Origin
Benjamin Turner grew up in an upper-middle-class black neighborhood in Central City. When Ben was only ten years old he woke up to a burglar assaulting his parents in their living room. Ben grabbed a carving knife and continuously stabbed the man till he was dead. The police reported that Ben had gone berserk and lost control. Ben had expressed his pleasure in the act and that he was not sorry for killing the man; instead, he was sorry that it ended too soon.
When Ben was thirteen years old, he found interest in martial arts so he can learn to control his anger. This wasn’t successful because Ben learned that it was the joy of hurting people, and knowing that he was really good at it, that still got the better of him. Ben resorted to crime and knew sooner or later he was either going to jail or put to death. After coming to this conclusion, Ben, traveled across the world to study with different martial arts masters.
Ben came across Master Kirigi and proceeded to train with him. However, Kirigi took advantage of Ben and exploited his pain and anger. Knowing this was disastrous, Ben left to find another master known as O-Sensei. O-Sensei taught Ben how to use his anger as a weapon and never to let it get the best of him.
Ben became best friends with Richard Dragon while training with O-Sensei. Together they learned more than martial arts such as history, philosophy, and science. After learning everything they know from O-Sensei, they soon leave to then become agents for the government. King Faraday assigns them the task to take down the League of Assassins but the League took action and killed Ben’s Fiancee, Miyoshi. Ben was then captured by the League of Assassins and brainwashed. Ben got rid of his anger by channeling it into the identity of the Bronze Tiger, a masked assassin working for the League.
Ben was feared around the world under the Bronze Tiger identity. The league had him do their tasks which generally focused on killing those the league pointed him at. The Bronze Tiger beat Batman in a hand-to-hand fight. Batman then took every step necessary to fight the Tiger but it was a draw. During this time it appears that Cassandra Cain was trained by Ben to be a fighter. King Faraday, Rick Flag, and Nightshade would eventually attack the League of Assassins hideout in hopes of bringing Ben in. Though they suffered some damage they did catch him. From this event, Ben was introduced to Amanda Waller and though he tried to get past her, she wouldn’t allow him, eventually he realized she was right for his redemption would start.
Creation
The Bronze Tiger was originally created for use in the novel Dragon’s Fist, written by Dennis O’neil and Jim Berry. Dennis then used the character in Richard Dragon: Kung Fu Fighter for DC Comics. He made his first appearance in Richard Dragon: Kung Fu Fighter #1.
Character Evolution
Bronze Age
Ben Turner was first introduced as a pupil to the martial arts master, O-Sensei. Ben was an easy-going, happy-go-lucky young man. Training alongside Dragon, he formed an unbreakable friendship, and both completed their training under O-Sensei. Soon after, they were recruited for the global peace-keeping organization G.O.O.D. (Global Organization of Organized Defense). They went on many missions together and opened up a martial arts school in NYC. They eventually joined up with Lady Shiva and Ben’s nephew, Benjamin Jr.
Ben was later captured and mind controlled by Professor Ojo. Under this mind control, he lost all his memories and became The Bronze Tiger. As the Bronze Tiger, he quickly became a renowned renegade martial artist. He was regarded as one of the best.
With his memory still completely gone, Bronze Tiger joined up with the League of Assassins under the tutelage of Sensei. As Sensei’s pupil, he was assigned a mission to murder Kathy Kane. He crossed paths with Batman and during their first battle, he bested the Bat quite easily. Their second battle was on even ground with Bronze Tiger almost besting Batman once again. During their second fight, Bronze Tiger stopped other League of Assassins members from killing Batman and defied Sensei’s orders. While fending off the other members Bronze Tiger was heavily wounded and fled, essentially defecting from the League of Assassins. Batman later found him at a hospital and stopped members of the League from finishing Bronze Tiger off. Bronze Tiger also knocked out one member while resting in one of the hospital rooms. He then explained to Batman that he can’t remember who he is.
Modern Age
After the story called Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC went through a major reboot. This reboot served as a starting point on another Earth, in which, DC was able to retell character origins. Bronze Tiger went through some major retooling but still retained remnants of his previous version.
Ben sought training in martial arts to control his anger. He studied under many masters but only O-Sensei was able to change him from being obsessed with violence. During this time he still regained his close friendship with Richard Dragon. Ben and Richard were no longer recruited by Barney Ling but instead, by King Faraday. They were no longer part of G.O.O.D. but were now government agents under the CBI (Central Bureau of Intelligence). Their objective was to now take down the League of Assassins. However, the League got the best of Ben by killing his fiance and capturing Ben.
When he was trapped and brainwashed into becoming the Bronze Tiger by the League of Assassins, all the goodwill behavior was lost and the dark desires of his soul were unleashed and once again he enjoyed the pleasure of being a killer. Bronze Tiger most wanted; killing throughout the world. Bronze Tiger’s first encounter with Batman largely stayed intact.
After being freed by Amanda Waller, Ben becomes the Suicide Squad’s second field leader. He acted as a mature and moral teammate. He kept the most rebellious members in line and wasn’t afraid to put his foot down when the time came for it.
Ben appeared in Suicide Squad from its start to finish. Ben befriended Rick Flag and they did much together. The squad series ended with Ben fighting himself in the jungle where he defeats his younger self and is freed from the curse, as well as from Amanda Waller’s squad. Ben had a romantic relationship with Vixen during his time on the squad.
Ben later appeared in the short series Justice League Task Force when he fell in love with Gypsy. He officially became a member of the Justice League for a short time. Again it didn’t work out but he was there. After this appearance, Ben disappeared from comics going back to his Tiger Dojo in Detroit.
In Checkmate #6 it turns out that Rick Flagg is alive. Bronze Tiger goes to his prison and breaks him out in the opening scenes. Later Amanda pays a visit to his dojo and gets both Flagg and him to go on a mission. The mission turns bad but Tiger and Flagg both escape with their lives. The Suicide Squad is restarted but in secrecy. They have been seen chasing after the Pied Piper and Trickster in Countdown, as well as capturing supervillains in Gotham Underground. When gassed by Scarecrow, it is revealed that Bronze Tiger has a phobia of bugs.
Bronze Tiger takes an active leadership role in the new Suicide Squad.
The New 52
Following yet another reboot, Benjamin Turner is a vigilante still going by Bronze Tiger. He has occasionally worked alongside Batman to take down crime and notably Bane. His history of being a government operative and member of the League of Assassins and Suicide Squad is still present. He has been noted to have trained Jason Todd and can apparently shapeshift into a Weretiger.
Major Story Arcs
Post-Flashpoint: The New 52
Bronze Tiger makes his debut in the Post-Flashpoint universe within the pages of the first Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual. While he was previously mentioned as having trained Jason Todd alongside Cheshire, he was only seen in flashbacks. When a contract worth 1.5 billion dollars in total is placed on the heads of the three Outlaws, Turner sends Cheshire to their secret island to scope out its defenses and Starfire’s capabilities. When she returns, Bronze Tiger declares that the League of Assassins is ready to move in for the kill.
Powers and Abilities
Bronze Tiger has no meta-human powers, however, he is a master of martial arts, considered one of the top five martial artists in the DC Universe. He has mastered various martial arts styles, such as Taekwondo (his specialty), Jiu-jitsu, Aikido, Karate, and Kung fu. He is considered on par with Lady Shiva and has bested Batman more than once.
Chi Manipulation- Bronze Tiger can manipulate his chi to heal faster.
Character Profile
- Real Name: Benjamin “Ben” Turner
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 205 lbs
- Eye Color: Black
- Hair Color: Bald
- Citizenship: American
- Place of Birth: Central City
- Marital Status: Single
- Occupation: Adventurer, vigilante; former assassin, government agent
- Base of Operations: Mobile
Other Media
Television
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
He appears in the eleventh episode of the series: “Return of the Fearsome Fangs!” voiced by Gary Sturgis. Along with Bruce Wayne, he is one of five Martial arts students (The terrible trio) of Master Wong Fei in China. During this episode, he is shown as the best student in the academy, fierce and prideful. He left the temple because Wong Fei was never satisfied with his performance despite he considering his fighting style perfect. He became the protector of a small village as Bronze Tiger.
Several years after, The terrible trio (Fox, Shark, and Vulture) as part of the shadow clan kill their former master in order to control the Wudang totem. So, Wong Fei contacts Batman and entrusts him with the mission to stop them. Batman recruits Bronze Tiger after he beat him in battle cheating. During the struggle the Terrible Trio gets the totem and transforms in the animals that they represent, with this new strength they defeat Batman and Bronze Tiger, letting him alive so he can see how he failed to protect Hong Kong and his village.
The shadow clan led by Fox attempts to invade Hong Kong and get control over China. Thus the heroes reunited and manage to recover the Totem becoming the beasts that they represent. Vulture is beaten by Batman and Fox and Shark by Bronze Tiger. In the end the army of shadows is defeated and Hong Kong is saved.
Benjamin decided to reopen the temple so he can train the villagers that he protected and create an army to protect the Totem and honor the memory of his master. The episode ends with Batman vs Bronze Tiger rematch.
Arrow
Bronze Tiger appeared in two episodes of the second season of the Arrow TV series, “Identity” and “Tremors”. In the series, he is a highly trained martial artist and mercenary who uses his skills and variety of claws to work for whoever pays the most. In the “Identity” episode he teams up with China White to help the Chinese Triad, but their attempt is put to an end by Green Arrow. In “Tremors” he escapes prison with the additional help of his new employer, who hires Ben to steal a prototype of an earthquake device, but again his actions are ended by Green Arrow and Roy Harper. While Bronze Tiger is sent to prison again he is visited by Amanda Waller, who offers him a membership in the Suicide Squad.
Animated Movies
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018)
Bronze Tiger makes his first movie appearance in Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay. He is tasked, along with Suicide Squad, to retrieve a mystical object for Amanda Waller.
Batman vs. TeenageMutant Ninja Turtles (2019)
Bronze Tiger appears in a small cameo on a monitor.
Batman: Soul of Dragon (2021)
Ben Turner appears in the animated film Batman: Soul of Dragon, set in the 70s.
Video Games
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
Bronze Tiger was asked to join Penguin’s gang but refused. Penguin forced him to fight in his arena for his life. Eventually, Batman found the arena, along with Tiger. Penguin then forced the two to fight. After Tiger was defeated, Penguin sent his men into the fighting pit. Tiger woke up and decided to attack Penguin’s men. He managed to wound Penguin in the attack. Tiger told Batman to go after Penguin, who fled, while he decided to fight the thugs that remained in the arena.
In the aftermath of the breakout, Bronze Tiger, along with Deadshot, were recruited by Amanda Waller as part of her “Suicide Squad” Mission.
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Bronze Tiger appears in LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.
LEGO DC Super-Villains
Bronze Tiger appears in LEGO DC Super-Villains.