R. J. Brande
Encyclopedia
Rene Jacques "R. J." Brande is a fictional DC Comics
character in the 30th and 31st centuries with the Legion of Super-Heroes
.
alien) named Ren Daggle, Brande was frozen in human form by the deadly Yorggian fever. Later it was revealed that Ren and his deceased mate Zhay were the biological parents of Chameleon Boy
and his twin, Liggt. After the death of his wife, he leaves the children with Zhay's sister, Ji, and along with his brother-in-law, Theg, leaves Durla. Ren Daggle became R.J. Brande, Theg would become his cousin Doyle Brande (who would later indirectly cause the formation of the Legion by sending assassins after Brande). Permanently in a human form, he amassed a vast fortune by making stars, using advanced technology to create suns for clients. He became one of the richest men in the galaxy, and bought a private planetoid where he built his mansion. His right-hand-man was Marla Latham, who he would later assign to be the Legion's Adult Adviser. He becomes the major financier for the Legion of Super-Heroes
, and founded the group with Cosmic Boy
, Saturn Girl
, and Lightning Lad
after they saved his life from Doyle's hired killers on a trip to Earth. He cared deeply for his Legion "pups", once offering Grimbor the Chainsman his entire fortune to ensure their safety. After Earthwar
, when the UP President embezzled his fortune, Brande rejected the offer of reimbursement, and started amassing a new fortune. Shortly thereafter, his parental link with Reep Daggle, Chameleon Boy, was discovered (but not publicly announced). The shock would drive Reep to rash actions which would ultimately lead to a brief incarceration on prison planet Takron-Galtos
. While imprisoned, Reep lost his powers due to the high radiation exposure caused by Ol-Vir's super-vision. The pair fully reconciled when father and son returned to Durla to locate the legendary Temple which was said to reinvigorate lost shapeshifting abilities. While Reep eagerly stepped into the cascading energies, Brande refused, stating that he had grown fond of his human form. Months later, he would survive yet another assassination attempt, this time arranged by Leland McCauley IV. This would lead Brande to undertake a long incognito personal odyssey which would last for several years.
limited series abolished the DC multiverse
for a time, he was retcon
ned into a 20th century Durlan and founding member of the intergalactic police force L.E.G.I.O.N.
. For a short time he works with such members as Garyn Bek, Vril Dox
and Stealth in their early efforts to establish an interplanetary peacekeeping force. He is then brought forward in time to the 30th century by the villainess Glorith
; as part of the necessary elements of the transfer, he is switched with the now amnesiac Phantom Girl.
, but JLA
editor Dan Raspler
vetoed the idea. Still, many hints that Brande is J'onn J'onzz exist in Legion comics. Brande eventually becomes President of the United Planets, although he loses the position during the "One Year Gap".
mini-series has restored a close analogue of the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths
Legion to continuity, as seen in "The Lightning Saga
" story arc in Justice League of America and Justice Society of America
(June-August 2007), and in the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" story arc in Action Comics
(Late December 2007-May 2008). The R.J. Brande who founded this version of the Legion was assassinated by economic rival Leland McCauley
in Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds
#1 (October 2008). After his death, he was revealed to be a Durlan who, inspired by ancient books (including texts of Superman's exploits), left Durla for the universe beyond; he is also re-established as Chameleon Boy's biological father.
In Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5, Starman has a copy of "The Last Will and Testament of R.J. Brande" in the 21st Century. This is revealed over the course of the Superman: New Krypton
event, beginning in the lead-up story arc Brainiac
and culminating in War of the Supermen, to be instructions for the Legion to prevent the villain Brainiac
from altering events in the 21st Century to the point that the Legionnaires' future timeline would be negated. An actual will, recorded as a hologram by Brande himself, was later shown to Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy, Brainiac 5, and Superboy, where he explains much of his early history, apologizes to his son for abandoning him on Durla and promises him a significant inheritance, pledges continued finanical support for the Legion itself and Brainiac 5's research after his death, and states his pride in what the Legion has accomplished.
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...
character in the 30th and 31st centuries with the Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
.
Pre-Crisis
Originally a Durlan (shapeshiftingShapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
alien) named Ren Daggle, Brande was frozen in human form by the deadly Yorggian fever. Later it was revealed that Ren and his deceased mate Zhay were the biological parents of Chameleon Boy
Chameleon Boy
Chameleon Boy , also known as Chameleon, is a DC Comics superhero, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. He first appeared in Action Comics #267 .-Silver Age:...
and his twin, Liggt. After the death of his wife, he leaves the children with Zhay's sister, Ji, and along with his brother-in-law, Theg, leaves Durla. Ren Daggle became R.J. Brande, Theg would become his cousin Doyle Brande (who would later indirectly cause the formation of the Legion by sending assassins after Brande). Permanently in a human form, he amassed a vast fortune by making stars, using advanced technology to create suns for clients. He became one of the richest men in the galaxy, and bought a private planetoid where he built his mansion. His right-hand-man was Marla Latham, who he would later assign to be the Legion's Adult Adviser. He becomes the major financier for the Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
, and founded the group with Cosmic Boy
Cosmic Boy
Cosmic Boy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 . He is a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, and was the original leader in all incarnations of the Legion...
, Saturn Girl
Saturn Girl
Saturn Girl is a fictional character appearing in DC comic books. A talented telepath from the 30th century, Imra first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 as a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
, and Lightning Lad
Garth Ranzz
Lightning Lad , also known as Live Wire, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He has the superhuman ability to generate electricity, usually in the form of lightning bolts. He is a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries...
after they saved his life from Doyle's hired killers on a trip to Earth. He cared deeply for his Legion "pups", once offering Grimbor the Chainsman his entire fortune to ensure their safety. After Earthwar
Earthwar
"Earthwar" is a story arc that was published by DC Comics, and presented in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #241-245 . It was written by Paul Levitz, pencilled by James Sherman and Joe Staton and inked by Bob McLeod...
, when the UP President embezzled his fortune, Brande rejected the offer of reimbursement, and started amassing a new fortune. Shortly thereafter, his parental link with Reep Daggle, Chameleon Boy, was discovered (but not publicly announced). The shock would drive Reep to rash actions which would ultimately lead to a brief incarceration on prison planet Takron-Galtos
Takron-Galtos
Takron-Galtos is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe. It first appeared in Adventure Comics #359 .-History:Takron-Galtos is a planet-sized prison built to house the most dangerous criminals in the galaxy. It exists in the 20th Century, as shown in Justice League of America #247, February...
. While imprisoned, Reep lost his powers due to the high radiation exposure caused by Ol-Vir's super-vision. The pair fully reconciled when father and son returned to Durla to locate the legendary Temple which was said to reinvigorate lost shapeshifting abilities. While Reep eagerly stepped into the cascading energies, Brande refused, stating that he had grown fond of his human form. Months later, he would survive yet another assassination attempt, this time arranged by Leland McCauley IV. This would lead Brande to undertake a long incognito personal odyssey which would last for several years.
Post Crisis
After the Crisis on Infinite EarthsCrisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
limited series abolished the DC multiverse
Multiverse (DC Comics)
The DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity, allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternative versions of characters and...
for a time, he was retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
ned into a 20th century Durlan and founding member of the intergalactic police force L.E.G.I.O.N.
L.E.G.I.O.N.
L.E.G.I.O.N., is a team of fictional extraterrestrial superheroes, a science fiction comic book published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Invasion! #1, and were created by Keith Giffen, Bill Mantlo and Todd McFarlane...
. For a short time he works with such members as Garyn Bek, Vril Dox
Vril Dox
Vril Dox, also known as Brainiac 2, is a fictional character published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Superman #167, , and was created by Edmond Hamilton, Cary Bates, and Curt Swan.-Publication history:...
and Stealth in their early efforts to establish an interplanetary peacekeeping force. He is then brought forward in time to the 30th century by the villainess Glorith
Glorith
Glorith of Baaldur is a fictional villainess appearing in stories published by DC Comics. Her primary foe is the 30th century team known as the Legion of Super-Heroes, and she was a major presence in Legion of Super-Heroes...
; as part of the necessary elements of the transfer, he is switched with the now amnesiac Phantom Girl.
Post-Zero Hour
R. J. Brande now creates stargates instead of suns, but plays much the same role in the Legion's origins. Brande was originally planned to be revealed as the Martian ManhunterMartian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
, but JLA
JLA (comic book)
JLA was a monthly comic book published by DC Comics from January 1997 to April 2006 featuring the Justice League.-Publication history:The low sales of the various Justice League spinoff books by the mid-1990s prompted DC to revamp the League as a single team on a single title...
editor Dan Raspler
Dan Raspler
Dan Raspler is an editor and writer of comic books for DC Comics. In the late 1990s, he created the series Young Heroes in Love.-Awards:...
vetoed the idea. Still, many hints that Brande is J'onn J'onzz exist in Legion comics. Brande eventually becomes President of the United Planets, although he loses the position during the "One Year Gap".
Threeboot
Brande has not yet appeared in "Threeboot" continuity. Although in Metropolis, Ultra Boy does confront some super-powered punks in Brande Park.Post Infinite Crisis
The aftermath of the Infinite CrisisInfinite 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...
mini-series has restored a close analogue of the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
Legion to continuity, as seen in "The Lightning Saga
The Lightning Saga
"The Lightning Saga" is a comic book crossover story arc that took place in DC Comics' two flagship team books: Justice League of America and Justice Society of America. It was written by Brad Meltzer and Geoff Johns, and illustrated by Ed Benes, Dale Eaglesham, and Shane Davis...
" story arc in Justice League of America and Justice Society of America
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 ....
(June-August 2007), and in the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" story arc in Action Comics
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
(Late December 2007-May 2008). The R.J. Brande who founded this version of the Legion was assassinated by economic rival Leland McCauley
Leland McCauley
Leland McCauley are fictional characters in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. They have been frequent antagonists of the Legion of Super-Heroes.-Leland McCauley III:...
in Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds
Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds
Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds is a five-issue 2008 limited series produced by DC Comics. The series is a tie-in to Final Crisis. It is scripted by Geoff Johns, and drawn by George Pérez....
#1 (October 2008). After his death, he was revealed to be a Durlan who, inspired by ancient books (including texts of Superman's exploits), left Durla for the universe beyond; he is also re-established as Chameleon Boy's biological father.
In Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5, Starman has a copy of "The Last Will and Testament of R.J. Brande" in the 21st Century. This is revealed over the course of the Superman: New Krypton
Superman: New Krypton
"New Krypton" is a Superman story arc written by Geoff Johns, James Robinson, and Sterling Gates with art by Gary Frank, Alex Ross, Renato Guedes, Jamal Igle and Pete Woods and published by DC Comics...
event, beginning in the lead-up story arc Brainiac
Brainiac (story arc)
"Brainiac" is a five-issue comic book story arc written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Gary Frank, that was published in Action Comics #866-870 by DC Comics in 2008...
and culminating in War of the Supermen, to be instructions for the Legion to prevent the villain Brainiac
Brainiac (comics)
Brainiac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #242 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
from altering events in the 21st Century to the point that the Legionnaires' future timeline would be negated. An actual will, recorded as a hologram by Brande himself, was later shown to Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy, Brainiac 5, and Superboy, where he explains much of his early history, apologizes to his son for abandoning him on Durla and promises him a significant inheritance, pledges continued finanical support for the Legion itself and Brainiac 5's research after his death, and states his pride in what the Legion has accomplished.
Television
- R.J. Brande appeared in the Legion of Super HeroesLegion of Super Heroes (TV series)Legion of Super Heroes is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation that debuted on September 23, 2006, based on characters appearing in the DC Comics comic book series. The series centers on the young Superman's adventures in the 31st century, fighting alongside a...
episode "In the Beginning" voiced by Lex LangLex LangWalter Alexis "Lex" Lang is a two-time Emmy Award–winning American voice actor, producer and entrepreneur. He is the cofounder of The Love Planet Foundation, a non-profit organization which creates educational materials for children on the importance of recycling, world water awareness, and the...
. During at least one episode, when R.J. Brande is speaking, Chameleon Boy calls him "dad". However, the exact nature of the character and his relationship to the boy is unclear. In fact, the animated Brande is never mentioned to be a Durlan; instead he appears as a heavyset, mustachioed, somewhat stereotypicalStereotypeA stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
wealthy TexanTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
type. A flashbackFlashback (narrative)Flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. Flashbacks are often used to recount events that happened before the story’s primary sequence of events or to fill in crucial backstory...
shows how R.J. first met Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl when they save him from an attempt on his life. With the help of their powers, Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl discovered that this was orchestrated by R.J.'s business partner Roderick Doyle. Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl eventually foiled his plot to kill him and take over the company. Some years later, he ends up captured by Grimbor the ChainsmanGrimbor the ChainsmanGrimbor the Chainsman is a DC Comics supervillain featured in the pages of Legion of Super-Heroes. Grimbor first appeared in Superboy #221 .-Pre-Crisis:Grimbor is a master craftsman able to create confining devices that didn't fail...
under the orders of Roderick Doyle (who was posing as Senator Tolay at the beginning of the episode). During a confrontation on one of the Brande space stations, Roderick tried to take the Legion and R.J. Brande down with him by setting the satellites to form a black hole. Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl managed to thwart this and saved Brande.