THE JSA FACT FILE

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Mr. Terrific


Terry Sloane


Residence: Gateway City
Occupation: Independently wealthy, investor, adventurer

First Appearance (Golden Age): Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942)
First Appearance (Silver Age): Justice League of America #37 (August 1965)

 


Character History

Terry Sloane was born in the 1910s, a child prodigy from early youth. As a young boy he demonstrated superb skills in athletics, martial arts and engineering skills. He entered college at the age of 12 and graduated in less than a year. Having obtained the maximum formal education available to him, he devoted himself to athletics, again showing superb performance. He later turned his acumen to business, where he rapidly became successful and wealthy. These accomplishments, while considerable, were empty to Sloane, and left him feeling unchallenged and depressed. He resolved to end his life, rather than continue the "perfect" existence. As he was driving home from work, he noticed a young woman standing on the edge of a bridge. Before his eyes, she jumped into the river. Acting quickly, Sloane saved the woman from drowning and learned her tale. She identified herself as Wanda Wilson, a local girl whose younger brother had fallen in with a gang led by a petty criminal called the Big Shot. Sloane adopted the identity of Mister Terrific and found renewed purpose in defeating the petty thug. Sloane then took upon himself to set up an alternative to juvenile delinquency in the "Fair Play Club," an institution that provided urban kids a place to exercise and find shelter from detrimental influences present in Depression-era America (Sensation Comics vol. 1 #1).


As Terry Sloane, Mister Terrific hired Wanda Wilson as his personal assistant; he later became romantically involved with her. Sloane remained active as Mister Terrific throughout the war years, focusing mainly on minor criminal elements in his native city. An extraordinary case included being pulled into the year 7532 by a futuristic council who idolized his exploits and convinced him to thwart the dictator Black Barax (Sensation Comics #28).  In a case as yet unrevealed, Mister Terrific achieved national prominence in when he became reserve member of the JSA in the early to mid 1940's. In 1945 when he joined the Justice Society of America in two cases, one that illustrated the importance of Germany's defeat to a World War II-era pacifist (All-Star Comics vol. 1 #24). The JSA recognized Sloane's talents (1,000 of them, no less) and he was later awarded full membership at some point.


As the war would down, Mr. Terrific began to encounter the novel "super-villain" type criminals that were becoming more common.  In April of 1945, he was touring one his chemical plans in the town of Mudville when a meek pharmacist terrorized by criminals became the monstrous Gorilla Ganty (Sensation Comics #40).  In October of that year, he had a run-in with a failed actor with nonetheless prodigious talents of disguise and distraction who had opted the criminal nom du guerre of Mr. Futile (Sensation Comics #46).  At some point, he encountered the criminal known as Roger Romaine, The Spirit King, though the origins of their first  dust-up on Earth-Two remains unclear. It is believed that Mister Terrific retired from active duty as a costumed adventurer sometime prior to the disbanding of the JSA in 1951.  His activities during the following decade, particularly the fate of girlfriend Wanda Wilson, are unknown.



    
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When the Justice Society resumed active meetings in the early 1960s, Mister Terrific emerged from retirement. His activity was infrequent, appearing only with a few cases, notably those with the Justice League of America (Justice League of America #37-38, 55-56). Sometime in the early 1970s. Mister Terrific again retired to devote his energy to his life as a philanthropist and educator. He appeared briefly in the late 1970s when he was captured by the Wizard's Secret Society of Super-Villains (unpublished Secret Society of Super-Villains #16).


In the early 1980s, Sloane observed an old adversary, Roger Romaine (the Spirit King), stealing a seismograph from Gateway University. When Sloane tried to stop Romaine, the latter disappeared in a puff of smoke and laughter. Sloane again donned the guise of Mister Terrific and followed Romaine as he used the seismograph to track Jay Garrick (the Flash) and take over his body. When the Flash joined the JSA in a trip to Earth-1, Mister Terrific went as well. When Terrific revealed to the assembled heroes that one of them was a traitor, Romaine (in the Flash's body) him to a secluded spot on the JLA's satellite and, catching him unaware, emerged from the body of the Flash and strangled Mister Terrific. Using the Flash's super-speed, the Sprit King generated an explosion to cover his deed, blowing Sloane's body into space. The JLA and JSA later discovered Romaine in the Flash's body, but Romaine again used the Flash's super-speed to elude his accusers and slip into the transporter to Earth-2. Romaine later departed the Flash's body and escaped (Justice League of America #171-172).  He was buried with full honors by the JSA (Adventure #466)

    
Death

Power and Abilities

A child prodigy that demonstrated extreme intelligence and physical skill at an early age, Mister Terrific fashioned himself as a champion of justice and fair play. He honed his body and martial skills to champion levels and relied upon these exclusively.

Weakness and Limitations

Like many of his fellow JSAers, Mister Terrific was only mortal and could be (and was) slain as such. .

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Golden Age Appearances of  Mr. Terrific
 Post-Golden Age Appearances of the Mr. Terrific of Earth-Two
Multiversity
Rogues Gallery