Scorch (comics): Difference between revisions

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Template:Infobox comics character Scorch (Aubrey Sparks) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

Publication history

Scorch first appeared in Superman (vol. 2) #160 and was created by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness.

Fictional character biography

Originally a civilian from Pisboe, Virginia, Aubrey Sparks was transformed into Scorch during the "Emperor Joker" storyline.^[1] Joker uses power stolen from Mister Mxyzptlk to create an alternate universe in which Superman is a villain and creates his own warped version of the Justice League, with Scorch among its ranks. After Joker is defeated, Mxyzptlk preserves Scorch, among other residents of Joker's universe, by transporting them to the main universe.

Scorch offers to help Martian Manhunter overcome his weakness to fire, and ultimately falls in love with him. In the process, she inadvertently releases his hidden Fernus personality, which was suppressed by the Oans millennia prior. The Justice League engages Fernus, who attacks Scorch and renders her comatose.^[2]

During the "Infinite Crisis" storyline, Scorch reappears as a member of Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains, having been awakened from her coma and led to perceive the Justice League as a threat. She, Effigy, Heat Wave, and Plasmus start a wildfire in the western United States, threatening homes. As her accomplices battle Superman, Scorch realizes the error of her ways and helps Superman defeat them.^[3] Scorch is subsequently placed under house arrest by the Department of Extranormal Operations.^[4]

Scorch reappears in Action Comics #1082 (2025), where she has reformed.^[5]

Powers and abilities

Scorch can create heat intense enough to melt various metals. She can easily manipulate flames, even those not of her creation. She has also been seen using this ability to smother flames by absorbing them into her body. Scorch can also teleport, disappearing and reappearing in a cloud of smoke.

In other media

Scorch makes non-speaking cameo appearances in DC Super Hero Girls as a student of Super Hero High.

References

↑ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 353. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
↑ JLA #78-89 (April - December 2003)
↑ Superman (vol. 2) #225 (March 2006)
↑ Martian Manhunter: The Others Among Us #5 (February 2007)
↑ Jennings, Collier (January 15, 2025). "Action Comics #1082 review" (in en-us). https://aiptcomics.com/2025/01/15/action-comics-1082-review/. "One former villain, Scorch, even compares living a normal life to quitting smoking (which takes on an extra bit of irony as she's pyrokinetic and smokes)."

Template:Martian Manhunter Template:Superman characters

[1] Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 353. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.

[2] JLA #78-89 (April - December 2003)

[3] Superman (vol. 2) #225 (March 2006)

[4] Martian Manhunter: The Others Among Us #5 (February 2007)

[5] Jennings, Collier (January 15, 2025). "Action Comics #1082 review" (in en-us). https://aiptcomics.com/2025/01/15/action-comics-1082-review/. "One former villain, Scorch, even compares living a normal life to quitting smoking (which takes on an extra bit of irony as she's pyrokinetic and smokes)."

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

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-{{more citations needed|date=July 2012}}
 {{Infobox comics character<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
 |character_name = Scorch
@@ Line 10: / Line 9: @@
 |debut = ''Superman'' (vol. 2) #160 (September 2000)
 |creators = [[Jeph Loeb]] (writer)<br>[[Ed McGuinness]] (artist)
-|alliances = [[Justice League]]
+|alliances = [[Justice League]]<br>[[Secret Society of Super Villains]]
 |aliases =
-|powers = Pyrokinesis<br>Heat resistance<br>Teleportation<br>Can take on a human appearance
+|powers = Pyrokinesis<br>Heat resistance<br>Teleportation
 }}
-'''Scorch''' is a fictional character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[DC Comics]].
+'''Scorch''' ('''Aubrey Sparks''') is a [[supervillain]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[DC Comics]].
 ==Publication history==
@@ Line 20: / Line 19: @@
 ==Fictional character biography==
-Originally a normal human from Pisboe, [[Virginia]], '''Aubrey Sparks''' was transformed into Scorch during the short "Emperor Joker" storyline.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |page=353}}</ref> [[Joker (character)|Joker]] uses power stolen from [[Mister Mxyzptlk]] to create an alternate universe in which Superman is a villain and creates his own warped version of the [[Justice League]] which includes a psychopathic Scorch, a demonic doppelgänger of the Earth-Angel [[Linda Danvers|Supergirl]]. She attempts to help [[Bizarro]] capture [[Superman]]. After Joker is defeated, Mister Mxyzptlk decides to keep several of the new characters by adding them to the restored reality. Thus, Scorch continues to exist after the conclusion of the "Emperor Joker" story arc.
+Originally a civilian from Pisboe, [[Virginia]], Aubrey Sparks was transformed into Scorch during the "Emperor Joker" storyline.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |author-link=Robert Greenberger |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |author-link2=Martin Pasko |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |page=353}}</ref> [[Joker (character)|Joker]] uses power stolen from [[Mister Mxyzptlk]] to create an alternate universe in which [[Superman]] is a villain and creates his own warped version of the [[Justice League]], with Scorch among its ranks. After Joker is defeated, Mxyzptlk preserves Scorch, among other residents of Joker's universe, by transporting them to the main universe.
-Scorch is later seen doing battle with Superman and the [[Martian Manhunter]].<ref>''Action Comics'' #774. DC Comics.</ref>
+Scorch offers to help [[Martian Manhunter]] overcome his weakness to fire, and ultimately falls in love with him. In the process, she inadvertently releases his hidden Fernus personality, which was suppressed by the [[Guardians of the Universe|Oans]] millennia prior. The Justice League engages Fernus, who attacks Scorch and renders her comatose.<ref>''[[JLA (comic book)|JLA]]'' #78-89 (April - December 2003)</ref>
-Scorch was also later seen in "The Gift" as a generic villain with no observable goals. She sets a park on fire and fights Superman.<ref>''Action Comics'' #783. DC Comics.</ref>
+During the "[[Infinite Crisis]]" storyline, Scorch reappears as a member of [[Alexander Luthor Jr.]]'s [[Secret Society of Super Villains]], having been awakened from her coma and led to perceive the Justice League as a threat. She, [[Effigy (DC Comics)|Effigy]], [[Heat Wave (character)|Heat Wave]], and [[Plasmus]] start a wildfire in the western United States, threatening homes. As her accomplices battle Superman, Scorch realizes the error of her ways and helps Superman defeat them.<ref>''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' (vol. 2) #225 (March 2006)</ref> Scorch is subsequently placed under house arrest by the [[Department of Extranormal Operations]].<ref>''Martian Manhunter: The Others Among Us'' #5 (February 2007)</ref>
-Scorch later enlisted the aid of Martian Manhunter in trying to make sense of her confused memories (later explained as a side effect of the Joker's tampering). Scorch offered to help Martian Manhunter learn to overcome his weakness to fire, and ultimately fell in love with him. In the process, she inadvertently released his hidden Fernus personality. Later, it is revealed that several millennia ago, the [[Oa (comics)|Oa]]ns had transformed the Martians from the "Burning Martian" form into the current one. That was done to stop them from incinerating entire worlds as part of their reproductive cycle, but J'onn breaking the psychological block that made him vulnerable to fire also broke the block on his genetic memories of the Burning. Now free, Fernus attempted to have Scorch destroy an unnamed village for this purpose but her reluctance saw him changing his plans to setting the earth ablaze with the aid of the entire world's nuclear arsenals. After that plan was foiled by the JLA, he then set a city afire to provide him with the energy needed to reproduce. While the JLA engaged him, Scorch attempted to draw all of the flames from the city into herself. Fernus defeats the JLA and attacks Scorch sending her into a coma, and releasing the flames she had absorbed back into the city. Fernus was ultimately defeated, but despite medical treatment, Scorch was not expected to recover from her coma.<ref>''JLA'' #78-89. DC Comics.</ref>
+Scorch reappears in ''[[Action Comics]]'' #1082 (2025), where she has reformed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jennings |first=Collier |date=January 15, 2025 |title=Action Comics #1082 review |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2025/01/15/action-comics-1082-review/ |access-date=January 18, 2025 |website=AIPT Comics |language=en-us |quote=One former villain, Scorch, even compares living a normal life to quitting smoking (which takes on an extra bit of irony as she's pyrokinetic and smokes).}}</ref>
-During the "[[Infinite Crisis]]" storyline, Scorch reappeared as a member of [[Alexander Luthor Jr.]]'s [[Secret Society of Super Villains]]. A brushfire had erupted in the western United States, threatening homes. Reporter [[Jimmy Olsen]] was on assignment to cover the story when a villain named [[Effigy (DC Comics)|Effigy]] emerges from the blaze and causes Olsen's plane to crash. Superman arrives, but is ambushed by Effigy and Scorch, who appears to explain why she had started the fire. She had been roused from her coma (apparently by [[Despero]]) and was led to believe that the JLA was a great threat. As her accomplices (Effigy, [[Plasmus]], and [[Heat Wave (comics)|Heat Wave]]) engaged Superman, Scorch realized she had made an error and helped Superman defeat them. Superman rescued Olsen, and left the villains to Scorch.<ref>''Superman'' (vol. 2) #225. DC Comics.</ref>
-In the ''Martian Manhunter'' mini-series, Scorch was mentioned, as the [[White Martian#Martian Manhunter mini|Martian survivors]] sought her for help. The way Scorch was mentioned in the story indicates that her origin was not changed significantly by ''[[Infinite Crisis]]''. Also, Scorch has been kept under a sort of house arrest by the [[Department of Extranormal Operations|DEO]].<ref>''Martian Manhunter: The Others Among Us'' #5 (February 2007). DC Comics.</ref>
-Scorch is one of several people who later fall under the control of [[Starro]]. She briefly fought [[Miss Martian]].<ref>''Teen Titans'' (vol. 3) #51. DC Comics.</ref>
 ==Powers and abilities==
-* Pyrokinesis - Scorch can create heat intense enough to melt various metals. She can easily manipulate flames, even those not of her creation. She has also been seen using this ability to smother flames by absorbing them into her body.
+Scorch can create heat intense enough to melt various metals. She can easily manipulate flames, even those not of her creation. She has also been seen using this ability to smother flames by absorbing them into her body. Scorch can also teleport, disappearing and reappearing in a cloud of smoke.
-* Heat resistance - The only time Scorch has been shown injured by heat was when she attempted to absorb the flames caused by a nuclear explosion. Presumably, this indicates her body can withstand temperatures well above 3,000&nbsp;°F.
-* Teleportation - Scorch can disappear in a cloud of smoke or burst of flame and reappear elsewhere.
-* Scorch can also take on a human appearance. Although she was stated to have this ability, she is never shown using it, as she is unable to maintain this form for long periods.
 ==In other media==
@@ Line 50: / Line 40: @@
 [[Category:Characters created by Jeph Loeb]]
 [[Category:Comics characters introduced in 2000]]
+[[Category:DC Comics characters who can teleport]]
 [[Category:DC Comics female superheroes]]
 [[Category:DC Comics female supervillains]]
+[[Category:DC Comics metahumans]]
 [[Category:DC Comics shapeshifters]]
-[[Category:DC Comics characters who can teleport]]
-[[Category:DC Comics metahumans]]
 [[Category:Fictional characters from Virginia]]
 [[Category:Fictional characters with fire or heat abilities]]

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