Squire

Squire
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	(Percy) Young All-Stars #21, (January 1988) (Cyril) Batman #62, (December 1950) (Beryl) JLA #26, (February 1999)
Created by	(Percy) Roy Thomas (writer) Michael Bair (artist) (Cyril) Win Mortimer (writer) Ira Schnapp (artist) (Beryl) Grant Morrison (writer) Howard Porter (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Percy Sheldrake Cyril Sheldrake Beryl Hutchinson
Place of origin	England
Team affiliations	(Percy) Young All-Stars (Cyril) Ultramarine Corps Global Guardians Club of Heroes (Beryl) Ultramarine Corps
Abilities	(Percy, Cyril) Swordsmanship, outfitted in special armor that repels swords or light projectiles. (Beryl) Swordsmanship, expert in all forms of communication.

Squire is the name of three fictional characters, they are comic book superheroes published by DC Comics. Percival Sheldrake debuted as the Squire in Young All-Stars #21 (January 1988), and was created by Roy Thomas and Michael Bair. Cyril Sheldrake debuted as the Squire in Batman #62 (December 1950), and was created by Win Mortimer and Ira Schnapp. Beryl Hutchinson debuted as the Squire in JLA #26 (February 1999), and was created by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter.

Publication history

Originally created in the 1950s as a counterpart to Robin for the Knight, a subsequent retcon made the Knight himself Squire to the Golden Age hero, the Shining Knight.

Fictional character biography

Percy Sheldrake

At age 20, young Percy came into leadership of his family (thus becoming Earl of Wordenshire) when his father was captured in France during the Dunkirk Evacuation and his mother was killed in a bombing raid over London in the fall of 1941. About this time, a knight from the Middle Ages named Sir Justin (the Shining Knight) had recently thawed out from centuries of suspended animation and was assisting the war effort in his native land. Unable to save either of Percy's parents, Shining Knight vowed to bring the Nazis to justice and end their regime once and for all. He took Percy under his wing and trained him just as a knight would train a squire in his original 6th century Camelot. He bestowed upon him the name Squire, and with the help of the All-Star Squadron, they fought against Nazi Germany until the end of World War II.

During the war, the Squire was also part of a team of adolescent superheroes called the Young Allies. Remaining together after the war, they fought against the rising threat of post-war nationals in Europe until inner conflicts caused the group to split up. Now on his own, and feeling his requisite training had been complete, Squire bestowed upon himself the name Knight, and joined yet another team (the Global Guardians) under this new name. He continued to fight for justice even after he fathered a son years later named Cyril.^[1]

Cyril Sheldrake

First appearing the in pages of Batman #62, Cyril was Percy Sheldrake's son, who was trained in manner much like his father had been, thus becoming the new Squire. They were constantly compared to Batman and Robin, and they considered themselves to be their European counterparts. Coincidentally, the dynamic duo made their way to England on one occasion, where they met up with Knight and Squire and formed an alliance to take down neo-Nazi supporters at their hidden base at Stonehenge. Tragically, Percy was eventually killed by his archenemy Spring-Heeled Jack, leading Cyril to become the second Knight. Cyril subsequently joined the Ultramarine Corps, alongside his own Squire, Beryl Hutchinson.

He reappears in Batman #667-669. He, Beryl, Batman, Robin and the rest of the Batmen of All Nations, sometimes known as the 'Club of Heroes', have become trapped on an island. It was seemingly to be an innocent reunion sponsored by their billionaire benefactor, Mayhew. All the possible transports off the island have been destroyed and everyone currently believes their lives to be in danger, as the Legionary and Wingman have been killed.^[2]

Beryl Hutchinson

Beryl Hutchinson first appeared in JLA #26 (February, 1999) and became the new Squire while assisting Knight II. Brave and courageous, she and Knight joined the Ultramarine Corps of Superbia after assisting them in saving a crime-ridden micro-Earth. As well as being an expert in swordplay, she is also naturally gifted in several forms of communication, including foreign languages, gestures, and interpretation. She can even read information patterns by touch. She cares a good deal for Cyril and will protect him at any cost.

While the Sheldrakes are nobility, Beryl apparently grew up on the streets. With regard to her education, she explained to Batman "The Hutchinsons never had no money, but they always had brains and a love of the library". Beryl's name, appearance and perky attitude may be a nod to the British comics character Beryl the Peril, who regularly appears in DC Thomson comics. She reappears in Batman #667-669, and again in several issues of the Batman R.I.P. storyline that runs through Batman #676-681 ^[3] and Battle for the Cowl helping Tim Drake and Damian Wayne over the course of the series.

Powers and abilities

Originally, the first Squire had no powers aside from the ones he gained by wearing special armor provided for him by Shining Knight. As they were made by Merlin, they possessed special properties that allowed him to avoid harm from swords or certain projectiles. He since passed this armor to his son. The newest Squire, though lacking magic armor, has the ability to interpret information by touch, as well as communicate in a number of ways. Every one of them is highly skilled in swordplay, though they have talents using other weapons or fighting hand-to-hand as well.

References

External links

• DCU Guide: Knight I
• DCU Guide: Squire II
• DCU Guide: Squire III