com/teen-titans/things-change/episode/455418/recap.html | title=Things Change | accessdate=August 2, 2008 | work=TV.com | publisher=CNET Networks, Inc}}</ref> |
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[[File:Terra 2013.PNG|180px|thumb|right|Terra's appearance in [[Teen Titans Go! (TV series)|Teen Titans Go!]]]] |
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* Terra appeared in ''[[Teen Titans Go! (TV series)|Teen Titans Go!]]'' voiced again by [[Ashley Johnson]]. This time, she is more like her comic book counterpart. In her debut appearance "Terra-ized", she approaches [[Beast Boy]] and asks him blatantly about the Titans' files and defense schematics. Beast Boy decides to bring her into the Titans Tower thinking she had asked to be his girlfriend. When Robin walks into the living room he greets Terra happily "Mornin stranger going through the Titan computer!" due to being really happy that morning for some reason. He soon realizes what's happening and quickly hits the panic button and runs toward Terra with his staff and is about to whack her but is stopped by Beast Boy. The rest of the Titans then walk into the living room and Beast Boy introduces them all to Terra showing them some photos in his wallet: Beast Boy pushing Terra into the photo booth, Beast Boy putting his arm around Terra, him then attempting to kiss Terra, which ends up with Terra punching him. [[Raven (comics)|Raven]] questions why Terra's dating Beast Boy which Terra's states that she likes how trusting he is ("I mean he's really really trusting."). Beast Boy then states that Terra has powers too so maybe she could join the team. [[Dick Grayson|Robin]] tells Terra to demonstrate her powers which she does making a rock from outside which a bird listening to music on the radio come into the Titans Tower and smash Raven. The other Titans are amused by it and Robin states that he likes what he sees but if Terra wants to be a part of a team she'll have to pass a series of tests. Beast Boy then decides to show Terra something but Robin pops out of a bush for one of his "Titan Tests" and tries to attack Terra but falls to the ground and fails. Terra continues walking on when Beast Boy shows her the Titans' secret compartment. Terra glazes at it and says it's amazing. Beast Boy agrees and attempts to kiss Terra but she backs away and asks him if he can bring her the camera. He states that it's not really the place to be taking pictures but Terra states it'll be of their first kiss in which he transforms into a cat and immediately runs off to find the camera. Terra then gets out a phone and calls an unknown villain stating she has the files and soon the Titans will be nothing but a memory. Later, Beast Boy is seen talking to [[Cyborg (comics)|Cyborg]] and Starfire about their date which Raven believes Terra is using him to collect intel on the Titans. Cyborg and [[Starfire (comics)|Starfire]] say that Raven is jealous and that she's just in love with Beast Boy in which she then floats away and states "I hate you all,". Terra and Beast Boy are later seen transferring all the Titan's most sensitive secrets onto her flash drive. Once they complete the task, Beast Boy tries to kiss her but she makes a rock hit his head knocking him out. It is then revealed Raven was spying on them and he captures Terra to tell the other Titans. She tells Cyborg and Starfire about it but they once again state she is jealous making Raven rage. Robin then blows himself out of a cannon for another Titan Test knocking out all the Titans. Terra ties them up and right when she is about to leave, Beast Boy approaches her confused. He then comes to the fact that's she's breaking up with him without telling. He runs after her crying and says she has to feel something for him. Terra decides to show him how see really feels and attempts to throw a giant boulder over him but is stopped by Raven who then sends her to another dimension. Beast Boy is upset and the other Titans still think she is jealous. Robin later realizes Raven was right and they apologize to her about how silly it was to think she was in love with Beast Boy. Raven indeed states it was quite silly and then decides to look at Beast Boy and back and smiles at the thought of them being together. |
* Terra appeared in ''[[Teen Titans Go! (TV series)|Teen Titans Go!]]'' voiced again by [[Ashley Johnson]]. This time, she is more like her comic book counterpart. In her debut appearance "Terra-ized", she approaches [[Beast Boy]] and asks him blatantly about the Titans' files and defense schematics. Beast Boy decides to bring her into the Titans Tower thinking she had asked to be his girlfriend. When Robin walks into the living room he greets Terra happily "Mornin stranger going through the Titan computer!" due to being really happy that morning for some reason. He soon realizes what's happening and quickly hits the panic button and runs toward Terra with his staff and is about to whack her but is stopped by Beast Boy. The rest of the Titans then walk into the living room and Beast Boy introduces them all to Terra showing them some photos in his wallet: Beast Boy pushing Terra into the photo booth, Beast Boy putting his arm around Terra, him then attempting to kiss Terra, which ends up with Terra punching him. [[Raven (comics)|Raven]] questions why Terra's dating Beast Boy which Terra's states that she likes how trusting he is ("I mean he's really really trusting."). Beast Boy then states that Terra has powers too so maybe she could join the team. [[Dick Grayson|Robin]] tells Terra to demonstrate her powers which she does making a rock from outside which a bird listening to music on the radio come into the Titans Tower and smash Raven. The other Titans are amused by it and Robin states that he likes what he sees but if Terra wants to be a part of a team she'll have to pass a series of tests. Beast Boy then decides to show Terra something but Robin pops out of a bush for one of his "Titan Tests" and tries to attack Terra but falls to the ground and fails. Terra continues walking on when Beast Boy shows her the Titans' secret compartment. Terra glazes at it and says it's amazing. Beast Boy agrees and attempts to kiss Terra but she backs away and asks him if he can bring her the camera. He states that it's not really the place to be taking pictures but Terra states it'll be of their first kiss in which he transforms into a cat and immediately runs off to find the camera. Terra then gets out a phone and calls an unknown villain stating she has the files and soon the Titans will be nothing but a memory. Later, Beast Boy is seen talking to [[Cyborg (comics)|Cyborg]] and Starfire about their date which Raven believes Terra is using him to collect intel on the Titans. Cyborg and [[Starfire (comics)|Starfire]] say that Raven is jealous and that she's just in love with Beast Boy in which she then floats away and states "I hate you all,". Terra and Beast Boy are later seen transferring all the Titan's most sensitive secrets onto her flash drive. Once they complete the task, Beast Boy tries to kiss her but she makes a rock hit his head knocking him out. It is then revealed Raven was spying on them and he captures Terra to tell the other Titans. She tells Cyborg and Starfire about it but they once again state she is jealous making Raven rage. Robin then blows himself out of a cannon for another Titan Test knocking out all the Titans. Terra ties them up and right when she is about to leave, Beast Boy approaches her confused. He then comes to the fact that's she's breaking up with him without telling. He runs after her crying and says she has to feel something for him. Terra decides to show him how see really feels and attempts to throw a giant boulder over him but is stopped by Raven who then sends her to another dimension. Beast Boy is upset and the other Titans still think she is jealous. Robin later realizes Raven was right and they apologize to her about how silly it was to think she was in love with Beast Boy. Raven indeed states it was quite silly and then decides to look at Beast Boy and back and smiles at the thought of them being together. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*{{Comicbookdb|type=character|id=2108|title=Terra (Tara Markov)}} |
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*{{Comicbookdb|type=character|id=9723|title=Terra (Doppelgänger)}} |
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*{{Comicbookdb|type=character|id=9722|title=Terra (Atlee)}} |
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*{{imdb character|0031122|Terra}} |
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*[http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=terra Unofficial Terra I biography] |
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*[http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=terra2 Unofficial Terra II biography] |
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*[http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=terra3 Unofficial Terra III biography] |
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*[http://teentitans.toonzone.net/index.php?content=bios/terra/index Terra (''Teen Titans'' animated series) biography] |
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{{Titans}} |
{{Titans}} |
Revision as of 00:48, 15 September 2013
Terra | |
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File:Terra of the Teen Titans.png | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | (Markov) New Teen Titans #26 (December 1982) (Doppelgänger) New Titans #79 (September 1991) (Atlee) Supergirl #12 (January 2007) |
Created by | (Markov) Marv Wolfman (writer) George Pérez (artist) (Doppelgänger) Marv Wolfman (writer) Tom Grummett (artist) (Atlee) Jimmy Palmiotti (writer) Justin Gray (writer) Amanda Conner (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | (Terra/Doppelgänger) Tara Markov |
Team affiliations | Teen Titans Black Lantern Corps (Tara Markov) |
Abilities | Geokinesis/Terrakinesis, the power and ability to manipulate and control the earth at will, and all earthly substances and materials, and create shapes out of solid rock |
Terra is the name used by three fictional characters published by DC Comics. The first Terra was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, and debuted in New Teen Titans (vol. 1) #26 (December 1982).
The second Terra debuted in New Titans #79 (September 1991) and was created by Marv Wolfman and Tom Grummett.
The third Terra debuted in Supergirl #12 (January 2007) and was created by Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, and Amanda Conner.
Publication history
The character was created with an intended finite life span. Co-creator Pérez states, "from the very start, that this girl was going to be a traitor and that we were going to kill this character off."[1] When creating the look of the character, Pérez noted that:
I wanted her to be cute but not beautiful. She looked like a young girl. I gave her a substantial overbite, her eyes were wide, her body was slim, she wasn't particularly busty. I wanted her to look almost elfin, so that when you see her for the first time wearing full-make up and dressed in a provocative outfit where you know she's just been in bed with Deathstroke that it does jab you a bit. "Whoa, good God! This little girl is a slut!" [1]
A new Terra appeared in Supergirl #12[2] while a Terra limited series was being developed, written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, with illustrations by Amanda Conner.[3] Gray commented about the series, "Terra as a character has never had a definitive origin. That includes Terra 1 and 2. This mini will address that fact in some surprising ways and open the door to a new corner of the DCU. Aside from that the emphasis will be on heroism, true blue hero stuff."[4][5] Palmiotti later stated, "Terra is an enigma for obvious reasons. Every hero in the DCU is in the dark about who she is and why she’s doing what she’s doing, which is running around the planet saving and helping people. We’ve been working with Terra for months and months trying to find and develop what’s special about her. In the end, it was a very simple angle, make Terra a superhero with plenty of emphasis on heroism. Everything she does is to help other people and in the service of life." The 4-issue miniseries was temporarily shelved for a number of reasons,[6][7] until its biweekly publication spanning November and December 2008. The new Terra previously appeared in Teen Titans #52-54 as part of "The Titans of Tomorrow...Today!" storyline and in the first issue of the Terror Titans limited series. Following this, she briefly appeared in Teen Titans #69 in the climax of the recruitment drive storyline, and became a supporting character in the ongoing Power Girl series.
Tara Markov
Fictional character biography
Tara Markov, half-sister of Brion Markov (Geo-Force), was the illegitimate daughter of the King of Markovia. While in Markovia, she came under the care of a Dr. Helga Jace and, through her experiments, Terra obtained Earth manipulation powers—specifically, the ability to control all forms of earthen matter. After obtaining these powers, her father requested that she leave Markovia for the United States, to prevent the scandal of the king having an illegitimate daughter from becoming public. Unlike her more heroic brother, Geo-Force, Terra had deep-rooted psychological issues, believing that, with their powers, they should rule Earth rather than help the weaker masses.
As a result of this belief, Terra became a mercenary, doing dirty work for others. A notable client was Deathstroke the Terminator, whom she met when she was fifteen and had a relationship with. She joined the Teen Titans, fooling them by staging a battle against Deathstroke. She then operated as a spy for Deathstroke, eventually giving him the information he needed to kidnap the Titans, with no regrets.
Eventually, the captured Titans were held in a stronghold of Deathstroke's contractors, the H.I.V.E. Nightwing and Deathstroke's son, Joseph Wilson (Jericho), raided the complex to rescue them, but were captured. When presented to Deathstroke and the organization in general, Jericho possessed his father and freed the Titans, who then attacked the H.I.V.E. Not knowing of Jericho's powers, Terra believed Deathstroke to have turned against her. In retaliation, she went berserk. When the misunderstanding was cleared, she was still murderously furious at Deathstroke for going "soft" with love for his son. Changeling (as he was then known, a.k.a., "Beast Boy"), in an attempt to stop her rampage, shape-shifted into a small fly, then flew into her eye as a way to distract her. This finally pushed her over the edge as she pulled the whole H.I.V.E. complex down upon herself while trying to kill the Titans. Despite the discovery of her true intentions joining them, a statue of her was placed in the memorial in Titans Tower. Her true activities were never made public, with her brother simply being told that she had died in battle. Subsequently, Batman eventually revealed the truth to him in an issue of Batman and the Outsiders, prompting Brion to change his costume to green and gold, as he considered the original brown and orange too similar to the outfit worn by his sister.
In DCU: Last Will and Testament, Deathstroke takes credit for Terra's insanity by claiming he gave her the same serum he used on Cassandra Cain and his daughter, Rose Wilson, telling Geo-Force that "the problem with Terra was that we waited too long. By then the psychosis was so bad, she tried to kill us all." This contradicts his earlier account of her lifelong insanity in the Titans stories following "The Judas Contract."
The 2008 Terra miniseries had intended to explain that Terra was driven insane by an element called "quixium" harvested from Strata, which had been used by Markovian scientists to grant her earth-based superpowers. With a year-long delay in the publication of the Terra miniseries and the interim release of DCU: Last Will and Testament, this retcon was dropped completely. According to Justin Gray, "Terra 1 stays as she is in LW&T. The brain damage was part of the initial story (before LW&T) that connected all three Terras and Geo-Force to Strata, the book needed to be changed to reflect LW&T, the double ship made changes to issue #2 impossible. It happens and we all did what we could to make it work."
Blackest Night
In the first issue of Blackest Night: Titans, Terra's corpse is reanimated as a Black Lantern; seducing Beast Boy using an illusion cast by Lilith to mask her decayed appearance.[8] During the battle of the Black Lantern Titans, they were overwhelmed. Hawk (Holly Granger) plunges her hand into Dawn's chest. Dawn suddenly radiates a white energy that completely destroys Holly's body and ring. Dawn then turns the light on the other Black Lanterns, destroying all but Hank Hall, Tempest, and Terra, who quickly retreat.[9]
Terra then travels to the Outsiders' base to see her brother. She claims to have broken free of whatever force was controlling her as a Black Lantern, and begs Geo-Force and the other Outsiders to kill her.[10] However, this was later revealed to be a ruse, a way of getting Geo-Force to display the strongest emotions possible. After a mostly one-sided battle, Terra's body is turned to stone by Geo-Force, and her ring is destroyed by Halo.[11]
The New 52
In The New 52 continuity, a blonde earth-powered heroine named Terra/Tara is part of Caitlin Fairchild's team The Ravagers. The team also includes Beast Boy, Thunder and Lightning and a new character Ridge.[12] In The New 52, the Ravagers are a group of super-powered teens who have escaped the plans of Harvest in The Culling. The team was formed after the Teen Titans and the Legionnaires stuck in the present day were abducted by Harvest, and then later stopped the villain and escaped.[13]
Not surprisingly in the series Terra and Beast Boy develop a strong bond with each other which started in a place named The Colony where super-powered teenagers are deprived of their origins and family and kept as prisoners by a creature named Harvest where they suffer tortures, experiments and fight each other in order to remain only the strongest teens to be used by Harvest as a team to serve his purposes. In this place Terra defends Beast Boy from being attacked by other super-powered prisoners as he returns the favor later when Terra was in danger saving her.[14]
Once free of the Colony, Terra and Beast Boy separated from the rest of their fellow Ravagers, hiding together in a cave. Later Beast Boy started having nightmares with the remaining Ravagers all covered with blood. It was later revealed that the one causing his nightmares was Brother Blood as he was targeting the one who could be used as a key to his master gain access to The Red. Due to his connection with The Red, Beast Boy was the only one who could sense the evil intents of Brother Blood and therefore the key Blood was looking for. After sensing his presence, Terra was convinced by Gar to help the remaining Ravagers who were captured by Blood to be used as a sacrifice in his ritual and they eventually manage to stop and defeat Blood.[15]
After those events Fairchild led the team to a place in Los Angeles. There the team is confronted by Superboy and Niles Caulder. Caulder is introduced as a long time known of Fairchild. Later Fairchild and Caulder introduces the team to a deep underground science & engineering facility, which provides headquarters and combat training for the team in their campaign against the organization of N.O.W.H.E.R.E. as meanwhile Harvest has sent Rose Wilson and Warblade to recapture them.[16]
As the series progresses both Terra and Beast Boy begin developing romantic feelings for each other as Terra finally finds someone who cared for her in the middle of the countless tortures she has been suffering back in the Colony. Later Terra opens up her feelings for Gar teasing him: "Why in the world haven't you tried to kiss me yet?" as they share a passionate kiss. After the kiss they become a couple.[17]
When Rose and Warblade have difficulties in capturing the Ravagers,[18] Harvest makes a deal with Deathstroke to hunt down the Ravagers and attack each one using a special weapon called the Abeo Blade. Succeeding in invading Caulder's place, Deathstroke manages to "kill" Ridge (in his human form - a child), Caulder himself, Thunder and Lightning using the weapon, and also cuts Warblade's head off. As Deathstroke chooses an already injured Beast Boy as his next victim, a desperate Terra tries to stop him in fear of losing Gar. But her attempt falls short as she is hit and burned by Deathstroke's Abeo Blade to which a horrified Garfield sees right before his eyes. After losing Terra pure rage takes command of Beast Boy as he tried to avenge her but with no success. After the battle with Beast Boy, Deathstroke proceeds and hits Rose and then Fairchild with the Abeo Blade finishing his job. Later it is revealed that the Abeo Blade was not a killing weapon and instead a teleportation device, sending Rose and the Ravagers except Beast Boy back to the Colony once again. As part of the deal Harvest gives Rose and Terra to Deathstroke.[19]
Tara Markov doppelgänger
Terra was introduced as a young girl from the early 21st century who had been exposed to a DNA virus designed to transform her into a genetic doppelgänger of the original Terra. As part of the Team Titans, Terra went back in time to the year 1992 to stop the birth of Teen Titan Donna Troy's firstborn son, who would grow up to be the tyrannical Lord Chaos.
Terra shared a mutual attraction to the Teen Titan Changeling. Unfortunately, despite their attraction, Changeling was openly hostile toward Terra II due to his own emotional scars from being used by the original Terra.
The final issues of Team Titans revealed that the group's mysterious "leader" was Hank Hall, former Titan Hawk, who became the renegade time-traveling villain Monarch. His attempts to erase the universe from existence as part of Hal Jordan's plan to remake the universe during "Zero Hour" resulted in the erasing of the future that gave birth to the Team Titans. Only Terra and Mirage survived due to the aid of the Time Trapper.
After the events of "Zero Hour," Terra and Mirage joined the main Teen Titans team. Once there, they were told that they, along with fellow time traveler Deathwing (an evil version of Dick Grayson from the Lord Chaos future timeline), were really from the present day. The Time Trapper had whisked them away from the present to place them within Monarch's army of Titans in order to keep track of Monarch's schemes.
After New Titans was canceled, Terra remained in limbo until the 1998 revival of the Teen Titans. In the 1999 Titans Secret Files special, Terra visits Geo-Force and undergoes genetic tests to determine her identity. When she expresses her fears that she is the original Terra, Geo-Force (who discovers that the test results confirm only what was previously known, that she was a genetic match for his sister) informs her that she is not his sister and destroys the test results. Later, under circumstances which have yet to be explained, Terra also becomes affiliated with the Outsiders.[20]
In the "Titans Tomorrow" storyline, the Titans glimpse a grim possible future, and Terra (in a costume modeled closely after her original) is a member of the Titans East, a more benign rival group that opposes the fascist future versions of the current Teen Titans. This future's version of Beast Boy, calling himself Animal Man, still bears a grudge against Terra and wants nothing to do with her.
Terra is one of the many Titans who answer the summon to help Conner Kent defeat Superboy-Prime in Infinite Crisis #4, working with Sand to hit Prime with a mass of earth in an attempt to stop him.[21]
52
Terra is a member of the Teen Titans group, led by Beast Boy, who fights Black Adam during the World War III storyline. In their second encounter with the crazed Marvel, she catches Black Adam off guard by crushing him between two massive boulders. Although this maneuver hurts Adam, it fails to disable him, and in a fit of anger he punches through her chest, killing her instantly. Instead of pursuing Black Adam, the Titans stay behind to bury their fallen comrade.[22]
Origin
The mystery of the second Terra's origins was addressed in the 2008 Terra miniseries. She had been born in an underground world called Strata and sent away by its members to establish relations with the surface world. She allowed the Stratans to surgically alter her to resemble the original Terra, believing surface-dwellers would more easily accept her if she reminded them of one of their own. They used an element called "quixium" to grant her earth-based powers similar to that of her predecessor, a process that, when combined with the original Terra's DNA, had the unfortunate side-effect of total memory loss.[23]
Atlee
Fictional character biography
A new Terra named Atlee appears in Supergirl #12 (January 2007), sporting a new outfit and black hair. She emerges near a party Supergirl is attending, fighting a creature from a civilization under the Earth's surface. While Supergirl expresses disdain for the superhero activities which interfere with her personal life, Terra counters by saying that being a superhero is simply the right thing to do; she does not comprehend Supergirl's complaints. Together they defeat the monster by collapsing the ground under it. Terra then departs. The Terra miniseries revealed that she is a member of an alien race called Stratans who live below the Earth's surface in a massive subterranean cave called Strata which is actually the empty spacesuit of a long dead cosmic extraterrestrial,[24] and possesses a rare mutation granted by a unique ore called "quixium" that grants her the earth powers she wields.[25]
Titans of Tomorrow...Today!
Atlee appears as a future version of herself in Teen Titans #52-54 as part of the "Titans of Tomorrow...Today!" storyline.
Terror Titans
During the Final Crisis crossover, a group of teen supervillains calling themselves the Terror Titans begin abducting teenaged metahumans to use as competitors in the Dark Side Club, an underground arena where the young heroes are brainwashed and forced to fight to the death for spectators and wealthy patrons. After learning of the abductions, Terra goes on the run, eventually meeting up with fellow teen superheroes Aquagirl, Molecule, Offspring, Zachary Zatara, and the Star-Spangled Kid. While deciding on a course of action, the teens are ambushed by the Terror Titans, who proceed to overpower and capture them, killing Molecule in the process. Atlee and the others are taken to the Dark Side Club and subjected to the Anti-Life Equation, which causes them to become slaves to Darkseid and his cadre of followers. After winning several matches in the tournament, Terra is made a member of the Clock King's Martyr Militia, a team of brainwashed superhumans he plans to use on an attack in Los Angeles. Atlee and the others are ultimately freed from the Anti-Life Equation when Miss Martian, Rose Wilson, and Static lead a rebellion against the Terror Titans and capture the various members of the Dark Side Club.[26]
In the aftermath of the successful rebellion, Atlee accompanies her rescuers and fellow survivors to Titans Tower in San Francisco, hoping to take some time to recuperate. While resting, Atlee is offered a spot on the Teen Titans by Wonder Girl, which she politely declines, saying that she wishes to distance herself from the tragedy surrounding the membership of the previous two bearers of the Terra identity.[27]
Power Girl sidekick
Rested from her stay with the Titans, Atlee returns to be the sidekick of Power Girl, successfully helping her save Manhattan from the Ultra-Humanite.[28] After that, she elects Manhattan as her base of operation, to benefit from the constant mentoring of Power Girl both in establishing and maintaining a human identity, and in her superhero persona.[29] She takes on an Australian accent in her civilian identity, finding the half-truth of her being from "down under" quite humorous. She and Power Girl begin a close friendship, going to movies and even shopping together at an IKEA-esque Scandinavian furniture store. Atlee also decides to drop her Australian accent, instead claiming that her new cover identity is that of a spy, something Power Girl finds quite humorous.[30]
Terra helps Power Girl during her battle with Satanna, and later ends up discussing the possibility of joining the Justice Society or the Teen Titans. Power Girl notices that Atlee's demeanor has changed, and begins to suspect that something is wrong. It is eventually revealed that Atlee had been kidnapped by Ultra-Humanite and had her brain removed in order for him to place his brain in her body, due to Power Girl crippling his body in a former fight. Eventually, Power Girl is able to retrieve Atlee, now trapped in the crippled simian body of the Ultra-Humanite, and bring her back to Strata. There, Atlee is given her body back and the Ultra-Humanite is turned into the human Gerard Shugel. In this occasion, Atlee expresses no desire to stay in Strata, asking Power Girl to bring her back to the surface world, to which she has grown a liking, as soon as possible.[31]
In Wonder Woman #600, Atlee appears alongside fellow teen heroines Batgirl and Supergirl as part of an all-female team designed to repel a faux-alien invasion.[32] After the battle is over, Atlee proclaims that she thinks she could take Wonder Woman in a fight, a notion that Stargirl scoffs at.
Powers and personality
Despite her horrific ordeal at the hands of the Dark Side Club[26] and her earlier appearances as a serious, keeps-to-herself, quiet and polite young woman,[27] Atlee's personality is on the opposite end of the spectrum from the original Tara. As Tara mostly hid a brooding, dark personality, Atlee's true self seems to be the one of a cheery, peppy, and nonsensical adolescent, completely innocent about surface life, and hailing from a society who apparently banished malice and human greed from their lifestyles. As a result, she takes an early veneration for Power Girl, seldom leaving her side.[33] She also shows a deep craving for human "pop culture," a permanent fixture of the 2009 Power Girl series being Atlee comically commenting and trying to emulate fictional characters from various movies.
Atlee's powers are currently limitless, while she limits herself to "harmless" feats such as growing large formations of rock with the slowness needed to avoid a geological hazard, and using floating rocks as projectiles and to levitate around,[28] Gerard Shugel, the Ultra-Humanite, while residing in her body, was able to shift nearby tectonic plates with ease or cause volcanoes to erupt at his will. He surmises that Atlee has always had this amazing amount of power, but willingly chose to limit herself in fear of the damage she could cause.[31]
Other versions
Earth-33
On Earth-33, a world of magicians, Terra is an earth mage, who appears to be one with the soil.
Future Terra
The future Terra, of the Team Titans is re-imagined as a resistance member, fighting for the freedom of hundreds of alien worlds. She partners with Nightrider until they are folded into a larger resistance cell.[34]
Flashpoint
In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, Terra joined the Amazons' Furies, and it was through her that New Themyscira was saved from destruction when Aquaman flooded Western Europe.[35] Later, Terra was targeted by Siren and Ocean Master, but their plans were foiled when Hippolyta's sister Penthesileia showed up.[36] Terra joined them because her half-brother Geo-Force, was used by Aquaman to sink Western Europe.[37]
In other media
Television
- Terra appears in the Teen Titans animated series, voiced by Ashley Johnson. Like many characters in the series, Terra's backstory and appearance was modified for the cartoon series. The character was now more sympathetic, a tragic heroine along the lines of a "lost soul" rather than an irredeemable psychopathic villainess. Terra is an attractive teenage girl with long, straight, blond hair and superpowers similar to those of her comics counterpart. Terra can manipulate the ground, rocks, and earth-like material around her. However, unlike her comic book counterpart, Terra has little control over her powers, which is a source of shame for her, and is ultimately what leads her to betray the Teen Titans. Introduced during Season 2 of the series, Terra first encounters the Titans while being chased by a giant scorpion monster. After defeating the monster, she parts ways with the Titans, among whom Beast Boy immediately develops a crush on her. Terra and Beast Boy spend time together as friends after their first meeting, with Terra confiding to Beast Boy her problems controlling her powers. Beast Boy agrees to keep this a secret, though after an encounter with Slade, the villain recognizes Terra's problems utilizing her powers and offers to help teach her how to control them. Terra refuses, but Slade would plant the seed of doubt regarding whether or not Beast Boy would keep his word, which comes to a head when Robin asks Terra to become a Teen Titan. Terra accepts, but then suspects that Beast Boy broke his promise to keep her secret from the group, unaware that Robin had merely figured it out on his own. Terra flees the Tower and ultimately agrees to work for Slade in exchange for his training on how to master her abilities.[38] After some time training under him, she returns to the Titans. By this point, Beast Boy confesses to Terra that he deeply is romantically in love with her and the two go on their first official romantic date together. While the two visit a theme park, Titans Tower is attacked by an army of Slade's robots, who are able to infiltrate the Tower because of information Terra provided to Slade. When Terra confesses to Beast Boy what she had done, Beast Boy rejects her, which only strengthens Slade's hold over her.[39] Terra then begins to serve as somewhat of Slade's personal counterpart to the Titans. After defeating the Titans one by one and attempting to murder her former friends by crushing them in an avalanche, Terra is given a new costume designed to "control" her powers.[40] In truth, though, the suit is a fail-safe, which allows Slade to remote-control her in the event that she disobeys him. After successfully taking over the city, Terra begins to reminisce over the good times she once had with the Titans, and slowly begins to regret what she has done. When it becomes apparent that Terra has failed to kill the Titans, Slade turns abusive toward her. He activates the costume and forces her to attack Beast Boy, nearly killing him. Terra was able to overcome her costume, and triggers a volcanic eruption that kills Slade and threatens to kill the Titans as well. In the end, Terra ultimately sacrifices herself to save her friends and the city by turning back the full force of the volcanic eruption, and is transformed into a solid stone statue in the process. Raven and Cyborg vow to find a way to reverse the effects as the Titans visit her resting place.[41] However, in the final episode of the series, "Things Change," her demise is called into question. After seeing a girl who looks exactly like her, but claiming not to be, and finding Terra's solid stone form missing from her final resting place, Beast Boy begins to question if Terra has really returned. The girl eventually convinces Beast Boy to let go of the past.[42]
- Terra appeared in Teen Titans Go! voiced again by Ashley Johnson. This time, she is more like her comic book counterpart. In her debut appearance "Terra-ized", she approaches Beast Boy and asks him blatantly about the Titans' files and defense schematics. Beast Boy decides to bring her into the Titans Tower thinking she had asked to be his girlfriend. When Robin walks into the living room he greets Terra happily "Mornin stranger going through the Titan computer!" due to being really happy that morning for some reason. He soon realizes what's happening and quickly hits the panic button and runs toward Terra with his staff and is about to whack her but is stopped by Beast Boy. The rest of the Titans then walk into the living room and Beast Boy introduces them all to Terra showing them some photos in his wallet: Beast Boy pushing Terra into the photo booth, Beast Boy putting his arm around Terra, him then attempting to kiss Terra, which ends up with Terra punching him. Raven questions why Terra's dating Beast Boy which Terra's states that she likes how trusting he is ("I mean he's really really trusting."). Beast Boy then states that Terra has powers too so maybe she could join the team. Robin tells Terra to demonstrate her powers which she does making a rock from outside which a bird listening to music on the radio come into the Titans Tower and smash Raven. The other Titans are amused by it and Robin states that he likes what he sees but if Terra wants to be a part of a team she'll have to pass a series of tests. Beast Boy then decides to show Terra something but Robin pops out of a bush for one of his "Titan Tests" and tries to attack Terra but falls to the ground and fails. Terra continues walking on when Beast Boy shows her the Titans' secret compartment. Terra glazes at it and says it's amazing. Beast Boy agrees and attempts to kiss Terra but she backs away and asks him if he can bring her the camera. He states that it's not really the place to be taking pictures but Terra states it'll be of their first kiss in which he transforms into a cat and immediately runs off to find the camera. Terra then gets out a phone and calls an unknown villain stating she has the files and soon the Titans will be nothing but a memory. Later, Beast Boy is seen talking to Cyborg and Starfire about their date which Raven believes Terra is using him to collect intel on the Titans. Cyborg and Starfire say that Raven is jealous and that she's just in love with Beast Boy in which she then floats away and states "I hate you all,". Terra and Beast Boy are later seen transferring all the Titan's most sensitive secrets onto her flash drive. Once they complete the task, Beast Boy tries to kiss her but she makes a rock hit his head knocking him out. It is then revealed Raven was spying on them and he captures Terra to tell the other Titans. She tells Cyborg and Starfire about it but they once again state she is jealous making Raven rage. Robin then blows himself out of a cannon for another Titan Test knocking out all the Titans. Terra ties them up and right when she is about to leave, Beast Boy approaches her confused. He then comes to the fact that's she's breaking up with him without telling. He runs after her crying and says she has to feel something for him. Terra decides to show him how see really feels and attempts to throw a giant boulder over him but is stopped by Raven who then sends her to another dimension. Beast Boy is upset and the other Titans still think she is jealous. Robin later realizes Raven was right and they apologize to her about how silly it was to think she was in love with Beast Boy. Raven indeed states it was quite silly and then decides to look at Beast Boy and back and smiles at the thought of them being together.
Film
- An adaption of the "Judas Contract" arc was announced in 2006 as the third DC Universe Original Animated Movie, though as of 2010 no development has been made on the project and is considered abandoned.[43]
Miscellaneous
- Terra makes a few appearances in Teen Titans Go!, a comicbook series spawned from the Teen Titans animated series. She appeared in issue #11 ("Countdown"), #12 ("Magic & Misdirection"), and #51 ("Metamorphosis"). Issue #51 is set after the series finale of the animated series. Terra's brother, Geo-Force, arrives at Titans Tower and relates Terra's origin: she was the Princess of Markovia, and along with her brother was experimented on by sinister interests within the royal court, which gave them both earth-based superpowers. Feeling exploited, Terra ran away, leading to the events of the animated series. At the end of the story, Geo-Force and Beast Boy consider visiting Terra at her school, but decide to leave her be, as she is the happiest she has ever been.
References
- ^ a b Nolen-Weathington, Eric. Modern Masters Volume 2: George Pérez. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-893905-25-2.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Supergirl #12 To Feature The Debut Of The All-New Terra (press release)". Newsarama. September 19, 2006.
- ^ "Amanda Conner: Putting the Pencil to Terra". Newsarama. November 4, 2008.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "SDCC '06: DC's Terra To Get Own Limited Series". Newsarama. July 23, 2006.
- ^ "Finally - Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray on Terra". Newsarama. October 9, 2008.
- ^ "Gray & Palmiotti on Terra, Power Girl". Comic Book Resources. October 10, 2008.
- ^ Blackest Night: Titans #1 (August 2009)
- ^ Blackest Night: Titans #3 (October 2009)
- ^ Outsiders (vol. 4) #24 (January 2010)
- ^ Outsiders (vol. 4) #25 (February 2010)
- ^ Teen Titans Annual #1
- ^ The Ravagers #1
- ^ The Ravagers #0
- ^ The Ravagers #3-#4
- ^ The Ravagers #5-6
- ^ The Ravagers #10
- ^ The Ravagers #8
- ^ The Ravagers #12
- ^ Day of Judgment #3-4
- ^ Infinite Criiss #4
- ^ World War III #3 (June 2007)
- ^ Terra #4
- ^ "Terra III". Titans Tower.[dead link]
- ^ Terra #1-3 (2008–2009)
- ^ a b Terror Titans #1-6 (2008–2009)
- ^ a b Teen Titans (vol. 3) #69 (2009)
- ^ a b Power Girl #1-3 (2009)
- ^ Power Girl #4 (2009)
- ^ Power Girl #6 (2009)
- ^ a b Power Girl #11 (2010)
- ^ Wonder Woman's all-female superteam
- ^ Terra #1-4 (2009)
- ^ Team Titans Annual #2 (1994)
- ^ Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #1 (June 2011)
- ^ Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #2 (July 2011)
- ^ Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #2 (July 2011)
- ^ "Terra". Teen Titans. Season 2. Episode 16. January 24, 2004. Kids WB.
{{cite episode}}
: Unknown parameter|episodelink=
ignored (|episode-link=
suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=
ignored (|series-link=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Betrayal". Teen Titans. Season 2. Episode 23. July 31, 2004. Kids WB.
{{cite episode}}
: Unknown parameter|episodelink=
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suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=
ignored (|series-link=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Aftershock". Teen Titans. Season 2. Episode 25. August 14, 2004. Kids WB.
{{cite episode}}
: Unknown parameter|episodelink=
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suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=
ignored (|series-link=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Aftershock, pt. II". Teen Titans. Season 2. Episode 26. August 21, 2004. Kids WB.
{{cite episode}}
: Unknown parameter|episodelink=
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suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Things Change". TV.com. CNET Networks, Inc. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
- ^ Marnell, Blair (2010-04-27). "'Green Lantern' and 'Wonder Woman' Animated Sequels Aren't Happening, Says Bruce Timm".
External links
- Terra (Tara Markov) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Terra (Doppelgänger) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Terra (Atlee) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Template:Imdb character
- Unofficial Terra I biography
- Unofficial Terra II biography
- Unofficial Terra III biography
- Terra (Teen Titans animated series) biography
- Comics characters introduced in 1982
- Comics characters introduced in 1991
- Comics characters introduced in 2007
- DC Comics metahumans
- DC Comics superheroes
- DC Comics supervillains
- Fictional clones
- Fictional American people of European descent
- Fictional immigrants to the United States
- Fictional mercenaries
- Fictional assassins
- Fictional characters with earth or stone abilities
- DC Comics aliens
- Fictional people who committed suicide
- Characters created by Marv Wolfman