Lynx (comics)

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caption=The new Lynx from "Robin" 179, November 2008
comic_color=background:#8080ff
character_name=Lynx
real_name=Ling
publisher=DC Comics
debut=Robin Vol. 1 #1 (1991).
creators=Chuck Dixon
Tom Lyle
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
alliances=The Ghost Dragons
notable aliases=
powers=Excellent martial artist|

Lynx is a fictional character, owned by DC Comics, who exists in that company's DC Universe. She is a martial artist created by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Tom Lyle as a villain to Robin (Tim Drake), and she first appeared in "Robin" V1 #1 (1991).

Detailed History

Lynx was originally seen as the girlfriend of Billy Hue, leader of the Parisian branch of the Ghost Dragons, a Chinese youth gang with members from Macau, Kowloon, and Hong Kong that served the ruthless King Snake. King Snake, known to the public at large as Sir Edmund Dorrance, was a British businessman and criminal. Robin (Tim Drake), met her in Paris and was dazzled by her beauty. Billy Hue later failed to kill Clyde Rawlins, an American interfering in King Snake’s affairs, due to Robin's interference. Hue was killed by King Snake as punishment, and Ling was dubbed Lynx and given leadership of the Ghost Dragons in his place. When Lynx failed to kill Robin and prevent him from interfering in King Snake's plans, his warped sense of good manners prevented him from killing her, although he still felt he could punish her in another way. King Snake moved the Ghost Dragons to Gotham City, and Robin discovered one of her eyes had been put out by King Snake. She felt this mutilation to be Robin’s fault, and swore revenge.

The Ghost Dragons gradually began carving a "turf" in Gotham, with Lynx at their head and King Snake working from the shadows, badly wounded after his first encounter with Robin. Lynx still served King Snake, and clashed with Robin on several occasions. She was part of a Gotham gang war between the Ghost Dragons and the Russian Odessa, leading her into conflict with both Robin, and the Huntress. Eventually, she came to hate the idea that the Ghost Dragons were led by a white man, and after King Snake killed a member of the Triads (an act she considered highly foolish) she led a revolt against him. King Snake was arrested, and Lynx became sole leader of the Ghost Dragons. She attempted to expand the gang's territory, into the Gotham suburbs, but was stopped by Robin and Spoiler.

Subsequently she spent time as a mercenary, but eventually returned to Gotham and resumed control of the Ghost Dragons. When Gotham was declared a No Man’s Land the Ghost Dragons controlled a part of the city, and they held it for much of the No Man's Land period. Eventually, Lynx was approached by Batman, who recruited her in stopping a man who selling Gotham children as slaves. The alliance did not continue afterwards, and once Gotham was reopened, Lynx returned to her criminal life.

During the War Crimes story arc, Lynx attempted to expand Ghost Dragon territory, and came into conflict with Batgirl (Cassandra Cain). When Lynx proved unable to best Batgirl in combat, one of her Ghost Dragon gang members attempted to interfere in the fight, accidentally beheading her as she struggled with Batgirl.

In the One Year Later period, she had returned from the dead, but was killed again by Batgirl.

Lynx's corpse was put into a Batgirl costume, and Robin was framed by Batgirl for the murder. Robin set off to prove his innocence, and that the girl in the costume was not the real Batgirl. In the end, he was successful.

A new Lynx

Preview solicitations for "Robin" #179 show a new Lynx in a very cat-like costume.

Powers and abilities

Lynx is a master of martial arts and trained in the use of guns and hand-to-hand weapons.