Nyssa Raatko
| Nyssa al Ghul | |
|---|---|
 Cover to Batman: Death and the Maidens #3. Klaus Janson, artist | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Detective Comics #783 (August 2003) |
| Created by | Greg Rucka (writer) Klaus Janson (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Nyssa Al Ghul |
| Team affiliations | League of Assassins |
| Notable aliases | Nyssa al Ghul, Nyssa Queen |
| Abilities |
|
Nyssa Raatko (
Nyssa made her first live-action appearance as a recurring character on the
Fictional character biography
In Batman: Death and the Maidens, it is revealed that Ra's al Ghul and a Russian-Jewish peasant woman had a love child named Nyssa born during his travels in Russia in the 18th century. Enamored by the romantic stories that her mother told her about Ra's as a child, Nyssa sets out to find Ra's and eventually locates him at his headquarters in North Africa.[2]
Impressed by her beauty, warrior skills, and her determination and ability to locate him, he promotes her as his right hand associate and they go on adventures together. Ra's is so impressed with her abilities, he even allows Nyssa to use his Lazarus Pits. Like her sister Talia, Nyssa eventually becomes disenchanted with Ra's genocidal plans to "cleanse the Earth", and disassociates herself from her father sometime in the early 20th century. Ra's reluctantly approves this, believing that she will return to him and that she or her children will become his future heirs. To his disappointment, Nyssa refuses to give herself or her family to him, causing him to disown her permanently. He does however allow her to keep a Lazarus Pit for herself which helps her survive until the modern times.
The Second World War
During World War II, Nyssa and her family are quickly sent to a concentration camp, where Nyssa's entire family dies and she is rendered infertile by very Mengele-style experiments. At one point she begs Ra's for help, but he refuses her.
Death and the Maidens
Broken by her horrifying experiences during this time, and enraged that Ra's has abandoned her and her family to die at the hands of the Nazis, Nyssa is finally motivated to act when her great-grandson – her last living descendant - is killed. She plots to kill Ra's by befriending, kidnapping, and brainwashing Talia and using her to kill Ra's. To this end, she captures Talia and, using a Lazarus Pit, kills and resurrects her in rapid succession. Rendered apathetic by her time in the camp, unable to feel anything, Nyssa then attempts to destroy all hope and optimism in the world by assassinating Superman with Kryptonite bullets she steals from the Batcave, hoping that, by uniting the world in one moment of tragedy, she will manage to rouse herself once more.
While Batman is successful in preventing the assassination of Superman, he is unable to stop Ra's from being killed by Nyssa.[3] This in turn is part of a greater plan by Ra's to ensure that his daughters, both initially dissatisfied with his plans, will realize that he is right, and that they would come to accept their destinies as his heirs. Realizing and accepting this, both Nyssa and Talia become the heads of the League of Assassins.
Lazarus Pit
The Lazarus pit can grant restorative properties that can heal injuries and even grant immortality. Nyssa owns one of the world's last Lazarus Pits, which has granted her longevity and the ability to heal her wounds; she survives The Holocaust thanks to its powers. She also found the ability to use the pit multiple times. She is also extremely wealthy, especially since she assumes control of Ra's' organization and joins forces with Talia. Like her father and half-sister, she knows every of Batman's secrets.
"Infinite Crisis"
During "
"Vast stockpiles of food rot, while people starve. Millions die from curable diseases, while drug companies rake in the billions. Our environment chokes on our waste, becoming so toxic that life fails. It's genocide by greed, apathy, and neglect. These are the real crimes. Something must change... The Society's plans are vast. They will succeed. I can't stop them. When the world gets a true taste of violent oppression, and their heroes lie dead and broken – apathy will die. That's when you'll lead my league to sanction key society members. Leaving Talia and I to lead the revolution. A new world will be born, one of peace and equality. Millions of lives will be saved".
Cassandra refuses, and, along with Mr. Freeze, escapes from Nyssa's grasp.
In "One Year Later", Nyssa is seen in Northern Africa, planning an unknown plot with two terrorists. As she gets into her car to leave, it explodes.[4] In the following issue, Lady Shiva reports that Nyssa Raatko is dead where she was probably killed by the League of Assassins.[5]
In other media
Television
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- Nyssa al Ghul appears in series set in the Arrowverse, portrayed by Katrina Law:
- First appearing in the Mia Smoak, Oliver and Felicity Smoak's secret daughter, throughout her childhood. In the series finale episode "Fadeout", Nyssa reconciles with Talia at Oliver's funeral.
- Nyssa al Ghul appears in Bootstrap paradox. She makes an appearance in "River in Time", where Sara says goodbye to her before she leaves on the Waverider.
- Nyssa al Ghul appears in one of the tie-in comic books of the Wally West.[6]
- First appearing in the
- Nyssa al Ghul appears in the Hugo Strange. After Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne convince Riddler to turn over evidence on Nyssa, she is ousted from the government and forced to go on the run. After arriving in Gotham, she reveals to Bruce that she is Nyssa al Ghul, seeking vengeance for her father's death. Nyssa is ultimately defeated by Gordon and Barbara Kean, but escapes with Oswald Cobblepot's submarine, forcing Bruce to leave the city in pursuit of her.
Video games
Nyssa Raatko is a character known for her appearances in various Batman media, including the "Batman: Arkham Knight" video game:
Character Background: Nyssa Raatko is the estranged daughter of Ra's al Ghul, the infamous leader of the League of Assassins, and the younger sister of Talia al Ghul. Despite her familial ties, Nyssa has distanced herself from her father's ruthless pursuits and seeks to forge her own path. She is depicted as a determined and principled individual, striving to make amends for her family's dark legacy while also asserting her independence.
Appearances: Nyssa Raatko appears in the "Shadow War" Season of Infamy Side Mission in the "Batman: Arkham Knight" video game. In this mission, she leads a rebellion against her father and his loyalists within the League of Assassins, aiming to take control of the organization and prevent further harm from being inflicted upon innocents.
Personality Traits: Nyssa is characterized as a strategic and principled individual, driven by her desire to enact positive change and protect those in need. She values honesty, integrity, and fairness, and is willing to make tough decisions to uphold her beliefs. Despite her tough exterior, Nyssa also harbors a softer side, displaying compassion and a longing for genuine relationships built on trust and sincerity.
Physical Appearance: Nyssa Raatko is described as having silky dark red hair, brown eyes with smoky eyelashes, and a youthful and rare beauty. She possesses prominent cheekbones, a slightly elongated and thin chin, and a simple, thin nose. Nyssa is depicted as having a pure athletic body, exuding both strength and grace.
Age and Height: Based on the provided information, Nyssa is estimated to be born in the early 1990s, likely around 1990 to 1992, making her in her late twenties during the events of "Batman: Arkham Knight." She stands at an impressive height of approximately 1.77 meters (5 feet 10 inches).
Family: Nyssa's adoptive family includes her father figure, Ra's al Ghul (referred to as "fake papa"), and her sister figure, Talia al Ghul (referred to as "fake sister"). Despite their familial connections, Nyssa maintains a strained relationship with them due to their involvement in the League of Assassins' sinister activities.
References
- ISBN 9780345501066.
- ^ Batman: Death and the Maidens #6 (March 2004)
- ^ Batman: Death and the Maidens #8 (May 2004)
- Robin(vol. 2) #148 (May 2006)
- ^ Robin (vol. 2) #149 (June 2006)
- ^ McMillan, Graeme (December 5, 2019). "How the CW's 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' is jumping to comics". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
