Shark (comics)

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Shark is the name of three DC Comics characters.

1 Wartime hero
2 Gunther Hardwicke
3 Evolved shark
4 Appearances in other media

[edit] Wartime hero

The first Shark seen was a non-superpowered commando worked with his other companions named Sardine and Whale to make up the World War II-era unit called the Frogmen.

[edit] Gunther Hardwicke

Gunther Hardwicke, this version of Shark, is a member of the Terrible Trio. He wears a shark mask.

[edit] Evolved shark

The explosion of an experimental atomic pile bombarded a prowling tiger shark with radiation. Millions of years of evolution occurred in a matter of minutes.

Shark now possessed incredible mental powers, including matter manipulation and powerful energy bolts. With his mind reading ability he absorbed vast knowledge from the people around him. He found he could project fear in anyone he chose. Shark was still motivated by one driving force, to seek prey. He used his powers to make himself appear more human, and adopted the name "T.S. Smith" to stand for "Tiger Shark."

In a Coast City restaurant, Shark devoured dozens of bloody steaks to feed his hunger. He started a fight with a local boxing champ, only to have the champ pass out from fear.

Ordinary men would be too easy for the advanced predator, so his mind sought out Hal Jordan. Also known as Green Lantern, Jordan was completely without fear. Before destroying his foe, the Shark vowed to inject fear into him.

Jordan was contacted by Shark and learned everything about his newest foe. He was challenged to a fight to the death. At Ferris Aircraft, Jordan recharged his power ring to discover the interior of the aircraft hangar had been turned yellow. The Shark had learned the ring's weakness from Jordan's mind. Shark would not allow Green Lantern to hunt him.

Shark revealed his plan to enclose Coast City in a force field, creating his private hunting preserve. He would go after Carol Ferris, Tom Kalmaku and other friends of Jordan. This did not have the desired effect of instilling fear in Green Lantern. Rather, the emerald warrior doubled his will power to overcome Shark. It was then a simple matter of regressing the Shark to his original tiger shark form. Shark lost his mental powers, and was apparently helpless. The sea creature was brought to the Coast City aquarium and placed under guard.

Green Lantern did not realize Shark had outwitted him. The tiger shark that Green Lantern brought to the aquarium was actually Shark's costume. With his mental powers, the Shark had become his costume and his costume became him.

Shark later kidnapped Carol, Tom, and Tom's wife, Terga. While Jordan did not fear Shark, but he did fear for the safety of his friends. After this battle, Green Lantern made sure the real Shark was devolved.

Sometime later, Shark evolved others of his kind to humanoid form. They were strong, but did not possess the mental powers of their new master. Shark did not stop with creating alliances among the denizens of the deep, he also arranged meetings with members of the Japanese government. Weeks before, Aquaman had attacked Tokyo with the sentient city of Poseidonis. Seeking to eliminate the Sea King as a threat, the Japanese offered to stop the hunting of sharks, whales and dolphins in exchange for the undersea city and Aquaman.

The Japanese government located Poseidonis for Shark. He reached out with his mind and spoke to the alien essence controlling the meteor/spaceship the city rested on. In the cyberworld of the city, the Shark convinced the alien essence to allow him to take control.

Aquaman discovered the city had returned to the ocean and went to investigate. He was surrounded by the mutated sharks and surprised to find they did not obey him. Aquaman went to see their master. Old Cron One-Eye was by Shark's side. He knew of Shark's plans some time before but Aquaman had never asked him about it.

Shark blasted Aquaman with pure mental force and set his troops upon the Sea King. Aquaman slashed one of the attackers, Griffid, and watched as the others went into a feeding frenzy from the whale shark's blood.

Shark faced off against Aquaman once more, hitting him with waves of fear. The Sea King tried to resist Shark's power without using his own telepathic abilities. Aquaman was slowly turning into something else, as the curse of Kordax was changing his body with every use of his powers. Shark tried to force Aquaman to kill himself out of blind fear, but Aquaman retaliated, entering Shark's mind. He tore away Shark's power and intelligence. Shark devolved once more, changing back into a normal tiger shark. Aquaman ordered the now forgetful shark out of his sight. Only time will tell whether or not this latest change is permanent.