Mister Terrific (Terry Sloane): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Comics character}}

{{Superherobox|

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}

image=[[Image:Terrific.jpg|250px]]

{{Use American English|date=May 2022}}

|caption=From ''Who's Who in the DCU''.

{{Infobox comics character

|comic_color=background:#8080ff

|character_nameimage=Mr. Mister Terrific (Terry Sloane).png

|image_size=

|real_name=Terry Sloane

|caption= Terry Sloane as the original Mister Terrific, as he appeared on the cover of ''National Comics'' #1 (March 1999).<br/>Art by Dave Johnson and Lee Loughridge.

|character_name=Mister Terrific

|real_name=Terrence "Terry" Sloane

|publisher=[[DC Comics]]

|debut=''[[Sensation Comics]]'' # 1 (JanJanuary 1942)

|creators=[[Charles Resizenstein]]Reizenstein<br />[[Hal Sharpe]]Sharp

|previous_alliancesalliances=[[Justice Society of America]], <br/>[[All-Star Squadron]]<br/>[[Black Lantern Corps]]

|alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0

|aliases=The Man of 1,000 Talents

|status=Deceased

|powers=Olympic-level athlete<br>Master martial artist<br>Genius-level intellect<br>Photographic memory

|alliances=

|}}

|previous_alliances=[[Justice Society of America]], [[All-Star Squadron]]

'''Terry Sloane''', known as the original '''Mister Terrific''', is a Golden Age [[superhero]] in the [[DC Universe|DC Comics universe]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |isbn=0-87833-808-X |___location=Dallas |page=[https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/180 180] |access-date=1 April 2020 |url-access=registration}}</ref> Created by Charles Reizenstein and Everett E. Hibbard, he debuted in ''[[Sensation Comics]]'' #1 (January 1942).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |title=The Essential Batman Encyclopedia |date=2008 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=9780345501066 |pages=261–262}}</ref> A prodigious genius with photographic memory and Olympic-level athleticism, Sloane amassed great wealth and success early in life, only to find himself aimlessly depressed. He found purpose after saving a woman from suicide, leading him to don the Mister Terrific persona and form the “Fair Play Club” to combat crime and juvenile delinquency.

|aliases=The Man of 1,000 Talents

|relatives=Ned Sloane (brother), Veronica Sinclair (niece/adoptive daughter), [[Roulette (DC Comics)|Victoria Sinclair]] (grandniece)

|powers=Seemingly superhuman intellect, Superb hand to hand combatant

|}}

Sloane became a reserve member of the Justice Society of America and later joined the All‑Star Squadron, earning recognition as “The Man of a Thousand Talents”. After retiring in 1951, he returned to assist the reformed JSA, ultimately being killed in 1979 by his arch‑enemy, the [[Spirit King]]. His legacy lived on through the “Fair Play” motto and inspired his modern successor, [[Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)|Michael Holt]].

'''Terry Sloane''' is a fictional character in the [[DC Universe]]. He was the first character to take up the [[Mister Terrific (comics)|Mr. Terrific]] mantle.

==Fictional character biography==

Terry Sloane was a rich man whose photographic memory, Olympic-level athletic skills, and mastery of the martial arts made him a virtual [[Polymath|Renaissance man]]. After graduating college at age 13thirteen, he eventually became a renowned business leader in the community. Having accomplished all of his goals, by the time he was in his early 20s, Terry felt there were no challenges left for him to pursue, leading him towards suicidal tendencies. However, upon seeing a young woman jump from a bridge, Sloane reacted quickly and saved theher. woman,He learned her name was Wanda Wilson. Sloane assisted hisher brother, who had been caught up in a gang, by adoptingcreating histhe Mister Terrific persona. He then createddesigned the "Fair Play Club" to stymie growing juvenile delinquency.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Markstein |first1=Don |website=Don Markstein's Toonopedia |access-date=2 April 2020 |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/mrterrif.htm |title=Mr. Terrific}}</ref>

Sometimes nicknamed "The Man of 10001,000 Talents,", Terry heSloane turned to crimefighting after excelling at everything else. He wore a red suit with a green tunic. A golden emblem on his tunic proclaimed his motto, "Fair Play.".<ref>{{cite Misterbook Terrific|last1=Mitchell was|first1=Kurt a|last2=Thomas reserve|first2=Roy member of the [[Justice Society of America]] of [[Multiverse (DC Comics)#Earth-Two|Earth-Two]], taking part in twotitle=American ofComic theirBook chronicledChronicles: 1940's-1944 adventures.|date=2019 |publisher=TwoMorrows HePublishing also was a full fledged member of the [[All|isbn=978-Star1605490892 Squadron]] and assisted both teams on several more occasions throughout the remaining decade, retiring along with his peers in 1951.|page=140}}</ref>

According to ''Jess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes'', "his Rogues Gallery includes Black Barax, the Tyrant from the Year 7532; Dr. Laff, who uses practical jokes like itching powder and venomous snakes to commit crimes; the Five Geniuses, five talented men who commit crimes to entertain themselves; and Terry Savatte, a tap dancing [[savate]] master".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |page=187}}</ref>

[[Image:MRTERIFIC.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Terry Sloane in the 1940's]]

Sloane resumed his crimefighting career, at which point he was awarded full status as a member of the Justice Society. On several occasions he assisted them in various cases, such as combating the Lawless League and the Black Orb crime gang. Sloane came out of retirement to pursue old nemesis, the [[Spirit King]], and was killed by the Golden Age [[Jay Garrick|Flash]] whose body was under his control. (''[[Justice League of America]]'', first series, #171)

Mister Terrific became a reserve member of the [[Justice Society of America]], taking part in two of their chronicled 1940s adventures. He also was a full-fledged member of the [[All-Star Squadron]] and assisted both teams on several more occasions throughout the remaining decade, retiring along with his peers in 1951.

The Golden Age Mister Terrific is said to be a favorite of author [[Michael Chabon]] who contributed a story about Sloane to the [[Justice Society of America|JSA]] mini-series "All-Stars" in [[2003]]. According to Chabon's story, Sloane is the protector of [[Gateway City]]. He has a brother, Ned, a butler named Butler, and a doorman named Smitty. In the Chabon story, Ned Sloane is portrayed as an alcoholic, compulsive gambler, who has the "power to hit bottom, and then, somehow, keep on falling."

Sloane resumed his crimefighting career, at which point he was awardedgiven full status as a member of the Justice Society. On several occasions he assisted them in various cases, such as combating the Lawless League and the Black Orb crime gang. Sloane came out of retirement to pursue old nemesis, the [[Spirit King]], and was killed by the Golden Age [[Jay Garrick|Flash]] whose body was under his control. (''[[Justice League of America]]'', first series, #171)

It was suspected that Terrific was the grandfather of the Modern Age criminal [[Roulette (DC Comics)|Roulette]] after a tryst with the Golden Age Roulette, but later issues of ''JSA'' establish Terrific's brother Ned as Roulette's grandfather.

Sloane made an appearance in ''Justice League Year One'', at the first gathering of the League. He was seen being looked after by [[Phantom Lady]] during a gathering of heroes on [[Blackhawk (DC Comics)|Blackhawk Island]], after the final defeat of the alien [[Appellaxian|Apellaxian]] army.

[[Category:All-Star Squadron members|Sloane, Terry]]

[[Category:Justice Society members|Sloane, Terry]]

Sloane came out of retirement to pursue his old nemesis, the [[Spirit King]]. The Spirit King took control of the [[Flash (Jay Garrick)|Golden Age Flash]] and used him to kill Sloane.<ref>''[[Justice League of America]]'' #171 (October 1979)</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=McAvennie|first= Michael|editor-last = Dolan|editor-first = Hannah|chapter= 1970s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 182 |quote = Writer Gerry Conway and artist Dick Dillin crafted a tale of foul play aboard the JLA satellite, during the team's annual get-together with Earth-2's JSA. Mr. Terrific...was murdered before he could expose a turncoat among the heroes.}}</ref>

[[Category:Fictional Misters|Sloane, Terry]]

===After death===

Following his death, Sloane appears as a spirit and via time travel.<ref>''Starman'' vol. 2 #37. DC Comics.</ref><ref>''Day of Judgement'' #2. DC Comics.</ref> In ''[[Blackest Night]]'', Sloane is resurrected as a [[Black Lantern]] before his successor, [[Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)|Michael Holt]], kills him.<ref>''Blackest Night'' #4. DC Comics.</ref><ref>''Blackest Night: JSA'' #1-3 (2009-2010). DC Comics.</ref>

''[[The New Golden Age]]'' reveals that Mister Terrific had a sidekick named [[Quiz Kid (comics)|Quiz Kid]] who was one of thirteen sidekicks kidnapped by the [[Time Masters (DC Comics)|Time Masters]] to prevent them from being erased from existence after [[Doctor Manhattan]] altered the timeline to stop the Justice Society from forming.<ref>''The New Golden Age'' #1. DC Comics.</ref> [[Courtney Whitmore|Stargirl]] later rescues him and twelve other sidekicks before bringing them to the present day.

==Powers and abilities==

Terry Sloane had no superhuman powers, but he was a master martial artist and an Olympic-level athlete with a genius-level intellect. He also possessed photographic memory allowing him to remember important clues and information.

==Other versions==

* An alternate universe variant of Terry Sloane appears in ''[[JSA: The Liberty Files]]'' and ''[[JSA: The Unholy Three]]''. This version is a [[World War II]] intelligence agent.

* A villainous alternate universe variant of Terry Sloane from [[Earth-Two]] appears in ''[[The New 52]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=July 13, 2012 |title=The Fall of Guy Gardner in the Third Army |url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/07/13/the-fall-of-guy-gardner-in-the-third-army/ |access-date=July 14, 2012 |publisher=[[Bleeding Cool]]}}</ref><ref>''Earth 2'' #2 (June 2012). DC Comics.</ref><ref>''Earth 2'' #0. DC Comics.</ref><ref>''Earth 2: Society'' #1 - #4. DC Comics.</ref>

==In other media==

* Terry Sloane / Mister Terrific makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the ''[[Smallville]]'' two-part episode "[[Absolute Justice]]" via a painting that depicts him as a member of the [[Justice Society of America]].

* Terry Sloane / Mister Terrific makes a non-speaking appearance in the ''[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]'' episode "Crisis: 22,300 Miles Above Earth!" as a member of the Justice Society of America.

* Terry Sloane / Mister Terrific appears as a character summon in ''[[Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - ''Scribblenauts Unmasked'' Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=August 8, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

==Collected editions==

Mr. Terrific is one of seven JSA-related heroes whose earliest solo appearances are collected in an anthology entry in the [[DC Archive Editions]] series:

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Title !! Material collected

|-

| valign="top" | ''JSA All-Stars Archives Vol. 1'' HC (2007)

| valign="top" | ''Sensation Comics'' (1942 series) #1–5

|}

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

*[http://www.toonopedia.com/mrterrif.htm Mr. Terrific] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://www.webcitation.org/6fukHsvMu?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/mrterrif.htm Archived] from the original on March 10, 2016.

*[http://www.comicsarchives.org/MRTERRIFIC.html JSA Fact File: Mister Terrific I]

*[http://www.dcindexes.com/indexes/indexes.php?character=184 Earth-2 Mister Terrific Index]

{{Justice Society of America}}

{{All-Star Squadron}}

{{Earth-Two}}

{{GoldenAge}}

[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1942]]

[[Category:DC Comics male superheroes]]

[[Category:DC Comics martial artists]]

[[Category:DC Comics superheroes]]

[[Category:Earth-Two]]

[[Category:Golden Age superheroes]]

[[sv:Mister Terrific]]