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Eating is primal, Kara. That's why people make such a big deal out of where they sit, who with, and what they eat. It defines you, in a lizard brain way. 
- — Owen Mercer src
History
Origin
Owen Mercer is the child of the original Captain Boomerang and Meloni Thawne. He finally met his father when Boomerang contacted the Calculator to track him down. Captain Boomerang at first was nervous about meeting his son but Owen spoke to him first. Owen expressed admiration for his famous father and the two hit it off. While praticing throwing boomerangs, Owen saved his father from a razorang by running at superspeed. It was then that Boomerang revealed that Golden Glider was not Owen's mother despite what a tabloid story said.
Captain Boomerang swore to make the two of them famous so he took a job to kill Jack Drake, the father of the third Robin (Tim Drake). The job went sour and both Drake and Boomerang were killed. Owen swore to avenge his father and to that end took over the Captain Boomerang name.
After a brief association with the Flash's Rogues Gallery, Owen became a member of the Suicide Squad. His first mission with the Squad involved an unsuccessful bid to capture the Black Marvel Family.
Outsiders
He later joined Nightwing's Outsiders where he has since developed a friendship with neophyte hero Supergirl. After Supergirl returned from her time away with Power Girl, Kara began looking to start a normal life on Earth and went out on a 'date' with Owen, during which they spoke of their past problems. Kara has nicknamed Owen 'Boomer.' Although the pair often flirts with one another, they have never progressed to a romantic relationship. This comes primarily from the fact that Kara continues to show interest in Nightwing, and jokingly says that what she and Owen has is more of a brother-sister relationship, in which he has an unhealthy fixation on his 'little sis'. Still, Mercer has referred to Kara as "his girl".
Feeling rejected after Kara's relationship with Power Boy, Owen goes to a bar where he meets Cassandra Cain (Batgirl), who has been hired to kill Supergirl. Cassandra kidnaps and tortures Owen to lure Supergirl. Unfortunately, this proves unnecessary, as Kara had tracked down Cassandra on her own, without any knowledge of Owen's kidnapping. Batgirl nearly manages to defeat Supergirl, but is defeated when Kara grows Krypton Sunstones which impale her foe. Kara then rushes Owen to the hospital where he is treated. While still in medical care, it is discovered that Power Boy has been stalking Kara.
Following Kara's rather violent break-up with Power Boy, the earth was overtaken by spirits from the Phantom Zone, which began to emerge from within Superman. Kara managed to defeat the Phantoms and return the Earth to normal. Afterwards, Kara begins to make amends with all the people who she has hurt since arriving on Earth. Amongst them, Boomer, who she apologies for letting him get hurt and leading him on. During this conversation, the matter of Owen's relationship with Kara is finally clarified. When asked by Kara how he feels about her leading him on, Owen replies, "Well, if I may ... for me to have been 'led on' would presume I thought I had a shot with you ... For me to think I had a shot with a sixteen-year-old girl -- crystal-powered hypersleep whatever junk aside ... that would mean I am a dirtbag with a thing for jailbait. Which I am not."
Checkmate abducts all members of the Outsiders except Nightwing, allowing him to infiltrate their headquarters offer them a deal: The Outsiders won't be shut down over their actions in Africa in exchange for infiltrating Oolong Island on behalf of Checkmate. After Batman rescues the Outsiders over in North Korean territory, and Nightwing hands over the team to him, Owen and Nightwing are pitted against each other in "auditions" for the new line up. Pushed too far, and feeling he doesn't need to prove himself anymore, Owen returns to the Suicide Squad although Batman feels he could make a good double agent.
Suicide Squad
In Louisiana, Owen, now as part of the new Suicide Squad captures Heat Wave and Weather Wizard, two of the Rogues that were responsible of (Owen's half-brother) Bart Allen's murder. Boomerang later joined the rest of the squad in an attempt to chase after Piper and Trickster in Gotham City after they'd escaped capture from Squad member Deadshot. The Squad however was just as unsuccessful as Deadshot, and the two Rogues escaped capture.
Blackest Night
Owen visit his father's grave along with Tar Pit, when the swarm of black rings fly into the crypt, reanimated all the deceased the villains as Black Lanterns, including his father.[1] The Rogues battle in the Iron Heights, when the battle resulted a draw on both side and Harkness's son, Owen, arrives and took him away from the battle, believing he can bring his father back.[2] Later on, Owen has apparently chained up his father's body and is feeding him victims such as a villain named Sandblast who was relying on Owen to get him into the Rogues. It is revealed that Owen has been deceived by Boomerang into believing the blood of enough victims can bring bring him back to life. The Rogues track Owen down with Captain Cold berating him on believing Digger's lies. Realizing that Owen has broken the Rogues' code of honor by killing women and children, Cold shoves him into the pit. Owen has his heart ripped out by his father, with a ring flying in to revive him as a Black Lantern. The Black Lantern Owen and his father are then encased in ice by Cold.[3]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Speed Bursts: It is unknown where Owen gains his ability to move at superhuman speeds. He may gain his speed from the Speed Force like most speedsters however he maintains that he gains his speed from his meta-gene. Whichever the case, Owen can only move in short bursts of superhuman speed. This power allows him to accelerate short distances or, more notably, when he throws boomerangs.
Abilities
- Boomerang Mastery: Seems to have inherited his father's skill at throwing boomerangs. He also trained with his father before he died and continued his training alone until his own death.
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic)
- Gadgetry
Paraphernalia
Weapons
- Boomerangs: Owen uses his father's trick boomerangs as well as adapting some of his own. Each with their own special properties, Owen uses them with masterful skill.
- Electro-Boomerang: Emit spark trails carrying a deadly 5,000 volts, which circle around the target.
- Exploso-Boomerang: Detonates on contact, damage to all in one area.
- Gas Boomerang: Monstrous intensity tear gas, affects one area.
- Razor Boomerang: Razor-sharp boomerang which was used to kill Jack Drake.
- Bladed Boomerang: Melee specific boomerangs which he uses in hand-to-hand combat.
- Acid Boomerang: Spews acidic contents on contact with enemies.
- Sonic Boomerang: Excellent intensity sonic attack.
- Gravity Boomerang: Creates local gravity field of incredible intensity.
- Weighted Boomerangs: Solid-weighted boomerang.
- Preprogrammed boomerangs: These boomerangs are rocket propelled and are preprogrammed to fly to a target, pick up whatever item and returned to a predesignated spot with amazing flight speed and range.
Trivia
- Captain Boomerang received an action figure as part of DC Direct's Identity Crisis toyline.
Recommended Reading
- Flash (Volume 2)
- Identity Crisis (Volume 1)
- Outsiders (Volume 3)
- Suicide Squad (Volume 3)
- Supergirl (Volume 5)
Related
- 87 Appearances of Owen Mercer (New Earth)
- 30 Images featuring Owen Mercer (New Earth)
- 3 Quotations by or about Owen Mercer (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Owen Mercer (New Earth)
External Links
Footnotes
- ↑ Blackest Night: The Flash #1 (December 2009)
- ↑ Blackest Night: The Flash #2 (January 2010)
- ↑ Blackest Night: The Flash
  Flash Villain(s) |
 Rogues Gallery |
 This character is or was a member of one or more of the teams known as the Outsiders. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Outsiders members" category. |
 Secret Society of Super-Villains member |
 Suicide Squad member |