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Nemesis (DC Comics)
Encyclopedia
Nemesis is the name of two fictional character
s in the DC Comics
universe
. Thomas Andrew Tresser first appeared in The Brave and the Bold
#166, (September 1980), and was created by Cary Burkett and Dan Spiegle
. Soseh Myrkos first appeared in JSA Annual
#1, (October 15, 2000), and was created by David S. Goyer
and Uriel Caton.
Escape written by Ivan Brandon
with art by Marco Rudy. In March 2010 he was the eponymous character in the mini-series Nemesis: The Impostors.
. His default costume is a black turtleneck sweater with a balance as a chest symbol and a chest holster.
He was an applicant to an unnamed government agency whose brother Craig was an undercover agent infiltrating a criminal syndicate called "the Council
". Craig was brainwashed into killing their family friend Ben Marshall and was subsequently killed in self-defense by fellow agents. Tom thus became "Nemesis", preferring to use an alias instead of his dishonored family name. With the assistance of Batman
, he cleared his brother's name and saw the men responsible for his brother's death dead.
This was covered in a backup series in Brave and the Bold #166 through 192, with team-ups with Batman in #170 and #193.
and Rick Flag
. He then became one of the few non-criminal members of the Suicide Squad
as a means of paying off what he perceived as a debt. Nemesis became an on/off member of the Suicide Squad, assisting them from time to time, and even fell in love with one of their members, Nightshade
. Although the love was returned, the two never really began a relationship.
During a mission in Moscow
with the Suicide Squad, the team tried to rescue (although she saw it as a kidnapping) Zoya Trigorin. The mission was a bust, as she would die in his arms, and he was taken into custody. Rick Flag and Nightshade set up a rescue mission for their teammate, and even came into conflict with the Justice League
because of it. Eventually, the two teams worked out their differences, and Nemesis would later be allowed to escape by the Justice League. He continued to work alongside the Squad for a while, but eventually left the team after bumping heads with Amanda Waller. He would later return only shortly to help retrieve the kidnapped Flag's son and to assist in trying to uncover a secret government cabal. This plot-point that was never resolved.
Tresser was drafted into the Shadow Fighters, in an attempt to battle the villain Eclipso
. He was originally the sole survivor of the Eclipso massacre that claimed lives of the rest of the Shadow Fighters in issue 13 of the Eclipso series. He would continue the fight against Eclipso in a smaller recon-team that also included Nightshade and the matter-manipulator Chunk. Nemesis and Chunk are saved from a nuclear bomb attack by Nightshade's powers.
After his involvement with the Suicide Squad and The Shadow Fighters ended, he apparently met his end - again - in the pages of Catwoman
. In Superman
Secret Files 2004, (August 3, 2004) Nemesis was revealed to be alive and well, impersonating Sarge Steel
and apparently working for a shadowy Cabal. Furthermore, in the last issue of the second volume of Suicide Squad
the then-current team's erstwhile leader Sgt. Rock
is revealed to have been an impostor. Given the events of the Superman Annual, "Rock" may well have been Nemesis for some or all of his appearances with the Squad. The story of what happened to Nemesis between his 'death' in Catwoman and subsequent reappearance in Superman Secret Files has not yet been told.
after the events of Infinite Crisis
, aiding government agent Diana Prince, Wonder Woman
in disguise, in the rescue of Donna Troy
from several of the Amazon's villains. Nemesis is part of the newly re-opened Department of Metahuman Affairs under Sarge Steel
.
Around this time, Nemesis assists in saving the life of the second Maxi-Man
. Shortly before the events of Amazons Attack Nemesis questions the detainment of Wonder Woman by the D.M.A. and goes against orders to rescue her, after brutally beating, tying up, and gagging several of his fellow agents. He soon uncovers a plot by the villain Circe
to trick the U.S. government into destroying Themyscira
under false pretenses. During the Amazon counterattack, he was stung by several gigantic Stygian Killer Hornets, native to the Amazon Nation. Wonder Woman risks her life by traveling to Themyscira for an antidote and revives Nemesis back into health.
Shortly thereafter, Nemesis is again wounded in battle. While he is recovering in the hospital, Wonder Woman began courting Tresser, in the traditional Amazon manner. After formally meeting her mother Queen Hippolyta, he is inducted as a member of the Amazon race despite being a male. He is given the title of Sir Thomas of Cleveland, and given the ranking of Guardsman. Tom ends any potential relationship aside of friendship with Diana once he discovers that she doesn't truly love him but instead wanted to use him to create a family.
. He then appears in Nemesis: The Imposters, battling false versions of the DC Universe.
A second Nemesis debuted in JSA Annual
#1, (October 15, 2000).
Soseh Mykros was the genetically engineered daughter of the leader of the Council
(not to be confused with the above mentioned Council), a terrorist group that had once used the hero Paul Kirk, Manhunter
. She originally operated as an ally of the Justice Society and assisted the team during a few adventures.
Eventually, she joined Black Adam
's group of loose cannon heroes, a group that, while altruistic, had no compunctions about killing. She became romantically involved with her teammate Alexander Montez, a man who had managed to bind the demon Eclipso
to himself. However, Alex lost control and Eclipso killed Soseh. Alex regained control only to commit suicide out of grief and to protect others.
When asked in an interview what happened to Nemesis (Tom Tresser), why he was killed off in Catwoman #62, and was it true that his death was editorially mandated, Catwoman writer Devin Grayson explained:
.
He debuted in the first episode of Justice League Unlimited ("Initiation"), and later was seen more prominently in the episode "Dark Heart".
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
s in the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. Thomas Andrew Tresser first appeared in The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983...
#166, (September 1980), and was created by Cary Burkett and Dan Spiegle
Dan Spiegle
Dan Spiegle is an American comic book and cartoon artist and illustrator . He has had a long career in drawing comics based on movie and television characters, and has worked for companies including Dell Comics, DC Comics and Marvel Comics.-Life and career:In his second year of high school,...
. Soseh Myrkos first appeared in JSA Annual
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
#1, (October 15, 2000), and was created by David S. Goyer
David S. Goyer
David Samuel Goyer is an American screenwriter, film director and comic book writer.-Early life:Goyer was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He attended Hebrew school and has described himself as "half Jewish"...
and Uriel Caton.
Publication history
The character was featured in one of the Final Crisis Aftermath limited seriesLimited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
Escape written by Ivan Brandon
Ivan Brandon
Ivan Brandon is a writer/editor known for his work on titles such as DC Comics' Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape and Kobra and Marvel Comics' Secret Invasion...
with art by Marco Rudy. In March 2010 he was the eponymous character in the mini-series Nemesis: The Impostors.
Fictional character biography
Thomas Andrew Tresser is a vigilante, turned operative for the U.S. government and a master of disguiseDisguise
A disguise can be anything which conceals or changes a person's physical appearance, including a wig, glasses, makeup, costume or other ways. Camouflage is one type of disguise for people, animals and objects...
. His default costume is a black turtleneck sweater with a balance as a chest symbol and a chest holster.
He was an applicant to an unnamed government agency whose brother Craig was an undercover agent infiltrating a criminal syndicate called "the Council
The Council (comics)
The Council is a name used by several fictional criminal organizations in DC Comics.-Original Council:First appearing in Archie Goodwin's 1970s Manhunter backup series in Detective Comics. This Council is a secret organization bent on world domination, similar to those in the James Bond series....
". Craig was brainwashed into killing their family friend Ben Marshall and was subsequently killed in self-defense by fellow agents. Tom thus became "Nemesis", preferring to use an alias instead of his dishonored family name. With the assistance of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, he cleared his brother's name and saw the men responsible for his brother's death dead.
This was covered in a backup series in Brave and the Bold #166 through 192, with team-ups with Batman in #170 and #193.
Suicide Squad
Nemesis was apparently killed in the helicopter crash that killed the Council's leader, though he was later revealed to have survived, thanks to Amanda WallerAmanda Waller
Dr. Amanda Blake Waller is a character published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Legends #1 in 1986, and was created by John Ostrander, Len Wein, and John Byrne...
and Rick Flag
Rick Flag
Rick Flag is the name of three fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. They are father, son, and grandson.The father, Richard Flag was in the original Suicide Squad, a World War II unit. After the war he was a member of Task Force X. The son, Rick Flag Jr...
. He then became one of the few non-criminal members of the Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad, also known as Task Force X , is a name for two fictional organizations in the DC Comics Universe. The first version debuted in The Brave and the Bold #25 , and the second in Legends #3...
as a means of paying off what he perceived as a debt. Nemesis became an on/off member of the Suicide Squad, assisting them from time to time, and even fell in love with one of their members, Nightshade
Nightshade (comics)
Nightshade is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. Created by Joe Gill and Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in Captain Atom v2 #82 originally published by Charlton Comics.-Charlton Comics:...
. Although the love was returned, the two never really began a relationship.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
with the Suicide Squad, the team tried to rescue (although she saw it as a kidnapping) Zoya Trigorin. The mission was a bust, as she would die in his arms, and he was taken into custody. Rick Flag and Nightshade set up a rescue mission for their teammate, and even came into conflict with the Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
because of it. Eventually, the two teams worked out their differences, and Nemesis would later be allowed to escape by the Justice League. He continued to work alongside the Squad for a while, but eventually left the team after bumping heads with Amanda Waller. He would later return only shortly to help retrieve the kidnapped Flag's son and to assist in trying to uncover a secret government cabal. This plot-point that was never resolved.
Tresser was drafted into the Shadow Fighters, in an attempt to battle the villain Eclipso
Eclipso
Eclipso is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. The character is the incarnation of the Wrath of God and the Angel of Vengeance that turned evil and was replaced by the Spectre...
. He was originally the sole survivor of the Eclipso massacre that claimed lives of the rest of the Shadow Fighters in issue 13 of the Eclipso series. He would continue the fight against Eclipso in a smaller recon-team that also included Nightshade and the matter-manipulator Chunk. Nemesis and Chunk are saved from a nuclear bomb attack by Nightshade's powers.
After his involvement with the Suicide Squad and The Shadow Fighters ended, he apparently met his end - again - in the pages of Catwoman
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
. In Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
Secret Files 2004, (August 3, 2004) Nemesis was revealed to be alive and well, impersonating Sarge Steel
Sarge Steel
Sarge Steel is a detective/spy character published by Charlton Comics during the 1960s. As he was published during the time of Charlton's Action Heroes line of superheroes, and had loose ties to some, he is sometimes included with that group...
and apparently working for a shadowy Cabal. Furthermore, in the last issue of the second volume of Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad, also known as Task Force X , is a name for two fictional organizations in the DC Comics Universe. The first version debuted in The Brave and the Bold #25 , and the second in Legends #3...
the then-current team's erstwhile leader Sgt. Rock
Sgt. Rock (comics)
Sgt. Frank Rock is a fictional infantry non-commissioned officer during World War II in the . He first appeared in Our Army at War #83 , and was created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert.-Publication history:...
is revealed to have been an impostor. Given the events of the Superman Annual, "Rock" may well have been Nemesis for some or all of his appearances with the Squad. The story of what happened to Nemesis between his 'death' in Catwoman and subsequent reappearance in Superman Secret Files has not yet been told.
"One Year Later"
Nemesis was seen again One Year LaterOne Year Later
"One Year Later" was a 2006 storyline event running through the DC Universe. As the title suggests, it involves a narrative jump exactly one year into the future of the DC Comics Universe following the events of the Infinite Crisis event, to explore major changes within the continuities of the many...
after the events of Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
, aiding government agent Diana Prince, Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
in disguise, in the rescue of Donna Troy
Donna Troy
Donna Troy is a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in The Brave and the Bold vol. 1 #60 , and was created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani...
from several of the Amazon's villains. Nemesis is part of the newly re-opened Department of Metahuman Affairs under Sarge Steel
Sarge Steel
Sarge Steel is a detective/spy character published by Charlton Comics during the 1960s. As he was published during the time of Charlton's Action Heroes line of superheroes, and had loose ties to some, he is sometimes included with that group...
.
Around this time, Nemesis assists in saving the life of the second Maxi-Man
Maxi-Man (comics)
Maxi-Man is the name of two DC Comics heroes. The first was created by Len Wein and Joe Phillips and first appeared in Mister Miracle Vol. 2 # 9 . The second was created by Jodi Picoult and Drew Johnson and first appeared in Wonder Woman Vol. 3 # 6 .-Henry Hayes:Henry Hayes worked in a successful...
. Shortly before the events of Amazons Attack Nemesis questions the detainment of Wonder Woman by the D.M.A. and goes against orders to rescue her, after brutally beating, tying up, and gagging several of his fellow agents. He soon uncovers a plot by the villain Circe
Circe (comics)
Circe is a fictional character, a villainous sorceress and a major adversary of Wonder Woman appearing in DC Comics publications and related media. Based upon the Greek mythological character of the same name who imprisoned Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey, the comic book incarnation of Circe first...
to trick the U.S. government into destroying Themyscira
Themyscira
Themyscira is a fictional island nation in the DC Comics universe that is the place of origin of Wonder Woman and her sister Amazons. Known as Paradise Island since Wonder Woman and the island's first appearance in All Star Comics #8 , it was renamed "Themyscira" with the character's February...
under false pretenses. During the Amazon counterattack, he was stung by several gigantic Stygian Killer Hornets, native to the Amazon Nation. Wonder Woman risks her life by traveling to Themyscira for an antidote and revives Nemesis back into health.
Shortly thereafter, Nemesis is again wounded in battle. While he is recovering in the hospital, Wonder Woman began courting Tresser, in the traditional Amazon manner. After formally meeting her mother Queen Hippolyta, he is inducted as a member of the Amazon race despite being a male. He is given the title of Sir Thomas of Cleveland, and given the ranking of Guardsman. Tom ends any potential relationship aside of friendship with Diana once he discovers that she doesn't truly love him but instead wanted to use him to create a family.
Recent adventures
In the Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape storyline, Tresser is kidnapped and "reprogrammed" by Global Peace AgencyGlobal Peace Agency
The Global Peace Agency is a fictional law enforcement organization in the . The organization first appeared in the series OMAC by Jack Kirby, set outside the DC Universe...
. He then appears in Nemesis: The Imposters, battling false versions of the DC Universe.
Collected Editions
- Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape 144 pages, collects Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape #1-6
Soseh Mykros
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
#1, (October 15, 2000).
Soseh Mykros was the genetically engineered daughter of the leader of the Council
The Council (comics)
The Council is a name used by several fictional criminal organizations in DC Comics.-Original Council:First appearing in Archie Goodwin's 1970s Manhunter backup series in Detective Comics. This Council is a secret organization bent on world domination, similar to those in the James Bond series....
(not to be confused with the above mentioned Council), a terrorist group that had once used the hero Paul Kirk, Manhunter
Manhunter (comics)
-Golden Age:The first of DC's Manhunters was a non-costumed independent investigator, Paul Kirk, who helped police solve crimes during the early 1940s. Though the series was titled "Paul Kirk, Manhunter", Kirk didn't use the Manhunter name as an alias...
. She originally operated as an ally of the Justice Society and assisted the team during a few adventures.
Eventually, she joined Black Adam
Black Adam
Black Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. Originally created as a one-shot villain for Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family team of superheroes, Black Adam was revived as a recurring supervillain after DC Comics began publishing Captain...
's group of loose cannon heroes, a group that, while altruistic, had no compunctions about killing. She became romantically involved with her teammate Alexander Montez, a man who had managed to bind the demon Eclipso
Eclipso
Eclipso is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. The character is the incarnation of the Wrath of God and the Angel of Vengeance that turned evil and was replaced by the Spectre...
to himself. However, Alex lost control and Eclipso killed Soseh. Alex regained control only to commit suicide out of grief and to protect others.
Relationship of Tresser and Mykros
In DC Comics continuity, Mykros does not seem to have any connection to Tresser (except for the fact that they both battled organizations named "the Council"). However, Tresser was killed in order for Mykros to debut in JSA.When asked in an interview what happened to Nemesis (Tom Tresser), why he was killed off in Catwoman #62, and was it true that his death was editorially mandated, Catwoman writer Devin Grayson explained:
In other media
Nemesis (Thomas Andrew Tresser) has appeared as a background character in several episodes of Justice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
.
He debuted in the first episode of Justice League Unlimited ("Initiation"), and later was seen more prominently in the episode "Dark Heart".