| Character Name: | Gnarrk |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Debut: | Teen Titans #32 (April 1971) |
| Creators: | Bob Haney, George Tuska |
| Real Name: | John Gnarrk |
| Species: | Neanderthal |
| Alliances: | Teen Titans |
| Aliases: | Caveboy |
| Powers: |
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Gnarrk is a fictional character in DC Comics. He is a caveman who has been a member of various versions of the Teen Titans in the comic books in the early 1970s.
Prior to the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Gnarrk was a time-displaced Neanderthal stranded in the present. Through love and telepathic communication, Lilith teaches him human language and customs. Later, both retire from the Teen Titans to live together, apparently as a couple. Later, Gnarrk and Lilith briefly joined Teen Titans West before it disbanded.[1] Several years later at Donna Troy's wedding, Lilith mentioned that Gnarrk had died under unspecified circumstances.
Post-Crisis, Gnarrk was a Cro-Magnon who gained enhanced intelligence from a comet shard embedded in his chest.[2] Soon afterward, the shard protected him from a volcanic eruption by encasing him in ice for centuries. However, he remained conscious and used the shard's abilities to cure disease and control the forces of nature to benefit mankind.
Based on psychic flashes from Lilith, the Teen Titans traveled to Southeast Asia, where they eventually found Gnarrk still encased in ice. He sensed Lilith's presence and called out to her. Lilith used her powers to establish a mental rapport with Gnarrk. He told her his name, and she found out his true origins and intentions. Although Lilith was dating Don Hall (Dove) at the time, she nonetheless found herself attracted to the gentle soul.
The Titans brought Gnarrk back to S.T.A.R. Labs, where they learned that he was dying. The S.T.A.R. scientists wanted to dissect him, but the Titans prevented them from doing so. Gnarrk remained on life support for almost a year before eventually dying, after which his comet shard lost its powers.[3] [4]
Gnarrk is a member of the original incarnation of the Teen Titans. Nothing is known about his past, though Gnarrk is shown fully integrated into society when he meets Roy Harper. Along with Hank Hall and Dawn Granger, Roy and Gnarrk are met by Lilith. Lilith explains how they were the original Teen Titans and how she was forced to erase their memories of their group and each other, to protect them after their souls became entangled with an occult ritual conducted by Mr. Twister.[5]
During the Heroes in Crisis storyline, Gnarrk is a patient at the Sanctuary rehabilitation center before being killed by Savitar.[6] However, he is eventually replaced with a clone of him from the 31st century.
Being a Cro-Magnon, Gnarrk possesses greater strength, dexterity, and endurance. When a comet embedded a chunk of crystal into his chest, it caused a transformation in Gnarrk where it expanded his mind and understanding. The full range of his expanded mental abilities were uncatalogued.