Bruce Timm, along with his team that worked on the DCAU, was responsible for the creation of some of the most iconic characters in modern superhero fiction. Be it Harley Quinn, Renee Montoya, Terry McGinnis, or Mercy Graves, the long-time animation creative has injected some fresh perspectives in some of DC’s classic mythologies, like that of Superman and Batman.
Mercy Graves is a character that Timm and his team crafted for Superman: The Animated Series. Introduced as a bodyguard of Lex Luthor, the character is shown to be extremely loyal to Lex, doing whatever it takes for the benefit of her employer and his company. While the character has appeared in comics before, she has now been officially enshrined in the current DC comics canon.
Mercy Graves is now in league with Superman in DC’s Absolute Power
DC is currently in its Absolute Power crossover event, where the Justice League is facing down the machinations of Amanda Waller, who has created a special iteration of Task Force X to eradicate or neutralize metahumans around the world.
However, Mercy Graves, who since the time of Lazarus Planet, has gotten powers of her own, is working with Superman to round up and rescue superheroes by bringing them to the Fortress of Solitude. While on paper this seems like a plot by Lex Luthor to infiltrate the ranks of the Justice League, Graves expressed a lot of regret over not being able to rescue Connor Kent and Jonathan Kent.
This earned her a hug from Superman, which has been seen as a symbolic gesture that confirms her true intentions. Mercy Graves, who has developed cybernetic abilities akin to that of Cyborg, is firmly on the side of the good guys that Amanda Waller continues her reign of terror on the superhero community.
Mercy Graves’ first appearance in Superman: The Animated Series already cemented her no-nonsense attitude
Mercy Graves might be front and center in Absolute Power, but the henchman was initially depicted as a secondary character with one breakout scene following her introduction.
Mercy Graves has one scene where she is hit on by one of the thugs hired by Luthor, who was keen on going on a date with her. However, Graves, who was in the middle of a workout routine, punched her boxing bag a little too hard, turning to thing and warning him “Don’t call me babe.“
Bruce Timm has managed to create some of the most iconic characters in DC for his animated series, the crown jewel of his creations being Harley Quinn. Taking the time to flesh out their motivations and character arcs, has compelled more than a few creators to adapt those characters in whatever story that they decide to write.
