Phobia

PHOBIA

Real Name: Angela Hawkins III

Class: Human mutant

Occupation: Aristocrat

Group Affiliation: The Society, formerly Brotherhood of Evil

Known Relatives: Hawkins (father), unnamed mother

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Paris, France

First Appearance: New Teen Titans I #14 (December, 1981)

Powers: Phobia's psychic powers gave her complete mastery over the fear centers of the brain. She could probe into the psyches of her victims, discovering their greatest phobia, and then creating life-like illusions of those fears.

History: (Titana II #22 (fb)) - Angela Hawkins III grew up a spoiled British aristocrat, and at an early age she discovered that she was a mutant with the ability to cause unreasoning fear in others. Her powers frightened her parents, and she felt emotionally detached from everyone around her. her mother had her committed to a mental institution, and out of spite and fear she drove her psychiatrists mad.

(New Teen Titans vol. 1 #14, 15) - Lacking any moral sensibilities, she used her powers to make sure her every whim was fulfilled. She grew bored with life, and jumped at the chance to join the Brotherhood of Evil when the Brain came asking for her help. As Phobia, she joined the Brotherhood on a mission of revenge against Madame Rouge and General Zahl. The confrontation took place on the island of Zandia, and the Teen Titans, who were also pursuing Rouge and Zahl, aided the Brotherhood. Rouge and Zahl were killed, and the Brotherhood and the Titans went their separate ways with the knowledge that the two groups would meet again one day under less favorable circumstances.

Phobia and the Brotherhood attempted to dethrone Brother Blood, the ruler of Zandia, and had their first fight with the Teen Titans. Phobia's manipulation of Titan Raven temporarily turned her against her teammates, but the Brotherhood was still vanquished. Phobia's confrontation with Raven forced her to confront her own fears, especially those stemming from childhood trauma.

(JSA #28, 30) - Nevada; Phobia went to Roulette's House to attend one of her gladiatorial contests. Se was among the crowd of villains that watched members of the JSA forced to fight each other.

(Identity Crisis #2) - Phobia and her companion Dr. Moon attended one of the supervillain community's semi-regular gatherings at the Injustice Gang's old satellite headquarters. They were not warmly welcomed after having made Signalman "disappear" after a previous gathering.

(Villains United #1) - Phobia joined “Lex Luthor’s” Society.

(Titans II #21, 22) - Phobia was the only member of the Brotherhood of Evil to return from the prison planet, and the loss of her teammates made her feel empty. Phobia targeted the Titans to torture them for sport, showing Cyborg his fear and regret at allowing the Titans East he formed to be injured and killed, and showing Starfire her fear of being left alone by the Titans, who she considered family. They fought past their fears and defeated Phobia.

Comments: Created by George Perez & Marv Wolfman

Phobia received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #18. She received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #3 under the Brotherhood of Evil entry. She received a profile in Who's Who in the DC Universe #8 under the Society of Sin entry.

Phobia had cameos in Beast Boy #3, Teen Titans III #32 and Titans II #9.