One of the most crucial elements when it comes to embarking on a career as a hero, or villain, is choosing an imposing costume. Your ensemble needs to look fierce and strike fear into the hearts of those who see you. A certain antihero took this latter qualification to extremes by wearing a suit of rags made from the souls of evildoers…Do you know who this is?
Rory Regan, a/k/a Ragman, was created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and made his debut in the short-lived comic book series named after him in 1976. He is one of the few Jewish superheroes in the DC universe, which includes Batwoman, Phantom Stranger, and Felicity Smoak. Prior to the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Regan is introduced as a young man who helps his father run a pawn shop called Rags ‘n’ Tatters. After unintentionally angering a gang, Regan’s father is wrapped in electrical wires and tortured for information. While attempting to rescue his father, Regan is shocked by the wires and knocked unconscious. Upon awakening, Regan realizes he has gained the physical abilities of the gang members who were electrocuted at the same time he was. He now had acrobat's agility, a strongman’s strength, and a boxer’s skills. Donning a costume made out of old rags, Regan officially became the Ragman.
A 1991 limited series retconned Regan’s tattered costume from his initial outing into a suit with patches made from the soul of an evildoer that Ragman had punished and absorbed. These absorbed souls begin to cause problems for Regan, after they hunger for murder and manage to free themselves. Through the support of Batman and Rabbi Luria, Regan eventually managed to regain control. In current continuity, Ragman’s powers have increased greatly to include limited flight and skilled use of magic. His costume, which can now absorb souls, allows him to call upon each soul to lend him their attributes or power. During the 2005 Day of Vengeance series, Ragman joins a group of magic-based heroes to form the Shadowpact team. This group, which includes Enchantress, Detective Chimp, Blue Devil, Nightshade, and Nightmaster, team up to confront the rampaging Spectre.
Outside of comics, Joe Dinicol portrayed the ragged vigilante during season five of Arrow. Although initially introduced as seeking vengeance against those responsible for the destruction of Havenrock, Arrow convinces Regan to become a hero and join his team. After narrowly surviving a nuclear explosion, Regan leaves Star City to restore his bond with his rags. Before leaving, Regan promises Felicity Smoak that he will return. Well, two seasons have since passed without his return, but with familiar faces popping up across Star City, its possible the “Tatterdemalion of Justice” will eventually be one of them.
