Orca is the name of two fictional anti-hero characters who appear in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly known as one of the adversaries to the superhero Batman.
| Orca | |
|---|---|
 Grace Balin / Orca as depicted in Nightwing (vol. 4) #12 (March 2017). Art by Marcus To (penciller/inker) and Chris Sotomayor (colorist). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Batman #579 (July 2000) |
| Created by | Larry Hama (writer) Scott McDaniel (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Grace Balin Dean Toye |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Team affiliations | Rogues Gallery United States Military Aquamarines |
| Abilities | (Both):
(Balin):
(Toye):
|
Publication history
editThe Grace Balin incarnation of Orca first appeared in Batman #579 (July 2000) and was created by Larry Hama and Scott McDaniel.[1]
The Dean Toye incarnation of Orca first appeared in Aquaman (vol. 8) #12 (February 2017), and was created by Dan Abnett and Philippe Briones.
Fictional character biography
editGrace Balin
editGrace Balin is a marine biologist who is paralyzed in an accident and experiments with orca tissue to regain her mobility, gaining the ability to transform into a monstrous orca hybrid.[2][3][4] While battling Batman, she is forced into an underwater cave and begins to revert to normal, forcing Batman to give her a serum to permanently transform her into Orca and prevent her from drowning.[5][6][7] In the One Year Later event, Orca dies under unspecified circumstances.[5][8]
In "DC Rebirth", Orca appears alive as a member of the Whale's Enders and an enemy of Nightwing.[9][3]
Dean Toye
edit"DC Rebirth" introduces a separate Orca, Dean Toye, a sergeant who transforms himself into an orca hybrid to combat the forces of Atlantis.[10]
Powers and abilities
editBoth Orcas possess immense physical attributes, an enhanced sense of smell, and the ability to operate underwater.[11] However, they must periodically rehydrate themselves to avoid drying out.
In other media
edit- The Grace Balin incarnation of Orca appears in The Lego Batman Movie, voiced by Laura Kightlinger.[5]
- The Grace Balin incarnation of Orca appears in Lego Dimensions via The Lego Batman Movie DLC pack.
- The Grace Balin incarnation of Orca appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[12]
- The Grace Balin incarnation of Orca appears in the Injustice 2 prequel comic. This version is a member of Ra's al Ghul's Suicide Squad and lover of squad-mate Killer Croc, who she later has a child with and leaves the Squad to live a normal life.[13][5][14][15]
References
edit- ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 281. ISBN 9780345501066.
- ^ Sawan, Amer (May 14, 2021). "Joker's Partner Punchline Just Got Pulverized by Gotham's Silliest Villain". CBR. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ a b Melrose, Kevin (December 22, 2016). "Nightwing Ushers in the Year of Orca (Seriously)". CBR. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ Matadeen, Renaldo (August 22, 2021). "Suicide Squad: King Shark's Future Depends on Batman's Weirdest Villain". CBR. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Harley, Joel (January 3, 2022). "Batman's Most Ridiculous Villain Just Became King Shark's Savior". CBR. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ Batman #579. DC Comics.
- ^ Joker: Last Laugh #2. DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #819. DC Comics.
- ^
- All-Star Batman #2. DC Comics.
- Nightwing (vol. 4) #11 - #12. DC Comics.
- Nightwing (vol. 4) #32. DC Comics.
- The Joker (vol. 2) #2 - #4. DC Comics.
- ^ Aquaman (vol. 8) #14. DC Comics.
- ^
- Batman Vol. 1 #579 (July 2000)
- Batman Vol. 1 #581 (September 2000)
- Aquaman Vol. 8 #12 (February 2017)
- ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Kurland, Daniel (July 23, 2023). "10 Batman Villains You Didn't Even Know Existed". CBR. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ Injustice 2 #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Injustice 2 #42. DC Comics.
