Weather Wizard Explained
Weather Wizard (Mark Mardon) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.
Weather Wizard made his first live-action appearance in the television specials Legends of the Superheroes (1979), played by Jeff Altman. The character latter appeared in the television series The Flash, played by actor Liam McIntyre, who played Mark Mardon. He appeared in the 2014 first, second and fifth season of the series. Clyde Mardon appeared in the 2014 pilot episode of The Flash, played by actor Chad Rook.
Publication history
Created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, the character made his first appearance in The Flash #110 (December 1959).[1]
Fictional character biography
Early life
Mark Mardon is the brother of Clyde Mardon, a scientist who discovered a method to control weather before dying of a heart attack.[2] Mark uses Clyde's research to create a weather-manipulating wand and become a criminal.[3]
After Barry Allen's death in Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Weather Wizard retires for a time before returning during Underworld Unleashed.
Weather Wizard joined up with Blacksmith and her rogues. Through her, he learns he has a son from a one-night stand with Keystone City police officer Julie Jackham. Their son, Josh, had exhibited internalized weather-controlling abilities and Mardon wanted to have the same ability without the use of his wand. He tried to kidnap Josh from Wally's wife, Linda, and dissect him to understand how his son gained that ability, but hesitated to harm the child. He was stopped by Flash and sent to Iron Heights, but escaped. After Blacksmith's group disbanded, the Weather Wizard, along with Mirror Master and Trickster, joined up with Captain Cold, who declared himself the leader of the Rogues. Mardon was also the representative of the rogues for the Secret Society of Super Villains.
One Year Later
In One Year Later, Inertia approaches the Rogues with a plan to kill the Flash. He destroys Weather Wizard's wand and removes the mental blocks that prevent him from using his powers without it. Though Inertia is eventually defeated, the other Rogues beat Bart to death. Weather Wizard is horrified to discover that they killed a child.[4]
Salvation Run
Weather Wizard is one of the exiled villains featured in Salvation Run along with his fellow Rogues: Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Mirror Master, and Abra Kadabra.
Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge
In , Weather Wizard and the rest of the Rogues reject Libra's offer, wanting to stay out of the game. Before they can retire, they hear of Inertia escaping and work together to kill him.[5] [6]
The Flash (vol. 3)
Weather Wizard and the Rogues visit Sam Scudder's old hideout and unveil a giant mirror with the words In Case of Flash: Break Glass written on it.[7] Afterward, Mardon is still on the run with the Rogues.[8]
The New 52
In The New 52 timeline, while Weather Wizard's past with Barry Allen remains almost unchanged, his origins are slightly different. Now called Marco Mardon he and his brother, Claudio, are Latino and the heads of an organized crime family. After their father's death Marco runs away, eventually becoming the Weather Wizard, but is called back after Claudio's murder. The Flash, looking for Patty Spivot who had been kidnapped, later attacks and submits Mardon forcing Elsa, his brother's widow, to reveal she was the kidnapper and also Claudio's killer. This revelation drives Marco to the edge, making him attempt a suicide-murder by calling lightning to strike himself and Elsa, but he survives and is approached by the Golden Glider for an unknown plot.[9]
In Doomsday Clock, Weather Wizard and the Rogues are among the villains who meet with the Riddler to discuss the Superman Theory.[10]
Powers, abilities, and equipment
Weather Wizard originally wields a wand that enables him to control weather patterns. Mark has utilized it to project blizzards, summon lightning bolts, fly via air currents, create fog, and generate winds. Essentially, he could produce any type of weather imaginable, as well as other phenomena such as tornadoes.[11] Thanks to Inertia's 30th century psychological therapies, his mental blocks were permanently removed. Weather Wizard can now manipulate the weather without his wand.
In The New 52 reality, Marco Mardon returns to utilize his weather wand, but reveals that the device drove him crazy.
Other versions
- Weather Weasel, a funny animal incarnation of Weather Wizard, appears in Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew.[12]
- An alternate universe variant of Weather Wizard from Earth-33, a world populated by magicians, appears in Countdown to Adventure #3.[13]
- An unnamed former prostitute equipped with one of Weather Wizard's wands named Weather Witch appears in "Gotham Underground" and Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge as a member of the New Rogues.[14]
- An alternate timeline variant of Weather Wizard appears in the Flashpoint tie-in Citizen Cold.[15] This version is a founding member of the Rogues who seeks revenge on Citizen Cold for murdering his brother Clyde before eventually being killed by him.[16] [17]
- A futuristic incarnation of Weather Wizard called Weather Warlock, appears in The Flash (vol. 3) as a police officer and member of the Renegades from the 25th century.
In other media
Television
- Weather Wizard appears in Legends of the Superheroes, portrayed by Jeff Altman. This version is a member of the Legion of Doom.
- The writers of The Flash (1990), Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo, attempted to use Weather Wizard, but did not have enough money to do so and had to wait until they had a larger budget. Ultimately however, the plan failed to materialize after the show was canceled.[18]
- A character based on Weather Wizard called Dr. Eno / Weatherman appears in Justice League of America, portrayed by Miguel Ferrer.
- Weather Wizard appears in , voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.[19] This version is a member of the Rogues and the Legion of Doom.
- Weather Wizard appears in , voiced by Matthew Senreich. This version is a member of the Legion of Doom.
- Clyde and Mark Mardon appear in The Flash (2014), portrayed by Chad Rook and Liam McIntyre respectively.[20] Introduced in the series pilot, these versions are bank robbers and the uncle and father of Joslyn "Joss" Jackam / Weather Witch respectively who were caught in a plane crash when S.T.A.R. Labs' particle accelerator exploded, giving them both the ability to manipulate the weather. After Joe West kills Clyde, Mark attempts to seek revenge, facing the Flash on several occasions along the way.
- Mark Mardon makes a non-speaking appearance in the second season of Vixen.[21]
DC Animated Universe
Weather Wizard appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), voiced initially by Miguel Ferrer and subsequently by Corey Burton.
- Introduced in the episode "Speed Demons", this version is a former extortionist from Central City and brother of Ben Mardon. Weather Wizard takes advantage of Superman and the Flash's competition for the title of the "fastest man alive" to siphon their energy to power his weather-manipulating machinery and track their coordinates, both through arm bands the pair are wearing. However, the heroes discover Weather Wizard's plans and defeat him with Ben's help.
- Weather Wizard appears in the Justice League two-part episode "Hereafter". He joins the Superman Revenge Squad to pursue their eponymous goal, only to be defeated by Batman.
- Weather Wizard appears in Justice League Unlimited as a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society before being killed by Darkseid.
Film
Video games
- Weather Wizard appears in , voiced again by Corey Burton.
- Weather Wizard appears in DC Universe Online, voiced by Brandon Young.
- Weather Wizard appears as a character summon in .[22]
Miscellaneous
- A second, unnamed Weather Wizard resembling the mainstream incarnation appears in issue #38 of the Justice League Unlimited tie-in comic book.[23]
- Weather Wizard appears in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic as a member of the Rogues, who work with Batman's Insurgency to cripple Superman's Regime, until he is killed by Bizarro.
External links
Notes and References
- Book: Cowsill . Alan . Irvine . Alex . Korte . Steve . Manning . Matt . Wiacek . Win . Wilson . Sven . The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe . 2016 . DK Publishing . 978-1-4654-5357-0 . 325.
- Final Crisis: Rogue's Revenge #2
- Book: Rovin, Jeff . The Encyclopedia of Supervillains . Facts on File . 1987 . New York . 0-8160-1356-X . 370.
- All Flash #1
- Final Crisis: Rogue's Revenge #1
- Final Crisis: Rogue's Revenge #3
- Flash Secret Files and Origins (2010)
- The Flash (vol. 3) #1 (April 2010)
- The Flash (vol. 4) #10 (June 2012)
- Doomsday Clock #6 (July 2018). DC Comics.
- Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol 1 #25 (March 1987)
- Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew #14, April 1983
- Countdown to Adventure #3
- "Gotham Underground" #3
- Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1 (June 2011)
- Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #2 (July 2011)
- Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #3 (August 2011)
- Behind the Scenes with the Flash. The Flash TV Special. 1. 1991.
- Web site: Weather Wizard Voices (Flash) . July 15, 2024 . Behind The Voice Actors. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- News: Starnes . Joshua . July 27, 2014 . Comic-Con: Recap of DC Entertainment Night Featuring Arrow, The Flash and Constantine . July 27, 2014 . Superhero Hype.
- Web site: Jayson . Jay . July 24, 2016 . Vixen Season 2 Sneak Peek Released . July 15, 2024 . comicbook.com . en.
- Web site: Eisen . Andrew . October 2, 2013 . DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide . July 15, 2024 . IGN . en.
- Justice League Unlimited #38
