Thunder and Lightning (comics)

Not to be confused with Thunder (DC Comics) or Lightning (DC Comics).
Thunder and Lightning
Thunder (left) and Lightning (right) as depicted in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #23 (January 1987).
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceNew Teen Titans #32 (1983)
Created byMarv Wolfman
George Pérez
In-story information
Alter egoGan and Tavis Williams
Team affiliationsTeen Titans
Abilities
  • Electrokinesis
  • Psychic link

Thunder and Lightning are a duo of superpowered brothers appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily in association with the Teen Titans.

The two have made limited appearances in media outside comics, with S. Scott Bullock and Quinton Flynn voicing the characters in Teen Titans (2003).

Publication history

Thunder and Lightning first appeared in New Teen Titans #32 and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.[1]

Fictional character biography

Gan and Tavis Williams are twin brothers and the sons of an unnamed Vietnamese woman and American soldier Walter Williams. Originally conjoined twins, they are separated via magic. As children, they manifest superpowers, but possess little control over them and will burn themselves out without regular transfusions of their father's blood.[2]

Thunder and Lightning battle the Teen Titans while seeking a permanent cure for their condition. Raven discovers that Williams is a centuries-old alien and was captured by H.I.V.E. They mind-control Williams to battle the Teen Titans, who are forced to kill him. However, S.T.A.R. Labs employees use Williams' blood to create a cure.[3] Subsequently, Thunder and Lightning become allies of the Teen Titans.[4] In Salvation Run, Lex Luthor uses the two as power sources for his teleporter, and they are seemingly killed when it self-destructs.[5][6]

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Thunder and Lightning (renamed Alexei and Alya) are reintroduced as part of the Ravagers.[7]

Powers and abilities

Thunder and Lightning are able to control their namesakes and possess a psychic link that allows them to communicate with each other.

Other versions

The original Thunder and Lightning battle Superman. From Superman #303.

An unrelated Thunder and Lightning appear in Superman #303 (September 1976), and were created by Elliot S. Maggin and Curt Swan. They are androids created by the supervillain Whirlicane.[8]

In other media

References

  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 310. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ New Teen Titans #32 (June 1983)
  3. ^ New Teen Titans #36 (November 1983)
  4. ^
    • Teen Titans Spotlight #16 (November 1987)
    • New Titans #118-121 (February-May 1995)
    • JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative #2-3 (January-February 1999)
    • Villains United special (June 2006)
  5. ^ Salvation Run #6 (June 2008)
  6. ^ Salvation Run #7 (July 2008)
  7. ^ The Ravagers #1
  8. ^ Superman #303
  9. ^ "Thunder Voice - Teen Titans (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 19, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  10. ^ "Lightning Voice - Teen Titans (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 19, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  11. ^ "Teen Titans Go! #6 - Storm (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved July 19, 2024.