Mal Duncan

Malcolm Arnold "Mal" Duncan is a superhero published in American comic books by DC Comics. Created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Nick Cardy, he debuted in Teen Titans #26 (April, 1970). Having numerous codenames since his inception, the character is noted as among the earliest, if not the first, African-American superhero in DC Comics. Duncan is also notable in being depicted in the first interracial kiss in comic book history with Lilith Clay. Throughout his publication history, the character's history has been subjected to various revisions; having been raised in either Harlem or Hell's Corner in Metropolis, Duncan has been portrayed as both a non-powered human and metahuman. After a chance encounter with the Teen Titans, he subsequently joins the team as the second Guardian and for a brief time, Hornblower. He becomes involved with Bumblebee, eventually culminating to a marriage, and often sought to prove his worth within the team or adjust to the lifestyle of a superhero. Duncan also became Vox after following the Infinite Crisis crossover, in which he was a part of the Doom Patrol. A well-regarded celebrity, he retires from superheroics to focus on both his fatherhood and career but occasionally dons his Guardian codename and costume to assist Bumblebee, who acts as both a superhero and scientist for S.T.A.R. Labs. The character has been adapted in various DC Media, first in Teen Titans as Herald, voiced by Khary Payton. He later appears notably in Young Justice, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, wherein he was first a mission coordinator and later adopts the Guardian codename before retiring to focus on raising his daughter with Bumblebee.