Same last name, must be related

[Jim Kelly]

There seems to be an unwritten rule that if two characters have the same last name they will eventually turn out to be related.

Even when the spelling isn't the same, the characters end up being related in the unfolding of time as with Speed Saunders and Shiera Sanders--it took fiftty years for this to come to light. What about Greg Saunders (Vigilante)?

Roy Harper (Speedy/Arsenal) and Jim Harper (the Guardian) ended up closely related.

This is probably why Harvey Kent's name was changed to Harvey Dent, so no one would think he was related to Clark Kent. Dent might have been inspired by Lester Dent (pulp novel writer, famous for Doc Savage). Later the villain Dr. No-Face was in reality Paul Dent--must have been related to Harvey.

Brian Kent was the Silent Knight in the 6th century (THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD). He must have been an ancestor of Jonathan Kent.

Bruce Gordon became Eclipso. He had to be related to Commisioner James W. Gordon, surely. In fact, with Bruce as his first name, it's like the creators did a mash-up of Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon.

Fan fictions have established a relationship between Margot Lane and Lois Lane (that Margot Kidder played Lois Lane is an odd twist of fate). Comic book posters seem to think Ralph Dibny is related to Walt Disney.

Wally West related to James West? Kid Flash does sound like the handle of a gunslinger.

Rick Starr (Star Ranger) may have been related to Bronco Bill Starr (Biron the Centaur/Comet the Super-Horse). And both to Ringo Starr.

James Robinson eventually would put anyone named Savage on the same family tree--Matt Savage (Trail Boss) and Steve Savage (Balloon Buster). Matt's son, Brian Savage, became Scalphunter (Ke-Woh-No-Tay) and was the father of Steve Savage. No connection to Vandal Savage?

Dick Grayson and Charles Grayson may have had family ties--Charles Grayson was the lab assistant of Robert Crane/Paul Dennis. Anyone named Kane or Cain has to eventually be in the Batman Family.

Larry Jordan was Air Wave in the 1940s--and his costume was green--so, of course, he had to be related to Hal Jordan (not to mention brothers Jim Jordan and Jack Jordan)--and Larry's son, also named Hal Jordan, was Air Wave II.

[j9ac9k]

People want Black Lightning's wife Lynn Stewart to be related to John Stewart.... it hasn't happened yet, has it?

[Drako]

Carter Hall is not related to Hank and Don Hall, even if they all shared the bird theme..

[Phoenixx9]

Flint Marko and Caine Marko

All of the Knight ladies who are Phantom Lady

[Twice-named]

I've wondered what the story would be like if Kate Kane was related to Adeline Kane.

[Timber Wolf-By-Night]

Flint Marko and Caine Marko

All of the Knight ladies who are Phantom Lady

I'm guessing that's why "Flint Marko" was eventually retconned into being an alias and his real name was revealed to be William Baker.

[Frontier]

Flint Marko and Caine Marko

All of the Knight ladies who are Phantom Lady

There was one Phantom Lady who was actually related to Ted Knight/Starman.

People want Black Lightning's wife Lynn Stewart to be related to John Stewart.... it hasn't happened yet, has it?

No, in fact they recently established that John's sister is dead.

[j9ac9k]

No, in fact they recently established that John's sister is dead.

That dead sister was established a long time ago - during Kyle's run I think... no?

[Jim Kelly]

It's strange the people in comics named Strange. Okay, Stephen Strange works for another comic book company, but do Adam Strange and Hugo Strange get together for family dinners? Awkward.

Dick Grayson and Charles Grayson may have had family ties--Charles Grayson was the lab assistant of Robert Crane/Paul Dennis.

I meant to say that Robert Crane/Paul Dennis was the original Robotman. Charles Grayson was the guy who transplanted Bob Crane's brain into the Robotman body.

Carter Hall is not related to Hank and Don Hall, even if they all shared the bird theme..

This one bugs me. Carter Hall was Hawkman (on both Earth-Two and Earth-One), Hank Hall was the Hawk, while his brother Don was the original Dove--yet Hawkman has never been linked to the Hawk & the Dove. What gives? They must be kin. It's a slam dunk.

Lt. Hunter (Hunter's Hellcat, OUR FIGHTING FORCES) and Dan Hunter (friend to Tomahawk) were apparently related. Later it was revealed that Dan was Rip Hunter's cousin, who travelled back in time to the Revolutionary War and stayed in the past. He might be his own great great great great great great great great great grandpa.

Pat Boone had his own self-titled comic book, PAT BOONE (1959 - 1960)--with wonderful Bob Oksner artwork--and he guest appeared in SUPERMAN'S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE 9 (May 1959). Pat's great great great great grandfather is reputed to be Daniel Boone who appeared in THE LEGENDS OF DANIEL BOONE, FRONTIER SCOUT (1955 - 1956).

Can it be only a coincidence that April O'Day (GIRLS' LOVE STORIES), the white-haired Hollywood actress drawn by Bob Oksner, has the same last name as Angel O'Day (ANGEL & THE APE), the white-haired model and private detective drawn by Bob Oksner?

And what does this mean for Spike Wilson (SUGAR & SPIKE)? Could he be related to Slade Wilson (Deathstroke, the Terminator)? Say it ain't so.

[CaptCleghorn]

A more extreme case are arguments that Dick Grayson is an ancestor to Trek's Amanda Grayson and subsequently Spock.

[Batgrayson]

People want Black Lightning's wife Lynn Stewart to be related to John Stewart.... it hasn't happened yet, has it?

She was John's sister on Young Justice animated series.

[Jon Clark]

Clark Kent was probably related to Bulletgirl Susan Kent Barr. And I've heard mentions that Clark "Doc" Savage and Kent "The Shadow" Allard may have had a connection to Superman's name (that syory implied that he had been raised under a different name and adopted his "Clark Kent" ID at the same time he arrived in Metropolis(

Bruce was related to Mad Anthony Wayne, an actual Revolutionary War general from history books as well as Scottish historical figure Robert the Bruce..

Oliver and Ellery Queen must have some relatives in common.

I suspect that 616's Captain Marvels had some connections to the DC Super-Family. Kal-El and Mar-(V)ell? Carol and Linda Danvers?

Not a case of being related but actually being the same person is the pulp character the Whisperer (Commissioner James "Wildcat" Gordon) and later Batman ally (Commissioner James Gordon). Basically Gordon obviously retired from being a vigilante but his former costumed ID is why he was so accepting of Batman. Strong suspicion of being blood relation of Flash Gordon.

Founder of Protestantism Martin Luther and criminal genius Lex Luthor, Both were brilliant men whose opposition to powerful figures shaped their lives. Have to be related.

Patrick "Eel" O'Brian and original superhero The Clock, Brian O'Brien. Obviously the District Attorney and costumed crime0buster changed the spelling to distance himself from his crimanl relation, Eel.

Lana Lang, who lived in Metropolis and Fritz Lang who filed Metropolis

Smallville sheriff Douglas Parker and Spider-man Peter Parker

Ted Knight who was a member of the Justice Society of America and Ted Knight who narrator the adventures of the Super-Friends also called the Justice League of America. Also industrialist Wilton Knight (who built crimefighting Vehicle K.I.T.T.). Detective (and vampire) Nick Knight, and actor Christopher Knight (Peter on the Brady Bunch)

Bugs Bunny *waskiwee wabbit" and Dumb Bunny of the Inferior Five (Don't blame me- she told me this in an interview)

Professor Hugo Strange, Gotham super-villain and Steven Strange, sorcerer supreme.

Astronaut Brice Rogers (Bat-villain Moonman), Buck Rogers (hero of the 25th century), Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Norville "Shaggy" Rogers (owner of Scooby Doo)

Rod and Danette Reily (Firebrad) and May Reilly Parker (sickly aunt of Spider-man)

Robby Reed (became various heroes through dial), Gregory Reed (portrayed Superman on film) and Dan Reed (TV anchor whose life and indentity were stolen by a Superman clone)

[The Darknight Detective]

I don't have a problem with the same name meaning a couple of characters are related. It's when the majority of them are that it becomes absurd. Like juvenile sidekicks, they should be very, very rare.

[Tzigone]

At least so far as I know Tim Drake has never been related to Dinah Drake (and there's no reason he should be).

I don't have a problem with the same name meaning a couple of characters are related. It's when the majority of them are that it becomes absurd.

I don't disagree. Especially with common names. So no reason for Roy to be related to Jim. I preferred Kate Kane unrelated to Martha Kane (Wayne), as well.

It bugs me more when it's for very common names. Somehow it bothers me both when it makes virtually no difference (so why bother) that the characters are related and when it retcons their histories to give them relationships that they never had, even though we've followed one or both of them for years (so we should have already known). Guess it just bugs me all-round. Not a huge deal most of the time, just annoying.

[Thor-Ul]

Some of the connections are clever. But also they make th euniverse feels more small.