Squire (character)

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Squire
Ultramarine Corps
Abilities(Percy, Cyril)
Swordsmanship, martial artist, outfitted in special armor that repels swords or light projectiles.
(Beryl)
Swordsmanship, skilled martial artist, expert in all forms of communication.

Squire is the name of three fictional

superheroes appearing in media published by DC Comics. Percival Sheldrake debuted as the Squire in Young All-Stars #21 (January 1988), and was created by Roy Thomas and Michael Bair. Cyril Sheldrake debuted as the Squire in Batman #62 (December 1950), and was created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang. Beryl Hutchinson debuted as the Squire in JLA #26 (February 1999), and was created by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter
.

Publication history

Originally created in the 1950s as a counterpart to

Golden Age hero, the Shining Knight.[1]

Fictional character biography

Cyril Sheldrake

First appearing in the pages of

Ultramarine Corps
, alongside his own Squire, Beryl Hutchinson.

He reappears in Batman #667-669. He, Beryl, Batman, Robin and the rest of the Batmen of All Nations, sometimes known as the "Club of Heroes", have become trapped on an island. It was seemingly to be an innocent reunion sponsored by their billionaire benefactor, Mayhew. All the possible transports off the island have been destroyed and everyone currently believes their lives to be in danger, as the Legionary and Wingman have been killed.[2]

Percy Sheldrake

At age 20, young Percy came into leadership of his family (thus becoming Earl of Wordenshire) when his father was captured in

Nazis to justice and end their regime once and for all. He took Percy under his wing and trained him just as a knight would train a squire in his original 6th century Camelot. He bestowed upon him the name Squire, and with the help of the All-Star Squadron, they fought against Nazi Germany until the end of World War II
.

During the war, the Squire was also part of a team of adolescent superheroes called the Young Allies. Remaining together after the war, they fought against the rising threat of post-war nationals in Europe until inner conflicts caused the group to split up. Now on his own, and feeling his requisite training had been complete, Squire bestowed upon himself the name Knight, and joined yet another team (the Global Guardians) under this new name. He continued to fight for justice even after he fathered a son years later named Cyril.[3]

Beryl Hutchinson

Beryl Hutchinson first appeared in

Ultramarine Corps
of Superbia after assisting them in saving a crime-ridden micro-Earth. As well as being an expert in swordplay, she is also naturally gifted in several forms of communication, including foreign languages, gestures, and interpretation. She can even read information patterns by touch. She cares a good deal for Cyril and will protect him at any cost.

While the Sheldrakes are nobility, Beryl apparently grew up on the streets. With regard to her education, she explained to Batman "the Hutchinsons never had no money, but they always had brains and a love of the library". In contrast, in Knight and Squire #1, she says she "went to a lot of different schools. State ones and posh ones, back and forth". She attributes her communication powers to this, since she needed to shift dialects rapidly to match the school she was attending.

She reappears in

Battle for the Cowl" helping Tim Drake and Damian Wayne
over the course of the series.

She appeared in issues of Batman and Robin[6] helping Dick Grayson in his attempts to resurrect Batman with the Lazarus Pit by placing his body in it but it is revealed that it is not Bruce Wayne's body but a clone made during Final Crisis. Knight and Squire also battle a British crime lord and help Dick Grayson fight the clone.

Knight and Squire later appeared in an

Dennis the Menace
).

She also briefly shares an adventure with

Batgirl while she is in London as part of a mission for Batman Incorporated. The two heroines fix a crack in the space/time continuum that nearly freezes the entire planet in time for eternity.[9]

In

Heretic (Damian Wayne's clone), Cyril is killed.[10] Over the course of the series Beryl takes on the mantle of The Knight[11] She attempts to avenge Cyril's death, but is stopped by Batman only for Talia to kill Heretic herself.[12] Beryl is seen in the last issue fighting alongside other Batman Inc. members against the remains of Leviathan.[13]

Powers and abilities

Originally, the first Squire had no powers aside from the ones he gained by wearing special armor provided for him by Shining Knight. As they were made by

Merlin
, they possessed special properties that allowed him to avoid harm from swords or certain projectiles. He since passed this armor to his son. The newest Squire, though lacking magic armor, has the ability to interpret information by touch, as well as communicate in a number of ways. Every one of them is highly skilled in swordplay, though they have talents using other weapons or fighting hand-to-hand as well.

Other versions

In the Elseworlds 2003-2004 graphic novel Superman & Batman: Generations III, Batman and his son Bruce Wayne Jr. meet an adult Cyril Sheldrake in 2008. Now retired in a totalitarian England, Sheldrake helps the Waynes track down information left behind by Bruce's dead wife. Afterwards, the Waynes stay in London to help Sheldrake fight for freedom, and he is eventually elected Prime Minister of Great Britain.[14]

References

  1. ISBN 9780345501066
    .
  2. ^ "The Unofficial Knight Biography". Dcuguide.com. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  3. ^ "The Unofficial Knight Biography". Dcuguide.com. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  4. ^ "DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » Grant Morrison talks about the new characters introduced in BATMAN AND ROBIN v2". Dcu.blog.dccomics.com. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  5. ^ "The Unofficial Squire Biography". Dcuguide.com. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  6. ^ Batman and Robin #7-9. DC Comics.
  7. ^ "DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » Paul Cornell takes on the KNIGHT & SQUIRE". Dcu.blog.dccomics.com. 2010-07-12. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  8. ^ "Blog@Newsarama » Blog Archive » Paul Cornell on KNIGHT AND SQUIRE Mini, BRUCE WAYNE: THE ROAD HOME Announced". Blog.newsarama.com. 2010-07-12. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  9. ^ Batgirl (vol. 3) #22. DC Comics.
  10. ^ Batman Incorporated (vol. 2) #6. DC Comics.
  11. ^ Batman Incorporated (vol. 2) #9. DC Comics.
  12. ^ Batman Incorporated (vol. 2) #12. DC Comics.
  13. ^ Batman Incorporated (vol. 2) #13. DC Comics.
  14. ^ Superman & Batman: Generations III #5 (July 2003). DC Comics.

Further reading

External links

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