Mammoth (comics)

Mammoth
Mammoth, from Outsiders #13 (August 2004). Art by Tom Raney.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	New Teen Titans #3 (January 1981)
Created by	Marv Wolfman George Pérez
In-story information
Alter ego	Baran Flinders
Team affiliations	Injustice League Fearsome Five H.I.V.E. Secret Society of Super Villains
Notable aliases	The Terminator
Abilities	Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability

Mammoth (real name Baran Flinders), a fictional character that is a comic book supervillain from DC Comics. The character was created by George Pérez and Marv Wolfman.

Fictional character biography

He first appeared in New Teen Titans #3 (January 1981) as one of the founding members of the Fearsome Five, and became enemy of the Teen Titans, Superman, and the Outsiders.^[1] He is highly devoted to his sister Selinda (a.k.a. Shimmer), also a founding member of the Fearsome Five. A towering hulk of a man with immense physical strength and durability, Mammoth is intellectually and emotionally underdeveloped (so much so that he was once tricked into surrendering to a Superman whose powers had recently been lost thanks to Lex Luthor's use of Mister Mxyzptlk's red kryptonite thanks to Superman simply faking confidence that he could defeat Mammoth), and he lacks skill as a hand-to-hand combatant.

Mammoth at one point retired to a Tibetan monastery along with his sister although shortly thereafter discovered Psimon (himself a former member of the Fearsome Five). Psimon used his mental abilities to subdue Mammoth and turn Shimmer into glass, which he then proceeded to shatter in an act of vengeance.^[2] Mammoth subsequently works with former ally Gizmo, apparently unable to comprehend his sister was dead, and believing they were looking for her.

Mammoth later appears in a fight with Booster Gold, which he loses. He is surprised at being found out, as his crime was a spur-of-the-moment deal (he did not understand Gold has access to future information).^[3]

Mammoth alongside his Fearsome Five teammates appeared as members of the Alexander Luthor, Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains.

On the cover of Justice League of America #13 (Vol. 2), it shows Mammoth as a member of the new Injustice League and is one of the villains featured in Salvation Run. He is one of the villains sent to retrieve the Get Out of Hell free card from the Secret Six.

Mammoth later appeared as a member of Cheetah's Secret Society of Super Villains. He was among the villains in the ambush of the JSA led by Tapeworm.^[4]

Mammoth later appeared as a member of the revived Fearsome Five when his sister breaks him out of jail, while he was trying to read to increase his intelligence, though, this only gives him words that don't fit the sentences they are in. His new-found "intelligence" does not quell his need to kill others, as he frequently suggests killing Wonder Girl while they have her bound in her own Lasso.

Mammoth is later shown in the employ of Calculator, and is hired to capture the members of the Birds of Prey while they are celebrating at a male strip club.^[5]

Powers and abilities

Mammoth has superhuman strength and endurance. He has some degree of protection from physical and energy attacks.

Other versions

JLA/Avengers

In JLA/Avengers #3, Mammoth appears as part of a group of villains who attack the Vision and Aquaman in Metropolis. He is blasted by the Vision, but is finally knocked out by Thor.

In other media

Television

• Mammoth appears in the Teen Titans animated series voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. Mammoth was a member of the former H.I.V.E. Academy. Mammoth's personality is not much more than an oversized class bully: big and strong, but not too bright. He works in a group with Jinx and Gizmo. Mammoth later forms The H.I.V.E. F.I.V.E. with the two above and See-More and Private H.I.V.E. He becomes the H.I.V.E. F.I.V.E.'s muscle (Jinx is the leader, Gizmo is its resident genius, and See-More and Private H.I.V.E. provide defense) and is messed with by Kid Flash by getting pantsed by him to expose his cherry boxers. (The irony is that during one instance where Kid Flash took back a candy bar it is revealed that Mammoth had actually paid for it). He is ordered by the Brotherhood of Evil to take out Cyborg. Instead, he knocks Cyborg into an abyss, only for Cyborg to later reemerge inside the Brotherhood's secret hideout with Kole and Gnarrk (Cyborg even taunts Mammoth for failing to finish the job by defiantly shouting, "Lesson number one: Never throw me down a hole unless you make sure I stay there!"). Mammoth returns to the Brotherhood of Evil's secret headquarters in "Titans Together" where five Titans encounter him and three other villains hurry to watch Robin being flash-freezed. Jericho, in the body of Cinderblock, released Pantha, Más, Beast Boy, and Herald, and Mammoth's face is burned by Pantha's claw. During the final battle, he is stunned by Jinx's betrayal long enough for her to cause a massive hex wave that knocks all five of the H.I.V.E. F.I.V.E off their feet. Mammoth is tossed into the flash-freezing machine and is frozen with all of the other villains.

• Mammoth appears in Young Justice voiced by an uncredited Dee Bradley Baker. In "Drop Zone", he and Shimmer are reimagined as enforcers for Kobra's drug-producing operations. Unlike the comics where Mammoth is described as having been born with his abilities, here he is portrayed as a scrawny teenager who gains his monstrous strength and appearance from a combination of the Venom steroid and the Blockbuster formula being injected into his body. Though he is shown to be powerful enough to easily trounce Bane and Superboy in combat, he is ultimately defeated after being electrocuted into unconsciousness by Aqualad. He later appears in the episode "Terrors" where he is shown as an inmate at Belle Reve. He acted as a bodyguard for Icicle Sr. and other high ranking prisoners. He assists in a breakout attempt orchestrated by Mr. Freeze, but is defeated by the combined efforts of Superboy and Icicle Jr., and is last shown frozen to a wall.

Video games

• Mammoth is also a boss in both Teen Titans video games.

Miscellaneous

• Mammoth makes appearances with his fellow students in the Teen Titans Go! comic book series.

References

1. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). "Fearsome Five". In Dougall, Alastair. The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 120. ISBN 0-7566-4119-5. OCLC 213309017 
2. ^ New Titans #116 (December 1994)
3. ^ 52 #1 DC Comics. 2006
4. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #29 (September 2009)
5. ^ Birds of Prey (vol. 2) #7

• The DC Comics Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley Limited. 2004. p. 279. ISBN 0-7566-0592-x. 

External links

• Mammoth at the Comic Book DB