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| As a result of the New 52 in 2011, the entire line of DC characters was relaunched, incorporating properties belonging to the company's imprints: Wildstorm, Milestone, and Vertigo. As such, elements of this character's history have been altered in some way from the previous incarnation. For a complete list of all versions of this character, see our disambiguation page. |
You were never good enough for the Squad, you two-bit shape-shifter. 
The Tattooed Man is a supervillain and member of the Green Lantern's rogues' gallery with the power to bring his tattoos to life.
History
The Tattooed Man was an inmate at Belle Reve, a prison for superhuman criminals in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. Though he was never a member of the Suicide Squad, Belle Reve warden Amanda Waller's team of convicts pressed into the service of the United States Government, he attempted to kill Waller when the prison's inmates were set loose by the villainous Crime Syndicate. During their confrontation, however, she bandaged an explosive to the back of his head and detonated it, killing him.[1]
He later resurfaced, alive, after the Crime Syndicate's defeat as a member of the Secret Society of Super-Villains, but was captured in mopping-up efforts by the Justice League.[2] With those of his fellow Green Lantern foes still on Earth, the Tattooed Man attended gathering of supervillains—a proposed alliance dubbed the "League of Villainy"—in an underground subway tunnel. He reported on the unpleasant fate met by another Tattooed Man before the meeting was cut short when the vigilante the Comedian began firing into the crowd.[3] Another Green Lantern rogue, Hector Hammond, later created an automaton with the Tattooed Man's likeness and abilities to pit against their mutual enemy.[4]
The Tattooed Man and the Secret Society
The Tattooed Man joined a new Secret Society of Super-Villains, a pragmatic group of criminals formed in opposition to the Legion of Doom. He was present in the Society's headquarters when its leader, the Calculator, was confronted and killed by his pawn Deathstroke in a bid to take over the group.[5] He was beaten by Deathstroke's erstwhile ally the Black Canary as she fled, and pledged himself to Deathstroke's leadership,[6] under which he fought unsuccessfully against Slipknot of Talia al Ghul's Demon's Shadow,[7] and joined in an assault on Titans Tower, where he performed better against the Titan Arsenal.[8] The Tattooed Man was later among the Secret Society members who fell under the sway of the Great Darkness, and were made to attack the Hall of Justice in Washington, D.C. with Pariah's Dark Army.[9] In the chaos of the Great Darkness' defeat by the heroes of Earth, the Society's members scattered and fled.[10]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Body Art Animation: The Tattooed Man's body is covered with various tattoos, such as a giant snake, that he can animate and control.[8]
Notes
- The Tattooed Man was created by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane, first appearing in Green Lantern (Volume 2) #23. However, The Tattooed Man first appeared as part of Prime Earth continuity in Suicide Squad (Volume 4) #24 by Matt Kindt and Patrick Zircher.
- Although Tarrant is specified not to be the original Tattooed Man in Doomsday Clock #6, he was the first to use the identity in pre-Flashpoint continuity.
Related
- 10 Appearances of Abel Tarrant (Prime Earth)
- 3 Images featuring Abel Tarrant (Prime Earth)
- Quotations by or about Abel Tarrant (Prime Earth)
- Character Gallery: Abel Tarrant (Prime Earth)
Footnotes
  Secret Society of Super-Villains member |