Tasmanian Devil

TASMANIAN DEVIL

Real Name: Hugh Dawkins

Class: Human mutant

Occupation: Superhero, formerly engineer, drama coach

Group Affiliation: Global Guardians II, formerly Global Guardians, Justice League International

Known Relatives: unnamed parents

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Canberra, Australia

First Appearance: Super-Friends #9 (December, 1977)

Powers: Hugh Dawkins could transform into the Tasmanian Devil, and in this form he had superhuman strength, speed and agility. The Tasmanian Devil had amazing burrowing abilities, able to dig quickly through soil and solid rock. He also had enhanced hearing, sense of smell and night-vision.

History: Hugh Dawkins was born a mutant, able to transform into the Tasmanian Devil, a were-beast described in Australian myth. While Hugh was a pacifist his alter ego was aggressive and bestial. His parents had a hard time dealing with him until the day he saved his father's life and earned their acceptance. He became a superhero of note in Tasmania, until he was contacted by Dr. Mist and invited to join the Global Guardians. Tasmanian Devil fought alongside the Global Guardians for years until their headquarters were destroyed and the team disbanded.

Tasmanian Devil earned a spot in the JLI after helping to rebuild the JL Embassy which was destroyed during the Invasion.

(Identity Crisis #1) - Tasmanian Devil was among the number of heroes that attended Sue Dibny's funeral.

(Green Lantern IV #10, 11, 15 (fb, BTS))) - Tasmanian Devil joined the new Global Guardians. The Faceless Hunters mind-controlled the Global Guardians to claim a bounty set on Hal Jordan by Amon Sur. The Guardians called a U.N. press conference to condemn Green Lantern for breaking the Freedom of Powers Act that forbid American metahumans on foreign soil. They’d worked hard to make it clear that the act was unnecessary because metahumans could act responsibly, and Lantern was frustrating their work. The Guardians went to France to recruit Crimson Fox, but she told them she disliked their vilification of Green Lantern for doing his job. Gloss told her she didn’t have an option.

(Green Lantern IV #14-17) - Tasmanian Devil and the Guardians confronted Hal after he once again broke the Freedom of Powers Act to attack a terrorist cell in Chechnya that had his friend Cowgirl captive. Jet incinerated the terrorists and decided to blame Hal for her actions to vindicate their statements that he was a threat to international relations. The Guardians subdued Hal, but the Hunters disliked Hall’s resistance and strong will, and debated lobotomizing him before handing him over to Sur. They were interrupted by the Rocket Red Brigade, who were after Hal for violating Russian airspace, and the JLofA, who wanted to bring Hal home. The League held off the Brigade while Hal rescued Cowlgirl, and Hal told the League to send the Global Guardians to Martian Manhunter, so he could unscramble their minds. Martian Manhunter rebooted their minds, turning them from pawns back into the heroes they were. Their first act as heroes was to repair Edwards Air Force Base, which had been torn asunder by Amon Sur, the Faceless Hunters’ employee.

Comments: Created by E. Nelson Bridwell & Ramona Fradon

In the pre-Crisis DC Universe Tasmanian Devil lived on Earth-1A.

Tasmanian Devil received a profile in Who’s Who in the DC Universe #12. He received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #9 under the Global Guardians entry.

Tasmanian Devil had a cameo in Green Lantern IV #12.