Duncan Summers
Duncan Summers was an adventurous man in his youth, and traveled the world. While in Asia, Duncan discovered a fabulous lost treasure, but lost his parents and sister to violence back home. Duncan dedicated his newfound wealth to fighting crime, adopting the masked identity of the Raven and operating out of his native New York for many years.
The original Raven was a somewhat reluctant member of the Freedom League. He split his time between League activities and his own cases, sometimes feeling the Freedom League was too focused on the big picture, losing sight of problems like street crime. Raven was also a pragmatist, which put him at odds with the more idealistic Centurion and Lady Liberty, and a conservative, putting him at odds with the more liberal Black Avenger. There were times when it seemed like the Raven would quit the League in order to go it on his own, but he always remained with the team.
Among the Raven’s greatest foes was the sinister Dr. Sin. Raven and Sin’s daughter, Jasmine, fell in love, though Sin’s machinations kept them apart for years. After one final battle that seemed to end the life of Dr. Sin and the Raven’s career, Duncan retired and married Jasmine, who died tragically fighting to save him and their daughter when her father returned from the dead. Although he lost his wife years ago, Duncan still misses her greatly. In memory of her sacrifice, he remains dedicated to helping young people realize their potential.
Duncan decided to pass on his legacy in another way: by opening Claremont Academy, where he schools young supers in the use of their powers. His students know “Old Man Summers” was a superhero once, and while they don’t know which one, some of them have a pretty good idea.
Duncan Summers is in his 70s, his gray hair white at the temples, and his face, while still strong and handsome, grows more lined from worry every year. His eyes are gunmetal gray, and he’s always clean-shaven. He tends to wear dark turtlenecks and slacks, but still looks quite dashing when forced into a tuxedo for society or charity parties. He walks with the aid of a cane, which conceals some smoke and flash pellets for emergencies. He’s also adept at using the cane as a weapon, slowed only by his weakened legs; anyone who underestimates Headmaster Summers as “just some old man” is in for hard lesson.
Comments