Solomon Grundy (comics)
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Solomon Grundy is a DC Comics character, a large, strong zombie supervillain. He is named after Solomon Grundy, a 19th century children's nursery rhyme namesake. He is an enemy of Green Lantern, and in particular of the first bearer of that title, Alan Scott. He first appeared in All-American Comics #61 (1944).
Character History
In the late 19th century, a wealthy merchant named Cyrus Gold was murdered and his body disposed of in Slaughter Swamp, near Gotham City. Fifty years later, the corpse was reanimated as a huge shambling figure (composed partly of the swamp matter that had accumulated around the body over the decades) with almost no memory of its past life. Gold murdered two escaped criminals who were hiding out in the marsh and stole their clothes. He showed up in a hobo camp and, when asked about his name, one of the few things he could recall was that he was "born on a Monday". One of the men at the camp mentioned the nursery rhyme character Solomon Grundy, and Gold adopted the moniker.
Strong, vicious, and nearly mindless, Solomon Grundy fell into a life of crime—or, perhaps returned to one according to his scattered residual memories—attracting the attention of the Green Lantern, Alan Scott. Grundy proved to be a difficult opponent, unkillable (since he was already dead) and with an inherent resistance to Scott's powers (which could not affect wood, a substance of which Grundy's reassembled body was now largely composed). Their first fight ended when Grundy was hurled under a train. Their second battle with Grundy involved Green Lantern and his fellow members of the Justice Society of America tracking him across the country, on this occasion he was buried. A subsequent battle between the two ended up with Lantern depositing Grundy back on the moon in 1947.
At this point, he was pulled back to 1941 by the time-travelling criminal Per Degaton, who had enlisted the aid of several supervillains to capture the Justice Society of America on December 7, 1941 (the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor). The All-Star Squadron came to their rescue, and Grundy was then thrust back to the moon where he remained for over two decades.
Grundy eventually mastered the use of stored up emerald energy he had absorbed over the years from his several battles with his arch-foe, and returned to Earth to battle Lantern, Hourman and Doctor Fate. At this point, he had temporary mastery over all wooden objects, however he subsequently lost this power over time.
He was briefly a member of the Injustice Gang of the World. In the interim, he had battled the combined might of both the Justice Society, and later their counterparts the Justice League, nearly to a standstill, when he developed an affection for a lost alien child. Soon after, Grundy crossed over from his Slaughter Swamp prison on Earth-2 to Earth-1 where he encountered that Earth's Superman (see more details below).
Grundy went on to afflict Green Lantern and his teammates, including the Huntress who was the first female for whom he developed an affection. After Solomon Grundy was rescued from a glacier by Alan Scott's daughter, Jade, Grundy became loyal to her and, for a while, was an ally of Infinity Inc. Eventually, this affectionate relationship turned to tragedy as the villainous Marcie Cooper a.k.a. Harlequin of the Dummy's Injustice Unlimited, used her illusion powers to disguise herself as Jade. Harlequin manipulated Grundy to attack the members of Infinity Inc., one by one. She convinced him to press the unconscious Mister Bones's bare hand against Skyman; since Bones's skin constantly exudes a cyanide-based compound, this quickly led to Skyman's death. This was the beginning of the end for Infinity Inc., and for Grundy's quasi-heroic career.
The Earth-1 Grundy arose when the Parasite used an enhanced crystal to metabolically hasten the growth of residual cells left over in the sewers from when the original version had crossed over from Earth-2, which became a new, much more bestial version. During a clash with Superman, it was determined his might was too much a match for the Man of Steel, so Superman flew the monster to an alien world inhospitable to all save the hardiest life forms. There, under the planet's reduced gravity, the Earth-1 Grundy was appeased when Superman gave him a cape to wear as the zombie propelled himself through the air mimicking his one-time adversary.
This version repeatedly plagued Superman for years until, during an encounter wherein multiple Grundys were spawned, Superman and the Swamp Thing both encountered the clones. Soon, Superman obtained a compound from S.T.A.R. Labs which caused the Grundys to become inert, in effect killing the seemingly unkillable man-thing. Swamp Thing attempted to cry out for Superman to stop, as he believed Grundy to meet the definition of life, but Swamp Thing was unable to express this, due to a lack of vocal cords. Meanwhile, the original and second templates existed. This version of Grundy was retroactively erased from history after the revamping of Superman in Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Combined Earth's Continued History
Green Lantern and Solomon Grundy would clash many times over the years, though he would also square off against other DC heroes, including Batman. One storyline ("The Long Halloween", #12) involved Grundy and a newly-disfigured Harvey Dent striking up an odd friendship after Dent escaped to the sewers to plot his revenge on Sal Maroni, the man who pitched the acid into his face.Grundy's next major appearance was in Starman, lurking in Opal City's sewers. Jack Knight befriended Grundy, who had taken on an innocent, child-like aspect. Grundy also became friends with previous Starman Mikaal Tomaas, sacrificing himself to save Mikaal from being crushed by a collapsing building. When Grundy appeared again, he had returned to his malicious persona; the joint efforts of Jack Knight, Batman, Alan Scott and Floro were needed to stop him.
The origins of Grundy's resurrection come from the fact that the Parliament of Trees, a high council of Plant Elementals, tried to turn him into the newest Plant Elemental. However, the process was missing one vital piece: fire, as a Plant Elemental cannot be fully created unless it died in flames. Since Grundy's death did not involve fire at all, the process was not complete, and he became a sort of half-functional Plant Elemental. Grundy has been seemingly destroyed on several occasions, only to rise from the swamp again in a new incarnation. Each version of Grundy has been somewhat different from the last, depending on the medium used to dispatch him (and the drawing style of the current artist. The original Grundy, for example, had prominent front teeth). Some have been truly evil; some much less so. Some versions are more mindless than others; some are actually moderately intelligent, recalling the literate, well-spoken Frankenstein monster of Mary Shelley's novel.
Anti-Matter Earth Post Crisis Version
Solomon Grundy had a counterpart in the Anti-Matter Universe's Earth called Sir Solomon Grundy and was a member of Cluemaster's Justice Underground. Sir Solomon Grundy is a distinguished, poised mountain of a man. During an aerial bombardment of Dover, he was blasted to life out of the white rock. Sir Grundy appears to be identical in physical appearance to our own Solomon Grundy with the exception of a trimmed mustache and a small goatee. In keeping with his educated personality, Sir Grundy dresses himself as a 19th century Englishman would, and speaks accordingly. His super strength and invulnerability made him a formidable hero, until Ultraman rendered him inert on a Saturday.Recent history
Prior to Infinite Crisis, he was mindcontrolled by Gorilla Grodd into attacking Batman and Superman by President Luthor for the bounty of 1 billion dollars in Superman/Batman. Batman was able to stop Grundy. While no specifics were given, Solomon Grundy was also coerced into joining the Secret Society of Super Villains. He participated in the final strike against the Secret Six. Ragdoll II encountered Grundy in a doorway. However, Ragdoll II asked Grundy to see his real face. Ragdoll's scarred face related to Grundy, and Grundy went on to turn against the Secret Society. The aftermath of that battle was inconclusive, but Grundy evidently survived, as he was last seen in a murky swamp in JSA Classified. In it, he was convinced by Icicle to help Wizard, who was in trouble.After helping Icicle free Johnny Sorrow from Prometheus's cosmic key, Grundy stayed with the newly formed Injustice Society. What their new motives are and what role Grundy will play are unclear.
It is known that Grundy hid out for a time in the Arrowcave, the long abandoned former headquarters of the Emerald Archer, Green Arrow. While searching for artifacts of his former life, Oliver and his former ward, Roy "Arsenal" Harper, stumble onto Grundy's new hideout. The story, "Grundy No Like Arrows in the Face!", is found in Green Arrow (vol. 3) #18. Ollie notes that this version seems much more violent, and manages to kill him by choking him with the string to his broken bow. In Green Arrow (vol. 3) #53, "Solomon's Revenge", Ollie helps Dr. Chrissie Cavendish, a S.T.A.R. Labs employee, who claims she is the great, great granddaughter of the man the monster spawned from, to find and cure him. Her cure, however, warps her into a monster much worse than Grundy. Ollie subdues the new monster, and leaves Grundy to be. It is not known if Grundy is still using this building.
In Infinite Crisis #7, Solomon Grundy was seen fighting against the Blood Pack in the Battle of Metropolis, until he was vaporized by Superboy-Prime's heat vision, which apparently killed the Blood Pack and destroyed Grundy's current incarnation.
Seven Soldiers and the Grundymen
In Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers series, the Witch-People of Limbotown (who are descended from the immortal Melmoth) bury their dead, and later dig them up, at which point they become animate and are used as slave labour. These zombies are called "Grundies" or "Grundymen", and resemble Solomon Grundy. It has also been established that the Spawn of Frankenstein is partly animated by the immortal blood of Melmoth, making him a Grundyman.Since Melmoth gained his immortality from the Cauldron of Rebirth, which he found in Slaughter Swamp, it is likely that this is also the explanation for the reanimation of Solomon Grundy.
Abilities
Solomon Grundy's primary asset is his monstrous strength and stamina. As with his intelligence and personality, his degree of strength and invulnerability change with each incarnation. In some incarnations, he has proven more than a match for Superman, while in others, Batman has injured him with punches and kicks. Although Grundy appears to be a zombie, and his body is composed at least partially of decayed plant matter, he can be injured or killed in the same manner as a human (although his ability to endure injury is superhuman). He has been temporarily disabled by great quantities of electricity, and Batman has caused him pain and injury with both fisticuffs and chemical weapons.Most recently, Grundy has clashed with the Justice Society of America several times, and has developed an unhealthy obsession with JSA member Stargirl.
In other media
- Solomon Grundy appeared in the 1970s animated series Challenge of the Super Friends as a member of Lex Luthor's Legion of Doom, voiced by Jimmy Weldon. In this cartoon series, Grundy spoke with a redneck accent. This version of the character was later used in a promotional spot for Cartoon Network, with Solomon Grundy declaring "Solomon Grundy want pants too!" in response to Brainiac's request for pants; the two villains would rather dwell on their costumes than discuss one of Lex Luthor's plots to defeat the Super Friends. This incarnation of Grundy is arguably one of the more "intelligent" versions of the character, as he is able to carry on a conversation and devise plans of his own, as opposed to more recent characterizations in which he is unable to say much more than "Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday" or some variation of that.
- Grundy also appeared in the 1979 live action TV specials, Legends of the Superheroes, played by actor Mickey Morton.
- Grundy has also appeared in the 2000s animated series Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, initially as a member of Lex Luthor's Injustice Gang, voiced by Mark Hamill. After his first appearance, Grundy's character was changed to become essentially a DC Comics version of The Hulk. Later, Grundy became a more sympathetic figure, even a hero of sorts, helping Dr. Fate save the world from a monstrous, bloodthirsty Thanagarian deity (based on the Lovecraftian Cthulhu) and befriending Hawkgirl, whom Grundy called "Bird-Nose". (Fate's team was a pastiche of Marvel's Defenders, with Grundy standing in for the Hulk, and Hawkgirl standing in for both Valkyrie and Nighthawk; "Bird-Nose" was Hulk's nickname for Nighthawk, and other heroes have referred to him as such.) The staunch Hawkgirl even wept after Grundy, who sacrificed himself, was interred. His epitaph read simply: "Solomon Grundy—Born on a Monday". Grundy would later return in the series (voiced by Bruce Timm), resurrected by a dark spell cast by a group of young amateurs, with his memory of his past incarnation severely addled. He went on a destructive rampage until he was defeated by Hawkgirl, who sorrowfully destroyed him, as he no longer was in control of himself.
- He later appeared in The Batman animated series. In this version, Grundy was a zombie created by the working class citizens of 19th century Gotham City to wreak havoc on the rich landowners that polluted the local lake with industrial waste. This version of Grundy is slimmer and more ghoulish than his Justice League counterpart—this version bears a closer resemblance to an actually rotted, desiccated corpse—and, due to being "born" in Gotham, he is more of a Batman villain. Local legend had it that Grundy would again arise on Halloween night in order to take revenge on the descendants of the rich landowners; Gotham City residents therefore referred to Halloween as "Grundy's Night". It was revealed that the Grundy in this episode of The Batman was actually Clayface disguised as Grundy. The real Grundy never made an appearance on this episode, although viewers did see a pale hand reach out of the swamp and hear what sounded like his moan at the end of the episode. This Solomon Grundy was voiced by Kevin Grevioux.
- In Klarion the Witch Boy, part of Grant Morrison's revamped Seven Soldiers of Victory project, the inhabitants of Limbo Town place their dead in a septic mire, causing them to become zombies. The zombies are then bound with a glowing sigil and forced to work in quarries. The zombies are referred to solely as "Grundies". In the second issue of Frankenstein, also part of the project, Melmoth refers to Frankenstein as a "Grundy-Man", just like the ones from Limbo Town. Whether this is an accurate portrayal of Frankenstein's origins or merely a plot to demoralise and confuse him, is so far unrevealed.
- The Canadian musical group Crash Test Dummies mentioned the character in "Superman's Song" from their 1991 album The Ghosts That Haunt Me: "Superman never made any money / saving the world from Solomon Grundy".
External links
- [Solomon Grundy] at The Watchtower, a Justice League fan site
- A look at [Grundy's debut] six decades ago in the DCU, complete with images
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