| The Shark | |
| |
| General Information | |
| Real name: | Karshon |
| First Appearance: | Green Lantern Vol. 2 #24 (October 1963) |
| Created by: | John Broome Gil Kane |
| Affiliations: | Weaponers of Qward The Society |
| Abilities: | Amphibian Psychokinesis Superhuman Strength Superhuman Durability Superhuman Senses Superhuman Endurance Superhuman Speed Claws Flight Size Alteration |
History[]
Origin[]
Shark debuted in Green Lantern #24 (October 1963). He is a tiger shark that rapidly mutated after exposure to nuclear waste. The rapid evolutionary growth ENEMY GREEN LANTERN AND AQUAMAN gives him high intelligence, a humanoid appearance, and telepathic powers, but leaves him with his bloodthirsty shark instincts.
Shark's killer instincts drive him to seek out prey that he can terrify. He eventually seeks out Green Lantern when he learns that the hero is without fear. Even though he uses his telepathy to discover Green Lantern's vulnerability to yellow, the Shark is unable to overcome the Green Lantern's will power. Green Lantern uses his ring to devolve the Shark back into his primitive form, then places him under guard at the Coast City aquarium.
Shark manages to return to his evolved state many times, and returns to fight the Green Lantern, as well as Superman and Black Condor. At one point the Shark is able to evolve into a human form; now using the name "Karshon" he manages to temporarily depose Aquaman as the ruler of Atlantis. Aquaman is able to expose Karshon and forces the Shark to devolve.
During the Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Shark joins Guy Gardner's fight against the weaponers of Qward.
Post-Crisis, the Shark returns in Green Lantern vol. 4 #5 to face Hal Jordan again. In his latest appearance, his form is more monstrous, with webbed fingers, claws, and a large fin on his back. His new appearance is caused by experiments performed on him by aliens known as the Gremlins.
Infinite Crisis[]
A further mutated Shark appears in Infinite Crisis, as part of the Secret Society of Supervillains's attack on Atlantis. Along with King Shark, he kills Neptune Perkins. The Spectre soon devastates the entire area, seemingly killing everyone in the city and around it.
Powers and Abilities[]
In his evolved state, the Shark possesses advanced mental powers, including telepathy, matter manipulation, and the ability to project bolts of energy. He can swim at up to 60 Miles per hour. He can use his telepathic abilities to project fear into the minds of others. In some cases, the Shark has shown the ability o change his features to resemble a human male. Even in his evolved state, Shark retains some of his primitive shark abilities, including an enhanced sense of smell, and the ability to breathe underwater.
- Mutated Physiology
- Underwater Adaptation
- Underwater Enhancement
- Amphibious Physiological Adaptation
- Amphibious Breathing
- Temperature Regulation
- Cold Resistance
- Longevity
- Decelerated Aging
- Self-Sustenance
- Enhanced Senses
- Superhuman Strength
- Superhuman Speed
- Superhuman Stamina
- Superhuman Endurance
- Superhuman Durability
- Superhuman Resilience
- Superhumanly Dense Tissue
- Accelerated Healing Factor
- Psychokinesis
- Psychic Augmentation
- Mental Manipulation
- Telepathy
- Psionic Bolts
- Psionic Shields
- Fear Projection
- Illusion Casting
- Telekinesis
- Telekinetic Force Manipulation
- Telekinetic Construct Creation
- Telekinetic Energy Blasts
- Matter Manipulation
- Matter Transmutation
- Size Alteration
- Flight
- Levitation
In other media[]
- Shark appears in Justice League Unlimited episodes "I Am Legion", "Dead Reckoning" and was present in "The Great Brain Robbery" as a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society.
- Shark makes cameo appearances in Batman: The Brave and the Bold episodes "Night of Huntress" as an inmate at Blackgate Penitentiary and "Mayhem Of The Music Meister".
Notes[]
- Karshon is the third Shark to appear in DC Comics but the only one to fight Aquaman.