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Bronze Tiger
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Bronze Tiger is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Dennis O'Neil, Leopoldo Durañona, and Jim Berry, he first appeared in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #1 (May 1975) during the Bronze Age of Comics.The character is depicted as an African-American martial artist, considered to be among the most premier fighters in the world and rivals his long-time friend and peers, Richard Dragon and Lady Shiva.[1][2][3]
Originating from a middle-class background, Benjamin "Ben" Turner turned to martial arts in an effort to control his anger that first showcased itself during an armed robbery involving his parents. Later, he mastered various martial arts styles and studied under legendary martial artist O-Sensei alongside his aforementioned friends but his natural aptitude and skill garnered the attention of intelligence agencies and the League of Assassins, the latter whom eventually brainwashed him and christens him the Bronze Tiger.[3] Turner is later enlisted as second-in-command of Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad, being one of the few trusting agents as Waller assists Turner in addressing the long-term effects of the League's brainwashing.[4] After leaving the Squad, the character has served in a variety of roles, including being a superhero, a martial arts mentor, a world-class spy, and a vigilante.[5][6]
The character has made appearances in various forms of media, including animated features like Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Notably, Bronze Tiger became a recurring character in the television series Arrow, portrayed by Michael Jai White, who also provided the character's voice in other animated adaptations.
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Publication history
Bronze Tiger first appeared in Dragon's Fists, a novel by Dennis O'Neil and Jim Berry which starred Richard Dragon. Bronze Tiger's first DC Comics appearance was in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #1 (April/May 1975).[1]
Fictional character biography
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Pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths
Introduced in the Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter comic book, Ben is the young student living with O-Sensei, one of the world's greatest martial artist who has as versatile mastery of several different disciplines, in Kyoto and meets a young American orphan and thief, Richard Drakunovski. Despite his ill-intentions and discriminatory mindset, both Ben and O-Sensei sense good within him and the latter takes him in a student. Overtime, as the pair are trained in different disciplines of martial arts and methods, they form a close friendship despite coming from different backgrounds.[7]
Several years later as young adults, the pair are recruited by Barney Ling, the spymaster of the intelligence agency. G.O.O.D whose organization O-Sensei once served, and become secret agents and adventurers. Shortly after leaving their master, they meet his goddaughter Carolyn Woosan, who is kidnapped by an assassin named "Swiss", and Ben is shot but survives with no permanent damage but Carolyn is killed, leading to the arrival of her sister, Sandra (known as Lady Shiva), hired by a corrupt industrialist who implicated Dragon in Carolyn's death. Shiva becomes an ally to both Dragon and Ben following his reveal of innocence and the trio undergoes various missions under Ling. While running a dojo, Ben becomes involved with student Janey, and becomes his nephew's (Ben Turner Jr., the older man being his namesake) guardian when his sister is killed following an inheritance of land, becoming a target for a time for several hired killers, including the League of Assassins. Janey is killed by an assassin hired by her father to kill Ben, whom is connected to Professor Ojo and his League of Assassins. While seeking vengeance, Ojo becomes interested in Ben and captures him to brainwash him into the warrior, the "Bronze Tiger".[7]
In the Batman "Tales of the Demon" storyline, Bronze Tiger is under the employ of the League of Assassins and one of their high-ranking masters, The Sensei, and becomes involved in the death of Kathy Kane, a circus owner and the first Batwoman, after an intervention from Batman results in the vigilante defeated by Tiger in a single strike, a fact that worries Batman. While his fighting prowess impresses Sensei, Tiger's refusal to kill sparks him to manipulate him until he could control him. In a second battle with Batman, where he holds his own and fares batter, he is struck by a poison dart. Witnessing Sensei's lack of honor, he attacks his men but outnumbered and stabbed from behind but escapes when Batman turns off the lights, leaving behind his tiger mask and cowl.[8]
He severs his ties with the League but is betrayed once more by Ling after returning to his employ, his brainwashing making him an utterly loyal operative. Worried Dragon would sever this, he manipulates events to pit them against once another but amidst the battle and revelation of his involvement in ousting Ben to hired killers to trick the pair into dealing with his enemies, he is pushed out the window accidentally and seemingly killed as a result. Dragon then vows to help him overcome his amnesia and brainwashing and begins making progress after seeing various physicians.[7]
Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths condensing continuity, Ben's background is revealed; Ben comes from an upper-middle-class black neighborhood in Central City. When he was only 10 years old, he saw a burglar attacking his parents, and he proceeded to kill the man with a kitchen knife.[9] In an effort to control the rage inside him, Turner turns to martial arts (and eventually, crime). After some time, Turner decides to travel to the far East to finally come to terms with his demons.[10] It is implied at that point his history unfolds similar to his Pre-Crisis version.
League of Assassins
Later, in Suicide Squad #38, Turner's further career is shown, wherein he and Dragon are hired by King Faraday to work for the C.B.I. (Central Bureau of Intelligence). Assigned to take down the League of Assassins, Dragon and Turner are discovered by the League, who kill Turner's fiancée, Myoshi, and proceed to brainwash Turner. Turner was rid of his demons by channeling them into the identity of the Bronze Tiger, a masked assassin working for the League.[1][10]
During this time, he also trains the assassin David Cain's daughter, Cassandra, together with other members of the League. As the Bronze Tiger, Turner developed a fearsome reputation in the world, his identity remaining a secret to everyone but the League.
As the Bronze Tiger, Ben was feared worldwide, and the Sensei was smart enough to ensure that Ben hardly ever took off the mask, sending him on a new mission as soon as he finished another. For a time, his identity was secret, and he became one of the most wanted criminals, the Bronze Tiger being a professional assassin, killing on three continents.
Learning of Bronze Tiger's true identity, King Faraday set up a rescue squad of Rick Flag and Nightshade. They retrieved the Tiger, and he was deprogrammed by Amanda Waller, who would later run the Suicide Squad.
Suicide Squad
Waller recruits Turner for the Suicide Squad, setting him up to become the team's leader. Still, he ends up the team's second-in-command under Rick Flag.[1] On the team's first mission, the Tiger faces Ravan, whom he cripples but refuses to kill. Turner develops a relationship with Vixen while a member of the Squad's support crew, Flo Crawley, nurses a crush on him. Meeting Ravan again later, Turner convinces him to join the Squad, and the two become an effective fighting duo.
The Suicide Squad was mostly populated by villains, but the Tiger is one of the Squad's 'good' members, meant to balance out the cast of characters. He often enforces Waller's rules, such as forcing various Squad members to wear devices designed to force good behavior. A Bronze Tiger solo story appeared as a Bonus Book in Suicide Squad #21 (December 1988).[11]
The nigh-corrupting nature of the Squad eventually leads to Flag's departure and seeming death in a nuclear explosion. Turner becomes the leader of the team, a role in which he excels, often disobeying direct orders to save the lives of his team (even if they were "expendable"). The Squad member Duchess, in reality, the Apokoliptian soldier Lashina, betrays the team and takes many, including Flo, to Apokolips. Flo does not survive the kidnapping.
Turner is eventually confronted by his superiors about his actions, and in the ensuing meeting, Turner's mind snaps.[12] He flees, traveling back to the East (leaving Vixen in the process), where he spends some time as a janissary.
Eventually, Amanda Waller reforms the Squad and again recruits Turner. In the interim, Turner has become a deeply troubled man, one who distances himself from Vixen and was constantly egging on Ravan to confront him. In a mission shortly after the team had reformed, Vixen is hurt, which unlocks Turner's feelings for her once more. He mostly returns to his old state of mind. Vixen later leaves the team, telling Turner she no longer loves him but wishes him well.
In the team's last mission, the Squad struggles to free a small island nation from the tyranny of its seemingly immortal ruler. The team must pass through a forest known for causing hallucinations. While the others experience their own mind trips, Bronze Tiger faces himself. Defeating himself and thereby exorcising his demons, Turner once again becomes a complete person. The tyrant is later defeated by Waller.[13]
Shortly after leaving the Squad, Turner is part of Bruce Wayne's search for Jack Drake and Shondra Kinsolving, who had been kidnapped.[14] He teams up with Green Arrow and Gypsy, a member of Justice League Task Force. Gypsy becomes romantically involved with Tiger. He later becomes her mentor in martial arts.
Richard Dragon (2004 - 2005) and other stories
In the Richard Dragon series, both Bronze Tiger and Richard Dragon's backgrounds differ from prior histories; the series casts Turner as slightly older than Richard Drakunovski, serving as his martial arts teacher and parental-like figure in St. Louis responsible for his "Dragon" moniker before. Following this, his history unfolds from his prior appearances in series like the Suicide Squad. At some point in time, Turner also trained other students after he and Dragon separated for a time and spent his time in underground fighting rings following an altercation with Lady Shiva. Among those included Nightwing.[15]
Tiger later tracks down Dragon and offers to help him gain a rematch with Shiva and the pair move into Detroit, where they attract the attention of Shiva's students, the Circle of Six. The pair are also forced to work alongside a revised version of Barney Ling, who is a FBI special agent who coerces their help in stopping the Circle of Six's criminal activities. Following a heated argument on Dragon's morals in killing, Ben is ambushed by the Circle of Six and is hospitalized, forcing Dragon to confront the Circle of Six and then Shiva. Dragon is also manipulated by Ling after being framed for several crimes, including assaulting Ben.[15]
In a story arc of the Batgirl title in 2005, Cassandra Cain begins a search for her birth mother, who she believes is Lady Shiva. She tracks down Turner in Detroit, where he has opened the "Tiger Dojo". Both come to terms with Turner's involvement in Cassandra's training, and he expresses his pride in her becoming a hero. Bronze Tiger meets with Batman shortly afterward. He has to stop a group of villains and avenge his master.
World War III and beyond
In the World War III event, Bronze Tiger is shown to have retired but is coaxed back into action by Amanda Waller.
In Checkmate (vol. 2) Bronze Tiger rescues Rick Flag from a secret Quraci prison, where Flag had been imprisoned for four years. Notably, he is seen wearing a variant of his costume while with the League of Assassins, complete with a tiger head mask (according to writer Nunzio DeFilippis he wears the mask to prove it no longer has any power over him[16]). Afterward, Amanda Waller appears at the Tiger Dojo, revealing to Ben that she leaked the information about Flag's whereabouts. She then enlists their aid in tracking down a supposedly rogue Suicide Squad team, a team which, in reality, was being run by Flag and Turner at Waller's behest.
In Countdown #39, Bronze Tiger is among the Suicide Squad members trying to bring in Pied Piper and the Trickster.
In Gotham Underground, Bronze Tiger is among the members of the Suicide Squad arresting Two-Face, Mad Hatter, Hugo Strange, and Scarecrow. While frisking Scarecrow, he is gassed by the escaping villain, revealing a previously undiscovered fear of insects.
Bronze Tiger appears in a Blackest Night-related one-shot entitled Blackest Night: Suicide Squad #67 (part of a series of one-shots operating as extra issues to long-since canceled ongoing series). He works with fellow Suicide Squad members Count Vertigo and Rick Flag to bring down a Mexican drug lord. When the Secret Six attempt to break into Belle Reve, Bronze Tiger squares off with Catman to see who is the superior feline-themed martial artist.
The New 52 onwards
New 52 and DC You
In 2013, a newer version of Bronze Tiger debuts with a newer background; with a little-known and shadowy past, he is one of the world's leading martial artist and mercenaries with vast influence, power, and a leadership position in the League of Assassins with having ties with infamous assassins such as Lady Shiva, Richard Dragon, and Deathstroke.[17] The character is also revealed to be a member of the espionage cabal, the Syndicate, making him one of the world's best spies whom helps maintains order between intelligence agencies,[5] and is one of the former trainers of the Red Hood.[18][17] Unlike prior versions, the character also possess super-powers through a talisman, able to shift between human form and a humanoid tiger form to gain an advantage over foes.[19]
Red Hood and the Outlaws, Deathstroke, and other appearances
During the Red Hood and the Outlaws "League of Assassins" storyline, Bronze Tiger alongside fellow assassins Lady Shiva, Cheshire, Rictus, and December Graystone kidnap an amnesiac Jason Todd to lead a new iteration of the League of Assassins, having been chosen by Talia al Ghul as a future successor due to his potential in stopping the Untitled, a group of mystical warriors who seek the arcane Well of Sins in the League's sacred city. Bronze Tiger and the assassins battle Arsenal, who has been deceived by the Untitled, granting them entry. Although they are initially defeated, Ra's al Ghul absorbs their powers through the Well of Sins, becoming a powerful entity. Bronze Tiger allows Cheshire to aid the Outlaws due to her feelings for Arsenal, and when Ra's is depowered by Red Hood, he advises him to retreat.[18]
The character is later featured in the first storyline of the 2014 Deathstroke series; under the mind control of the antagonist Odysseus while initially being a double agent and ally of the covert Dead Bastards, composed of intelligence operatives believed to be deceased, Tiger is sent by Odysseus to kill Deathstroke but is defeated before his memories are altered once more to help convince Odysseus of Deathstroke's death, giving Slade and the Dead Bastards the element of surprise as his goal was to locate and merge his powers with his grandson, Jericho, and allow him to manipulate entire populations under his control. Ultimately, Odysseus is killed by his own son, Slade Wilson, and Bronze Tiger is freed from the mind control and sleeper agent programming that had influenced his actions.[20]
He also makes an appearance in Grayson, when he is enlisted by Helena Bertinelli to help hunt down Agent 37 (Dick Grayson) and Agent 1, the latter whom is framed for the murder of Nemesis, which subsequentially places Spyral in a difficult position against other intelligence agencies and causes a dismayed Helena to act against them. However, the Syndicate turns its targets back to Bettinelli due to uncovering her unwitting role in the resurrection of dangerous spymaster and original Agent Zero, Otto Netz. Grayson and Agent 1 save Berintelli and unleashes Midnighter on the Syndicate, whom are defeated. The culprit behind the plot is revealed to be Maxwell Lord and Checkmate, seeking to displace Spyral as its rival and obtain the Minos file, containing the secret identitie of the Justice League, in which is later deleted and Netz is eventually defeated.[5]
DC All In
Revised history and background
In 2025, aspects of his prior history is also restored and retroactively attributes his prior assassin characterization to be under brainwashing. In this revised background and history, aspects of his Pre-Crisis and Post-Crisis history is expressed, having been trained by O-Sensei and went on various adventures with Lady Shiva and Richard Dragon as prior although this history also includes Carolyn Wu-San (Wu Mei-Xing) more prominently and as a love interest for Ben.[21] Like prior, Bronze Tiger was also a trainer of Cassandra Cain during his time in the League of Assassins, a trainer formerly in Detroit whom trained various students.[22] However, Bronze Tiger also fathered teenage Tenji Turner with Lady Shiva, raising him in secret in Richard Dragon's ranch in Montana and only allowed Shiva to see him once every year on his birthday.[22]
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Characterization
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Description and reputation
Since the character's publication history, Turner is regarded as one of the greatest martial artist on par with Lady Shiva and Richard Dragon,[3][6] and portrayed as surpassing Batman in combat.[6] At the times, the character is brainwashed and operates within mercenary circles and acts as a assassin and a world-class spy.[23][24] As a superhero, the character has operated as a vigilante, befriended both superheroes and villains alike,[23] and a martial arts instructor for heroes who owned a dojo.[25][7][15][26] During his time in the Suicide Squad, he has acted as both field second-in-command and team leader, being an operative not coerced and favored by Amanda Waller.[3]
Racial identity and themes
The character's identity as African American is influenced in his characterization; during Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter, his contrasting background is noted when compared to Dragon, whom harbored racist tendencies in their first meeting but grew to overcome it later and becoming one of his best friends. Several other adversaries throughout the series often taunted him with racist remarks.[7] In John Ostrander's Suicide Squad, racial bias was implied to be responsible for Turner's role as second-in-command to Rick Flag Jr. despite his leadership abilities and the odd level of scrutiny regarding his past by Sarge Steel and his superiors, the idea suspected by both by Amanda Waller and King Faraday respectively, and influenced the former's willingness to help him rehabilitate.[4][27]
Love interests
Throughout his publication, Bronze Tiger has had several love interests; in his original appearances, Jane Lewis was his fiancée whom was killed by an assassin hired by her father to stage an attack, with him being an affiliate of the League of Assassins.[7] Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, his background included Miyoshi, whom was killed by the League of Assassins in retaliation,[3] and Cynthia Reynolds.[25] In DC All-In, his revised backstory included Carolyn Wu-San as an interest until her demise.[22] Bronze Tiger's most significant love interest is Vixen, whom he dated during their time in the Suicide Squad until Sarge Steel's manipulations makes him doubt rehabilitation despite her support.[3][4] Subsequent stories also depict their interactions after amicably.[28] Recent stories and revisions has defined his relationship with Lady Shiva as "complicated" and cumulated to the pair having a son.[7][2]
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Powers and abilities
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Having an aptitude for martial arts from a young age, Bronze Tiger studied under numerous masters, mastering most forms of martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, including:[3] Karate,[7][6] Aikido,[7][6] Kung-Fu,[6][7] Ninjutsu,[7] Jujutsu,[7] Jeet Kune Do, Silat, Hapkido,[1] Muay Thai, and Taewkando, the last in which he specializes in and is characterized as a savage, formidable fighter.[3][23] His comprehensive understanding of martial arts also has allowed him defensive techniques for every style and is a capable with a range of weaponry.[23][29] He's also an effective field leader whom uses available resources to the best of his advantage and is a world-class spy and mercenary with vast influence in circles regarding the latter.[3][2] Having attained spiritual enlightenment from his training with O-Sensei, this made him resistant to the complete effects of brainwashing.[7] Bronze Tiger is also capable of using and channeling qi, allowing him to accelerate his own healing process.[30]
After the New 52, he gains the power shift an even more deadlier form as a humanoid, animalistic tiger through a magic talisman although the cost of doing so burns a piece of his soul each time.[18] Additionally, he wears tiger-themed armor,[29] once used the Venom drug to increase his strength to superhuman levels,[6] and favors clawed weaponry such as a tekkō-kagi.[20][31]
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Other versions
- In Amalgam Comics, Bronze Tiger is combined with Marvel's Black Panther to form B'Nchalla / Bronze Panther.[32]
- Jade Tiger, a similarly named martial artist, is Ben's son with Lady Shiva whom he trained alongside Richard Dragon and the former.[22]
Reception
Since the character's debut, Bronze Tiger is among stand-out martial arts characters and assassins in DC Comics.[33][34][35] While first a supporting character for the Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter series, taking heavy influence from "Blaxploitation" film genre, Turner's appearances in the John Ostrander's Suicide Squad would garner more recognition than Dragon and a recognized black superhero.[36][37] Within media adaptations, one critic reviewing Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay noted Turner's character, praised for his moral development and role within the animated film.[38]
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In other media
Television
![Thumb](#/media/File:Michael_Jai_White_as_Bronze_Tiger_in_the_CW's_"Arrow".jpg)
- Bronze Tiger appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Gary Anthony Sturgis.[39] This version was a student of Wong Fei and protector of a small village who displays pride as a martial artist. In his most notable appearance in the episode "Return of the Fearsome Fangs!", he forms a reluctant partnership with Batman to battle the Terrible Trio after the three kill their Sensei. Following the fight, Bronze Tiger reopens Wong Fei's school.
- Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger appears in Arrow, portrayed by Michael Jai White.[40] This version has a son named Connor Hawke. He later joins the Suicide Squad, reforms, and becomes an ally of Green Arrow.[41][42]
Films
- An alternate universe incarnation of Bronze Tiger, with elements of the Cheetah, appears in Justice League: Gods and Monsters, voiced by Arif S. Kinchen.[citation needed]
- Bronze Tiger appears in Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, voiced by Billy Brown.[43][39] This version was a former CIA agent who became a vigilante after his fiancée was murdered by a former member of the League of Assassins and vowed never to take an innocent life. After being recruited by Amanda Waller's Task Force X program and tasked with retrieving a mystical "Get Out of Hell Free" card, Turner develops animosity towards the group's leader and assassin Deadshot. When the latter abandons the team to see his daughter, Waller appoints Turner as the squad's new leader. However, he is severely injured by an explosive trap set up by Professor Zoom. The squad drops off Turner at the hospital before Deadshot reassumes leadership and leads them in continuing the mission without him. Despite his injuries, Turner returns during the squad's final confrontation with Zoom, sacrificing himself to distract the speedster long enough for Deadshot to kill him. Before dying, Turner makes peace with Deadshot, who gives him the "Get Out of Hell Free" card in return.
- Bronze Tiger appears in Batman: Soul of the Dragon, voiced by Michael Jai White.[44][39] This version is a student of O-Sensei.
Video games
- Bronze Tiger appears as a boss in Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, voiced again by Gary Anthony Sturgis.[citation needed] This version is the champion of prison fights held in the titular prison. In a post-credits scene, Amanda Waller and Rick Flag recruit Bronze Tiger and Deadshot into the Suicide Squad.
- Bronze Tiger appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[45]
- Bronze Tiger appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, voiced by Ike Amadi.[46]
- Bronze Tiger appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced by Kane Jungbluth-Murry.[47] This version is a member of the Legion of Doom.
- Ben Turner appears in Batman: Arkham Shadow, voiced by Zeno Robinson.[39]
Merchandise
- Bronze Tiger received a figure in wave 18 of the DC Universe Classics line.[48]
Miscellaneous
- Bronze Tiger appears in The Batman Adventures as a member of Black Mask's gang.
- Bronze Tiger makes a cameo appearance in a flashback in Batman: Arkham Unhinged.
- The Arrowverse incarnation of Bronze Tiger appears in the non-canonical digital comic Arrow: Season 2.5. He and the Suicide Squad are tasked with eliminating the extremist sect, Onslaught. While fighting the group in Kahndaq, the squad captures one of the extremists and tortures them for information on Onslaught's leader, Khem-Adam. Once they get the information, the squad storm Khem-Adam's stronghold, though Bronze Tiger is killed by the Onslaught leader. Deadshot carries Bronze Tiger's body away to bury him in his home country.
- Bronze Tiger makes a minor appearance in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic.
- Bronze Tiger appears in Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons, voiced by Delbert Hunt.[49][39] This version is an amoral mercenary who works for H.I.V.E. under the command of fellow mercenary Jackal.
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References
External links
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