Introduced in a self-titled episode of Superman: The Animated Series, Leslie Willis is a popular, yet controversial Metropolis radio shock jock who takes cynical joy in ridiculing Superman during her broadcasts.[3] On the third anniversary of her career, she hosts a rock concert at Centennial Park to celebrate despite a concurrent thunderstorm and public safety concerns. After lightning strikes the stage, Willis is transformed into an electrokinetic metahuman.
Following this, Willis forms a short-lived alliance with Parasite in the episode "Double Dose" and a separate alliance with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy in The New Batman Adventures episode "Girls' Night Out", only to be defeated by Superman in the former episode and by Supergirl and Batgirl in the latter.
Livewire is incorporated into the main comics continuity in Action Comics #835 (March 2006), written by Gail Simone and John Byrne. This version was born with her abilities, but did not gain her signature appearance until being struck by lightning.[4][5][6][7]
Livewire is a being of pure electricity able to absorb vast quantities from external sources. She can also manipulate electricity and generate lightning blasts of various intensities, with her strongest being able to weaken or stun Superman. She can also transform into living electricity to travel through anything capable of conducting an electric current, possess/control electronic devices such as computers, telecommunications networks, and an entire electrical grid. In the comics, as stated by Superman in Action Comics #843, Livewire has the ability to broadcast the energy she has stored in the form of a coherent signal without directing the energy at a target.
Due to her powers, her primary weakness is water, as even a small amount will cause her stored energy to go haywire unless she has stored up enough power. At this or any stage, Livewire would have to be completely drenched in water to be fully depowered. Additionally, silicon dust can also render her powerless due to its electrical resistance.[13] When drained of her electricity, she reverts to her solid form and cannot use most of her abilities until she absorbs enough energy.
In other media
Television
Animation
Livewire makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Teen Titans Go! episode "Black Friday".
Livewire appears in DC Super Hero Girls, voiced by Mallory Low.[2] This version is a teenage bully, internet troll, and member of the Super Villain Girls.
Livewire appears in Harley Quinn, voiced by Aline Elasmar. This version is a member of the Legion of Doom.
Livewire appears in My Adventures with Superman, voiced by Zehra Fazal.[14][2] This version is a thief whose powers are initially derived from a special harness powered by an alien crystal before she later develops natural electrokinesis. Additionally, as of the episode "Olsen's Eleven", she has entered a relationship with Heat Wave.
Livewire appears in the Smallville episode "Injustice", portrayed by an uncredited Anna Mae Routledge. This version is a small-time crook who, after being incarcerated, is recruited by Tess Mercer and tasked with searching for Davis Bloome alongside Parasite, Neutron, Plastique, and Mercer's assistant Eva Greer. Livewire is later killed by an explosive implanted in her head off-screen.[15]
Livewire appears in Supergirl, portrayed by Brit Morgan. This version is a confident yet abrasive CatCo shock jock who acquires her powers after Supergirl is struck by lightning while rescuing her from a potential helicopter crash.[16][17] Introduced in her self-titled episode, Livewire attempts to seek revenge on Cat Grant for demoting her, only to be defeated by Supergirl and turned over to the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO)'s custody. In the episode "Worlds Finest", Silver Banshee breaks Livewire out of the DEO to help her kill Grant, Supergirl, and Kara Danvers. However, the pair are foiled by Supergirl, a dimensionally-displaced Flash, and a group of firefighters and incarcerated at National City's newly developed metahuman prison. In "We Can Be Heroes", scientist Dr. Hampton kidnaps Livewire in an attempt to steal her powers and create an army of electricity-powered super-soldiers, but she escapes with Supergirl's help and they form a truce.[18] In "Fort Rozz", Livewire agrees to help Supergirl and Psi on a mission to the titular prison to gather information on Reign and later dies saving Supergirl.
Livewire appears in the Harley Quinn animated series spin-off comic series Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour and Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: Legion of Bats.
^Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 182. ISBN978-1-4654-5357-0.
^ abcdef"Livewire Voices (Superman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 10, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
^Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 213. ISBN978-0-345-50108-0.
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