Shrapnel (comics)
Encyclopedia
Shrapnel is a supervillain
in the DC Comics
universe. He is primarily an enemy of the Outsiders
and the Doom Patrol
.
He was discovered by the Doom Patrol in Kansas while on a murder spree and forced into combat by the team. Celsius
quickly flooded Shrapnel encasing him within a solid prison block of ice. Shrapnel blew it apart, hitting Mrs. Caulder point blank and hospitalizing the heroine.
It is also noted that Lodestone
was not able to magnetize some control over Shrapnel. It was energy blasting Tempest
who worked out that Shrapnel is a series of organic cells creating a single consciousness- that feeds on the blood of victims.
Shrapnel escaped the encounter with the Doom Patrol.
He has since joined The Society
. Shrapnel has later resurfaced as one of the exiled supervillains in Salvation Run
.
In DC Special: Cyborg mini-series, Shrapnel has joined The Cyborg Revenge Squad.
Following the Final Crisis
, he was with Cheetah III's Secret Society of Super Villains
at the time when Genocide
was created. He was defeated by Wonder Woman
.
Shrapnel appeared in the intercompany crossover JLA/Avengers as one of the villains who attack the Vision and Aquaman in Metropolis. He actually makes the first attack, but the Vision blocks it by increasing his density. After the two heroes are subdued, Shrapnel prepares to blast Aquaman when Green Lantern attacks him and knocks him out.
and stamina. He doesn't have to eat or sleep in this form.
In addition, the metal plates on Shrapnel's body can be projected into explosive bursts. Each scale is a living organism controlled by Shrapnel's consciousness, so once fired they can be directed and recalled at will. Pieces lost by Shrapnel will eventually die, but he can regenerate
new ones.
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
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. He is primarily an enemy of the Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
and the Doom Patrol
Doom Patrol
The Doom Patrol is a superhero team appearing in publications from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80...
.
Fictional character biography
Very little about Shrapnel's past and identity is known, although we do know his name is Mark Scheffer and that he was a normal human at one time and has an ex-wife and two very human blond-haired daughters. Shrapnel has tried to stay incognito, but failed to do so after deciding to slaughter anyone who caught even a glimpse of him.He was discovered by the Doom Patrol in Kansas while on a murder spree and forced into combat by the team. Celsius
Celsius (comics)
Celsius is the superhero alias of Arani Desai, a fictional character in the DC Comics series, Doom Patrol. She first appeared in Showcase #94 , and was created by Paul Kupperberg and Joe Staton...
quickly flooded Shrapnel encasing him within a solid prison block of ice. Shrapnel blew it apart, hitting Mrs. Caulder point blank and hospitalizing the heroine.
It is also noted that Lodestone
Lodestone
A lodestone or loadstone is a naturally magnetized piece of the mineral magnetite. They are naturally occurring magnets, that attract pieces of iron. Ancient people first discovered the property of magnetism in lodestone...
was not able to magnetize some control over Shrapnel. It was energy blasting Tempest
Tempest
Tempest or The Tempest may refer to:Tempest, a violent storm- Fiction :* The Tempest, a 1611 play by William Shakespeare** The Tempest , a 1667 adaptation of Shakespeare's play by John Dryden and William D'Avenant...
who worked out that Shrapnel is a series of organic cells creating a single consciousness- that feeds on the blood of victims.
Shrapnel escaped the encounter with the Doom Patrol.
He has since joined The Society
Secret Society of Super Villains
The Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
. Shrapnel has later resurfaced as one of the exiled supervillains in Salvation Run
Salvation Run
Salvation Run is a seven-issue 2007-2008 DC Comics limited series which was designed to tie in to the company's major event series Final Crisis in 2008.-Premise:The premise of the series, which is based on a pitch by George R. R...
.
In DC Special: Cyborg mini-series, Shrapnel has joined The Cyborg Revenge Squad.
Following the Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
, he was with Cheetah III's Secret Society of Super Villains
Secret Society of Super Villains
The Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
at the time when Genocide
Genocide (comics)
Genocide is a fictional character owned by DC Comics, and created by writer Gail Simone for the Wonder Woman comic book.-Fictional character biography:...
was created. He was defeated by 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....
.
Shrapnel appeared in the intercompany crossover JLA/Avengers as one of the villains who attack the Vision and Aquaman in Metropolis. He actually makes the first attack, but the Vision blocks it by increasing his density. After the two heroes are subdued, Shrapnel prepares to blast Aquaman when Green Lantern attacks him and knocks him out.
Powers and abilities
As a being made of organic metal, Shrapnel has superhuman strengthSuperhuman strength
Superhuman strength, also called superstrength, super-strength, or super strength, is an ability commonly employed in fiction. It is the ability for a character to be stronger than humanly possible...
and stamina. He doesn't have to eat or sleep in this form.
In addition, the metal plates on Shrapnel's body can be projected into explosive bursts. Each scale is a living organism controlled by Shrapnel's consciousness, so once fired they can be directed and recalled at will. Pieces lost by Shrapnel will eventually die, but he can regenerate
Regeneration (biology)
In biology, regeneration is the process of renewal, restoration, and growth that makes genomes, cells, organs, organisms, and ecosystems resilient to natural fluctuations or events that cause disturbance or damage. Every species is capable of regeneration, from bacteria to humans. At its most...
new ones.
Television
- Shrapnel appeared in the Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
episode "When OMAC Attacks!" voiced by Greg EllisGreg Ellis (actor)Greg Ellis is an English actor known for his TV, movie, and video game voice over work. He has appeared in films such as the Pirates of the Caribbean series, the 2009 Star Trek film , Titanic, Beowulf, To End All Wars, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith...
. This version is General Kafka (inspired by the eponymous future villain in the OMAC comic book series), a Russian war criminal who was turned into an organic metal being through a lab accident. As Shrapnel, he continuously fights OMAC in a destructive battle arranged by EquinoxLibra (DC Comics)Libra is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America #111, published in June 1974, where he formed the first incarnation of the Injustice Gang...
. Though the comic book Shrapnel was simply deranged, and the future Kafka a petty mercenary obsessed with world domination, this incarnation of Shrapnel is driven by revenge, as he claims, while fighting OMAC, to hail from a poor Russian village, razed and burnt to the ground during an unspecified conflict (apparently as collateral damageCollateral damageCollateral damage is damage to people or property that is unintended or incidental to the intended outcome. The phrase is prevalently used as an euphemism for civilian casualties of a military action.-Etymology:...
in failed attempt of the GPA to curb Kafka's power base), dooming its farmer inhabitants, or better the survived ones, to poverty and famine. In this precarious state of mind, Shrapnel is exploited by EquinoxLibra (DC Comics)Libra is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America #111, published in June 1974, where he formed the first incarnation of the Injustice Gang...
, coaxed into trying, while battling OMAC, to set up a meltdown to burn New York City into a nuclear holocaust as a balance for the earlier loss of his people. Shrapnel is defeated when OMAC raised his shield defense so Shrapnel will waste his energy beating on him and tire himself out.