Mister Terrific (Terry Sloane)
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Terry Sloane is a fictional character in the DC Universe. He was the first character to take up the Mr. Terrific mantle.
Sloane was a rich man whose photographic memory, Olympic-level athletic skills, and mastery of the martial arts made him a virtual Renaissance man. After graduating college at age 13, he eventually became a renowned business leader in the community. Having accomplished all of his goals by the time he was in his early 20s, he felt there were no challenges left for him to pursue, leading him towards suicidal tendencies. However, upon seeing a young woman jump from a bridge, Sloane reacted quickly and saved the woman, Wanda Wilson. Sloane assisted his brother, who had been caught up in a gang, by adopting his Mister Terrific persona. He then created the "Fair Play Club" to stymie growing juvenile delinquency.
Sometimes nicknamed "The Man of 1000 Talents," he turned to crimefighting after excelling at everything else. He wore a red suit with a green tunic. A golden emblem on his tunic proclaimed "Fair Play." Mister Terrific was a reserve member of the Justice Society of America of Earth-Two, taking part in two of their chronicled 1940's adventures. He also was a full fledged member of the All-Star Squadron and assisted both teams on several more occasions throughout the remaining decade, retiring along with his peers in 1951.
Sloane resumed his crimefighting career, at which point he was awarded full status as a member of the Justice Society. On several occasions he assisted them in various cases, such as combating the Lawless League and the Black Orb crime gang. Sloane came out of retirement to pursue old nemesis, the Spirit King, and was killed by the Golden Age Flash whose body was under his control. (Justice League of America, first series, #171)
The Golden Age Mister Terrific is said to be a favorite of author Michael Chabon who contributed a story about Sloane to the JSA mini-series "All-Stars" in 2003. According to Chabon's story, Sloane is the protector of Gateway City. He has a brother, Ned, a butler named Butler, and a doorman named Smitty. In the Chabon story, Ned Sloane is portrayed as an alcoholic, compulsive gambler, who has the "power to hit bottom, and then, somehow, keep on falling."
It was suspected that Terrific was the grandfather of the Modern Age criminal Roulette after a tryst with the Golden Age Roulette, but later issues of JSA establish Terrific's brother Ned as Roulette's grandfather.
