Thunder and Lightning (comics)

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Publication information
Thunder and Lightning
Thunder and Lighting in their first appearance, by George Pérez
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	New Teen Titans #32 (1983)
Created by	Marv Wolfman George Pérez
In story information
Alter ego	Gan and Tavis Williams
Abilities	Can generate thunder and lightning; psychic link.

Thunder and Lightning are a duo of superpowered brothers of DC Comics that had encounters with the Teen Titans.

1 History
2 Powers
3 Alternate Versions
- 3.1 Superman villains
4 Other Media
5 References
6 External Links

[edit] History

Gan and Tavis Williams are twin brothers that were born of a Vietnamese woman and an American soldier named Lt. Walter Williams. Originally conjoined twins, they were separated with magic. As children, they found themselves beginning to manifest superpowers. However, they had little control over these powers, and without an infusion of their father's blood, they would quickly burn themselves out. So, they took the aliases Thunder and Lightning, respectively, and set off to America to search for their father. They caused major disturbances in St. Louis and engaged in battle against the Teen Titans. However, after their aims were revealed, the Titans decided to help the pair.^[1]

Months later, the Teen Titans and S.T.A.R. Labs were working on a cure for Thunder and Lightning's powers. At the same time, Raven, using her powers, discovered that their father was actually an alien who had crash landed in Cambodia six hundred years ago, and was currently being held hostage by the H.I.V.E. as they tried to exploit knowledge from him. When they located him, H.I.V.E. controlled the alien in a fight against Thunder and Lightning and the Teen Titans. In the end, Thunder and Lightning were forced to kill their father to protect their new friends. However, a blood sample from their father allowed S.T.A.R. Labs to create the cure that would allow Thunder and Lightning to control their powers.^[2]

They resettled in San Francisco, where S.T.A.R Labs helped them control their powers. While there, they helped stop the Atomic Skull.^[3] They worked as security guards for S.T.A.R. until Trigon briefly took control of them. They were captured and held in stasis at S.T.A.R. Labs until they could be free from the demon seeds.^[4]

At some point they were freed of the seeds, as the two of them later returned to help the Titans battle the Justice League, via transport arranged from the ultra-powerful Cyborg. Thunder and Lightning came in too late to actually fight any of the Justice League but they still assisted in neutralizing the threat posed by Cyborg. After that, they returned to Southern Vietnam to defend it from an unknown alien threat.^[5]

During the Infinite Crisis, they were subdued by the League of Assassins in Vietnam, who were being paid to break open a prison as part of a worldwide scheme to attack Metropolis with dozens of supervillains.^[6]

For some reason, Thunder and Lightning are featured in Salvation Run even though they aren't villains. Thunder and Lightning arrive to give food to Martian Manhunter. Martian Manhunter asks why they are here on this planet. When they offered to help Martian Manhunter, Bane attacks them. Despite being shocked by Lightning, Bane defeats the both of them as Lex Luthor arrives.^[7]

[edit] Powers

Thunder is able to control thunder as he manifests as rumbling noises which he can control to varying degrees. Lightning is able to release bolts of electricity and harness lightning. The two have a psychic link that allows them to communicate with each other.

[edit] Alternate Versions

[edit] Superman villains

An unrelated Thunder and Lightning appeared as Superman villains in Superman #303 (September 1976). These were actually two entities in the body of a sentient android used by a super-villain called Hurricane, who wanted to conduct a series of terror acts across the US. Not knowing about his android origin, Thunder/Lightning hoped for his release by Hurricane when his tasks were finally fulfilled, but then Superman exposed the truth. Going mad over the realization, Thunder/Lightning released a massive lightning burst, destroying himself, Hurricane and his base; Superman escaped unscathed.

[edit] Other Media

In the Teen Titans animated series, Thunder and Lightning (voiced by S. Scott Bullock and Quinton Flynn respectively) are seemingly supernatural brothers who just want to have fun, but they make life miserable for everyone else with their disregard for the safety of others. Their powers are thunderous sound blasts and lightning bolts respectively. When they combine their powers, they can cause rain. Thunder is rather large, has a deep voice, and wears blue samurai armor. Lightning is skinny, speaks in a high, fast voice, wears a yellow-orange suit of samurai armor, and wears his hair in a style reminiscent of a lightning bolt. Slade, disguised as the "Ancient One", tricked Thunder and Lightning into setting fire to some posts which created a giant fire monster bent on destroying the city. It was stopped when Thunder and Lightning joined their powers to make it rain, therefore putting out the Fire.

The two of them were also watched by the Brotherhood of Evil in "Homecoming: Part 2", although they were not given their own communicator in "Forces of Nature". Chances are they received communicators from the Teen Titans during one of the unaired missions. They both later appeared as Thunder attempted to fight off the I.N.S.T.I.G.A.T.O.R. and Steamroller, while Lightning takes on Overload, all sent by the Brotherhood of Evil. They were overpowered and flash-frozen by Professor Chang. However, Más Y Menos freed them, and they joined in the final battle in the Brotherhood headquarters. Thunder is seen attacking many villains with a giant thunder explosion.

The brothers also appear in Teen Titans Go! #6. Thunder and Lightning were the first honorary Titans to appear on the show and in the comic books based on the show.