Created for and introduced in Superman: The Animated Series, Mercy Graves is a tough young woman with a checkered past, a sardonic wit, and skill in unarmed combat. While leading a gang of female thieves, she attempted to steal a briefcase from Lex Luthor. Though she failed, an impressed Luthor recognized her ruthlessness and street savvy, took her in, and eventually made her his personal bodyguard and chauffeur. Loyal and respectful to him, she also claims to be "the only one in Luthor's entire company who can get away with calling him Lex".
An alternate reality variant of Graves appears in the episode "Brave New Metropolis". After Luthor and Superman turned Metropolis into a police state, Graves became the commander of the former's law enforcement group.
Justice League and Justice League Unlimited
In the Justice League episode "Tabula Rasa", it is established that Graves took over LexCorp following Luthor's imprisonment. When he returns, she proves hesitant to return control to him. After he is re-imprisoned, she refuses to help him after he is diagnosed with Kryptonite-induced cancer. Nonetheless, she returns to Luthor's side as of the Justice League Unlimited episode "Clash".
Comics
Mercy Graves first appeared in the main DC Universe continuity in Detective Comics #735 (August 1999), during the No Man's Land storyline. This version is blonde and often works with an additional bodyguard, Hope. Furthermore, both Graves and Hope are implied to be Amazons, with the former later being confirmed as such in Justice League: Cry for Justice.[3]
In Infinity, Inc., Graves adopts the secret identity of "Vanilla" and joins the eponymous team in the hopes of atoning for her misdeeds. However, she leaves after almost beating a man to death.
In The New 52, Graves is reintroduced as Luthor's Asian American personal assistant who manages LexCorp in his absence.[4]
During the "Lazarus Planet" event, Graves becomes a metahuman cyborg after being exposed to Lazarus Pit resin.[5]
In other media
Television
Animation
Mercy Graves appears in The Batman two-part episode "The Batman/Superman Story", voiced by Gwendoline Yeo. This version wields twin laser guns.
Mercy Graves makes non-speaking appearances in Young Justice. This version is a cyborg and minor member of the Light who possesses a cybernetic right arm equipped with various weapons.[1]
Mercy Graves makes non-speaking appearances in Harley Quinn.
Mercy Graves appears in the fourth season of Supergirl, portrayed by Rhona Mitra.[7] This version is an anti-alien activist along with her brother Otis Graves and previously worked as the head of security of LuthorCorp under Lex Luthor and Project Cadmus under Lex's mother Lillian Luthor until the Luthors were arrested. Throughout the season, the Graveses expose President Olivia Marsdin as an alien before attempting to assassinate her. While they are foiled by Supergirl and apprehended by the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO), the pair convince Raymond Jensen to free them and aid them in further anti-alien endeavors until Mercy is eventually killed by Hellgrammite.
Mercy Graves appears in Titans, portrayed by Natalie Gumede.[8] This version is a lesbian, mother of two daughters, and the former head of Cadmus Labs.
Mercy Graves appears in Superman: Doomsday, voiced by Cree Summer.[1] After discovering and inadvertently releasing Doomsday, Lex Luthor kills her to hide his involvement.
^ abcdefg"Mercy Graves Voices (Superman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 5, 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.