Talk:Tyroc

Untitled

There must be a better way of addressing/linking the racial issues of the character. Anyone have any ideas? Korvac 16:01, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

Intro

Changed line describing Tyroc's outfit. It originally read "and all this topped off by elf boots." This was suggesting that the outfit was ridiculous. There is nothing in the character's history that would suggest that he was not to be taken seriously. This seems to project the view of this entry's author. --204.96.18.5 13:49, 29 May 2007 (UTC)

The outfit is ridiculous, and was intended to be. Mike Grell hated the character and made him look stupid on purpose. I've added sourced quotes on the subject to the article. Fumblebruschi (talk) 21:18, 8 April 2009 (UTC)

Korvac, the "racial issues" of the character are more a reflection of the writers, editors etc. than anything else. Its an unfortunate but unavoidable fact that the entire industry is very conflicted/confused when dealing with black characters- they have very few black writers and artists. Theyre much more at home with aliens and the like. This is why these comic companies, especially DC, had so very few in their line-up. When they do bring one online, the topic invaribly turns to the character's skin colour more than anything else. No one questions how Lightning Lad reacts to the world as a white man. No one even questions how Chameleon Boy reacts with the world as a durlan...you get the picture. Think the best way to deal with Tyroc is get into his powers, which are rather cool, and of course...dump the elf boots. Dont know how Robin made them work for over 70 years, but Tyroc should do is bronze them and give them to his ma..... Argent00 (talk) 13:41, 18 November 2007 (UTC) <0>

That Seventies Hair

"Because Tyroc was a late era Blaxploitation character, he was depicted with a seventies style afro." (bold mine)

Um, how about because it was the Seventies when it was published? Noclevername (talk) 01:57, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Actually it was because Tyroc is modeled on Fred Williamson, who had an Afro. I've added that to the article. Fumblebruschi (talk) 23:09, 9 April 2009 (UTC)

That in no way resembles Fred Williamson. Levitt and co. must have been so nuerotic about their veeeery limited drawing talents at the time (you should see how they were still depicting asians in the mid-seventies). Of course they were more than a little embarrased and probably mad at themselves that they knew nothing about the pan-African visual arche-types The artist more likely got Fred Williams mixed-up with famed martial artist\actor JIM KELLY("BLACK BELT JONES", "ENTER THE DRAGON"). I think his grand daughter appeared as little "Nakia" in "KILL BILL:VOL1" 75.193.92.9 (talk) 22:36, 31 August 2010 (UTC)Veryerser

Original Research

An anonymous user recently added the following statement to the article, which I removed as original research:

"Debuting a year before Black Lightning, he is DC's first Black superhero."

Putting aside the semantic issues, does anybody know if this is verifiable? Does anyone have a source for this? It's a big statement, and I don't think we can leave it in without an ironclad source (besides, I'm pretty sure it isn't true, though I can't think of one that predates Tyroc). Nutiketaiel (talk) 20:53, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

Mal Duncan was introduced in Teen Titans #26 (March-April 1970), but he did not have any powers, devices or costume until issue #44 (November 1976). Karen Beecher didn't become Bumblebee until Teen Titans #48 (June 1977). Black Lightning and John Stewart/Green Lantern also came in 1977.
DC didn't have any other Black superheroes for a long time . . . except Tyroc, who first appeared in Superboy #216 (April 1976), so yes -- he was first.
ABCxyz (talk) 04:42, 13 February 2009 (UTC)

Well, I'll be damned. I hadn't realized. Still, I would feel a little more comfortable if there was a source directly referring to Tyroc as the first black superhero in DC Comics. After all, there may be some minor; just making the statement and citing the issue numbers feels like OR to me. After all (though I find it unlikely), there may be some little known character that predates Tyroc floating around out there. Nutiketaiel (talk) 14:11, 13 February 2009 (UTC)

I hear you, but there just isn't such a hero out there. Marvel was WAY ahead of DC on this. By the time Tyroc debuted, Marvel had already introduced:
the Black Panther - Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966)
the Falcon - Captain America #117 (Sept. 1969)
Luke Cage - Hero for Hire #1 (June 1972)
Blade - Tomb of Dracula #10 (July 1973)
Brother Voodoo Strange Tales #169 (Sept. 1973)
and Storm - Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975)
DC has only recently caught up, mostly because of characters in team books like the Justice Society and the Legion. ABCxyz (talk) 15:12, 13 February 2009 (UTC)

Oh, and Bill Foster, who was introduced in 1966, became "Black Goliath" in Power Man #24 (April 1975). He is, of course, the hero Goliath who was murdered by the Thor clone in the Civil War miniseries. ABCxyz (talk) 15:18, 13 February 2009 (UTC)

I know, I know, I don't doubt that it's true (that's why I haven't removed it). I just think that we need a reliable source that explicitely states that Tyroc was the first. Nutiketaiel (talk) 15:29, 13 February 2009 (UTC)

And now it turns out that John Stewart was first. THAT'S why I wanted a reliable reference in the first place. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:20, 6 April 2009 (UTC)

Just read the reference, I stand corrected. --68.46.148.86 (talk) 08:50, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

John Stewart's ancestor?

Is there any chance that Tyroc (Troy Stewart) is related to GL John Stewart? (JoeLoeb (talk) 00:50, 17 February 2009 (UTC))

I suppose it's possible, but it's never been addressed as far as I know. It seems unlikely, given the strange nature of Tyroc's home island. Nutiketaiel (talk) 19:04, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Hey, is there any possibility that Tyroc could be related to DINAH LANCE (THE BLACK CANARY. Or, for that matter, why not the Rok Krinn clan be descendants to Jeffrey Pierce's BLACK LIGHTENING? 75.193.92.9 (talk) 22:54, 31 August 2010 (UTC)Veryverser

Reality Warping Scream Effects

How long does the effect of Tyroc's scream last? -Golem866 (talk) 23:04, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

There is considerable variation. Nutiketaiel (talk) 15:33, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

Flight Ring

What's the point of him having a flight ring if he can fly on his own? -Golem866 (talk) 00:56, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

The Legion Flight Ring is the primary symbol of the Legion. They are awarded upon gaining entry into the Legion, and every Legionnaire wears one, including those who can fly (like Superboy, Supergirl and Mon-El). It's less about the ability to fly and more about the symbol. However, if you want more practical answers, the flight ring also contains the Legion communicator, a tracking beacon and a universal translator; additionally, while Tyroc can fly on his own, using the flight ring allows him to do so without screaming. Nutiketaiel (talk) 15:32, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

What's the point of him having a flight ring if he can fly on his own? -Golem866 (talk) 00:56, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

The Legion Flight Ring is the primary symbol of the Legion. They are awarded upon gaining entry into the Legion, and every Legionnaire wears one, including those who can fly (like Superboy, Supergirl and Mon-El). It's less about the ability to fly and more about the symbol. However, if you want more practical answers, the flight ring also contains the Legion communicator, a tracking beacon and a universal translator; additionally, while Tyroc can fly on his own, using the flight ring allows him to do so without screaming. Nutiketaiel (talk) 15:32, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

On Tyroc's Costume...And Other Things

Mike Grell's disdain for the character is interesting. He said the design of Tyroc's costume was a cross between Elvis'(Without leggings) and a pimp's (probably vacationing at Club Med). Now for the ironic part: Mr. Grell uses almost the exact same costume for his character, Travis Morgan("The Warlord"). Further in that same title series, "The-Man-In-The-Iron-Mask" story arc, a dimunitve theif\assasin who is sent to kill Morgan sports the same costume as the former, but with the chest chains, like Tyroc. Grell always use to note that he had a talent for putting his foot in his mouth, beside being a shameless plagerizer (which he of course he never admitted to.) The other thing is that Levitt described Tyroc's power as "dumb". As compared to the more idiototic powers of various Legion members? While Tyroc's rather 'elegant' powers were being derided, Mal Duncan was accorded briefly a mystical horn by an emmisary of "Death" that had powers similar to that of Tyroc. This brings me to my long-held conclusion about DC Comics when it was a subsidirary of "National Periodic Publication", based in Sparta, Il. That town and county was made infamous in the mid-70s as a notorious Ku-Klux-Klan center (Its leader, I believe was named Sam Rockwell,) and I believe many of the managers of the long-defunct N.P.P usually balked at blacks and assertive female heroes. (Check out how they nutured Wonder Woman and Supergirl, at the time the "women's liberation mov't" was happening in the early 70s; and powered-dowwn Black Canary to the point where she was simply a helpless interloper to Oliver Queen and Roy Harper's respective self-created melt-downs). With exception of the "Brave and Bold" issue where the Canary (back in costume, and powered-up) teams with Batman to determine the moral disposition of a "doppleganger" to her long-dead detective husband, with a side angle of flirtation between her and Batman. Otherwise, the Canary, along with Zatana had stepped-in for the then long-absent Diana Prince in the 70s Justice League. Even when DC was incorporated into Paramount Pictures\Gulf&Western Corp., The women and minority roster never recovered until the mid-80s! Thought I put in this offerings so that ppl never forget the underlying motivations for these event. 75.198.182.126 (talk) 07:33, 30 August 2010 (UTC)Veryverser