Guardian (DC Comics)#Post-Infinite Crisis

He first appeared in Star-Spangled Comics #7 (April 1942) and was created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon.{{Citation | last = Greenberger | first = Robert | author-link = Robert Greenberger | contribution = Guardian | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia | pages = 150 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | place = New York | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1 | oclc = 213309017}}{{cite book|last=Wallace|first= Daniel|editor-last = Dolan|editor-first = Hannah|chapter= 1940s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=Dorling Kindersley |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 41 |quote = Joe Simon and Jack Kirby took their talents to a second title with Star-Spangled Comics, tackling both the Guardian and the Newsboy Legion in issue #7.}}

File:Star-Spangled Comics -7 (April 1942).png, Joe Simon|pub=DC}}]]

Jim Harper is a police officer in Metropolis' Suicide Slum who becomes a vigilante to catch crooks that the law could not prosecute, describing himself as guarding society from criminals.{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |author-link=Robert Greenberger |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |author-link2=Martin Pasko |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |pages=111–113}} He was trained by ex-boxer Joe Morgan, who also trained Wildcat and Atom. He doesn't have superpowers, but he carries a bulletproof shield.{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |page=120}}

He is aided by a group of boys known as the Newsboy Legion, to whom he is, literally, a guardian, having volunteered to take them in rather than allowing them to be sent to prison; he does so on the grounds that they are good kids who just needed a chance.{{cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=Roy |author-link=Roy Thomas |title=The All-Star Companion: Vol 2 |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1893905375 |page=84}} The Legion grows up to become the heads of the Cadmus Project, subsequently saving Harper's life by transferring his mind into a younger clone of himself.

It is later revealed that Jim Harper is the great-uncle of Roy Harper, who becomes Green Arrow's sidekick under the name of "Speedy".Superboy (vol. 4) #82 (January 2001)

Other relatives include his niece Roberta "Famous Bobby" Harper, who is briefly a member of the second Newsboy LegionGuardians of Metropolis #1 (November 1994) and Jamie Harper, his grandniece working for the Gotham City police. She works as Robin's personal contact in the GCPD, similar to the role Commissioner James Gordon plays for Batman.Detective Comics #817 (May 2006) After helping Robin and Jason Bard expose two dirty cops in the GCPD, Jamie becomes Detective Specialist and transfers to the Metropolis Science Police.Superman #687 (June 2009)

===Golden Guardian===

In Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #135 (January 1971), Jack Kirby reintroduces the boys of the now grown-up Newsboy Legion as supporting characters connected with the DNA Project (later Project Cadmus), a genetics research laboratory. One of the Project's experiments is a clone of the late Jim Harper, who takes up his predecessor's role, and becomes the Project's Head of Security as the Golden Guardian. In post-Crisis continuity, this character is simply known as the Guardian.

Harper remains Cadmus' head of security even after the former Newsboys leave. Eventually, he too is killed, although another clone is created and rapidly aged to adulthood, retaining all his predecessor's memories. This Guardian disappears along with the rest of Cadmus following an altercation with Amanda Waller and Lex Luthor, and his whereabouts are unknown.

Following Infinite Crisis, the Guardian clone's backstory was retconned. As Dubbilex explains to Jimmy Olsen, Jim Harper was not killed in the line of duty, but shot by Cadmus' first head of security, Jonathan Drew, upon discovering the clone was already being created.

It is also revealed that the original Guardian clone had left Cadmus early on, and was now living in the town of Warpath on the Mexican border, where he assisted Greg Saunders. Subsequent appearances of the Guardian were new clones, each of which died within a year.Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen one-shot (October 2008)

The original Guardian clone moves to Metropolis with Gwen, an adolescent female clone of himself who he rescued.Adventure Comics Special #1 (January 2009) He later becomes the field commander of the Science Police and joins the Justice League.Superman #684 (March 2009)Justice League of America (vol. 2) #41 (January 2010){{cite web |last=Evans |first=Chris |date=April 5, 2010 |title=WC10: Spotlight on James Robinson |url=http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25567 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407072741/http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25567 |archive-date=April 7, 2010 |website=Comic Book Resources}} Following the events of War of the Supermen, Harper abandons his role as Guardian and takes his grandniece Jamie to an unknown destination.Superman: War of the Supermen #4 (July 2010)

===Mal Duncan===

{{Main|Mal Duncan}}

In Teen Titans #44 (November 1976), Mal Duncan becomes Guardian, wearing the original's outfit and an exoskeleton with strength augmenting abilities. The two Guardians meet in The Superman Family, when Duncan helps rescue Jim Harper from Adam, an evil clone created using genetic material from Harper and Dubbilex.

The Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot removes Duncan's time as Guardian from DC continuity.

{{Main|Manhattan Guardian}}

In 2005, Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers megaseries introduced Manhattan Guardian, a new character based on the original Guardian.

The Guardian possesses exceptional combat and tactical skills. He was trained in many forms of fighting, and excelled at gymnastics, thinking quickly on his feet, and deduction. His only weapons are his golden helmet and shield. Guardian often used a customized motorcycle equipped with autopilot and a set of video cameras filming from various angles and recorded on videodisc.

The Jim Harper clone possesses enhanced strength and reflexes, and an accelerated healing factor. As an agent of Cadmus, Harper has access to the Whiz Wagon, a multi-terrain vehicle that can fly and travel underwater.

• In Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again, the Guardian is one of the superheroes killed by Dick Grayson. It is implied that he had a daughter with Lois Lane named Lana Harper-Lane, a television reporter.
• A bearded version of Guardian exists on the post-Flashpoint Earth-23 as a member of a predominantly African American Justice League.
• The Guardian makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the final issue of The Golden Age.

File:GuardianYJ.jpg.]]

The Jim Harper and Mal Duncan incarnations of Guardian appear in Young Justice.{{cite web |last=Pepose |first=David |date=October 9, 2010 |title=NYCC 2010: YOUNG JUSTCE Video Presentation & Q&A LIVE! |url=http://www.newsarama.com/tv/nycc201-young-justice-animated-101009.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20101012213148/http://www.newsarama.com/tv/nycc201-young-justice-animated-101009.html |archive-date=October 12, 2010 |website=Newsarama}}

• Jim Harper (voiced by Crispin Freeman) is a clone of Roy Harper created by the Light to serve their needs.{{cite web |last=Weisman |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Weisman |date=July 25, 2012 |title=Ask Greg forum of the Station Eight Fan Web Site |url=https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=15211}}{{cite web |title=Guardian Voices (DC Universe) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/DC-Universe/Guardian/ |access-date=June 4, 2025 |publisher=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. Through programming and hypnosis, Jim operates as a superhero who believes he is Roy's uncle while also working for Project Cadmus. After learning of his true nature, Jim spends the second season searching for Roy and taking part in an intervention for fellow clone, Red Arrow, before retiring the Guardian identity. In the third season, Outsiders, Jim forms a familial relationship with Red Arrow and Roy.
• Mal Duncan (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson), a member of the Team, becomes the Guardian in the second season episode "Cornered".

File:Guardian (Mehcad Brooks).jpg) as Guardian in The CW's Supergirl.]]

Several incarnations of Guardian appear in media set in the Arrowverse:

• James Harper appears in the Supergirl episode "Manhunter", portrayed by Eddie McClintock. This version is a colonel in the United States Marine Corps.{{cite web|url=http://www.spoilertv.com/2016/03/supergirl-episode-117-manhunter-press.html|title=Supergirl - Episode 1.17 - Manhunter - Sneak Peeks, Promo, Promotional Photos & Press Release *Updated*|date=18 March 2016}}
• With Winn Schott's help, James Olsen (portrayed by Mehcad Brooks) became Guardian in the second and third seasons of Supergirl.{{cite news|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jimmy-olsen-cast-cbs-supergirl-768142|work= The Hollywood Reporter|title=Jimmy Olsen Cast in CBS' Supergirl Pilot|first= Lesley|last= Goldberg|date= January 28, 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150129035739/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jimmy-olsen-cast-cbs-supergirl-768142|archive-date= January 29, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://tvline.com/2014/10/31/supergirl-casting-jimmy-olsen-cat-grant/|title=CBS' Supergirl Casting Jimmy Olsen, Cat Grant and Others|last=Mitovich|first=Matt Webb|publisher=TVLine|date=October 31, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151121050244/http://tvline.com/2014/10/31/supergirl-casting-jimmy-olsen-cat-grant/|archive-date= November 21, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=October 31, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2016/10/11/supergirl-spoilers-season-2-james-guardian-kara-relationship/|title= Supergirl EP Reveals James' Future as DC Comics' Guardian, Explains Why He and Kara Are 'Best as Friends'|publisher=TV Line|last=Swift|first=Andy|date=October 11, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161015133814/https://tvline.com/2016/10/11/supergirl-spoilers-season-2-james-guardian-kara-relationship/|archive-date= October 15, 2016|url-status=live}}
• An alternate reality variant of James Olsen / Guardian appears in "Crisis on Earth-X".{{Cite web |last=Damore |first=Meagan |date=November 28, 2017 |title=Arrowverse: Crisis on Earth-X's First Casualty Is... |url=https://www.cbr.com/arrowverse-crisis-on-earth-james-olsen-guardian-dead/ |website=CBR}} This version is a member of the Freedom Fighters from Earth-X who wears a costume patterned after the American flag. He is tasked with protecting a temporal gateway from the New Reichsmen, but is killed by Nazi Führer Oliver Queen.
• In the sixth season of Supergirl, James' sister Kelly (portrayed by Azie Tesfu) becomes the new Guardian.{{cite web |last=Topel |first=Fred |date=May 7, 2021 |title=CW releases first look of Azie Tesfai as new Guardian on 'Supergirl' |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2021/05/07/CW-Azie-Tesfai-Guardian-Supergirl-photo/5741620415064/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508081237/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2021/05/07/CW-Azie-Tesfai-Guardian-Supergirl-photo/5741620415064/ |archive-date=May 8, 2021 |access-date=May 7, 2021 |website=UPI}}

A character inspired by Guardian named Nathan Hardy appears in Man of Steel, portrayed by Christopher Meloni.{{fact|date=June 2024}} He is a member of the United States Air Force who goes by the call sign "Guardian".

The Mal Duncan incarnation of Guardian makes non-speaking appearances in DC Super Hero Girls as a student of Super Hero High.

{{Reflist}}

• {{comicbookdb|type=character|id=227|title=Guardian}}
• [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=guardian Guardian profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202042443/http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=GUARDIAN |date=2008-12-02 }} at The Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe

{{Jack Kirby|state=collapsed}}

{{All-Star Squadron}}

{{GoldenAge}}

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{{Justice League characters}}

Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby

Category:Characters created by Joe Simon

Category:Clone characters in comics

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1942

Category:DC Comics characters with accelerated healing

Category:Fictional American police officers

Category:Fictional police officers in comics

Category:Fictional shield fighters

Category:Golden Age superheroes

Category:Vigilante characters in comics