Snapper Carr
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Facts
- debut:'The Brave and the Bold #28 (February-March 1960)
- creators: Gardner Fox (writer), Mike Sekowsky (artist)
- alliances:Checkmate, Blasters, Justice League, Young Justice
- full_name:Lucas "Snapper" Carr
Lucas "Snapper" Carr is a supporting character in the DC Universe. Most famous as a sidekick, and the first civilian member of the Justice League, he got his nickname from his habit of continually snapping his fingers. He was introduced in the League's first story in The Brave and the Bold #28, in which he helps them defeat Starro the Conqueror.
Origin
As the JLA could not have the sidekicks of all its members occasionally wandering through its secret headquarters, but needed a character to whom the reader could relate, the group needed a distinct character not associated with the home town of any of its members. In order to rationalize that an ordinary person could become an honorary member of the JLA, he had to be important to them at the moment of that group's formation. This was done by a gimmick devised by Gardner Fox: young Lucas — called "Snapper" for his penchant for snapping his fingers — is immune to Starro's attacks, explained by his just having put lime on the lawn. It is Aquaman who recalls that various sea invertebrates are susceptible to lime and by this means, Starro is defeated.Brave & Bold #28
Character history
As luck would have it, Snapper's uncle, Simon Carr, approaches the new JLA on behalf of Oliver Queen and provides them with the resources to set up a headquarters in Happy Harbor, Rhode Island. This becomes the site of the JLA's Secret Sanctuary. Snapper quickly becomes a fixture around JLA headquarters.JLA: Year One #2, Brave & Bold #28 During this time, Simon Carr becomes the host for an Apellaxian alien; he then founds the organization called Locus. Eventually, it is Snapper who uncovers his uncle's betrayal, just in time to warn the JLA. Locus is defeated, and Simon returns to normal.JLA: Year One #12 Snapper's first year of association with the JLA coincides with his graduation from high school. Carr is present for most of the League's early adventures. Three Leaguers even dedicate humanitarian hours to help Snapper write a paper about "brotherhood."Justice League of America #57 His time with the JLA ends in tragedy, however. Snapper is manipulated by the Joker into betraying the location of the Secret Sanctuary. After this, Carr resigns his honorary membership. The shame of this failure still haunts him today.Justice League of America #77, December 1969, Hourman #16
Still, the JLA rescues Snapper Carr and his family, when they were kidnapped by Anakronus,Ibid #114 but he suffers further humiliation when the Key seemingly bestowed him with the powers of the Star-Tsar and sets him against the JLA again. Eventually, it is revealed that Mark Shaw (the future Manhunter) was the real Star-Tsar. - Justice League #149-150
Justice League #150 reveals what happens to Snapper after his days of being the Justice League mascot. Everywhere he goes the fame of the JLA prohibits him from leading a normal life. Even the welfare office rejects him believing him able to earn millions based on his ties to the League.
He aids the League only one more time, when Thorak turned the JLA into giants; he and Superman return them to normal size.Legends of DCU #12-13
Invasion!
During the Invasion storyline, Carr is among a number of prisoners of the alien Dominators. The Dominators sought human test subjects to discover how prevalent the "metagene" was in the human genome. To this end, they line up 50 humans and initate their "blaster field." Six humans, including Snapper, survive the carnage by developing latent metahuman powers. Another is thought to be critically injured but would later recover and ally herself with Snapper.Invasion! #1 Snapper now has the ability to teleport by snapping his fingers.
Soon afterwards, the Dominators and their allies are driven from Earth and the captives freed. Snapper and the other five survivors dub themselves the Blasters and join the struggle to reverse the effects of the Dominators' gene bomb.Ibid #3 Snapper becomes the group's leader and they hang around with the Omega Men for a time. Snapper becomes separated from the others and a foul-up with his powers temporarily drives him insane. He had kept his eyes open during transport and had perceived an eternity of time passing while teleporting. He ends up meeting Churljenkins, a green-furred cat-woman, who helps stabilize his reality. He manages to reuinite the team and develops a romance with Churl. The Blasters stop an alien-controlled weapons smuggling operation and decide to travel through space together.Blasters Special #1
They later encounter Valor and fight Kanjar Ru and the Unimaginable. At the end of these adventures, the Blasters are trapped inside a crumbling prison,Valor #5-8 but Snapper is separated from his teammates. While searching for them, he is captured by some Khunds, who cut off his hands — thus removing his teleporting ability. He is subsequenlty rescued by the LEGION, but knows nothing about the fate of the Blasters. Vril Dox gives Snapper new hands and returns him to earth.Hourman #20-21
Back On Earth
Since then he has served as an advisor to aspiring heroes. First, to the android Hourman.Hourman series During the course of this series, the "Day of Judgement" crossover event happens. Snapper saves an innocent man from one of the many demons that have crawled out of hell. Soon after, he and his friends, stuck in a heatwave, begin arguing with each other. Recognizing something is wrong, Snapper performs a mystic spell. It reveals the group was being plagued by demons urging them to nastiness. In the ensuing encounter, he manages to sweet-talk one of the demons into crossing over to the side of good. Most recently, Snapper became an adviser to the teen superhero team Young Justice.Young Justice #38-55 During his appereances in both series, Snapper wears a succession of different superhero logo t-shirts.
Snapper maintains his contacts with the current incarnation of the League. He is called upon to take their official group photo when the team's roster is finalized. He was also invited to Green Arrow and Black Canary's wedding; though his invitation was stolen by several villains, he was seen in the double-page spread of attendees.
Checkmate
Coinciding with the Green Arrow / Black Canary wedding special event, an issue of the miniseries The Four Horsemen has Snapper eavesdropping on Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman using a communications and tracking system. This indicates the involvement of the metahuman policing agency known as Checkmate. Snapper later reveals that he has been deep-cover for Checkmate ever since the incident involving the OMACs. Batman decides to allow Snapper to continue in this fashion since Snapper tends to look favorably on the League's activities.
Final Crisis: Resist
Snapper is set to play a big part in the upcoming Final Crisis tie-in Resist.
Other media
Snapper Carr appears frequently in the animated television series, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited voiced by actor Jason Marsden. In these appearances Carr is a television news reporter giving commentary to the events of the episode. The Justice League episode "Legends" parodies Carr's role as sidekick for the Justice League by featuring a similar character acting as sidekick for the Justice Guild, an alternate universe version of the Justice League.
He also appeared, with his given name of Lucas, in the Elseworlds' title The Island of Doctor Moreau. Snapper once portrayed a JLA talk show host in the Elseworlds' comic Son of Superman.
