Ravan (comics)

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caption = Ravan in Suicide Squad #24, art by Luke McDonnell
character_name = Ravan
publisher =DC Comics
debut ="Suicide Squad" vol. 1 #1, (May 1987)
creators =John Ostrander (writer)
Luke McDonnell (artist)
real_name =
species =
homeworld =
alliances = Suicide Squad
Jihad
aliases =
supports =
powers = A proficient martial artist

Ravan is a DC Comics villain. His first appearance was in "Suicide Squad" vol. 1 #1 (1987), he was created by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell.

Publication history

First appears as a member of the villainous mercenary team Jihad (renamed the Onslaught later). In an encounter with the Bronze Tiger his back was broken ["Suicide Squad" vol. 1 #1] . He re-appears alongside the Onslaught in "Suicide Squad" vol. 1 #17, and is recruited for the Suicide Squad in his second encounter with the Bronze Tiger ["Suicide Squad" vol. 1 #18]

Fictional character biography

Part of the thuggee cult, Ravan tries to stop the coming of Kali and thereby the Kali Yuga, the Age of Chaos. By killing, he delays the coming of Kali another thousand years. It is through this practice that he both prevents and worships Kali. In this, his primary enemy is the villain Kobra who wishes to bring forth that same Age ["Suicide Squad" (vol. 1) #1, 33] . Ravan joins the Suicide Squad, so he can continue these efforts while actually being sponsored by the American Government ["Suicide Squad" (vol. 1) #18] . He proceeds to develop a strange bond with Bronze Tiger, whom he swears to kill for his earlier defeats, but the two also form an effective team. During the Janus Directive, when Waller must make it seem she is being controlled by Kobra she sends the squad after the Force of July. Ravan kills Mayflower, a respected superhero.

Ravan becomes instrumental to Amanda Waller's plan to finish of the LOA, a drug-dealing organisation. The villain's plan to expose the Squad succeeds. It is revealed that a Mr. Kale, who was seemingly the new boss, was just a front for Amanda Waller, who had never left power. who expose that the Suicide Squad is still being run by Amanda Waller (the general public had been led to believe a Mr. Kale had taken over, but he was only an actor, used as a front so that Waller could still run the Squad) ["Suicide Squad" (vol. 1) #37-39] .

With the Suicide Squad on the verge of disbanding by her superiors, Amanda Waller gathers Ravan, Poison Ivy and Deadshot in an assassination mission of the LOA, a group that is planning to create a zombie army. The deal for the villains is simple: The three will help Waller in killing the LOA, and afterwards they are set free ["Suicide Squad" (vol. 1) #37-39] .

The mission succeeds, and Amanda Waller goes to jail on charges of murder, while Ravan leaves for London, where he sets up a 'cyberchurch' as a front for his assassination organisation. A year later, Batman kidnaps Ravan from this 'church' (blowing it up in the process) for the new Suicide Squad run again by Amanda Waller ["Suicide Squad" (vol. 1) #41-43] .

With this Squad Ravan goes to Israel in order to capture Kobra. But Kobra, had already been captured by the Israeli government's superteam the Hayoth. Ravan easily manipulates one of their agents, and thereby giving him access to their highly advanced A.I. computer Dybbuk. While Kobra's plans are being thwarted by the rest of the Suicide Squad, Ravan faces Kobra in combat, but Kobra has the upper hand and is close to killing Ravan.

At the last moment, the third Atom appears on the scenes, striking down Kobra. Ravan's last wish is for either him or the Atom to kill Kobra, but Atom denies him that final wish, and as Ravan himself says, he dies unfulfilled. Ravan dies in "Suicide Squad" #47 ["Suicide Squad" (vol. 1) #45-47] . According to "Suicide Squad" (vol. 2) #11 however, Ravan is incapacitated, rather than deceased, as is shown on a computer screen being viewed by the second Rustam.

Bibliography

Ravan was created in the Suicide Squad title and appeared exclusively either alongside or against them, racking up a total of 22 appearances, of which only 2 were outside of the Suicide Squad title ("Checkmate" and "Firestorm, the Nuclear Man") who were both involved in a Suicide Squad storyline.

*"Checkmate" #18
*"Firestorm, the Nuclear Man" #87
*"Suicide Squad" (vol. 1) #1-2, 17-18, 24-25, 27, 29, 31-33, 36-37, 39, 41-43, 45-47

References

reflist