Livewire (DC Comics)

{{Short description|Fictional supervillain in the DC comics universe}}

{{redirect|Leslie Willis|the engineer and archaeologist|Leslie R. H. Willis}}

{{Infobox comics character

|character_name=Livewire

|image=ActionComicsCv835.jpg

|caption=Livewire on the cover art of Action Comics #835, art by Kalman Andrasofszky.

|real_name=Leslie Willis

|publisher=DC Comics

|first_series= Superman: The Animated Series

|first_episode= Livewire

|first_comic= Action Comics #835 (March 2006)
Superman Adventures #5 (1997)

|creators=Evan Dorkin
Sarah Dyer
Bruce Timm

|species=Metahuman

|affiliations=Superman Revenge Squad
Supermen of America
Legion of Doom
Secret Society of Super Villains

|aliases=

|powers=*Electric and magnetism manipulation

Superhuman strength (when fully charged)

}}

Livewire is a supervillain appearing in multimedia produced by DC Entertainment, and American comic books published by DC Comics. Created for Superman: The Animated Series, the character appeared in March 1997 in Superman Adventures #5 (based on the animated series). Her first mainstream comic book appearance was in DC Comics' Action Comics #835 (March 2006).{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=182}}

In animation, the character was voiced by Lori Petty in Superman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, and by Maria Canals-Barrera in Justice League.{{cite web |title=Livewire Voices (Superman) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Livewire/ |access-date=October 10, 2024 |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. In live-action, she has been portrayed by Anna Mae Routledge in Smallville and Brit Morgan in the Arrowverse series Supergirl.

Fictional character biography

=DC Animated Universe=

File:Livewire (DC Comics).png

Introduced in a self-titled episode of Superman: The Animated Series, Leslie Willis is a popular, yet controversial Metropolis radio shock jock who takes cynical joy in ridiculing Superman during her broadcasts.{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |page=213}} On the third anniversary of her career, she hosts a rock concert at Centennial Park to celebrate despite a concurrent thunderstorm and public safety concerns. After lightning strikes the stage, Willis is transformed into an electrokinetic metahuman.

Following this, Willis forms a short-lived alliances with Parasite, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy.

In the Justice League episode "Hereafter", Livewire (voiced by an uncredited Maria Canals-Barrera) joins the Superman Revenge Squad, only to be defeated by the Justice League. In Justice League Unlimited, she joins Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society.

Livewire also appears in the Superman Adventures tie-in comic, where she works with Professor Hamilton to stop Brainiac and eventually reforms.

=Comics=

Livewire is introduced into the main comics continuity in Action Comics #835 (March 2006), written by Gail Simone and John Byrne. This version was born with her abilities, but did not gain her signature appearance until being struck by lightning.{{multiref2|Action Comics #842 - 843 (October - November 2006)|Batgirl (vol. 2) #4 (January 2010)|Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #41 (September 2010)

}}

In Superman: Grounded, Livewire attacks Jimmy Olsen and takes hostages in Las Vegas to get Superman's attention. It is subsequently revealed that her powers are deteriorating and she can no longer control them safely. Superman provides her with a special suit that resolves the problem and recruits her to join the Supermen of America.Superman #711 (July 2011)Superman #714 (October 2011)

==The New 52==

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Livewire joins the Secret Society of Super Villains, and her origin is revised to be similar to her DCAU counterpart.Justice League (vol. 2) #30 (July 2014)Batgirl (vol. 4) #41 - 42 (August - September 2015)

Powers and abilities

Livewire is a being of pure electricity able to absorb vast quantities from external sources. She can also manipulate electricity and generate lightning blasts of various intensities, with her strongest being able to weaken or stun Superman. She can also transform into living electricity to travel through electric currents and control electronic devices.

Due to her powers, her primary weakness is water, as even a small amount will cause her stored energy to go haywire unless she has stored up enough power. At this or any stage, Livewire would have to be completely drenched in water to be fully depowered. Additionally, silicon dust can also render her powerless due to its electrical resistance. When drained of her electricity, she reverts to her solid form and cannot use most of her abilities until she absorbs enough energy.

In other media

=Television=

==Animation==

Livewire makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Teen Titans Go! episode "Black Friday".
A teenage Livewire appears in Young Justice, voiced by Britt Baron. This version is a member of the Outsiders.
Livewire appears in DC Super Hero Girls, voiced by Mallory Low. This version is a teenage bully, internet troll, and member of the Super Villain Girls.
Livewire appears in Harley Quinn, voiced by Aline Elasmar. This version is a member of the Legion of Doom.
Livewire appears in My Adventures with Superman, voiced by Zehra Fazal.{{Cite web |last=Fazal |first=Zehra |date=July 6, 2023 |title=Zehra Fazal on Instagram: "TONIGHT!!! My Adventures with Superman premieres tonight, midnight on @adultswim, next day on @streamonmax Super-charged to announce I play Leslie Willis aka LIVEWIRE. ⚡️⚡️⚡️ |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CuXlc9HyvVk/ |access-date=July 7, 2023 |website=Instagram}} This version is a thief whose powers are initially derived from a special harness powered by an alien crystal before she later develops natural electrokinesis. Additionally, as of the episode "Olsen's Eleven", she has entered a relationship with Heat Wave.

==Live-action==

File:Livewire_smallville.jpg as Livewire on Smallville.]]

File:Livewire_Supergirl.jpg as Livewire on Supergirl.]]

Livewire appears in the Smallville episode "Injustice", portrayed by an uncredited Anna Mae Routledge. This version is a small-time crook who, after being incarcerated, is recruited by Tess Mercer and tasked with searching for Davis Bloome alongside Parasite, Neutron, Plastique, and Mercer's assistant Eva Greer. Livewire is later killed by an explosive implanted in her head off-screen.{{cite episode|title=Injustice|series=Smallville|credits=Al Septien, Turi Meyer (writers) & Tom Welling (director)|network=The CW|airdate=2009-05-07|season=8|number=21}}
Livewire appears in Supergirl, portrayed by Brit Morgan. This version is a confident yet abrasive CatCo shock jock who acquires her powers after Supergirl, whom she had repeatedly denigrated on her radio show, is struck by lightning while rescuing her from a potential helicopter crash.{{cite web |last=Prudom |first=Laura |date=August 12, 2015 |title=Supergirl Casts True Blood Alum as DC Comics Villain Livewire (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/supergirl-livewire-brit-morgan-red-tornado-maxwell-lord-sam-lane-1201568235 |publisher=Variety}} Introduced in her self-titled episode, Livewire attempts to seek revenge on Cat Grant for demoting her, only to be defeated by Supergirl and turned over to the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO)'s custody. In the episode "Worlds Finest", Silver Banshee breaks Livewire out of the DEO to help her kill Grant, Supergirl, and Kara Danvers. However, the pair are foiled by Supergirl, a dimensionally-displaced Flash, and a group of firefighters and incarcerated at National City's newly developed metahuman prison. In "We Can Be Heroes", scientist Dr. Hampton kidnaps Livewire in an attempt to steal her powers and create an army of electricity-powered super-soldiers, but she escapes with Supergirl's help and they form a truce.{{cite web | title=Supergirl - Episode 2.10 - We Can Be Heroes - Press Release | website=SpoilerTV | date=13 January 2017 | url=https://www.spoilertv.com/2017/01/supergirl-episode-210-we-can-be-heroes.html | access-date=2020-06-11}} In "Fort Rozz", Livewire agrees to help Supergirl and Psi on a mission to the titular prison to gather information on Reign and later dies saving Supergirl.

=Film=

An alternate reality variant of Livewire appears in Justice League: Gods and Monsters, voiced by Kari Wahlgren. This version is a human terrorist who wields an electric beam gun.
Livewire makes a non-speaking appearance in Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse as a member of the Legion of Doom.

=Video games=

Livewire appears as a boss in Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, voiced again by Lori Petty.
Livewire appears as a boss in Superman: Countdown to Apokolips.
Livewire appears in DC Universe Online.
Livewire appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=October 10, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}
Livewire appears as a playable character in DC Legends.
Livewire appears in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced by Cree Summer.{{Cite web |date=May 31, 2018 |title=Lego DC Super-Villains Screens Reveal New Details |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/lego-dc-super-villains-game-new-details/ |website=GAMING}}
Livewire appears as a boss in DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power, voiced again by Mallory Low.

=Miscellaneous=

Livewire appears in DC Universe Online: Legends #9 as an associate of Brainiac.DC Universe Online: Legends #9 (August 2001)
Livewire appears in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic.
Livewire appears in the Harley Quinn tie-in comics Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour and Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: Legion of Bats.