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Morgan Edge

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Morris Edelstein
Morgan Edge as he first appeared.
Art by Jack Kirby.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSuperman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #133 (October 1970)
Created byJack Kirby (writer & artist)
In-story information
Alter egoMorris Edelstein
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsIntergang
Galaxy Communications
Superman Revenge Squad

Morgan Edge is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Originally a supporting character, he is a media mogul who acquires The Daily Planet and employs Clark Kent as a television journalist for his WGBS TV network. After the Crisis on Infinite Earth series which led to a revision of the DC Universe, the character was changed to a supervillain who is a Superman nemesis and one of the known leaders of Intergang.[1]

Adrian Pasdar portrayed Edge in Arrowverse Supergirl series in the third season. Adam Rayner plays the character in the Arrowverse television series Superman & Lois.

Publication history

Morgan Edge first appeared in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #133 and was created by Jack Kirby.[2] Kirby based his physical appearance on actor Kevin McCarthy, while his personality was inspired by television executive James T. Aubrey.[3] According to Kirby's production assistant Mark Evanier, Kirby "wanted to explore the theme of organized crime gaining a foothold in corporate America - particularly a giant media conglomerate. Given the shady background of the company that acquired Warner Bros. and DC, it was something of an inside joke".[3] However, under prodding from editorial staff who preferred Edge to be an ongoing supporting character rather than a villain who would ultimately have to be brought to justice (and thus written out of the series), the "Morgan Edge" connected to Intergang was revealed to be an imposter.[3]

Fictional character biography

Pre-Crisis

In his original incarnation, Edge was the president of the Galaxy Broadcasting System (owners of television station WGBS), the media corporation which eventually bought the Daily Planet. Edge was in many ways a stereotype of a ruthless capitalist, intervening in the Planet's homey atmosphere and challenging the authority of the somewhat older Perry White, but he was a decent man who had moments of good-heartedness and maintained reasonably friendly relationships with most of his employees, including Clark Kent. Following the takeover of the Planet, Edge transferred Kent to the news division, making him a traveling correspondent and later anchorman on WGBS. This move added several TV co-workers to the Superman supporting cast, including fretful producer Josh Coyle, sports broadcaster Steve Lombard,[4] weather forecaster Oscar Asherman, and co-anchor Lana Lang (who had been one of Clark's childhood friends in Smallville).

As one of the wealthiest men in Metropolis, Edge was a major political figure in the city and frequently encountered Superman, the subject of many of his network's news stories, whom he, like most others, failed to realize was also Clark Kent. Although rarely integral to a plotline, Edge was a supporting character in many Superman stories.

For a while it appeared that Edge was connected to the Apokolips-sponsored crime organisation Intergang, but this was revealed to be a clone created by the 'Evil Factory', a genetics laboratory working for Darkseid.[5] For example, this clone attempted to have Jimmy Olsen, the Guardian and, incidentally, a random Daily Planet employee named Goody Rickels, a Don Rickles lookalike, murdered as part of a cover-up.[6]

In Action Comics #468 My Son,The Orphan it was later revealed that Morgan Edge's birth name was Morris Edelstein. After he won his first TV station in a game of poker, Morris Edelstein changed his name to Morgan Edge because he was ashamed of his lower-class jewish background and kept the details of his past closely guarded.[7]

Post-Crisis

When DC continuity was rebooted after the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Edge remained president of WGBS, but his ties to the Planet and friendship with Superman were retconned away, and he was genuinely connected to Intergang. He was eventually exposed by the Daily Planet, in articles by Clark Kent and Cat Grant, who was working for WGBS undercover. Edge was imprisoned, but even managed to cause trouble there by publishing his autobiography On the Edge, which dumped upon his father as well as Cat Grant, revealing that she slept her way into a scoop. After his release from jail, Morgan Edge returned as sponsor of the Superman Revenge Squad. Prior to his imprisonment, one of his actions generated much fan anger, in which Edge sadistically and gleefully ran over a raccoon on the road, prompting one fan to write in saying "Lex Luthor treats people like animals, but even he does not run them over intentionally".

Recently, Morgan Edge has resurfaced as a powerful media pundit, with the show Edge of Reason, where he gives off anti-Kryptonian spin for General Lane. He is also seen in a "flash-forward" panel in Adventure Comics #1, making a mysterious deal with Despero.[8]

The New 52

In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. Morgan Edge appears as a powerful and self-centered media mogul and the new owner of the Daily Planet, he is seen as the sponsor of the Challengers of the Unknown program before they all leave due to his ruthless business strategy. This version of Morgan Edge is depicted as a bald African American man with a goatee.[9] Although a tough businessman, Edge did recognize talent, and awarded Lois Lane the editorship of the Daily Planet.

Edge's multiple media holdings become a benefit to Superman as Lois Lane, now director of Edge's Metropolis news station, has said building's security cameras "hacked" to provide vital intelligence on a rampaging villain.[10]

Prior to DC Rebirth, in the last issue of the 2011 Justice League series, it is mentioned that Lex Luthor had bought the Daily Planet from him.[11]

In other media

Animation

  • In the Super Friends animated series, his company the Galaxy Broadcasting Company, and its mother conglomerate Galaxy Communications are both referenced in the series, although he never actually appeared in the show.
  • Morgan Edge has appeared in Justice League episode "Secret Society" Pt. 1 voiced by an uncredited Brian George. Edge is portrayed as a billionaire collector of unique oddities, but one who has no moral qualms against collecting sentient beings as if they were property, as he does with Clayface. Gorilla Grodd and his Secret Society broke into his mansion to free Clayface from his prison. He attempted to flee on a boat while disguised as a chef, but Killer Frost froze the water and Morgan's alligator shoes gave away his identity to the Secret Society. Gorilla Grodd had him lead them to where Clayface was stored. As the other Secret Society members enter the room, Killer Frost entraps Morgan Edge in ice offscreen.

Television

  • In Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, a character similar to Morgan Edge is named Bill Church, Jr. (portrayed by Bruce Campbell). He appeared as the head of the "Intergang" crime organization. His father Bill Church, Sr. was played by Peter Boyle and he had a wife Mindy Church, who was played by Jessica Collins. Like Morgan Edge, Bill Church, Jr. owned a TV station, which was called "Multiworld Communications" instead of the comics' "Galaxy Communications". This character was an amalgamation of Morgan Edge and Bruno Mannheim, and as such, also owned a chain of supermarkets to aid him in money laundering.
  • Morgan Edge is a recurring villain in Smallville initially played by Rutger Hauer in the first appearance, and later by Patrick Bergin. He has appeared as a Metropolis crime lord, and old friend of Lionel Luthor. In the episode "Exile", Clark Kent stole the money from a bank while one of Edge's gangs were in the middle of a heist. Edge approached Clark in his apartment and offered him a job. At first Clark turned him down, but after Lana found him, he decided he could use the money to disappear and meets Edge to accept his offer. Edge asked him to break into Lionel's LuthorCorp office and steal a package from a titanium reinforced safe. Clark later learned that the item he stole was the blood sample taken by Helen Bryce. Jonathan Kent destroyed it immediately. Edge came to Smallville and demanded the package. Clark told him that he didn't have it, but Edge took Jonathan and Martha Kent hostage to force Clark to give it to him. Clark used a piece of green meteor rock to cut his arm and give him a new sample. Edge returned the blood to Lionel and told him that he could provide him with the source. Lionel was very interested because he did not know the source. Edge's thugs brought Clark to Metropolis in the back of a truck for the hand off, but Clark used his heat vision to create an explosion, which destroyed the truck. Lionel believed that Edge set him up to be killed. Edge fell into the water after being shot by Lionel's security, where he was presumed dead. Morgan survived, however, and was found by Lex Luthor. This time, Edge had received plastic surgery in order to hide from Lionel. Edge ultimately confesses, on tape, to the murder of Lionel's parents, but ultimately conspires with Lionel to break Lex's fragile psyche and discredit his testimony. Lex eventually tracks down Edge, also shooting him, but he manages to escape. In one last attempt, Edge attempts to kill Lex using his car, but is shot several times and killed before he has a chance to do so.
  • Morgan Edge appears in the TV series set in the Arrowverse:
    • Morgan Edge is a recurring character in the third season of Supergirl, portrayed by Adrian Pasdar.[12] In the episode "Girl of Steel", Edge has led a successful restoration of National City following the Daxamite invasion. He also wants to tear down the city's waterfront slum and replace it with high rise buildings, and he secretly employs the tech-mercenary Bloodsport to destroy the area with a cloaked submarine. The attack is stopped by Supergirl, although there is no evidence proving Edge's involvement. Edge also tries to buy Catco out from under Cat Grant (who has become White House Press Secretary) to silence his critics. However, Lena Luthor buys the company before Edge does.[13] In "Damage", a company of his poisons kids in swimming pools making the doctors think it's lead poisoning. Edge says it is a result of Lena's solution to get rid of the Daximites. After an attempt on Lena's life and killing his accomplice, Morgan Edge used a loophole upon his confrontation by Supergirl stating that the man he killed had used him to frame Lena Luthor and she did National City a favor. In "Reign", Morgan Edge and Lena Luthor still have tension against each other; Edge also becomes a target of Reign, but he survives. In the episode "For Good", Lilian Luthor targets Morgan Edge for poisoning Lena. While Supergirl defeats Lilian (who was wearing a version of her son's Lexosuit in battle), Winn Schott Jr. and Jimmy Olsen defeat Morgan Edge. As both Lilian and Morgan are arrested by the authorities, Morgan shouts that they have nothing on him.
    • Morgan Edge appears in the TV series Superman & Lois, portrayed by Adam Rayner.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. New York City: Del Rey Books. pp. 81–83. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
  2. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 99. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  3. ^ a b c Wells, John (September 2016). "Bullies and Blowhards of the DC Bronze Age". Back Issue! (91). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 15–16.
  4. ^ Cary Bates (w), Curt Swan (p), Murphy Anderson (i). "Secret of the Phantom Quarterback!" Superman, vol. 1, no. 264 (June 1973). DC Comics.
  5. ^ Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #152 (September 1972)
  6. ^ Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #139 (August 1971). DC Comics.
  7. ^ Action Comics #468 My Son,The Orphan . DC Comics.
  8. ^ Adventure Comics #1. DC Comics.
  9. ^ Superman vol. 3 #1 (Oct. 2011). DC Comics.
  10. ^ Superman vol. 3 #2 (Dec. 2011). DC Comics.
  11. ^ Justice League Vol. 2 #52. DC Comics.
  12. ^ Swift, Andy (22 July 2017). "Supergirl Season 3 Adds Adrian Pasdar, Yael Grobglas and Alias' Carl Lumbly".
  13. ^ http://ew.com/recap/supergirl-season-3-premiere/
  14. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 17, 2020). "'Superman & Lois' Adds 'Tyrant' Star Adam Rayner As Morgan Edge".
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