- For his successor, known under the same alias, see Clinton Hogue.
- "I loved this city."
- —Sebastian's last words to Isabel Rochev before being killed.[src]
Sebastian Blood (1977[1] - May 2014) was the mayor of Starling City and an alderman, who rose to power following The Undertaking. Sebastian was a devoted alderman whose desire was to help people and dedicated himself to restoring Starling City following the Undertaking and allied himself with Slade Wilson to do so. As Slade's third-in-command and the leader of the Church of Blood, Sebastian, given the name Brother Blood, was to acquire an army of Mirakuru soldiers to cause enough destruction in Slade's name to enforce a new era where he would guide the people of the city. However, when Sebastian became mayor, Slade betrayed him and decided to lay waste to the city completely, finishing with an airstrike from A.R.G.U.S.. Feeling betrayed that the original plan was changed, Sebastian stole the Mirakuru cure and gave it to Oliver Queen. Shortly afterwards, Slade became aware of Sebastian's betrayal, leading to Isabel Rochev killing him.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Sebastian Blood was born and raised in the crime-riddled neighborhood in Starling City known as the Glades. His father, Sebastian Sangre, was an abusive alcoholic who would often beat Sebastian and his submissive mother, Maya Resik. Sebastian was terrified of his father, so much so that he would often have nightmares in which he envisioned the man in the image of a skull. At some point, Sebastian befriended a teenager named Cyrus Gold and his mentor, Father Trigon.[2]
One day on May 15, 1986 when Sebastian was nine years old,[1] his father came home extremely enraged and threatened to kill Sebastian and his mother both with a gun. Two men in masks, who were actually Cyrus and Trigon disguised as the Acolyte and the Devil, broke in and fought Sebastian's father. Sebastian got a hold of his father's gun and, at Trigon's suggestion, shot him dead, yet let his mother live. When the police arrived, Maya received the blame for her husband's death and was arrested, eventually sent to St. Walker's Hospital. Sebastian was then placed in Zandia Orphanage.
At the orphanage, Sebastian met with Cyrus, now a preacher, who he began to view as an older brother-like figure. One day when Sebastian couldn't take the nightmares of his father, he created a skull mask made the same way he saw his father in his dreams, as a means of conquering his fears and to remind himself to never give up. The mask was placed upon him by Trigon in a ceremony, where Sebastian officially became a member of the Church of Blood as Brother Blood, swearing to protect the poorest of the city and the orphans of Zandia, no matter of the cost.[2]
Working with Deathstroke[]
At some point in time, Sebastian met the mercenary Slade Wilson/Deathstroke, who offered to make him the mayor of Starling City. Seeing that the city needed to be saved, Sebastian agreed and began his mayoral campaign after the Undertaking occurred. His campaign drew a large following as people branded "Blood for mayor" on the walls, as Mayor Altman's reputation had been tarnished after the Undertaking. Slade also promised him an army of soldiers, strength enhanced by Mirakuru within Slade's blood, to lay waste to Starling City and further support his following. Sebastian re-organized the Church of Blood to re-develop the serum from Slade's blood and test it on unwilling Glades residents found through a blood drive. His followers included Cyrus, Officer Daily and other Zandia orphans. Despite Sebastian becoming the new leader of the cult after Roger Trigon's death, Slade became the man behind the man, always having some degree of power over him, making Sebastian cower in his presence. Sebastian also became associated with Slade's right-hand woman Isabel Rochev/Ravager.[2]
Mayoral campaign/Mirakuru plot[]
Sebastian arranged for the Hoods, the Arrow copycats bent on forcing Starling's authority figures into fixing the city at gunpoint, to assassinate Altman[3] and allow Sebastian's campaign to begin.[4] While on the way to his office, Oliver Queen saw "Blood for Mayor" written on a wall and John Diggle elaborated on Sebastian's identity.[3] Sebastian preaches outside Glades Memorial Hospital, which is getting robbed by the Chinese Triad, claiming that the police do not care about the people of the Glades. Soon after. Oliver exited the hospital and Sebastian openly insults him and his family for causing their despair, telling Oliver to leave them alone. Later Blood realizes that he was harsh on Queen and the two decide to have a fund raiser to help the Glades but Oliver doesn't show up. Despite the insistence of Laurel Lance, Oliver's best friend, Sebastian tells everyone that he hasn't arrived and obviously doesn't care about the Glades.[5]
Sebastian attends a Queen Consolidated-held party at the Queen Mansion with Laurel, whom he discussed the matter of the "Mayor" smuggling guns into the Glades and overhears Oliver discussing the same subject and joins in their conversation. Sebastian later meets Oliver at Queen Consolidated where he "meets" Isabel and helps Oliver to set up a "guns for money" fundraiser for people affected by both the earthquake and the Mayor's wrath. However the Major interrupts the event ordering it to be called off and Sebastian bravely stands up to them only for the Mayor to open fire on the crowd and Oliver barely saves him. He later meets with Oliver to thank him for saving his life, sparking a new friendship between them, and Oliver showed his support for Sebastian's campaign. However, Sebastian has Daily take the Mayor to his testing lab inside in a secret room near his office. Brother Blood then has his men administer the unwilling Mayor with the Mirakuru. However, the Mayor dies in the process and Brother Blood orders Daily to find him another subject.[6] Among his volunteers were his old friend Cyrus[7] and Maxwell Stanton.[8]
Sebastian meets with Cecil Adams and assists him to recreate his vertigo drug to plague the city by administering it to citizens across the city without their knowledge through vaccines, to draw out Green Arrow and kill him. After Vertigo abducts A.D.A. Adam Donner and drugs him on his request to announce his intentions, Sebastian meet with D.A. Kate Spencer to discuss Donner's abduction but saw that Spencer was more interested in convicting Moira Queen. Upon finding that Green Arrow has killed Cecil Adams rather than the other way round, he is initially angry, until he is informed that Cyrus has survived his administration of the Mirakuru. Brother Blood meets with Cyrus and declares that he is ready.[7] Brother Blood had Cyrus, now the Acolyte, break into the Robert Queen Applied Sciences Center to steal a Kord Industries centrifuge [8] to further replicate the Mirakuru [4] Sebastian was also getting regular reports from Daily about movements conducted by three young people looking into Stanton's death but he encouraged it before ordering Cyrus to rob a blood bank.[8]
Sebastian publicly announces his mayoral campaign and begins to romantically warm up to Laurel and sends her flowers with an offer to go Christmas shopping. He is informed by Cyrus that the Arrow is dead and his technician, Dr. Vasak begin replicating the serum which will be finalized in two days, but is also told by Daily that the police are onto Cyrus and Sebastian orders him to kill the police, but under orders not to kill officer Quentin Lance and Daily himself, but manages to kill detective Lucas Hilton. Sebastian and Laurel later go Christmas shopping though she is forced to leave when told about her father's hospitalization but he goes himself to check up on her. Sebastian has Cyrus and the technician destroy any evidence of Stanton's murder by burning down the blood drive facility, though also found Roy Harper sneaking around and Acolyte brings him in.
Brother Blood then administers the serum to Roy before the Arrow storms the facility to get answers but is injured by Acolyte and Roy appears to O.D. and Brother Blood deems him "another failure" and orders Acolyte to kill The Arrow, though he manages to destroy the serum and Acolyte as Brother Blood escapes. Sebastian later meets with Slade to report his failure though he agrees to have another blood sample sent to him but warns him not to engage Green Arrow, or he will die. Sebastian realizes that Slade knows The Arrow's identity which he confirms and informs Sebastian that he intends to take everything that matters to him away from him before killing him.[4]
For 5 weeks, the Arrow goes on a manhunt for Brother Blood, unaware he is actually Sebastian, with no luck. Sebastian begins to develop deeper feelings for Laurel though she insists that they're just friends. Sebastian holds a rally in Verdant labelled "Sebastian for Starling" and gives a speech to motivate his supporters, though Laurel begins to feel off about him and later comes to his office, questioning him about his past and his connection to Cyrus Gold. Sebastian tells her about his abusive father but misleads her and tells her that his mother killed his father before running off, never to be seen again.
He also reveals his friendship with Cyrus but also lies about any involvement in his criminal activities, but Laurel finds notes on his desk connected to Maya. In the wake of Mark Scheffer's bomb attacks Sebastian holds another rally in times square to stand up to him but The Arrow visits him and strongly advises against it. At the rally Green Arrow saves Sebastian by shooting a grenade meant for Sebastian and later visits the alderman in his office congratulating him and Sebastian returns compliments. Sebastian extends that hand of friendship to save the city through their respective means and the Arrow accepts.[9]
Sebastian visits Maya in the hospital who reveals that she told Laurel the truth of his father's murder and begs forgiveness which Sebastian did but as Maya lay down on her bed, Brother Blood re-emerged and caused her to have a heart attack killing her. Later Oliver visits Sebastian and asks about Laurel acting different but claims to know nothing but will look into it, and is later visited by Slade who brings him the file on his father's murder and scolds him for almost allowing the Arrow and Laurel for foiling their plan. He then tells him to fix the problem instead of having Slade fix it for him, and then has Daily expose Laurel's drug problem and have her arrested to discredit her, calling Spencer out of concern.
Brother Blood later storms Laurel's apartment, knocks out Oliver, then abducts Laurel but he gives his mask and suit to Daily so he can masquerade as Brother Blood and is killed to throw Laurel off Sebastian's trail. However, as Sebastian reports his success to Slade an enraged Deathstroke emerges and kills his bodyguards and scolds him for being incompetent and threatens to kill him should he fail again.[10] Sebastian is contacted by Oliver and was told he was withdrawing his support for him and is now supporting his mother Moira Queen running for mayor. He is okay and tells Oliver it will not jeopardize their friendship. Immediately after he meets with Moira in Queen Consolidated and demands she withdraw from her campaign, and Moira challenges him not to underestimate her after Blood asks which side people would see, the strong leader, or the one manipulated by Malcolm Merlyn. Afterwards he meets with Slade and is informed Slade will be handling Moira Queen personally.[11]
Brother Blood kidnaps Thea after Slade takes her to his hideout. Later Sebastian attends a mayoral debate against Moira Queen, which is interrupted by a video of a frightened Thea, broadcast by Deathstroke and his henchmen and temporarily cancels his campaign to devote it's resources to "finding" Thea. Later, he meets with Slade and Isabel at Queen Consolidated but argues with Slade, furious that Thea's kidnapping has resulted in a sympathy vote for Moira that will all but assure her victory in the election which he let happen. Sebastian demands to know his obsession with the Queens, which Isabel finds amusing that he doesn't know, and demands that Slade fulfill his promise to give Sebastian control of Starling City. However, Slade angrily insists that he is keeping his promise before leaving to continue his plot to destroy the Queens.[12] Moira visits Sebastian in his office to tell him that she is dropping out of the election, which confuses him; however, he understands once Moira tells him that she needs to be with Thea as she is going through a tough time. However, later Moira decides against it and on TV announces that she will continue to run for mayor, much to Sebastian's annoyance.[13] After Sebastian was informed by Slade that he would kill her the night of her rally, he wrote a condolence later.
After Moira is murdered by Slade, Sebastian officially becomes mayor of the city. Sebastian later attends Moira's funeral reception, offering his condolences to Thea but Laurel becomes suspicious of him again as he became mayor just after Moira's death. Sebastian was contacted by Slade, pretending to be his father, when he was settling into his new office and told him to remember who he was still working for, and was later visited by Laurel claiming to need help with a case but secretly bugged his computer.
Laurel, later with Quentin and Kelton, discovered that Sebastian's letter and realized he wrote it the day before Moira died. Later Oliver personally met with Sebastian to tell him that he is The Arrow, much to Sebastian's surprise, and tries to understand Sebastian's motives and he explains that Slade will destroy the city with his army and the people will be in a time of chaos and fear, so they will turn to Sebastian for guidance and he will lead the city into a new age. However Oliver, knowing Slade better, insists that he will not deliver on his end but Sebastian dismisses it. Later Brother Blood addressed Slade's army and tells the troops that they will become a vital part of the Starling's future before unleashing them on the city.[14]
During the attack Sebastian receives numerous calls from the state governor offering to send in the national guard but he insists the police can handle the chaos, though Spencer walks in insisting that he do something as the attacks don't seem human. However Sebastian insists Spencer to pull herself together and that together they can "save" the city. However, as Sebastian and Spencer watch the attack on the news then a member of the army slaughters his entire office staff including Spencer, the soldier telling him that he doesn't take orders from him. Sebastian later angrily confronts Slade and Isabel about the attack reminding him that he was meant to call off the attack.
Though Slade insists that he kept his promise to make him mayor but reveals that he never intended to call off the attack and only ever wanted to see Oliver Queen suffer and reduce Starling City to ashes. Sebastian helplessly watches the attack with Slade as a soldier deliverers the Mirakuru cure to him and Sebastian regretful of his actions, steals the cure and informs Oliver. Oliver and Diggle arrive in his office where he reveals his childhood trauma and the origins of his mask before giving the cure to them and promising to fix the city once he wins, seeking redemption. However Oliver scolds Sebastian for believing he will still be mayor and despite Sebastian's threat to tell the public that he is the Arrow should Oliver tell the public he is Brother Blood, Oliver simply tells him to do what he wants.
Sebastian dies.
Sebastian then drank in his office as he waited for Isabel, who informed Slade of Sebastian's betrayal.
As he tried to scold Slade for his betrayal, Slade simply told him goodbye as Isabel stabbed him. Sebastian declared his love for Starling with his dying breath as his body lay on his desk and his mask fallen to the floor.[15] His death is reported as an "unconfirmed report".
Legacy[]
Oliver used Sebastian as an example when talking to Roy Harper about crucibles, like Sebastian once told him. Oliver referred to him as "a friend", implying that he forgave Sebastian in the end.
Oliver and Team Arrow were able to defeat Slade Wilson and his army with the Mirakuru cure, thus ensuring that Sebastian's death was not in vain. During the battle, Isabel Rochev was killed by Nyssa al Ghul, avenging Sebastian's death.[16]
Clinton Hogue succeeded Sebastian as Brother Blood.
Sometime after Sebastian's death, Celia Castle succeeded him as mayor of Starling City.[17] It can be assumed that Sebastian's involvement in the Siege was exposed to the public, albeit he did not know that Slade was planning to destroy Starling City.
About a year and a half after Sebastian's death, Oliver himself ran for mayor of Star City using Sebastian's old campaign office. Sebastian's lair underneath the office was converted into the new Arrowcave.[18]
Personality[]
- "As a young boy, I was plagued by nightmares. Every night, I would wake up in a cold sweat, frightened and alone. It was my father's face that haunted me. And this is how I saw him. The embodiment of desperation and despair. I made this mask to conquer my fears. And to remind myself why I fight, every day, to give this city's most desperate a chance. All I ever wanted to do was help people, Oliver."
- —Sebastian Blood to Oliver Queen[src]
Due to the abusiveness of Sebastian's father, Sebastian Sangre, he was a scared, frightened child but used that fear as motivation to fix his home city at any personal cost but his childhood trauma clearly damaged him as it drove him to megalomania. Sebastian was shown to be charismatic and commanding, being able to win over crowds so large they wanted him to become mayor and branded his name on walls. Though he initially resented Oliver due to his family's involvement in the Undertaking, sometime later he apologized for once it turned into a riot, and he slowly began to form a friendship with the billionaire as they both wanted to fix Starling City. He also became close friends with, Laurel Lance, although she always thought that something wasn't right about him, it was later revealed that the only reason why he became friends with Laurel, was because Slade Wilson ordered him to get close to the latter; in order to hurt Oliver Queen, therefore; he did not truly care about Laurel. But he was also a cult leader; who was a ruthless, cold, sadistic and megalomaniac to his subordinates, one who cared little for body counts to further his own needs. He also used his own personal skull mask as a means of intimidation and inspiration among his followers.
Sebastian's plan was to use an army of Mirakuru soldiers to worsen the already broken state of the city, to cause enough damage to make the whole city suffer, so when ready Sebastian would command the people to rebuild Starling City into a better city, one stronger, with no economic unbalance or poverty. Upon being elected mayor, it became ever more apparent that he was a megalomaniac, truly believing that his plan was what's best for Starling City. However, ultimately he truly desired to help the people of Starling City and upon realizing Slade would destroy the city and kill everyone in it, Sebastian immediately betrayed Slade by giving the Mirakuru cure to Oliver, expressing remorse for what he did to Oliver as he confessed his childhood trauma and stressed his desire to help people, regretful of how he ended up causing Starling City to be on the verge of destruction. Ultimately achieving at least a measure of redemption, when he was killed by Isabel Rochev, Sebastian declared his love for Starling with his last breath, confirming that despite his obvious megalomania, he truly had Starling City's future at heart. His act of selflessness lead to Oliver's victory over Slade. Oliver himself acknowledged this as after his death, he referred to Sebastian as a "friend"; proving that Sebastian had managed to ultimately earn Oliver's forgiveness.
Abilities[]
- High-level intellect/Business acumen/Skiled tactician/Leader: Sebastian was able to become a member of the Church of Blood and mayor of Starling City. He proved to be an effective leader and politician, having a large following in Starling City; who wanted him to become mayor. He even helped Slade Wilson plan the Siege. Sebastian also managed to get away with killing both his mother, Maya Resik and his father, Sebastian Sangre, even claiming his mother to be his mentally ill aunt of his.
- Intimidation: As a secret cult member, Sebastian was evil and ruthless. He often had criminals captured and injected them with Mirakuru. If they survive the initial injection, Sebastian forced them to work for him.
- Skilled marksmanship: Even as a child, Sebastian was able to handle a gun; given to him by Roger Trigon to slay his abusive father, Sebastian Sangre.
Equipment[]
- Brother Blood mask: Sebastian wore a skull mask as his villain alter-ego, Brother Blood, to hide his identity from his victims.
- Voice filter: Sebastian had this device fitted in to the mask, and spoke to anyone using it when he wore the mask.
Appearances[]
Arrow[]
Season 2
Season 4
|
Comics[]
Arrow: Season 2.5[]
Novels[]
Gallery[]
Concept artwork[]
Trivia[]
- Sebastian's last name "Blood" is the English translation of his father's last name "Sangre".
- Sebastian's childhood home address was 301- 6745 23rd Street, North Starling.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
- In the DC comics, Brother Blood is the leader of the Church of Blood, a cult that worships the demon warlord Trigon. He is a recurring enemy of Trigon's daughter Raven, and her friends, the teen hero group Teen Titans. Also, the Church of Blood was used by Raven to resurrect Deathstroke's son, Joseph Wilson. Brother Blood also had the ability to mind control others, a possible reference to the fact Sebastian was able to ensure the loyalty of Mirakuru soldiers, up until Slade somehow seized control upon them.
- There have been multiple men who have carried the name "Brother Blood". However, Arrow 's version of the character carries the name of the last Brother Blood prior to the New 52, named Sebastian.
- Sebastian Blood was portrayed by Kevin Alejandro in the second season of Arrow.
- In Arrow: Season 2.5, Brother Blood reappeared in issue #2, leading to the speculation that Sebastian had faked his death, but it was later revealed to be Blood's aid.
- Also, before the premiere of the third season of Arrow, it was speculated that Blood would return in the season, despite his demise at the hands of Isabel Rochev in "Unthinkable", speculating that he had faked his death. However, this didn't happen, indicating that Blood is and remains dead.[19]
- Brother Blood's tendency to wear a mask for fear effects, while experimenting on criminals, is very similar to Batman villain Scarecrow.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Arrow - Oliver Queen's Dossier
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Arrow: Vengeance
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "City of Heroes"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Three Ghosts"
- ↑ "Identity"
- ↑ "Crucible"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "State v. Queen"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "The Scientist"
- ↑ "Blast Radius"
- ↑ "Blind Spot"
- ↑ "Heir to the Demon"
- ↑ "Deathstroke"
- ↑ "Seeing Red"
- ↑ "City of Blood"
- ↑ "Streets of Fire"
- ↑ "Unthinkable"
- ↑ "The Secret Origin of Felicity Smoak"
- ↑ "Beyond Redemption"
- ↑ [1]