#rip graves

[cod-dump]

Graves, back from a long mission: God, I need a shower and a razor so fucking badly.

Price: Uhhh shower's broken.

Graves: What? How??

Nik: I um, I ate your razors.

Graves: You--! Wait what?

Nik: Cannot shower, cannot shave, oh no...

Price: Whatever shall we do...

Graves:

Graves: I haven't showered in five days and I haven't shaved in like seven, and THAT'S what's got you two DOGS drooling over me? Seriously??

Nik and Price: *nodding*

[newearth2]

Breaking Down the Hall of Justice Mural in Superman, Part 10: Hugo Danner

Originating in Philip Wylie’s 1930 novel Gladiator, Hugo Danner was a pulp-era superhuman whose feats partly inspired Superman’s creation. Roy and Dann Thomas later brought him into DC continuity through Young All-Stars. Born in the late 19th century with superhuman strength, speed, and resilience from his parents’ experiments, Danner tried to use his powers for good but became disillusioned by humanity’s flaws. He faked his death, retreating to Maple White Land in Brazil, where prehistoric beasts and the isolated Accala people lived. There he sought to create a race of metahumans, the “Sons of Dawn,” by replicating his father’s formula.

His brief return to America resulted in a son, Arnold Munro, raised unaware of his heritage. As Iron Munro, Arnold became a post-Crisis on Infinite Earths stand-in for Superman in retroactive Golden Age stories. Iron Monroe's marriage to Phantom Lady (also on the mural) give Hugo familial links to, the Atom, Starman, and modern-day Manhunter Kate Spencer — making Danner a real-world and fictional starting point for many of DC’s metahumans.

Group Affiliations: Sons of Dawn

Speculation: Danner’s scientific origin makes him the first mural character powered by science rather than magic, creating a contrast that could be thematic in a film. His morally ambiguous “perfect race” experiment could tie into Peacemaker's themes of supremacist ideologies, while his descendants’ ties to multiple heroes make him perfect for an ensemble legacy story.

First Appearance (Novel): Gladiator (1930) by Philip Wylie First DC Appearance (DC): Young All-Stars (1987) #10

Recommended Reading:

Gladiator (1930) – Original prose novel

Young All-Stars (1987) #10–11, 28–31 – DC introduction and expanded backstory

Legend (2005) – Wildstorm adaptation of Gladiator by Howard Chaykin

Next Up: Part 11: Ghost of Flanders / Rip Graves

[newearth2]

Breaking Down the Hall of Justice Mural in Superman, Part 11: Ghost of Flanders / Rip Graves

Created by Toni Blum and George E. Brenner for Quality Comics, the Ghost of Flanders is a patriotic mystery man whose identity is steeped in World War history and symbolic imagery. Rip Graves was reported killed in action during the Battle of Marne at Flanders in World War I, but he survived and returned to the United States to find that he had been honored as an “Unknown Soldier” at the tomb in Washington, D.C. Instead of reclaiming his old life, Graves built a hidden base beneath the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and vowed to fight for his country in secret.

Wearing a WWI-style Brodie helmet, a chest plate emblazoned with patriotic symbols, and wielding a bayonet, he took the name Ghost of Flanders. His trademark was the red poppy, commemorating the Second Battle of Ypres and evoking the real-world poem In Flanders Fields. The mural reflects this symbolism, placing him in a field of poppies beneath his biplane.

While never as prominent as other Quality heroes, Graves fought through World War II as well, but faded into obscurity after DC acquired Quality Comics in 1956. Unlike Phantom Lady or Uncle Sam, he was never revived as part of the Freedom Fighters, making him a deep-cut inclusion on the mural.

Group Affiliations: U.S. Army

Speculation: Given his purely wartime background and strong visual iconography, the Ghost of Flanders would be a perfect candidate for a cameo in a period-set JSA or All-Star Squadron project. He could also appear in a flashback or tribute sequence tied to a more prominent Freedom Fighter.

First Appearance: Hit Comics (1940) #18

Recommended Reading:

Hit Comics (1940) #18–25 – Complete original run

Next up: Part 12: The Sandman / Wesley Dodds

[newearth2]

Breaking Down the Hall of Justice Mural in Superman, Part 26: Conclusions

It’s clear that James Gunn and DC Studios took their time selecting interesting—and often obscure—characters for the Hall of Justice mural. Many of these heroes have roots in real-world history or folklore, while others are linked through shared backstories or long-running connections in DC Comics lore. The result is a mural that not only spans decades of publishing history, but also visually reinforces how intertwined these characters are.

As I worked through each entry, I compiled all the recommended readings for every character to see which series featured the most mural heroes. Here’s how the numbers shook out:

All-Star Squadron (1981) — Covers 10 mural heroes across its 70-issue run (11 if you count Hugo Danner in the Young All-Stars sister series)

Amazing-Man

Black Pirate

Liberty Belle

Miss Liberty

Phantom Lady

Sandman

Silent Knight

Super-Chief

TNT & Dyna-Mite

Wildcat

Justice League of America (1960) — Covers 8 mural heroes in its massive 273-issue run

Black Pirate

Bulletman & Bulletgirl

Miss Liberty

Phantom Lady

Sandman

Vibe

Wildcat

Zatara

Starman (1994) — Covers 5 mural heroes in 89 issues

Amazing-Man

Black Pirate

Bulletman & Bulletgirl

Phantom Lady

Sandman

Madame Xanadu (2008) — Covers 3 mural heroes in only 29 issues

Madame Xanadu

Sandman

Zatara

James Gunn has made it clear that if a script isn’t strong enough, the project won’t move forward—so even though these characters now officially exist in the DCU, there’s no guarantee we’ll see them on screen. Some may never appear beyond references or cameos. But that’s part of the fun: the mural isn’t just decoration—it’s world-building in plain sight.

For anyone who’s missed earlier installments, here’s the full breakdown of the Hall of Justice mural so far:

Part 1: Notes on the first half of the mural

Part 2: Sister Symmetry / Madame Xanadu / Nimue Inwudu

Part 3: Silent Knight / Brian Kent / Hawkman

Part 4: Exoristos

Part 5: Jon Valor, The Black Pirate

Part 6: Miss Liberty / Bess Lynn

Part 7: Whip Whirlwind / Max Mercury / Quicksilver / Maxwell Crandall / etc.

Part 8: Super-Chief / Saganowahna / Flying Stag

Part 9: El Diablo / Lazarus Lane

Part 10: Hugo Danner

Part 11: Ghost of Flanders / Rip Graves

Part 12: The Sandman / Wesley Dodds

Part 13: Amazing-Man / William Everett Sr.

Part 14: Zatara / Giovanni “John” Zatara

Part 15: Notes on the second half of the mural

Part 16: Liberty Belle / Elizabeth “Libby” Lawrence-Chambers

Part 17: Bulletman / James “Jim” Barr & Bulletgirl / Susan Kent-Barr

Part 18: TNT / Thomas “Tex” N. Thomas & Dyna-Mite / Daniel Dunbar

Part 19: Phantom Lady / Sandra Knight

Part 20: Atomic Knight / Gardner Grayle

Part 21: Freedom Beast / Dominic Mndawe

Part 22: Wildcat / Ted Grant

Part 23: Vibe / Francisco “Paco” “Cisco” Ramon

Part 24: Gunfire / Andrew Van Horn

Part 25: Maxwell Lord

From Golden Age icons to ‘90s deep cuts, the Hall of Justice mural is both a love letter to DC’s history and a hint at its cinematic future. Whether these characters step into the spotlight or remain hidden in the background, their inclusion makes the DCU feel bigger, stranger, and more alive. And that’s exactly how it should be.