Talia al Ghul
 | This article describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-universe style. (October 2009) |
| Talia al Ghul | |
|---|---|
| File:Talia.jpg Talia al Ghul. Art by Greg Land. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Detective Comics #411 (May 1971) |
| Created by | Dennis O'Neil |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Talia al Ghul |
| Team affiliations | Secret Society of Super Villains LexCorp League of Assassins |
| Notable aliases | Talia Head |
| Abilities | - Expert at hand to hand combat and in the use of weapons - High level intellect - Utilizes her father's Lazarus Pits to restore life and heal wounds |
Talia al Ghul (Template:Lang-ar - "Vanguard[citation needed] of the Demon") is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, the now-estranged daughter of the supervillain Ra's al Ghul, a love interest of Batman, and the mother of his son Damian Wayne, the fifth Robin. She sometimes uses an anglicized form of her name, Talia Head[citation needed] (derived from her father's name, which is Arabic for "Head of the Demon").
She first appeared in Detective Comics #411 (May 1971). Her usual role is as a recurring romantic interest for Batman; her father, the leader of a worldwide criminal empire, considers Batman the man most worthy to marry Talia and to become his heir. It is natural that Batman is uninterested in the criminal empire, but he has shown considerable interest in Talia.
She is a complex character, not quite heroine nor villainess but more of an antiheroine. She has undoubtedly committed criminal acts; however, they were usually committed due to her loyalty to her father rather than for personal gain. She has saved Batman's life or helped him on numerous occasions. Furthermore, she helped to bring about the downfall of Lex Luthor.
IGN's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time List ranked Talia as #42.[1]
Fictional character biography
Early life
The graphic novel Batman: Birth of the Demon (1992) explains how her father met her mother, who was of mixed Chinese, European, and Arab descent. Talia's mother later dies of a drug overdose. This is a retcon of Batman: Son of the Demon (1987), which states that Talia's mother was named Melisande and was murdered by a former servant of Ra's named Qayin.
In her youth, Talia travels with Ra's around the world. He teaches her hand to hand combat as well as the use of most conventional weapons, from swords to guns. She helps him in the management of various organizations that he controls.
Batman
Talia first meets Batman in the story "Into the Den of the Death-Dealers!" in Detective Comics #411 (May 1971) by Dennis O'Neil. In the story, Batman rescues her from Dr. Darkk, apparently the leader of the League of Assassins. It is eventually revealed that the League is just one part of Ra's al Ghul's organization, The Demon, and that Darkk apparently turned against Ra's after failing in a mission (the usual punishment for this being death). At the end of the story, she shoots and kills Darkk to save Batman's life.
Talia next appears in "Daughter of the Demon" in Batman #232 (June 1971). In the story, Dick Grayson (Robin) is kidnapped. Ra's al Ghul enters the Batcave, revealing to Batman that he knows Batman's secret identity and saying that Talia was also kidnapped along with Dick. Batman then goes with Ra's to search for Dick and Talia; in the end, it is revealed that Talia loves Batman and that the entire kidnapping is a setup designed by Ra's as a final test of Batman's suitability as an heir. Though Batman rejects Ra's offer, he nevertheless returns Talia's feelings.
In the years since Talia meets Batman, she is repeatedly torn between loyalty to her father and her love of Batman. However, she has proven an important 'ally' in her way; most prominently, she encourages Batman to return to Gotham City when it is declared a "No Man's Land" following an earthquake, and he has lost his fighting spirit and didn't believe he could save Gotham.
Son of the Demon
In the graphic novel Son of the Demon, Ra's al Ghul successfully enlists Batman's aid in defeating a rogue assassin who had murdered his wife. During this story line, Batman marries Talia and she becomes pregnant. Batman is nearly killed protecting Talia from an attack by the assassin's agents. In the end, Talia concludes that she can never keep Batman, as he will be continuously forced to defend her. She fakes a miscarriage, and the marriage is dissolved.
In reality, Talia gives birth to the child. The child is left at an orphanage; he is adopted and given the name Ibn al Xu'ffasch. The only clue to the child's heritage is a jewel-encrusted necklace Batman had given to Talia which Talia leaves with the child.
The story used to be considered to be outside of the DC universe's standard continuity. The story has apparently been modified and is once more canon, however. It is referenced in three Elseworlds storylines: Kingdom Come, its sequel The Kingdom, and Brotherhood of the Bat feature two alternate versions of the child as an adult, coming to terms with his dual heritage.
The Red Hood
During the "Death in the Family" storyline, Jason Todd, the second Robin, is murdered by the Joker in Ethiopia. Batman and Alfred Pennyworth bring Jason's body back to Gotham and bury him with the rest of the Wayne Family. However, several years later, Superboy Prime resurrects Jason with a reality-altering punch. Although Jason is returned to life, his body and mind are still broken from the Joker's attack. Some time later, he is discovered by the League of Assassins and is taken in by Talia and Ra's al Ghul. Jason spends months in their care, and although his body recuperates, his mind is shattered.
Seeing no other way to help him, Talia takes Jason down to the Lazarus Pit and throws his body in while her father regenerates himself. Jason is fully revived in body and mind. Immediately afterward, in order to spare Jason her father's wrath, she aids the boy's escape. Before giving him a kiss, she informs him that Batman had let his killer live.
Livid at the fact that the Joker was still alive and that Batman had done nothing more than imprison him again, Jason pursues his own brand of justice. Talia agrees to finance Jason and aid him in his training, so that he can become the second Red Hood.
Bane
In the miniseries Batman: Bane of the Demon (March-June 1998), Talia enters a brief alliance with Bane, the man who "broke the Bat" in the "Knightfall" story arc, and whom Ra's has determined might be suitable as an heir. However, after a short time, she rejects Bane, though her father still wants her to marry the musclebound assassin. However, when Bane is defeated by Batman soon after, Ra's gives up trying to match him with Talia.
LexCorp
Talia, disillusioned with her father and his plans, leaves him to run LexCorp for Lex Luthor when Luthor becomes President of the United States. Although she seemingly supports Luthor, she secretly works to undermine him, anonymously leaking news of his underhanded dealings to Superman. In Superman/Batman #6 (March 2004), when the time comes for Luthor's downfall, she sells all of LexCorp's assets to the Wayne Foundation, leaving Luthor penniless and his crimes exposed to all.
Death and the Maidens
In Batman: Death and the Maidens, it is revealed that, during his travels in Russia in the 19th century, Ra's al Ghul met a woman by whom he had a daughter named Nyssa. Ra's abandons Nyssa at a crucial time: she is tortured, and her entire family is killed in a concentration camp during the Holocaust, and rendered unable to have children when Nazi doctors pour acid into her uterus. Seeking vengeance, Nyssa plans to use her considerable wealth and resources to kill Ra's by befriending, kidnapping, and brainwashing Talia, turning her into a weapon to kill their father. To this end, she captured Talia and, using a Lazarus Pit, killed and resurrected her in rapid succession, leaving Talia virtually broken from the trauma of dying again and again in so short a time. Rendered apathetic by her time in the camp, unable to feel anything, Nyssa also plans to assassinate Superman with Kryptonite bullets she stole from the Batcave, hoping that, by uniting the world in one moment of tragedy, she would manage to rouse herself once more.
While Batman is successful in preventing the assassination of Superman, he is unable to stop Nyssa from killing Ra's. This, in turn, is actually part of a greater plan concocted by Ra's, who wanted to ensure that his daughters would accept their destinies as his heirs, and take up his genocidal campaign. Realizing and accepting this, Nyssa and Talia become the heads of The Demon, with Talia disavowing her love for Bruce Wayne as another result of her torture at Nyssa's hands (both sisters then consider Batman to be their enemy).
The Society
In Countdown to Infinite Crisis, it is revealed that Talia is one of the core members of the Secret Society of Super Villains (the others were Lex Luthor (secretly Alexander Luthor, Jr. in disguise), Black Adam, Doctor Psycho, Deathstroke, and Calculator). This is revealed to be part of one of half-sister Nyssa's plans to take over the planet and bring about world peace and equality. Nyssa explains why she and Talia are working with the villains of the Society to Batgirl (Cassandra Cain).
"Vast stockpiles of food rot, while people starve. Millions die from curable diseases, while drug companies rake in the billions. Our environment chokes on our waste, becoming so toxic that life fails. It's genocide by greed, apathy, and neglect. These are the real crimes. Something must change."
"But... they're evil."
"The Society's plans are vast... they will succeed. I can't stop them. When the world gets a true taste of violent oppression, and their heroes lie dead and broken -- apathy will die. That's when you'll lead my league to sanction key society members. Leaving Talia and I to lead the revolution. A new world will be born, one of peace and equality. Millions of lives will be saved."
From Batgirl #67, by Andersen Gabrych
Nyssa fails to recruit Batgirl to her new League of Assassins, and the Society fails to achieve its goals.
One Year Later
After Nyssa's apparent death at the hands of Cassandra Cain (who usurps control of the League of Assassins), Talia becomes the new Demon's Head. However, the League of Assassins has apparently splintered and Cassandra Cain has gained partial control.
The child of Talia and Batman from Son of the Demon is reintroduced to continuity in the story "Batman & Son", written by Grant Morrison. However, in this version, Talia either did not abandon the child (called Damian) or retrieved him from his adoptive parents and let him be partially raised by the League of Assassins. Talia gives him back to Batman, as part of a grand scheme involving ninja man-bats and the kidnapping of the British Prime Minister's wife. Batman is unsure whether this is his son, but he attempts to deal with the spoiled, hot-tempered child anyway. Damian, effectively raised to be an assassin, kills a criminal and nearly kills Tim Drake, the current Robin. Shortly afterwards, father, mother, and son confront each other on a ship which is destroyed by a torpedo.
Talia and Damian survived the explosion, however, Talia continues to keep a close eye on Bruce. Meanwhile, Damian was recently injured severely and has undergone a transplant of all his major organs.
In Batman Annual #26, Talia is prompted to read the history of Ra's al Ghul to her son Damian by a mysterious figure from Ra's past: the White Ghost. Unbeknownst to her, the White Ghost plans to use Damian as a vessel for Ra's return. However, mother and son manage to escape before the plan is completed. After the escape, Batman confronts the White Ghost; he fights Batman, but accidentally ends up falling into a Lazarus pit.
R.I.P & Final Crisis
During the recent Batman R.I.P. plot, she and Damian become aware of the Black Glove's plot against Batman and begin devising a plan to help save him. They arrive at Wayne Manor just in time to save Commissioner James Gordon from being killed by assorted booby traps created by the Black Glove. She offers to join forces with Gordon to save Batman. She and Gordon arrive too late however and are informed by Robin that Batman went missing and may be dead following a battle with Doctor Hurt.
Furious that her love may be dead, she sends out her ninja bats to murder Jezebel Jet, who played a major role in trying to kill Batman. Soon after however it is revealed Batman did not die, but rather survived only to be captured soon after by Darkseid during the Final Crisis and then apparently murdered by the New God.
Following Batman's death, Talia has apparently decided to leave Damian in the hands of his adopted brother Dick Grayson, who later takes on the role of Batman, and selects Damian to succeed Tim Drake as Robin.
In Final Crisis, she is placed on the new Society's inner circle by Libra. Despite Talia's interaction with the new Society, she still behaves lovingly and almost devoted to Batman.
It is revealed in Gotham City Sirens #2 that Talia trained Catwoman so that, even under the most intense psychological coercion, she would not reveal Bruce Wayne's secret identity.
Following a recent operation where Damian's spine was replaced, it is revealed that Talia has inserted an implant into his spine that allows her or anyone she grants access to the technology- including Deathstroke- to control Damian's body remotely, intending to use this device to force Damian to kill Dick Grayson, whom she perceives as holding her son back from his potential. After Grayson frees Damian, Talia reveals to her son that she has begun cloning him after realizes that the Boy Wonder has completely sided with his father's circle during their confrontation and is no longer welcome to the House of al Ghul.
Powers and abilities
Talia is an Olympic-level athlete, having been trained since birth in many forms of martial arts. She is also quite proficient with most hand weapons. Often underestimated, Talia is also an excellent hand to hand fighter.
In other media
DC animated universe
In Batman: The Animated Series, Talia is voiced by Helen Slater, who is known for her portrayal of Supergirl, another DC Comics character, in the film of the same name. The episodes "Off Balance" and "The Demon's Quest" parts 1 and 2 are based on the two classic Talia stories "Into the Den of the Death-Dealers!" and "Daughter of the Demon". Talia reappears in the Lovecraftian episode "Avatar" to help Batman stop her father.
In Superman: The Animated Series, actress Olivia Hussey voiced Talia, replacing Helen Slater. In the episode, "The Demon Reborn," she and her father's minions arrived at Metropolis to steal a Native American mystical staff which possesses a power of healing. After she succeeded, she used it to drain Superman's powers in order to capture him. Ra's was dying as the Lazarus Pit became ineffective to prolong his life, so the father and daughter planned to use the staff to transfer Superman's strength to save Ra's life. Batman later arrived and interfered with the process. Despite Batman arriving in time to save Superman's life, Ra's had enough of The Man of Steel's life force to resume his longevity with the Lazarus Pit once more. Ra's and Talia later fell to the bottom of a cave, but it is later confirmed that they survived.
In the Batman Beyond episode "Out of the Past", it is revealed that Batman's final confrontation with Ra's, during a period known as the Near-Apocalypse of 2009, left Ra's so injured that not even the pits could heal him. Talia took control of his company, and eventually approaches Bruce with an offer to use the pits' restorative powers to become young once more. A moment of weakness leads Bruce to accept. During their stay at her mansion, Bruce and Terry McGinnis, the new Batman, discover that Talia is actually Ra's; because his body was injured beyond repair, Talia effectively gave her life for him by copying his mind into her body. Though the transfer process could only work between two close genetic relatives at first, Ra's has since modified to work universally, and plans to transfer into Bruce. With Bruce's rejuvenated body, he can claim to be the elder Bruce's son, inheriting control of Wayne-Powers for his own ends. Bruce escapes with Terry's help, leaving Ra's behind with the computer in flames. Ra's activates fire-extinguishing foam to save the computer, but a stray cable strikes the pits and creates a massive explosion, destroying the mansion and presumably Ra's along with it. Actress Olivia Hussey again voiced this incarnation of the character, though Ra's also speaks in his own, male voice at times (voiced by David Warner).
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Talia appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Sidekicks Assemble!" voiced by Andrea Bowen. Talia and Ubu aid Ra's in his plan to infect Coast City with superpowered plants in his flying island. When Ra's expresses his desire to make Robin his heir, rather than her, she helps him, along with Aqualad and Speedy escape from Ra's deathtrap and foil his plan. After Ra's is defeated by Batman, she helps her father escape. Unlike the comics, she does not have romantic feelings for Batman, but for Robin, but is also somewhat resentful of him. She is also significantly younger than her comic counterpart, appearing closer in age to Robin and his friends than Batman.
Batman Begins
Despite not appearing in Batman Begins, where Ra's al Ghul is the main villain, she is mentioned in the novelization when Ra's writes to his daughter in Switzerland, and in Ra's' character biography in the DVD special features of the film.
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Talia appears in Batman: Under the Red Hood, in a flashback standing next to her father while he atempted to bring Jason Todd back from the dead using the Lazarus pit, later atempting to shot Jason after he made an escape from the Lazarus Pit.
Video Games
- Talia al Ghul appears in several cinematics in Batman: Dark Tomorrow. Then she was a playable character in the Nintendo DS version of Lego Batman though she is categorized as one of the villain characters mostly because of her loyalty to her father Ra's al Ghul.
- Talia is set to be in Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 voiced by Stana Katic.
References
External links
- Appearances on the Batman animated series
- Index of her appearances
- Women of Gotham Biography: Talia al Ghul
- Talia al Ghul on the official Superman/Batman Adventures homepage
- Talia al Ghul on the DC Animated Universe Wiki
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