Harm (comics)

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character_name = Harm
publisher = DC Comics
debut = "Young Justice" #4 (Jan. 1999)
creators = Peter David (script)
Todd Nauck (art)
alter_ego = William Hayes
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Harm is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in "Young Justice" #4 (January 1999).

Fictional character biography

Harm is William "Billy" Hayes, a sociopathic young man determined to become the world's greatest supervillain. His parents are unable to control the young man, and are in fact terrified of him. Harm makes his first appearance in "Young Justice" #4, attacking Arrowette and stabbing her through the arm with one of her arrows. The attack on the young superheroine prompts her friends in Young Justice to seek out Harm. They attempt to capture him, but Harm is able to defeat each member with ease, electrocuting Secret, keeping Wonder Girl off-balance to stop her using her powers, and hitting Superboy with knockout gas. Having captured and reprogrammed the Red Tornado, Harm taunts the heroes by leaving the message "Holy Beatles, kids!" Initially they believe he intends to target a Beatles convention, but just in time, they realize his real target- Pope John Paul II, the leader of the Catholic Church; the 'Beatles' comment referred to his names. They save his life, Impulse removing the bomb Harm planted in the Tornado and Robin defeating him in one-on-one combat, but Harm escapes. Harm returns home, only to be shot dead by his father, who'd promised Harm's mother that he would "handle things."

Harm returns in "Young Justice" #14 (November 1999). During the "Day of Judgement" crossover event, Hell itself freezes over, allowing the dead Harm to return to the living world through the form of Secret. He first appears as a black and white being and over the course of the battle, gains actual color. As before, Harm is able to easily defeat the members of Young Justice. At the last moment, Secret realizes that Billy/Harm is actually her brother, who had killed her years earlier by tossing a radio into her bath. This was a sacrifice in order to gain superpowers. She launches herself at Harm and propels them both over a cliff. Impulse, searching the site at superspeed, is unable to find their bodies, although Secret eventually returns.

Harm's final appearance was at the end of the Young Justice series (issues #52-54). Having entered into his father's body (who was sentenced to death for murdering his son), he is able to overshadow his father's consciousness with his own for a limited time. He uses this to make his sister think that her father no longer loves her. Secret enlists the help of Slo-bo to help her break her father out of prison. Shortly after this she joins Darkseid, relocating herself and her father to Apokolips. On Apokolips, Harm forces his father to jump into one of the fire pits, killing them both. Harm has not been heard from since.

Dark Horse Comics crossover

Harm appears in the Young Justice crossover with Dark Horse Comics' Spyboy. Harm forms an alliance with the villainess Ani Mae, who is an unwilling pawn in his plan. Harm plans to swallow Tokyo and Young Justice into Hell, through a Hell-hole. His plans are thwarted by his sister Secret and Spyboy, who thrusts Harm's own sword into his chest, once again eradicating him.