Icicle (comics)

Icicle is the name of two fictional DC Comics supervillains.

Publication history

The Joar Mahkent version of Icicle first appeared in All-American Comics #90 and was created by Robert Kanigher and Irwin Hasen.

The Cameron Mahkent version of Icicle first appeared in Infinity, Inc. #34 and was created by Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas, and Todd McFarlane.

Fictional character biographies

Dr. Joar Mahkent

When noted European physicist Dr. Joar Mahkent arrived in America with his latest scientific discovery, spectators at dockside were astonished to witness the luxury liner upon which Mahkent was traveling suddenly frozen solid in Gotham Harbor.

Investigating this phenomenon, the original Green Lantern (Alan Scott) was shocked by the sight of Dr. Mahkent shot dead in his stateroom, apparently the victim of Lanky Leeds, a notorious racketeer who was reportedly traveling on the same ship. Thus, when the bizarrely costumed criminal known as the Icicle appeared upon the scene later that same day, wielding a unique weapon capable of instantly freezing solid any moisture in the air, Green Lantern presumed he was actually Lanky Leeds, who had stolen Doctor Mahkent's invention.

After several frustrating encounters, Green Lantern ultimately unmasked the Icicle as Joar Mahkent himself, who had, in fact, murdered Lanky Leeds, using his cold ray gun to temporarily disguise Leed's face as his own. Attempting to escape from Green Lantern, the Icicle leaped off a 20-story building and apparently plunged to his death in the Gotham River far below.

Actually, the Icicle survived his fall into the river, and returned to plague the Emerald Gladiator time and again, eventually becoming a member of the Wizard's second Injustice Society of the World which succeeded in briefly hypnotizing the JSA. During their Patriotic Crimes, the Icicle stole the Washington Monument. Later he was a founding member of the Crime Champions of Two Earths, along with the Wizard and the Fiddler, which teamed up with a trio of crooks from Earth-1 after the Fiddler accidentally discovered a way to travel between worlds. The Icicle committed a million-dollar robbery on Earth-2 and escaped Hourman and Doctor Fate. He was defeated by Doctor Fate while robbing a museum on Earth-1. The JLA and JSA were captured and imprisoned in cages in space by the Crime Champions though, but escaped with the help of the Green Lanterns. All the villains were then captured.

The Icicle met his death during the Crisis on Infinite Earths, when he and several other super-villains attempted to invade the laboratory of the renegade Oan known as Krona.

In the storyline Batman: Hush is revealed that as young children, Bruce Wayne and Thomas Elliot witnessed a fight between Alan Scott and the Icicle during a visit in Metropolis.

Joar Mahkent has been identified as one of the deceased entombed below the Hall of Justice.

James and Doyle Christie

In Flash (volume 2) #56-58 (1991–1992), Joar Mahkent's grandson James Christie briefly adopts his grandfather's name and methods. He is caught by his sister, Doyle Christie, who briefly becomes a superhero operating under the same name.

Cameron Mahkent

Unlike his father, Cameron Mahkent has no need for a 'cold gun', as his father's prolonged exposure to the weapon altered his genetics, allowing him to biologically pass down to his son the ability to freeze objects and people or to lower the temperature of a room or other area. Cameron's skin pigmentation was also affected, making him appear to be albino.

Cameron became the second Icicle shortly before joining the Wizard's Injustice Unlimited group. It was during the period of the DC mini-series Legends (1986), the people of America were turned against their heroes, and a law was made that no one could operate legally wearing a costume. This did not affect the villains much, as they were already breaking the law. For the new Icicle it proved an opportune time to join with other super-criminals. He joined the Wizard in his new Injustice Society – called Injustice Unlimited. The group overcame the security at the International Trade Conference in Calgary, Canada... namely Infinity, Inc. and a contingent of the Global Guardians and forced the heroes to help in some mayhem. The Icicle was given the mission of finding and retrieving the man-monster called Solomon Grundy. He took with him the still hypnotized Icemaiden and Jade and they traveled to the Arctic Circle. They were successful in the mission and brought back the white behemoth to Calgary, just in time to interfere with the escape plans of the Wizard. The plan of blackmailing the wealthy businessmen went haywire when Hourman (Rick Tyler) revived and freed himself. In the confusion of the battle, however, Cameron was able to escape. (Infinity Inc 35-37 1987)

Only weeks later he again joined with Artemis and Hazard, as well as the new Harlequin, the Dummy and Solomon Grundy. The Dummy wanted to head a revived Injustice Unlimited and planned to murder the members of Infinity Inc. to make a name for themselves. Their first target - Skyman - was successfully killed by the Harlequin and then Icicle went after Brainwave Jr. After believing the mental mutant dead the Icicle returned to his cohorts. A plan was hatched to bring all the remaining Infinitors to Stellar Studios and kill them, a plan defeated only by the unwillingness of Hazard to cooperate, and the sudden reappearance of Brainwave Jr. and Jade (both who had been thought dead). The Icicle nearly killed Brainwave Jr. in hand-to-hand combat but was knocked out by Jade. In the end Cameron was given over to law enforcement. (Infinity Inc 51-53, 1988)

Later, after he engaged in battle against the second Star-Spangled Kid, S.T.R.I.P.E. and Starman, he joined the new Injustice Society at the invitation of Johnny Sorrow, who released him from his prison cell. During Stealing Thunder, when the Ultra-Humanite remade the world after acquiring control of Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt, he was forced to help the 'reserve JSA'- consisting of Captain Marvel, Hourman, the third Crimson Avenger, Power Girl, Sand and Jakeem Thunder- against the Ultra-Humanite, since they were the only other people free in the world created by the Ultra-Humanite. He was later offered a position in the JSA by Sand but turned him down saying that he only fought with him for his reasons.

Cameron does not care about his father's Golden age villainous legacy. He became a villain, not because of legacy, but because he's not a nice guy. He is a far more ruthless foe than his predecessor. He has begun a relationship with his teammate, the Tigress.

As part of the Superman/Batman "Public Enemies" arc, the Icicle is part of a multi-villain attack on Superman and Batman in Washington D.C.. Despite working with other cold themed villains such as Killer Frost and Captain Cold and having the backing of the villains President Lex Luthor, the Icicle and all the villains are soundly defeated.

During the Infinite Crisis storyline, Cameron popped up as a member of Alexander Luthor, Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains.

One Year Later, he is approached by Mirror Master to join the Suicide Squad for a mission.

On the cover of Justice League of America #13 (Vol.2), it shows Icicle as a member of the new Injustice League, though this was not corroborated by the story.

He can seen as the member of Libra's Secret Society of Super Villains.

Icicle and Tigress appear in the "Hourman and Liberty Belle" Second Feature in JSA All Stars. The story involves them alternately working with and against the heroic couple in a quest to locate a magical artifact. He and Tigress are expecting a baby, which appears to threaten Tigress' health. Icicle is trying to 'raise' money for expensive treatments.^[1]

Powers and abilities

The original Icicle had a gun that could generate and control ice. He could create blasts of cold, ice missiles and walls of ice from ambient moisture.

The second Icicle can generate and control ice; he can create blasts of cold, ice missiles and walls of ice from ambient moisture, as well as forming sleet, snow, and freezing rain.

Other versions

JLA/Avengers

The Icicle and other cold-themed villains are seen among the enthralled villains defending Krona's stronghold in #4.

Justice League Adventures

Based in the DC animated universe, Icicle is part of a group of ice-themed villains called the "Cold Warriors" that tried to overthrow a small African nation. The Cold Warriors appear in Justice League Adventures #12 (December 2002).

DC Super Friends

Based in the DC Super Friends universe, Icicle is part of a group of ice-themed villains called the "Ice Pack" that encased a city in ice and snow. The Ice Pack appear in DC Super Friends #16 (August 2009).

Flashpoint

In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, Icicle is a member of Deathstroke's pirates.^[2] Icicle aided Deathstroke in attacking Warlord's fleet.^[3] After an attack by Aquaman and Ocean Master, Icicle was asked by Sonar to free him, which Icicle agreed to do.^[4] After Warlord's ships were destroyed by Jenny Blitz, Icicle joined in a mutiny against Deathstroke, but Deathstroke and Blitz overheard this and killed the crew members for their treachery. Icicle is killed by having his head blown off by Blitz.^[5]

In other media

Television

• The Super Friends version of Icicle appeared in the "Post Super Heroes Create a Villain Contest" cereal commercial from the 1980s. Robin says "Holy Icicles!" and then Icicle shoots his freeze ray, but Superman deflects it right back at him with his hands.
• In the two part Smallville episode "Absolute Justice," a bed-ridden vegetative Joar (played by Gardiner Millar) and Cameron Mahkent (played by Wesley MacInnes) appear. Cameron is responsible for the death of the Star-Spangled Kid/Sylvester Pemberton, Sandman, and later Doctor Fate under orders of Amanda Waller. After killing Doctor Fate, Cameron stole his helmet and went to see his still vegetated father. After revealing his plans, he pulled the plug on his father—killing him—before donning the helmet of Doctor Fate. Crashing into the Watchtower, he started a fight with Hawkman, Stargirl, Clark Kent and Green Arrow before being attacked by the repowered Martian Manhunter. Due to the Martian Manhunter's ability to phase through objects, Cameron's powers were useless and the members of the JSA and Justice League defeated Cameron. Hawkman delivered the finishing blow with his mace, knocking Fate's helmet off and returning Cameron to normal. Cameron was subsequently imprisoned in a heated room in a Checkmate facility. There, Amanda Waller revealed that his attacks against the JSA had accomplished exactly what she had intended—bringing the team back together, part of a plan to save the world from "a coming apocalypse." When Cameron protested that this was not what he had signed up for, Amanda Waller shot and apparently killed him, as a "welcome" to the Suicide Squad.
• Both Icicles appear in Young Justice with Cameron Mahkent voiced by Yuri Lowenthal^[6] and Joar Mahkent voiced by James Remar. The Cameron Mahkent version of Icicle first appeared in "Independence Day" is shown causing havoc on a bridge in Star City until he is taken down by Green Arrow and Speedy. In "Terrors," the Joar Mahkent version of Icicle appears where he, his son, and the ice-based villains (Killer Frost, Captain Cold and Mr. Freeze, specifically) plan to start a breakout in Belle Reve. Icicle Jr. mentions to a disguised Superboy that his father acts as a jerk to him. Once the breakout and takeover has been done, Icicle Sr. has his son and a disguised Superboy had to break through the walls to the Women's side. Superboy convinces Icicle Jr. to "show some initiative". During this time Icicle unwittingly aids Superboy and even helps him fight off several villains, including starting a fight with Mr. Freeze. Shortly after, he discovers who Superboy really is and states "dad's gonna kill me". It turns out that Icicle Sr. was in cahoots with Hugo Strange as both of them are shown to be associated with the Light (Project Cadmus' Board of Directors). In "Beneath," Icicle Jr. appears in Bialya with Psimon, Mammoth, Shimmer, and Devastation where they assigned to guard a shipment of children to The Light's partner. When Devastation brings down Wonder Girl, Icicle Jr. tells her that she isn't alone. While Psimon and Miss Martian have a psychic battle, he tries to kill Miss Martian, saying she broke his heart in Belle Reve. Before Icicle can kill her, Psimon is defeated by Bumblebee, allowing Miss Martian to defend herself by hurling Icicle Jr. into a wall. He is later seen at the end of the episode relatively unharmed. In "Darkest," Icicle Jr. is sent with Aqualad, Tigress, and the Terror Twins on a mission to attack Impulse and Blue Beetle. He manages to freeze Blue Beetle until he breaks free. When the Blue Beetle scarab takes control, he manages to knock down Icicle until Aqualad and Tigress subdue Blue Beetle. Icicle Jr. joins Aqualad, Tigress, and the Terror Twins into retreating back to Black Manta.
• Tom Root voiced Icicle in Robot Chicken DC Comics Special.

Film

• The Cameron Mahkent version was also reportedly featured in David S. Goyer's script for the Green Arrow film project entitled "Super Max".^[7]
• Icicle also appears in the Superman/Batman: Public Enemies with his grunts done by Michael Gough. He teams up with other cold themed supervillains (namingly Mr. Freeze, Killer Frost, and Captain Cold) to get the $1 billion bounty on Superman. After a brief fight with Batman they are all defeated by a blast from Superman's Heat Vision.
• The Joar Mahkent version of Icicle appears in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. Unlike in the comics, Icicle is killed by Atlantean soldiers during Aquaman's attack on the Ravager.

Video games

Cameron Mahkent appears as a boss in the video game Young Justice: Legacy, with Yuri Lowenthal reprising the role. Cameron and Sportsmaster are securing a piece of an ancient statue in Verhoyansk for The Light. Sportsmaster prey on Cameron's issues with his father to have him work more efficiently. He and Sportsmaster are defeated by The Team.

References