Manitou Raven

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Manitou Raven


Manitou Raven from JLA #70 (2002)
Art by Doug Mahnke

Publisher DC Comics
First appearance JLA #66 (July 2002)
Created by Joe Kelly
Doug Mahnke
Characteristics
Alter ego Raven
Affiliations Justice League
Justice League Elite
Abilities Powerful magic user; wielded staff cleaved from universe.

Manitou Raven was a superhero from the fictional DC Universe.

An Apache Indian from what would later become the United States in year 1000 BC, Raven was recruited by Rama Khan and Gamemnae, the rulers of ancient Atlantis, to join a "League of Ancients".

When Gamemnae had a prophetic vision of a "seven-headed hydra" from the future that would threaten Atlantis, he and a super-powered Aztec warrior journeyed to the 21st century to battle the threat. While there, they concluded that the hydra was the JLA, but as they were unable to defeat the League, Raven returned them back to his time to warn Atlantis of their arrival. When the Justice League followed them back to the past, they were killed in battle.

Raven's opinion about the League was changed by Green Lantern's bravery during the battle. Using Rayner's heart (as a sacrifice) and the souls of the slain JLA members, Raven cast a powerful containment spell around Atlantis, until another team of Justice Leaguers 3,000 years later arrived and defeated Gamemnae. Afterwards, he (along with his wife, Dawn) returned with the Justice League to the present and at the recommendation of Jason Blood, he was accepted into the League as Blood's replacement.

Being a man over three thousand years out of time, Raven suffered from culture shock, but eventually grew accustomed to the 20th century. Both he and Dawn were eventually recruited into the Justice League Elite by Vera Black, an unofficial black ops team organized to fight extranormal threats before they reach the public.

Unfortunately, Raven would lose his life during a mission when he sacrificed himself to take the brunt of a bomb's explosion. He would not be forgotten, however, as he had appeared to both his wife Dawn and the rest of the JLE as a ghost, offering them encouragement and advice.

Shortly after, Dawn took Raven's place as the new Manitou becoming Manitou Dawn.

[edit] Trivia

Manitou Raven was known to shout "Inukchuk!" when he cast spells. This is a reference by writer Joe Kelly to Apache Chief from the Super Friends animated series. Like Apache Chief, Manitou would shout this phrase in order to grow to enormous size.

[edit] External links