Harry Steinis a fictionalpolice officerandsecret agentfeatured inDC Comics.Stein first appeared inVigilante#23 (November 1985) and was created byPaul Kupperbergand Tod Smith.
| Harry Stein | |
|---|---|
 Harry Stein, art bySteve Erwin. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Vigilante#23 (November 1985) |
| Created by | Paul Kupperberg(writer) Tod Smith (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Harry Stein |
| Team affiliations | Checkmate The Agency NYPD |
| Notable aliases | King |
| Abilities | Experienced police officer and espionage agent. |
Fictional character biography
editVigilante
editLieutenant Harry Stein is an eighteen-year veteran of theNYPD.His first DCU appearance was inVigilante#23 where he is introduced as the head of a police task force operating out of Midtown South. This task force's sole job is the apprehension of Vigilante (Adrian Chase) whom they believed was a cop killer.[1]Gary Washington the very firstCheckmateKnight was also introduced during Harry Stein's run, in issue #24 as Stein's partner. InVigilanteAnnual #2, Harry Stein uses illegally obtained evidence to prove Adrian Chase is the Vigilante.[2]Stein admitted to illegal search and seizure and all charges against Chase were thrown out. In #37 Stein is forced to resign by his supervisor Chief Rogers and hands over his badge, Rogers informs him that there are criminal charges pending against him.[3]
In #37, Harry is recruited into theAgencybyValentina Vostok,his first mission is to help a mentally unbalanced Vigilante (Adrian Chase) take down a ship full of middle eastern terrorists. During the mission, Vostok, Stein and Chase come into conflict with an equally derangedPeacemaker(Christopher Smith), a man that Adrian Chase had sworn to kill.
Adrian Chase becomes a cop killer, but commits suicide out of regret.
Doom Patrol
editHarry Stein shows up next inDoom Patrol(vol. 2) #2, heading for a meeting with his Boss, Valentina Vostok.[4]Harry later makes it inside Kalki's complex (father ofCelsius), and shuts down the electrical plant long enough for the Doom Patrol to free themselves from Kalki's traps.[5]Harry promises to leave any mention ofJoshua Clay's double identity as doctor Johnathan Carmichael out of his reports.[6]Harry later informs the Doom Patrol that the Agency needed them to rescue an American superhero who had been taken hostage inSan Salvador.[7]
Checkmate
editHarry Stein is appointed Valentina Vostok's replacement in the Agency's command position byAmanda Waller.Stein later sought out the most stable personnel available from the American and international intelligence and law enforcement communities to form Checkmate. His agency would field only the best-trained and well-equipped of agents, working under the strictest rules of secrecy. For the organizational structure of the re-organized Agency, Stein chose the game ofchessas his working model.[8]
Stein brought in Gary Washington (Knight One) and Black Thorn as operatives, both of whom were his friends, and both of whom were introduced during his run on Vigilante. Harry Stein's sons Barry and Matthew are introduced inCheckmate#2.
On a rare vacation with his sons, Harry confronts a murderous gang of thieves robbing the payroll of a popular and extensive amusement park. Harry deals with the gang, mostly on his own. Months later, he almost loses one of his sons to a killer's bullet. Harry Stein's last recorded appearance was inCheckmate#33 (January 1991), the final issue of the original series.
Notes
edit- When first introduced inVigilante#23 and throughout his run in that series, Harry was drawn as slovenly and unshaven, in the mould ofHarvey Bullock.
- InAction Comics#598 andCheckmate#2, Harry is shown as a clean cut level headed father.