Snapper Carr
Encyclopedia
Lucas "Snapper" Carr is a fictional character
in the DC Comics
universe
, most famous as a supporting character
to the superhero
team the Justice League of America (JLA). He has often been referred to as the team's mascot
. Snapper Carr, along with the Justice League, first appears in The Brave and the Bold
#28, written by Gardner Fox
and drawn by Mike Sekowsky
.
: young Lucas Carr — called "Snapper" for his penchant for snapping his fingers — is immune to Starro
's attacks, by the good fortune of his just having put lime
on the lawn. It is Green Lantern
who recalls that various sea invertebrates are susceptible to lime, and by these means, Starro is defeated.
Snapper's uncle Simon Carr approaches the new JLA on behalf of Oliver Queen
and provides them with the resources to set up headquarters in Happy Harbor, Rhode Island. This becomes the site of the JLA's Secret Sanctuary. Snapper quickly becomes a fixture around JLA headquarters. During this time, Simon Carr becomes the host for an Appelaxian
alien; he then founds the organization called Locus. Eventually, it is Snapper who uncovers his uncle's betrayal, just in time to warn the JLA. Locus is defeated and Simon returns to normal.
Snapper's first year of association with the JLA coincides with his senior year of high school, and he is present for most of the League's early adventures. Three League members even dedicate humanitarian hours to help Snapper write a paper about brotherhood. During this period, Snapper is portrayed as a stereotypical beatnik
, down to his lingo and rhyming dialogue. His girlfriend's name is Midge.
Snapper's time with the JLA ends, however, in tragedy. Snapper is manipulated by the Joker
into betraying the location of the Secret Sanctuary. After this, Carr resigns his honorary membership; the shame of this failure still haunts him.
The JLA rescues Snapper Carr and his family when they are kidnapped by Anakronus, but he suffers further humiliation when the Key
seemingly bestows him with the powers of the Star-Tsar and sets him against the JLA again. Eventually, it is revealed that Mark Shaw (the future Manhunter) was the real Star-Tsar. Carr aids the League once more when Thorak turns the JLA into giants; he and Superman return them to normal size.
storyline, Carr (in his first non-flashback appearance in over a decade) is among a number of prisoners of the alien Dominators
. The Dominators seek human test subjects to discover how prevalent the "metagene" is in the human genome. To this end, they line up 50 humans and initiate their "blaster field". Six humans, including Snapper, survive the carnage by developing latent metahuman powers. Another is thought to be critically injured but later recovers and allies herself with Snapper. Snapper gains the ability to teleport
by snapping his fingers.
and join the struggle to reverse the effects of the Dominators' gene bomb. Snapper becomes the group's leader and they travel with the Omega Men
for an unspecified period of time. Snapper becomes separated from the others and a foul-up with his powers temporarily drives him insane. He had kept his eyes open during transport and had perceived an eternity of time passing while teleporting. He ends up meeting Churljenkins, a green-furred cat-woman, who helps stabilize his reality. He manages to reunite the team and develops a romance with Churl. The Blasters stop an alien-controlled weapons smuggling operation and decide to travel through space together. The team includes, but isn't limited to, a children's novelist, a young wind-generator and his power-less mother. Snapper also allies himself with a regretful Dominator scientist.
They later encounter Valor and fight Kanjar Ru and the Unimaginable. At the end of these adventures, the Blasters are trapped inside a crumbling prison, and Snapper is again separated from his teammates. While searching for them, he is captured by a group of Khunds, who cut off his hands, thus destroying his ability to teleport. He is subsequently rescued by the L.E.G.I.O.N.
, but knows nothing about the fate of the Blasters. Vril Dox
restores Snapper's hands and returns him to Earth.
. Snapper takes a time-trip with his ex-wife and the police chief of Happy Harbor
. The "Day of Judgment" crossover event occurs during the course of this series. Snapper saves an innocent man from one of the many demons that have crawled out of Hell. Soon after, he and his friends, stuck in a heatwave, begin arguing with each other. Recognizing something is wrong, Snapper performs a mystic spell, which reveals the group was being plagued by demons who helped exacerbate their antagonistic feelings. In the ensuing encounter, Snapper manages to sweet-talk one of the demons into crossing over to the side of good. Snapper's time as a seeming JLA traitor is revisited in the same series. He also becomes an adviser to the teen superhero team Young Justice
. During his appearances in both series, Snapper wears a succession of t-shirts featuring various superhero logos.
Snapper helps plan the invasion of a country, Zandia, which is dominated by super-villains. A flashback around this time indicates Snapper has attended Green Arrow's funeral.
Snapper maintains his contacts with the current incarnation of the League. He is called upon to take their official group photo when the team's roster is finalized. He is also invited to the wedding of Green Arrow and Black Canary; though his invitation was stolen by several villains, he is seen in the double-page spread of attendees.
. Snapper later reveals that he has been deep-cover for Checkmate ever since the incident involving the OMACs
. Snapper attempts to assist the heroes in defeating the "Four Horsemen". Batman decides to allow Snapper to continue in this fashion, since Snapper tends to look favorably on the League's activities.
tie-in Resist, Snapper is still a Checkmate agent, albeit only a low-ranking Pawn. Somehow again in possession of his original teleportation powers, Carr, now known as Pawn 922, is sent on several errands around the world, sabotaging Darkseid installations and searching, without success, for someone free from the Anti-Life Equation
to join him and Mister Terrific and the last few members of the resistance in a last stand. Several of these missions, including the destruction of a germ-warfare lab, involve killing brainwashed human slaves.
During his last errand he saves Cheetah
, who, in a fit of gratitude and lust, tears away his Hazmat suit
to share one last moment of intimacy with one of the last free humans. While relaxing afterwards, they are found by Gorilla Grodd
. Snapper risks death by transporting himself and Cheetah back to the resistance hideout. Unfortunately, because of Darkseid's long-term plans, his teleportation powers are now gone. Even with Cheetah's willing help, they are left with little choice. Michael activates every last OMAC unit left, which are designed to attack super-beings. Snapper and the remnants of his cell, Cheetah included, head the counter-attack.
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...
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...
, most famous as a supporting character
Supporting character
A supporting character is a character of a book, play, video game, movie, television or radio show or other form of storytelling usually used to give added dimension to a main character, by adding a relationship with this character...
to the superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
team the Justice League of America (JLA). He has often been referred to as the team's mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
. Snapper Carr, along with the Justice League, first appears 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...
#28, written by Gardner Fox
Gardner Fox
Gardner Francis Cooper Fox was an American writer best known for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. Comic-book historians estimate that he wrote over 4,000 comics stories....
and drawn by Mike Sekowsky
Mike Sekowsky
Michael Sekowsky was a Jewish American comic book artist best known as the exclusive penciler for DC Comics' Justice League of America during most of the 1960s, and as the regular writer and artist on Wonder Woman during the late 1960s and early 1970s.-Early life and career:Mike Sekowsky began...
.
Origin
As the JLA could not have the sidekicks of all its members occasionally wandering through its secret headquarters, but needed a character to whom the reader could relate, the group needed a distinct character not associated with the home town of any of its members. In order to rationalize that an ordinary person could become an honorary member of the JLA, he had to be important to them at the moment of that group's formation. The solution, devised by Gardner FoxGardner Fox
Gardner Francis Cooper Fox was an American writer best known for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. Comic-book historians estimate that he wrote over 4,000 comics stories....
: young Lucas Carr — called "Snapper" for his penchant for snapping his fingers — is immune to Starro
Starro
Starro is a fictional supervillain that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Brave and the Bold #28 , and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky....
's attacks, by the good fortune of his just having put lime
Lime (mineral)
Lime is a general term for calcium-containing inorganic materials, in which carbonates, oxides and hydroxides predominate. Strictly speaking, lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. It is also the name for a single mineral of the CaO composition, occurring very rarely...
on the lawn. It is Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
who recalls that various sea invertebrates are susceptible to lime, and by these means, Starro is defeated.
Snapper's uncle Simon Carr approaches the new JLA on behalf of Oliver Queen
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
and provides them with the resources to set up headquarters in Happy Harbor, Rhode Island. This becomes the site of the JLA's Secret Sanctuary. Snapper quickly becomes a fixture around JLA headquarters. During this time, Simon Carr becomes the host for an Appelaxian
Appelaxian
The Appelaxians are a fictional alien race in DC Comics. They first appeared in Justice League of America #9, which told the origin of the League. Seven Apellexians used Earth as a battleground to decide who would rule their planet as Kalar. They were defeated by seven Earth heroes, who went on to...
alien; he then founds the organization called Locus. Eventually, it is Snapper who uncovers his uncle's betrayal, just in time to warn the JLA. Locus is defeated and Simon returns to normal.
Snapper's first year of association with the JLA coincides with his senior year of high school, and he is present for most of the League's early adventures. Three League members even dedicate humanitarian hours to help Snapper write a paper about brotherhood. During this period, Snapper is portrayed as a stereotypical beatnik
Beatnik
Beatnik was a media stereotype of the 1950s and early 1960s that displayed the more superficial aspects of the Beat Generation literary movement of the 1950s and violent film images, along with a cartoonish depiction of the real-life people and the spiritual quest in Jack Kerouac's autobiographical...
, down to his lingo and rhyming dialogue. His girlfriend's name is Midge.
Snapper's time with the JLA ends, however, in tragedy. Snapper is manipulated by the Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
into betraying the location of the Secret Sanctuary. After this, Carr resigns his honorary membership; the shame of this failure still haunts him.
The JLA rescues Snapper Carr and his family when they are kidnapped by Anakronus, but he suffers further humiliation when the Key
Key (comics)
The Key is the name of two fictional supervillains in the DC Comics universe.-Golden Age Key:The Golden Age Key's sole appearance is in 1951's All Star Comics #57, which features the last Golden Age appearance of the Justice Society of America. In this story, the Key is the head of a major crime...
seemingly bestows him with the powers of the Star-Tsar and sets him against the JLA again. Eventually, it is revealed that Mark Shaw (the future Manhunter) was the real Star-Tsar. Carr aids the League once more when Thorak turns the JLA into giants; he and Superman return them to normal size.
Invasion!
During the Invasion!Invasion! (DC Comics)
Invasion! was a three issue comic book limited series and crossover event published in late 1988-early 1989 by DC Comics. It was plotted by Keith Giffen, and ties up a great many plotlines from various Giffen-created DC series, including Omega Men, Justice League International, and Legion of...
storyline, Carr (in his first non-flashback appearance in over a decade) is among a number of prisoners of the alien Dominators
Dominators
The Dominators, collectively known as the Dominion, are a fictional alien race from the outer cosmos of the DC Universe. They are highly technologically advanced, and live in a rigid hierarchical society, in which one's caste is determined by the size of a red circle on one's forehead...
. The Dominators seek human test subjects to discover how prevalent the "metagene" is in the human genome. To this end, they line up 50 humans and initiate their "blaster field". Six humans, including Snapper, survive the carnage by developing latent metahuman powers. Another is thought to be critically injured but later recovers and allies herself with Snapper. Snapper gains the ability to teleport
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
by snapping his fingers.
Blasters
Soon afterward, the Dominators and their allies are driven from Earth and the captives are freed. Snapper and the other five survivors dub themselves the BlastersBlasters (comics)
The Blasters are a fictional DC Comics team of superhumans who first appeared in the miniseries Invasion! #1 by Keith Giffen, Bill Mantlo and Todd McFarlane...
and join the struggle to reverse the effects of the Dominators' gene bomb. Snapper becomes the group's leader and they travel with the Omega Men
Omega Men
The Omega Men are a fictional team of extraterrestrial superheroes who have appeared in various comic book series published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Green Lantern #141 , and were created by Marv Wolfman and Joe Staton....
for an unspecified period of time. Snapper becomes separated from the others and a foul-up with his powers temporarily drives him insane. He had kept his eyes open during transport and had perceived an eternity of time passing while teleporting. He ends up meeting Churljenkins, a green-furred cat-woman, who helps stabilize his reality. He manages to reunite the team and develops a romance with Churl. The Blasters stop an alien-controlled weapons smuggling operation and decide to travel through space together. The team includes, but isn't limited to, a children's novelist, a young wind-generator and his power-less mother. Snapper also allies himself with a regretful Dominator scientist.
They later encounter Valor and fight Kanjar Ru and the Unimaginable. At the end of these adventures, the Blasters are trapped inside a crumbling prison, and Snapper is again separated from his teammates. While searching for them, he is captured by a group of Khunds, who cut off his hands, thus destroying his ability to teleport. He is subsequently rescued by the 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...
, but knows nothing about the fate of the Blasters. 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:...
restores Snapper's hands and returns him to Earth.
Hourman
Since returning to Earth, Snapper has served as an adviser to aspiring heroes, starting with the time-traveling android HourmanHourman (android)
Hourman is a fictional character and superhero who was created by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter. Based upon the Golden Age character Rex Tyler, he first appeared in JLA #12 .-Creation in the 853rd century:...
. Snapper takes a time-trip with his ex-wife and the police chief of Happy Harbor
Happy Harbor
Happy Harbor is a fictional United States location in Rhode Island, referenced in DC Comics as the location of the first headquarters, "Justice Mountain" or the "Secret Sanctuary", of the Justice League of America, first appearing in The Brave and the Bold #28.-History:As the home of the Justice...
. The "Day of Judgment" crossover event occurs during the course of this series. Snapper saves an innocent man from one of the many demons that have crawled out of Hell. Soon after, he and his friends, stuck in a heatwave, begin arguing with each other. Recognizing something is wrong, Snapper performs a mystic spell, which reveals the group was being plagued by demons who helped exacerbate their antagonistic feelings. In the ensuing encounter, Snapper manages to sweet-talk one of the demons into crossing over to the side of good. Snapper's time as a seeming JLA traitor is revisited in the same series. He also becomes an adviser to the teen superhero team Young Justice
Young Justice
Young Justice is a fictional DC Comics superhero team consisting of teenaged heroes. The team first appeared in Young Justice: The Secret , before graduating to their ongoing monthly series...
. During his appearances in both series, Snapper wears a succession of t-shirts featuring various superhero logos.
Snapper helps plan the invasion of a country, Zandia, which is dominated by super-villains. A flashback around this time indicates Snapper has attended Green Arrow's funeral.
Snapper maintains his contacts with the current incarnation of the League. He is called upon to take their official group photo when the team's roster is finalized. He is also invited to the wedding of Green Arrow and Black Canary; though his invitation was stolen by several villains, he is seen in the double-page spread of attendees.
Checkmate
Coinciding with the Green Arrow and Black Canary wedding special event, an issue of the miniseries The Four Horsemen has Snapper eavesdropping on Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman using a communications and tracking system. This indicates the involvement of the metahuman policing agency known as CheckmateCheckmate (comics)
Checkmate, a division of Task Force X, is a fictional covert operations agency within the DC Comics universe. It first appeared in Action Comics #598 and proceeded to have its own ongoing title in Checkmate!...
. Snapper later reveals that he has been deep-cover for Checkmate ever since the incident involving the OMACs
OMACs
The OMACs are a fictional type of powerful cyborg that exist in the DC Comics universe...
. Snapper attempts to assist the heroes in defeating the "Four Horsemen". Batman decides to allow Snapper to continue in this fashion, since Snapper tends to look favorably on the League's activities.
Final Crisis: Resist
In the Final CrisisFinal 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...
tie-in Resist, Snapper is still a Checkmate agent, albeit only a low-ranking Pawn. Somehow again in possession of his original teleportation powers, Carr, now known as Pawn 922, is sent on several errands around the world, sabotaging Darkseid installations and searching, without success, for someone free from the Anti-Life Equation
Anti-Life Equation
The Anti-Life Equation is the equation for total control over the free will of sentient beings, for which the DC Comics villain Darkseid is searching in the Jack Kirby's Fourth World setting. It is for this reason that he sends his forces to Earth, as he believes part of the equation exists in the...
to join him and Mister Terrific and the last few members of the resistance in a last stand. Several of these missions, including the destruction of a germ-warfare lab, involve killing brainwashed human slaves.
During his last errand he saves Cheetah
Cheetah (comics)
The Cheetah is a fictional character, a super-villainess appearing in DC Comics publications and related media. Popularly regarded as the archenemy of Wonder Woman, the Cheetah first appeared in 1943 in Wonder Woman #6 , written by Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston...
, who, in a fit of gratitude and lust, tears away his Hazmat suit
Hazmat suit
A hazmat suit is a garment worn as protection from hazardous materials or substances. A hazmat suit is generally combined with breathing apparatus for protection and may be used by firefighters, emergency personnel responding to toxic spills, researchers, specialists cleaning up contaminated...
to share one last moment of intimacy with one of the last free humans. While relaxing afterwards, they are found by Gorilla Grodd
Gorilla Grodd
Gorilla Grodd is a supervillain appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of The Flash. He debuted in Flash v.1 #106 , and was created by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino....
. Snapper risks death by transporting himself and Cheetah back to the resistance hideout. Unfortunately, because of Darkseid's long-term plans, his teleportation powers are now gone. Even with Cheetah's willing help, they are left with little choice. Michael activates every last OMAC unit left, which are designed to attack super-beings. Snapper and the remnants of his cell, Cheetah included, head the counter-attack.
Alternative versions
- In the opening to the graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns it is revealed that Snapper now spends his days in the hero bar with the retired heroes. Snapper is the most nostalgic and interested in remembering the golden age of heroes, but like the others he shivers and hates it when anyone mentions Batman.
- Carr also appeared, with his given name of Lucas, in the ElseworldsElseworldsElseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
title The Island of Doctor Moreau. - Snapper once portrayed a JLA talk show host in the Elseworlds comic Son of SupermanSon of SupermanSon of Superman is a DC Comics Elseworlds story released in 2000 written by Howard Chaykin and David Tischman, with art by J.H. Williams III and Mick Gray.-Synopsis:...
.
Television
- Snapper Carr appears frequently in the animated television series Justice LeagueJustice League (TV series)Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. The show was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics...
and Justice League UnlimitedJustice League UnlimitedJustice 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...
, voiced by Jason MarsdenJason MarsdenJason Christopher Marsden is an American screen and voice actor who has done numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series.-Early life:...
. In these appearances, Carr is a television news reporter providing commentary on the events of the episode. The Justice League episode "Legends" parodies Carr's role as sidekick for the Justice League by featuring a similar characterBrainwave (comics)Brainwave is a name shared by two characters in the DC Comics Universe, who are father and son.-Henry King, Sr.:The Brain Wave was Henry King, a super-villain who used his psionic powers to battle the Justice Society of America in the 1940s, first appearing in All-Star Comics #15...
acting as sidekick for the Justice GuildJustice Guild of AmericaThe Justice Guild of America is a superhero team featured in the Justice League animated series two-part episode Legends, an homage to the Golden Age Justice Society of America, and to a degree the Silver Age Justice League of America.-Synopsis:...
, an alternate universe version of the Justice Society.
- Snapper Carr appears in the Young JusticeYoung Justice (TV series)Young Justice is an American animated television series created by Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti for Cartoon Network. Despite its title, it is not an adaptation of Todd Dezago and Todd Nauck's Young Justice comic series, but rather an adaptation of the entire DC Universe with a focus on young...
episodes "Welcome to Happy Harbor" and "Targets" voiced by Greg WeismanGreg WeismanGreg Weisman is an American comic book and animation writer and producer, best known as the creator of Gargoyles and as the Supervising Producer of The Spectacular Spider-Man. Weisman is currently a producer on the Young Justice animated series...
. Snapper is shown teaching at the same high school SuperboySuperboy (Kon-El)Superboy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. A modern update of the original Superboy, who is a younger version of Superman, the character first appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 , and was created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett.Originally...
and Miss MartianMiss MartianMiss Martian is a superhero in the . Miss Martian was created by Geoff Johns and Tony Daniel and first appeared in Teen Titans #37 . Miss Martian is named "Megan Morse" after Marvel Comics associate editor Ben Morse's wife, Megan...
attend in Happy HarborHappy HarborHappy Harbor is a fictional United States location in Rhode Island, referenced in DC Comics as the location of the first headquarters, "Justice Mountain" or the "Secret Sanctuary", of the Justice League of America, first appearing in The Brave and the Bold #28.-History:As the home of the Justice...
. It is revealed that when he was a teen he was an associate of the Justice League until the Joker attacked him.