Origin and First Appearance of Superheroes and Villains Beginning With T

Talia al Ghul

Talia al Ghul is the daughter of villain of Ra's al Ghul and mother of Batman's son, Damian Wayne.

She is often torn between loyalty to her father and her love for Batman.

Talia is highly intelligent and a skilled fighter. Besides leading her father's League of Assassins, she has also worked for Lex Corp and was a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains.

Over the years, she and Batman had a tense and complicated relationship. The two were enemies more often than lovers.

The relation between Talia and her son Damian is also strained.

Tally Man (1993)

Tally Man grew up a poor child and witness to crime and extortion.

One night, when a thug attempts to shake down his mom for money, the 12 year old Tally Man brutally murders him.

Years later, an adult now, Tally Man works as a collector for the criminal underworld.

However, instead of collecting money, he collects lives, claiming to have killed dozens of people.

Tally Man (2006)

In 2006, a second Tally Man appeared as part of the One Year Later storyline.

It is revealed that this new Tally Man is an enforcer for Great White Shark, and seeks revenge on Two-Face.

See our Batman villains comic book price guide for more bad guy first appearances!

Talon

Talon is an Inhuman born in the 31st Century and member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

As an Inhuman, Talon has a feline form, with razor-sharp talons and canine teeth.

The talons on his hands and feet can be detached and hurled as weapons, then regrow instantly.

Talon also has a bit of knowledge about using magic.

Tarantula

The Tarantula was an Argentine mercenary and super villain (complete with bandana-style, tied-on mask) named Anton Miguel Rodriguez, who appeared frequently as a Spider-Man adversary.

Originally, he had no super-powers, but was outfitted with boots tipped with retractable, sharply-pointed, poison-coated "stings," and similarly-poisoned retractable blades in his gloves.

Later, he mutated into a giant tarantula form, and gained the powers of a real spider (web-spinning, proportionally-great strength, etc.), before he committed suicide by leaping from a building, horrified at his mutated state.

Learn the value of later Amazing Spider-Man issues here.

Tar Pit

Joey Monteleone was a low life criminal when he discovered he had the ability to inhabit inanimate objects.

With this ability, he moved his conscious around until he got "stuck" in asphalt. 

With this new body, made of molten asphalt, he is practically invulnerable.

Using his new ability, he begins a new life of crime, and even becomes a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains.

Taskmaster

Little is known about the shadowy figure that is Taskmaster.

Ever since he was a kid, Taskmaster was able to instantly duplicate nearly any movement he saw, calling it "photographic reflexes".

Instead of using his powers for good, Taskmaster decides to train super villains in hand-to-hand combat and defensive maneuvers.

His most notable students include Crossbones, Cutthroat, Spymaster, Spider-Woman, and Agent X.

Tattooed Man

After being presumed dead, US Marine Mark Richards showed up in Gotham City several years later as a hitman known as Tattooed Man.

Through a secret ritual he learned while lost in Modora, he developed sin-grafting – a process where sins from the people he killed become living tattoos on his body.

Using his power, he can turn these tattoos into living creatures and direct them in battle.

Teen Titans

The Teen Titans gave several superhero sidekicks a chance to do things on their own.

Aqualad, Kid Flash (Wally West), and Robin (Dick Grayson) team up to defeat a villain named Mister Twister.

Soon afterward, they are joined by Wonder Girl (Donna Troy), Wonder Woman's younger sister, and begin calling themselves The Teen Titans.

Green Arrow's sidekick Speedy (Roy Harper, Jr.) joined later, and the team lasted a while, being updated in the 1970s and the 80s, both major reboots.

The New Teen Titans was very successful, and became (arguably) the most popular comic book of the 1980s.

The Titans still exist, despite many other reboots and retcons.

Ten-Eyed Man

After being blinded in an explosion, Philip Reardon undergoes experimental surgery which allows him to see through his fingertips, becoming the Ten-Eyed Man.

Blaming Batman for his condition, Ten-Eyed Man seeks revenge, but fails each time.

Later, he is put out of his misery during the Infinite Crisis storyline.

Terra-Man

Toby Manning was born during the gun-slinging days of the American Wild West, but was taken from Earth by an alien.

Because of his Earthly origins, he is given the name Terra-Man.

Later, he is transported to modern day and begins a life of crime using advanced alien weaponry.

During the post-Crisis rewrite, Toby's backstory is changed and he gains the name Terra-Man, because he is on a mission to prevent ecological destruction of the planet.

Terrible Tinkerer

Terrible Tinkerer, sometimes known as Tinkerer, is a genius inventor who can create amazing things from seemingly useless parts.

Tinkerer uses a radio repair shop as a front for his business of making advanced weaponry for Spider-Man villains.

Terrible Trio (DC)

The Terrible Trio was made up of Fox, Shark, and Vulture, three genius inventors in Gotham City who decided a life of crime would be more profitable. 

The group's defining characteristic was that they wore business suits while wearing masks of animals.

See our Batman villains list for more infamous Gotham bad guys.

Terrible Trio (Marvel)

The Marvel Universe version of the Terrible Trio was made up of Bull Brogin, Harry Phillips, and Yogi Dakor, three criminals brought together by Doctor Doom. 

Doom gives each of criminal superpowers, and enlists them to defeat the Fantastic Four.

They fail and Doom sends them to another dimension.

Later, they reappear, helping various criminal organizations.

Thanos

Thanos is an extraterrestrial, born on Saturn's moon, Titan.

For some reason, after he was born, Thanos' mother attempted to kill him, thus spurring his fascination with death.

Later, Thanos murders his entire family.

Thanos is obsessed with Mistress Death and obtaining the Cosmic Cube. He believes that killing his is best way to impress Mistress Death. 

Despite his appearance, Thanos is a genius with knowledge in science well beyond Earthlings.

Additionally, he is master of war, capable of besting many of Earth's superheroes. 

They Who Wield Power

They Who Wield Power was an evil organization composed of Tyrannus, Keeper of the Flame, and Prince Rey.

Thinker

Thinker is the alias of several DC Universe villains, most of whom use their brains over brawn to fulfill their criminal ways.

Most Thinkers use telepathy and psionic powers to control their victims.

Thor

Dr. Don Blake, on vacation in Norway, becomes trapped in a cave after a landslide.

Despairing of ever getting out, he bangs an old walking stick he has found against the rocks and is transformed into the Mighty Thor, Norse God of Thunder, complete with long blond hair, winged helmet, and enchanted uru hammer, Mjolnir.

He escapes and begins using his ability to become the Thunder God to help humanity.

Later, it is revealed that Thor had been trapped on earth and his identity is actually separate from Donald Blake's.

Thor has tremendous strength and endurance, and can control thunder and lightning. His hammer is indestructible and always returns to him. He can also survive in space without a pressure suit.

Thor helped found the Avengers, and is still an important hero in the Marvel universe, with two superhero movies of his own to date.

See our full article for more values of Thor comics.

Thunderbolts

Thunderbolts are a team of villains/heroes with an identity problem.

Originally appearing as a team of heroes who battle the Hulk, they were eventually revealed to be the Masters of Evil in disguise.

Living as heroes, even in disguise, however, had changed some of them, so that the line between good and evil became blurred and was frequently crossed.

The original lineup was Citizen V (actually Baron Zemo), Metorite (actually Moonstone), Atlas (actually the pre-Luke Cage villain Power Man and now known as Goliath), Mach VII (actually The Beetle), Fixer (actually the villain previously known as Techno), and Songbird (actually the villain Screaming Mimi).

By the end of the first issue of Thunderbolts' own title, however, the deception was revealed. They have appeared, in various incarnations and with varying membership, from time to time, through to the present day.

Tigress

The Tigress (later the Huntress) was Paula Brooks, who had started out as a hero, but switched to evil for unknown reasons.

She attempted to add Wildcat to her collection of trophies, but failed.

After changing her name to the Huntress, she married the Sportsmaster and battled the JSA many times.

She is also the mother of Artemis Crock, the most current Tigress.

See our roundup of female super villains here.

Tim Boo Ba

Tim Boo Ba was a reptilian alien from the microscopic planet Devoktos.

He attempts to conquer the entire Microverse, but he is wiped out by a "flood", which is actually just a drop of water. 

Later, Tim Boo Ba appears again and tricks Googam into using the scientific equipment of Mister Fantastic to enlarge him.

However, he is quickly defeated by other monsters and hasn't been seen since.

Titanium Man

Boris Bullski was an ex-KGB agent who commissioned a scientist to build him a Crimson Dynamo-like suit of armor, in hopes of defeating the American hero Iron Man. 

After being defeated twice, Titanium Man forms the Titanic Three with Radioactive Man and Crimson Dynamo.

Later, several other people take up the Titanium Man mantle in hopes of defeating Iron Man.

Titano

Titano is a giant ape and enemy of Superman. 

Originally working as an astronaut, Titano's  ship was bombarded with radiation, changing him into a giant ape with the ability to emit beams of Kryptonite radiation from his eyes.

Nasty!

Toad

Mortimer Toynbee is a super villain mutant with the ability to jump great distances, extend his tongue over 25 feet, and climb up walls.

Beginning as a weak and fearful mutant, Toad became Magneto's servant in the first incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

Toad eventually led his own version of the Brotherhood, without much success.

Toad is often plagued with doubts, depression, and weakness, and he often relies on other mutants to help him.

Tony Zucco

Tony Zucco is a mafia boss who is responsible for the death of Dick Grayson's parents.

After Grayson is adopted by Batman and becomes Robin, he ensures that Zucco is sent to jail.

Later, after Zucco wins parole, he is gunned down by a hired killer.

Top

Roscoe Dillon was a small-time crook, who somehow taught himself how to spin around fast enough to deflect bullets and develop psionic powers. 

In his first scheme, Top tried to hold the world ransom with an Atomic Top that would destroy half the world when it slowed down.

However, the Flash quickly defeated the villain.

Later, Top joins the Rogues, but is killed by Captain Cold.

In the Blackest Night storyline, Top is resurrected.

T. O. Morrow

T. O. Morrow was a brilliant inventor who developed a device that could look into the future.

While he did this, Morrow replicated advanced technology he saw there, bringing them to life in the modern day.

Using his futuristic inventions, Morrow creates three duplicates of the Green Lantern to commit crimes on his behalf, but his scheme is easily stopped by the Flash.

Later, Morrow travels between several dimensions and parallel worlds.

Toyman

Toyman is the alias of several DC Universe villains who use toy-based weapons and schemes to commit crimes.

The most well-known Toyman is Winslow Percival Schott, a toymaker fired from his job.

Blaming Lex Luthor, Schott seeks revenge on Luthor and Metropolis, coming into conflict with Superman.

Trickster

Trickster is an enemy of the Flash who employs a number of gadgets to commit crime, including shoes that allow him to fly. 

Trickster originally began as James Jesse, a trapeze artist extraordinaire who enjoyed committing elaborate crimes with his silly inventions.

While a villain most of the time, Trickster had an integral role in defeating Neron when he attempted to unleash Hell on Earth.

Later, Trickster joins the FBI, but his identity is stolen by Axel Walker, who becomes the next Trickster.

Trigger Twins

The Trigger Twins follows the adventures of a pair of twin brothers, Walt and Wayne Trigger.

Walt is a sheriff, while Wayne is a civilian. 

While Walt goes out on various adventures and missions, Wayne covers his shift as the sheriff. 

Later, Tom and Tad Trigger are the modern day Trigger Twins, appearing in Detective Comics #667.

These Trigger Twins are criminals and rob Gotham City banks together.

Tsunami

Tsunami is a Japanese-American and ally of the All-Star Squadron.

She originally fought for the Japanese during WWII, but reformed.

Tsunami is capable of creating and controlling powerful waves, and also has superhuman strength and speed.

Turtle

Turtle is a Golden Age super villain of the Flash. 

Turtle hoped to take over Keystone City using his henchmen, but his plan backfires when a bomb he intended for the Flash kills him instead.

Tweedledum and Tweedledee

Dumfree Tweed and Deever Tweed are cousins who lead their own criminal organization.

Occasionally, they work for the Joker as well.

Because of their resemblance to the Lewis Carroll characters Tweedledee and Tweedledum, they often team up with the Mad Hatter.

The villainous duo have no super powers, but their fat and round bodies enable them to bounce off surfaces and roll.

Two-Face

Two-Face was once Harvey Dent, the district attorney of Gotham City and ally of Batman. 

After getting acid thrown in his face by mob boss Sal Maroni, he went insane, adopting his Two-Face persona.

Two-Face chooses to bring about good or evil by of the flip of a coin, the same way his abusive father would employ a nightly game that would always end in a beating. 

Two-Face plots his crimes based around the number 2, and he has acted as both an enemy and ally of Batman, but cares little about good, evil, or partnerships.

Typeface

Gordon Thomas was a man who experienced several traumatic events in his life.

First, his brother died in war, then his wife left him and took their son.

Later, his sign making business is bought by an evil business man and he is laid off.

Seeking revenge, Thomas becomes Typeface, a deranged, weapon-wielding man with nothing to lose.

When Typeface is stopped by Spider-Man, he realizes the error in his ways and goes on to become a crime fighter.