Signal (DC Comics)

Background

Full Name: Duke Thomas

Aliases: Robin, The Signal, Lark

Powers & Abilities

• Unique Physiology: Duke is a metahuman with the ability to manipulate, absorb, and redistribute both light and shadow. Duke's powers are essentially photokinetic in nature and originally only allowed him to manipulate the way he processes light. However, after experiencing the touch of Ishmael, his powers have since "evolved" to manipulating light and darkness more abstractly. Duke's metahuman abilities come from the metagene, a genetic variation caused by naturally occurring traces of Nth metal in the bloodstream. Duke inherited this genetic trait from both of his biological parents: Elaine Thomas and Gnomon. Duke's physiology appears to be unique in comparison to other metahumans. Metahumans' cells become reactive to his presence and their abilities may become amplified. Gnomon also claimed Duke possess his "infinite blood", implying Duke may potentially be immortal.
  • Photokinesis: Duke's primary ability is photokinesis, which he can use to manipulate light as well as the way he process light. Due to his body's unique photokinetic properties he possesses enhanced photo-sensory abilities. His photokinetic senses can detect changes and variations in light invisible to the naked eye, and he can absorb and process light faster than humanly possible. Particularly powerful forms of Nth metal can amplify his photokinetic vision, allowing longer more vivid visions and even some audio.
    • Ghost Vision: Duke's most notable ability is what he calls his "Ghost Vision". By manipulating the way he processes light, Duke can use his photokinetic vison to perceive the "ghosts" of where light has been in his vicinity, allowing him to see a few minutes into the past. he can also use his vision to glimpse into the future by sensing the "ghosts" of where light will be.
    • Cosmic Perception: Duke can perceive the entirety of the electromagnetic spectrum and can even see beyond the known Electromagnetic spectrum. He's able to perceive light originating from across dimensional boundaries into the history of a previous universe.
    • X-Ray Vision: Duke is able to track, follow, and detect someone through walls, ceilings, smoke, and most other materials.
    • Telescopic Vision: Duke has the ability to focus his vision to see things at great distance, even at high speeds. Duke is capable of tracking the movement of light (or a person moving at light-like speeds) as it passes over the horizon.
    • Microscopic Vision: Duke also has the ability to see extremely small objects and images down to the subdermal level.
    • Invisibility: Duke's photokinesis powers can be used for invisibility.
  • Umbrakinesis: Having experienced the touch of Ishmael, Duke's photokinetic powers "evolved" to include the ability to command, absorb, and redistribute darkness. He describes the ability as "behaving like a tide" that pushes and pulls shadows.
    • Shadow Absorption: Duke can pull shadows toward and into himself to reveal more light in his vicinity.
    • Shadow Generation: Duke can expel darkness from himself, enveloping everything in a wave of darkness. He can also charge up his darkness before sending it at his target.
    • Shadow Bending: Duke can shape and manipulate shadow like a physical object.
    • Shadow Traversal: Duke can move though shadows and darkness to traverse distances quickly and discretely. he can also use this ability on his allies to safely retreat or to perform coordinated attacks.
  • Photo-Umbrakinesis: Duke can combine his light and darkness powers. Envisioning a path, Duke can then travel through light and shadow simultaneously to follow it. While traversing through light and shadow, everything around him appears to stand still.
  • Power Amplification: Metahumans in Duke's presence react on a cellular level and their powers begin to increase. We see this while examining Null's blood cells and it's later confirmed by Gnomon; however, it is unclear how much he affects their actual powers.
  • Accelerated Healing: It has been discovered that Duke's powers allow him to heal rapidly in dire situations.
• Creative Writing: Duke shows potential as a writer, with a talent specifically for poetry, although he'd never admit it.
• Indomitable Will: Duke's proven himself to be an exceptionally strong-willed individual. During the events of Robin War, Duke was the one to face off against a rogue Damian Wayne and, despite Damian's best efforts, refused to go down until he convinced Damian to fight alongside him and the Robins. Duke was also able to create a complex construct of Batman's machine using a power ring loaned to him by Hal Jordan on his first try.
• Genius Level Intellect: Duke has been shown to be exceptionally intelligent even from a young age, having trained his mind as a child to challenge the Riddler. Duke was exceptional enough to go on to qualify as a finalist for the Gotham Genius grant at the age of 12. While his academic performance did not match his potential in his later school years, Duke's sharp mind and intelligence made him a natural fit for detective work, able to figure out the identities of Alfred Pennyworth as "The Nest", Dick Grayson as Agent 37 Bruce Wayne as Batman and Damian as Robin.
  • Polymath: As a protégé of Batman, Duke is a skilled detective with a diverse skillset, capable of forensic investigation, observation, inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning of the highest caliber. Through Batman's "Cursed Wheel" program Duke learned all of the fundamental skills Bruce Wayne studied in order to become Batman, such as Escapology, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, Criminal Science, Mathematics, Physics, etc. and has also studied records of every contingency plan and personal insight created by Batman throughout his years as a vigilante.
• Leadership: Duke's ability to rally and coordinate people under his command makes him an formidable field commander. Under his leadership, Duke's faction of the Robin gang were the driving force behind the We Are Robin movement. Batman recognizes Duke's leadership abilities and has been training Duke for Justice League-level leadership. Duke has been known to take the lead even when working with more experienced heroes like the Batgirls, Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, and Red Robin, Tim Drake.
• Martial Arts: Duke has had multiple martial arts instructors and has become a seasoned combatant over his career as a hero. He demonstrated a natural skill for fighting prior to his vigilante career, able to take on multiple opponents at once without any training. During the Robin War, he and the rest of the We are Robin gang received a crash course in combat and tactics from the "original Robins": Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake and Damian Wayne. He went on to receive formal martial arts training from Batman as well as some one-on-one training with Red Hood before becoming The Signal. Duke then began training under both Black Lightning and Katana soon after joining The Outsiders and was even briefly mentored by Lady Shiva. Duke also trains with Cassandra Cain on a regular basis.
  • Enhanced Combat Perception: His precognition and enhanced visual senses make him uniquely perceptive in a fight, able to react to attacks faster than normally possible, detect weak points, and slow down his perception to catch flying projectiles.
  • Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced):
    • Tae Kwon Do:
    • Umbrakinetic Combat: Duke can incorporate his command over shadows with his martial arts to augment his melee combat.
  • Eskrima:
  • Stick Fighting:
• Peak Human Condition:

Equipment

• Robin Costume: (Formerly) After joining the We Are Robin movement, he was given a red leather jacket by the mysterious "Nest". The jacket proved to be bulletproof, even against multiple bullets at close range.
• Signal Armor: After training with Batman, Duke was given an upgraded version of his costume. The new suit is a slightly heavier plated version of his previous suit with some new technology updates. The suit has a reflective bat insignia that can blind or confuse an enemy as well as change color depending on lighting. His suit also has a built-in defensive electrical grid and a stealth mode that makes him invisible.
• Eskrima Stick: Duke's primary weapon of choice is a pair of modified Eskrima sticks that connect to function as nunchaku as well. The sticks come with spring-loaded hatchet blades that allow them to be used as a grappling hook.
• Nunchaku:
• Motocycle: Originally a yellow version of Batman's Batcycle, Duke has upgraded to a more streamlined motorcycle that can also cloak itself with Duke's suit; rendering it completely invisible.

Fun Facts

Out of all the members of the Bat-family, Duke is the first metahuman and the only member of the Bat-family with superhuman abilities.