- "I am the very last living soul of Havenrock... and I carry with me a message from all those souls you killed."
- —Rory Regan to Janet Carroll[src]
Rory Regan is a former vigilante who initially sought revenge for the destruction of his home, Havenrock, of which he was the sole survivor. However, the Green Arrow convinced him to cease his crusade and use his powers for good. For some time, he operated as a member of Team Arrow, using the mystical rags of the Devarim to fuel his magic, using the codename Ragman, as suggested by Rene Ramirez. After absorbing a nuclear explosion, the rags seemed to stop working, causing Rory to leave the team until he can restore his bond with the rags. Retiring from vigilantism, he turned towards helping the disenfranchised in other ways, before being hunted by the mask-hunter Chimera, leaving his ultimate fate unknown.
Biography
Early life
Rory Regan was born and raised in the town of Havenrock to a Jewish family and became a skilled inventor in his youth. By age 11, Rory's father started giving him the family's homebrew schnapps, despite him being well under the drinking age. Rory's family owned possession of ancient mystical rags from the time of Devarim, granting its user the ability to extend them like limbs.[1]
Destruction of Havenrock
In early 2016, on Genesis Day, as a missile was inbound for their town, Rory's father wrapped him in the rags, telling him they held a power greater than most people could imagine, but needed to respect the power it brought. Moments after, Havenrock was destroyed by the missile. Rory's family, along with the town's entire populace, was killed, but he was protected from the blast wave by the rags. In the aftermath, Rory was left the sole survivor of the town.[2]
Revenge on AmerTek
Later that year, with the knowledge that a subsidiary of AmerTek Industries developed the missile that destroyed his town, Rory sought revenge on the company and traveled to Star City. He first targeted Evan Wender, the Vice President of AmerTek. Rory used his rags to suffocate and seriously injure Wender. The following day, Rory ambushed a medical clinical event held by Mayor Oliver Queen and attacked Janet Carroll, AmerTek's CEO. Rory pinned Caroll to the wall and tried to strangle her with his rags. However, Rene Ramirez intervened, ripping off a piece of Rory's rags, before he fled. The next night, Ragman, as he became known, attacked an arms deal between Carroll and Tobias Church, going after the former. The Green Arrow appeared, helping take down Church's thugs, before convincing Rory to let Carroll get away. Later, Rory met with the Green Arrow, who revealed himself to be Oliver. Oliver convinced Rory to give up his quest for vengeance and make his father's memory proud by joining the former's team.[2]
Joining Team Arrow
Aligned with Team Arrow, Rory used his magic powers to greatly assist the team, for example, in defeating Derek Sampson. At first, he almost refused joining after hearing the truth about the Havenrock incident from Felicity Smoak, uneasy with being on the team with a person whose very existence would remind him of the tragedy. However, thinking it through, he agreed with assisting Oliver, and took part in later missions.[3] He was the one to save Adrian Chase from Tobias Church and his thugs, using his extreme durability to take all shots for the team, as well as using his rags as "tentacles" to catch bullets shot at his allies.[4] Ragman took part in the final assault of Team Arrow on Tobias's operations, once again using his rags to take down multiple thugs.[5]
Rory sharing his family homebrew schnapps with his teammates.
Rory, along with the rest of the recruits, disapproved of Oliver's secrecy policies when it was revealed that he's been hiding the List from his new allies, along with his earlier identity as the Hood, since even Curtis Holt, a more or less veteran team member, did not think that the Green Arrow was the same person as the Arrow. Rory specifically said that he figured out Prometheus's message, explaining to Oliver that the villainous vigilante means to show that Oliver Queen is the real serial killer. Later, when the recruits went to discuss the revelations, Rory presented his teammates with jars of his family's homebrew schnapps, which he's been drinking himself since the age of twelve. Rory also visited a concert organized by the Star City Mayor's office, with Evelyn Sharp noting that he's finally started to smile a little.[1]
In December, Rory, Diggle, Rene, Evelyn, Lyla Michaels, and J.J. celebrated with a Christmas Eve dinner in the Arrowcave. As a present, Evelyn gave them all stockings with their vigilante names labelled on them. When Curtis was injured and poisoned by Prometheus, Oliver identified it as Tuberculosis, a virus that broke out 4 years ago which Justin Claybourne used it to turn a profit and Oliver expressed his suspicion that Prometheus was Claybourne. Team Arrow went to confront Prometheus as Claybourne's office, but Artemis revealed she was in league with him and they escaped. Fearing Evelyn told Prometheus about their loved ones, John suggested Rory and Rene supply the names of those closest to them to move into A.R.G.U.S. security. While Felicity left to attend to other business, she left Rory and Rene to examine cremated ashes found in Claybourne's office using a DNA sequencer. While waiting Rene expressed hope that maybe in Flashpoint, he and Thea were together, but Rory doubted it. After the sequencer finished they confirmed the ashes were actually Claybourne's. Later Felicity's boyfriend Billy Malone sent a picture of a baby from Claybourne's office which Rory commented was strange. When Billy was reported missing the team, Ragman included, were sent out to search for him but ordered not to engage. Rory initially suggested that perhaps Barry Allen try Flashpoint again, but Rene told him Dig might end up with 5 kids instead. After their searches proved fruitless the team returned to the Arrowcave, but Oliver returned with the horrifying revelation that he unintentionally killed Billy, who was staged as Prometheus. Though Oliver told everyone in the team they should leave they all stood by his side, certain they were where they needed to be.[6]
Rory and Team Arrow went to Russia to stop Walker from selling bombs to the Markovians, Rory seemed to have stepped up much more than many other times. When Felicity blackmailed an innocent family, Rory felt that it was not right and gave a talk to her about it. That night, with the help of Bratva, Team Arrow went to stop Walker from selling the bombs. However, they were tricked. Walker had activated the bomb that could explode within a 50-mile radius, which Felicity was unable to hack. She insisted on flying the bomb to a less populated place, but was cut off when Rory mentioned Havenrock. In that instant, he came up with the idea that if the rags could help him survive Havenrock's nuclear explosion, he could also survive the bomb, containing the explosion and radiation. Felicity questioned its effectiveness, but he had faith in his rags, sending Felicity away and sacrificing himself. He survived, wrapping his rags to the maximum around the bomb, and everyone right outside the warehouse also survived. However, the explosion was too much on the rags, so that they seemed to have "lost its powers". Rory decided to leave Team Arrow to find a way to fix the issue. He bid farewell to Felicity when she visited him, promising to return.[7]
Hunted by Chimera
Without his powers, Rory abandoned vigilantism, continued working towards the benefit of the disenfranchised. After giving an interview to M. Pedowitz for the "Emerald Archer: The Hood and the Rise of Vigilantism" documentary on his activities as part of Team Arrow, Rory became a target for the vigilante-hunter Chimera, obsessed with the vigilantes ever since being saved by the Hood in 2012. Apparently, the hunter took Rory's Ragman mask as one of his trophies. According to Chimera, his intention was not to kill the vigilantes, but just take their masks for memorabilia. Nevertheless, after Chimera's attack, Team Arrow and the SCPD were unable to contact Rory or Helena Bertinelli, leaving their fates unknown.[8]
Rewritten reality
Ragman's mask alongside other fallen heroes killed by Damien Darhk.
In an altered reality created by the Legion of Doom using the Spear of Destiny, Rory was killed by Damien Darhk or one of his henchwomen. His ragged mask was put on display with those of other heroes and vigilantes that Darhk had killed.[9]
Personality
- "Yeah, and I stopped hiding behind a mask. But I didn't stop doing good because people need help. It's just that simple. Is that all?"
- —Rory Regan[src]
After Havenrock's destruction, Rory Regan has shown a violent and vengeful demeanor, as he bares a deep mourn for his late family and former home. Since his recruitment to Team Arrow he reveals a more level-headed and calm personality. Overall, he has shown a remarkable understanding nature. After learning of the part Felicity Smoak played in the destruction of his home, despite the agony of this knowledge, Rory was remarkably civil to it, understanding that Felicity was in put in a no-win situation. Shortly afterwards, he was able to make peace with her and return a positive working relationship.
Despite his generally kind yet reserved nature several of his team members including John Diggle and Rene Ramirez deem him a "weirdo" though Rory doesn't seem to very phased by this. As noted by Evelyn Sharp though Rory hardly smiles but during his time spent with the team he has started to lighten up more. He is shown to be very talented engineer and is very faithful towards his Jewish heritage, even after meeting the meta-human Barry Allen, who he was a fan of prior to meeting, and extraterrestrial Kara Danvers.
Like the other recruits Rory understandably annoyed when they learned Oliver hadn't informed them about Prometheus. Furthermore, when Oliver revealed that he was "The Hood" who used The List to target those most corrupt in Starling City, Rory like the other recruits were quite shocked, even horrified, to learn Oliver was a borderline serial killer. Rory even made the observation that information sharing seems to be exclusive between Oliver, Diggle and Felicity and not the recruits, similar to Rene's analogy of Team Arrow having an "A-Team" and a "B-Team". However Rory does seem to have forgiven Oliver since.
Rory is very intelligent, being the first to suspect the message Prometheus was sending in his killings, was in fact an accusation to Oliver that he was the serial killer, under his "Hood" persona. He was also the first to suspect that Prometheus may not be Justin Claybourne as initial evidence implicated and was proven right.
Powers and abilities
Powers
- Telepathic link: Rory has a telepathic link with his rags, allowing him to feel their mystical power. After absorbing another nuclear blast in Russia, Rory started to feel that the Devarim rags have lost their power, which has proven to be true.[7]
Former powers
- Mystical rag manipulation: Rory could control the numerous rags that composed his suit. While seemingly fragile and decaying, these rags were able to grip, lift, club and throw human beings with ease. Their width varies and while he preferred to launch his rags from his hands, they could come off any part of his suit. He can also use them to grapple onto and swing from structures and surfaces to quickly escape or to stalk his enemies from higher vantage points.[2] Rory's control over his rags is perfect, as he could even extend them with immense speed and accuracy to the point, where he is able to catch a huge amount of bullets in midair.[4]
- Enhanced durability: While wearing his suit, Rory possesses incredible durability. Arrows are incapable of piercing the suit and according to Rory, the suit is strong enough to withstand a nuclear strike and protect his wearer from the radiation after the blast, even contain such an explosion before it goes off. It is shown that the rags extend like tentacles to absorb and catch damage from explosions and gunfire. Because of this, Ragman tends to serve as a human shield and Oliver sends him to more dangerous assignments, such as disarming the gunmen who were causing a panic during Prometheus' rampage.[2][4] Despite this, Rene was able to tear a piece of it off, suggesting human contact could hurt Rory.
- Enhanced strength: While wearing his suit, Rory possesses incredible strength. He can drag and lift up human beings with one hand and without any visible effort.[2]
- Intimidation: Rory's redoubted exterior and voice allows him to inflict psychological damage to his enemies, who become astonished and afraid of his malicious appearance, which allows Ragman to fight criminals even more effectively.
- Tirelessness: An apparent side effect of the rags is that Rory does not need to sleep in order to stay rested and rejuvenated.[10]
- Voice modulation: Rory's voice is mystically distorted while he wears the suit, having no control over it. While it can serve as identity concealment, it can also be seen has a means of intimidation. His voice returns to normal if he removes the rags that conceal his face.[2][3]
Abilities
- Skilled craftsman/Metalsmith/Welder: Rory is a skilled in using welding machine, able to create extraordinary objects from metallic rags. His mastery was enough to impress Felicity Smoak when she found his creations.[4]
Equipment
Devarim rags allow Rory to use his magic powers.
- Mystical rags: To protect him from the nuclear blast that destroyed his home, Havenrock, Rory was wrapped in ancient, mystical rags from the time of Devarim (the Biblical period when Moses and the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after leaving Egypt before arriving in the Promised Land). He is somehow able to control the rags and extend them out, using them like tentacles to grab targets. They are strong enough to restrain, drag, lift and throw fully grown humans with ease, as well as suffocate them. He can also use them to lift himself up to high areas. While wearing the rags, he was strong enough to drag and lift up humans with one hand, as he did with Janet Carroll.[2]
- Homebrew schnapps: One of the few things left from his family is the homebrew schanps recipe. Rory has been drinking this alcoholic brew since he was 11, which Rene Ramirez jokingly believes is why he is a "weirdo".[1]
Appearances
Arrow
Season 5
Season 7
|
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Season 2
- "Doomworld" (suit detail)
Gallery
Concept artwork
Trivia
- Rory is Jewish.
- He appears to be a fan of Barry Allen/The Flash, and later Kara Danvers/Supergirl.[11]
- Rory suffers from insomnia as a side-effect of wearing the rags.[10]
- In a rewritten reality, Rory was killed by Damien Darhk or one of his henchwomen. His mask was put on display in a trophy case, along with the masks of several other heroes and vigilantes.[9]
- Rory is the second member of Team Arrow to have magical abilities after Oliver, who learned how to use light magic to protect himself from Damien Darhk's dark magic.
- Rory is the only recruit from Season 5 who never betrayed Team Arrow.
- He is also the only member of the team in that season who wasn't kidnapped by Prometheus's team.
- As of "Emerald Archer", the public is aware of Rory's identity as Ragman, as he seemingly revealed his identity willingly in order to be part of the documentary on vigilantism.
Behind the scenes
- In DC comics, Ragman is a mystic vigilante and superhero who has ties to the Jewish Golem.