Ravan is a DC Comics villain. His first appearance was in Suicide Squad vol. 1 #1 (1987), he was created by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell. DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to first comic book to feature a character. ... Suicide Squad is a name for a number of fictional organizations created for and owned by DC Comics. ... John Ostrander is an American writer of comics. ... Luke McDonnel is an American artist of comic books. ... Suicide Squad is a name for a number of fictional organizations created for and owned by DC Comics. ... The Onslaught (Jihad) are a fictional team of state sponsored super powered Quraci terrorists published by DC Comics. ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... One popular concept of the villain, meant to mimic the purposely distinctive visage of villains, initially from the stage plays of the 1880s. ... Suicide Squad is a name for a number of fictional organizations created for and owned by DC Comics. ... John Ostrander is an American writer of comics. ... Luke McDonnel is an American artist of comic books. ...

Publication history

First appears as a member of the villainous mercenary team Jihad (renamed the Onslaught later). In an encounter with the Bronze Tiger his back was broken ^[1]. He re-appears alongside the Onslaught in Suicide Squad vol. 1 #17, and is recruited for the Suicide Squad in his second encounter with the Bronze Tiger ^[2] The Onslaught (Jihad) are a fictional team of state sponsored super powered Quraci terrorists published by DC Comics. ... Bronze Tiger (Ben Turner) is a fictional character in the DC Universe. ...

Fictional character biography

Part of the thuggee cult, Ravan tries to stop the coming of Kali and thereby the Kali Yuga, the Age of Chaos. By killing, he delays the coming of Kali another thousand years. It is through this practice that he both prevents and worships Kali. In this, his primary enemy is the villain Kobra who wishes to bring forth that same Age ^[3]. A drawing of Thug Prisoners published by Illustrated London News, C. 1857 Thuggee (or tuggee) (from Hindi thag thief, from Sanskrit sthaga scoundrel, from sthagati to conceal) was an Indian network of secret fraternities who were engaged in murdering and robbing travellers, operating from the 17th century (possibly as early... Kali Yuga is also the title of a book by Roland Charles Wagner. ... This article is about the Hindu goddess Kali. ... Kobra is a DC Comics supervillain. ...

Amanda Waller briefs the Squad on Ravan.

Ravan joins the Suicide Squad, so he can continue these efforts while actually being sponsored by the American Government ^[4]. He proceeds to develop a strange bond with Bronze Tiger, whom he swears to kill for his earlier defeats, but the two also form an effective team. He becomes instrumental to Amanda Waller's plan to finish of the LOA, a drugdealing organisation, who expose that the Suicide Squad is still being run by Amanda Waller (the general public had been led to believe a Mr. Kale had taken over, but he was only an actor, used as a front so that Waller could still run the Squad) ^[5]. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Dr. Amanda Blake Waller is a fictional character from the DC Universe, first appearing in Legends #1 in 1986. ...

With the Suicide Squad on the verge of disbanding by her superiors, Amanda Waller gathers Ravan, Poison Ivy and Deadshot in an assassination mission of the LOA, a group that is planning to create a zombie army. The deal for the villains is simple: The three will help Waller in killing the LOA, and afterwards they are set free ^[6]. Poison Ivy (Pamela Lillian Isley) is a fictional character, a DC Comics supervillain who is primarily an enemy of Batman. ... Deadshot (real name Floyd Lawton), is a fictional character in the DC Universe. ...

The mission succeeds, and Amanda Waller goes to jail on charges of murder, while Ravan leaves for London, where he sets up a 'cyberchurch' as a front for his assassination organisation. A year later, Batman kidnaps Ravan from this 'church' (blowing it up in the process) for the new Suicide Squad run again by Amanda Waller ^[7].

With this Squad Ravan goes to Israel in order to capture Kobra. But Kobra, had already been captured by the Israeli government's superteam the Hayoth. Ravan easily manipulates one of their agents, and thereby giving him access to their highly advanced A.I. computer Dybbuk. While Kobra's plans are being thwarted by the rest of the Suicide Squad, Ravan faces Kobra in combat, but Kobra has the upper hand and is close to killing Ravan. The Hayoth are a fictional team of super powered Israeli government operatives published by DC Comics. ... Garry Kasparov playing against Deep Blue, the first machine to win a chess game against a reigning world champion. ...

At the last moment, the third Atom appears on the scenes, striking down Kobra. Ravan's last wish is for either him or the Atom to kill Kobra, but Atom denies him that final wish, and as Ravan himself says, he dies unfulfilled. Ravan dies in Suicide Squad #47 ^[8]. According to Suicide Squad (vol. 2) #11 however, Ravan is incapacitated, rather than deceased, as is shown on a computer screen being viewed by Rustam. The Atom is a fictional comicbook superhero published by DC Comics. ...

Bibliography

Ravan was created in the Suicide Squad title and appeared exclusively either alongside or against them, racking up a total of 22 appearances, of which only 2 were outside of the Suicide Squad title (Checkmate and Firestorm, the Nuclear Man) who were both involved in a Suicide Squad storyline. Checkmate is a fictional covert operations agency within the DC Comics universe. ... Firestorm is a DC Comics superhero. ...

• Checkmate #18
• Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #87
• Suicide Squad (vol. 1) #1-2, 17-18, 24-25, 27, 29, 31-33, 36-37, 39, 41-43, 45-47

References