The_DC_Book_A_Vast_and_Vibrant_Multiverse_Simply_Explained_Stephen

Vasquez, when destiny calls. This form—an act that kills the villain DIVINE INTERVENTION 151
takes the form of a spectral subway through accelerated aging.
train that ferries Billy to the Rock of Parental guidance Billy’s joy at finding
Eternity and a truly transformative With the wizard presumed dead, long-lost father CC Batson (pictured in
experience. The ritual is timely, as Billy and his siblings struggle to yellow) sours on learning he is a crook.
elsewhere, power-crazed savant find place and purpose on Earth.
Dr. Sivana is freeing Wizard’s Between school and Super Hero In the ensuing chaos, Mister
previous choice to carry the power. exploits, they begin a systematic Mind almost seizes control of all
Black Adam is an immortal, exploration of the Rock of Eternity, magic, leading to the Shazam
murdering tyrant still empowered inadvertently freeing arcane perils Family’s uncomfortable and
by his long-departed Egyptian gods. best left alone. While Sivana and improbable alliance with Black
The ancient, angry warrior is alien worm Mister Mind infiltrate the Adam. In the aftermath, Shazam
resolved to be no one’s servant. He Rock of Eternity, the children unlock deduces that his Family are intended
is impervious to the punitive power doors to the seemingly benevolent not only to defend Earth and oppose
of the Council of Eternity, who can seven Magiclands, winning a friend evil, but also ultimately must
only imprison but not destroy or in urbane tiger Tawky Tawny but become a new Council of Eternity,
depower their greatest mistake. also liberating sorcerous spoiled filling the seven thrones in the
brat King Kid, a terrifying Monster ancient council chamber. However,
Newly liberated and disgusted Society of Evil and, once again, who that final seat belongs to is a
with modern civilization, Adam the Seven Deadly Sins. mystery even the sixfold wisdom
begins a campaign of slaughter of Solomon cannot ascertain. ■
and is spectacularly countered by
Shazam. After unleashing the Seven
Deadly Sins upon humanity, Adam
reveals to Billy that the force
empowering them is a finite pool
that can be shared or transferred.
He demands Billy surrenders his
half, but the embattled boy instead
distributes it among his foster
siblings, creating a dazzling Shazam
Family. During the catastrophic
battle that follows, Billy tricks
Adam into returning to mortal

Black Adam—ancient enemy

Millennia ago in Kahndaq, of Eternity seek to curb his
Aman—a pure-hearted young excesses, he murders them,
slave—is granted the power of forcing the wizard to imprison
gods to liberate his homeland him forever in a tomb.
from cruel occupiers and the
malignant Seven Deadly Sins. Temporarily freed in the 10th
However, when the old century to join a gathering of
wizard agrees to also share arcane heroes battling the Frost
this gift with the boy’s uncle, King, Black Adam bides his time
Teth-Adam, the fanatical in captivity. Broken free by Doctor
adult kills Aman to monopolize Sivana, Adam dies fighting
the ancient power. Shazam but is resurrected in
his beloved Kahndaq by faithful
An ultranationalist patriot, worshippers. He remains a
Adam destroys the invaders dangerous leader of his fanatical
and imprisons the Sins. people in the increasingly
However, when the Council unstable Middle East.

152

BINLTAOZIHNEGLL

JOHN CONSTANTINE

ON THE RECORD Magic’s a nasty game! own origins and mythology to gain
John Constantine the upper hand and as a protective
REAL NAME measure. However, certain points
John Constantine He considers himself an exception to remain untouched. His twin brother
every rule, despite his family and mother die at his birth, leaving
AFFILIATIONS tree boasting luck-bending John to be reared by an abusive
Justice League Dark, magicians, ancient nobility father, uncaring relatives, and loving
Trenchcoat Brigade such as king Kon-Sten-Tyn, but powerless older sister, Cheryl.
and mystical power Years later, Cheryl’s daughter,
BASE players like Lady Gemma, is also repeatedly drawn
London, New York Johanna Constantine. into mystic peril until Uncle John
ferociously intervenes.
POWERS/ABILITIES Knowledge is
Devious sorcerer and power and the Devil in disguise
exorcist; extensive “Hellblazer”
knowledge of mysticism; understands Consummate conman Constantine
carefully cultivated favor how stories is a master magician. Morally pure
bank; glib, ruthless schemer bestow potency.
Constantine but ethically ambivalent, the
MISSION habitually Hellblazer instinctively knows
Save innocents, stop reshapes his who is wrong, what is right,
supernatural threats, and how the world should
humiliate all the devils Poker face be. He will thus do
in hells Confidence is a anything necessary to
key weapon in achieve his aims. This
M agic may run in John’s arsenal. includes consorting with,
bloodlines, but is there making deals with,
a true genetic aptitude or and cheating
can inclination, effort, and acquired demons, as well
knowledge make a mundane scholar as exploiting
into a mage? Proudly, defiantly vulgar and even
and lowborn, arcane troubleshooter expending
John Constantine is a triumph his allies as
of self-made contradictions. he polices
the fringes of
rationality. Despite

himself, the arrogant Constantine Old friends Constantine’s allies DIVINE INTERVENTION 153
cannot turn away when he are often at risk when he battles
encounters magical malfeasance. the supernatural. all stem from this necessary
subterfuge and indoctrination, but
Years previously, while fronting Constantine is committed they also set the tone for disastrous
punk band Mucous Membrane, to Ravenscar Asylum. Some relationships with Zatara’s daughter
“Johnny Con-Job” and fellow magic time later, fueled by guilt, Zatanna, Nightmare Nurse, the
dabblers attempt an exorcism in shame, and brooding anger, demon Blythe, Nick Necro, and other
Newcastle’s Casanova Club. The he emerges to start setting mystic practitioners. Charismatic,
ritual goes catastrophically wrong things right his way. Later affable, walking literally and
and young Astra Logue is dragged still, after swallowing his metaphorically between worlds,
into Hell by the vile Nergal. The disgust at having to work Constantine makes friends easily.
survivors are warped forever, and with the bright attention- They literally cannot help themselves
seeking Super Hero set in from assisting him—usually at the
teams such as Justice League cost of their lives or worse.
Dark, he learns that he has
been chosen and secretly Lovers such as Emma and
steered toward supernatural lifelong friend Gary Lester perish
combat by one of the greatest due to his choices, clustering
mystic warriors in history. around the Hellblazer as a cloud
Although believing himself of ghosts until even their spirits
a curious, damned free agent, are destroyed by later diabolical
Constantine is actually secretly opponents. It’s easier to count those
groomed from childhood by master still alive, like Zatanna, taxi-driver
magician Giovanni Zatara. This is Chas Chandler, archrival Papa
part of a generational plan to Midnite, and elemental ally Swamp
combat the impending rise of the Thing. Thanks to this grim history,
OtherKind and Last Age of Magic. Constantine measures himself
Constantine’s battle with cults like by past failures, not triumphs such
the Brujería, Living Flame, and as beating lung cancer, defeating
religious zealots Damnation’s Flame the King of vampires, and escaping
damnation by selling his soul to
three different Hell lords who
refuse to share him. ■

Infernal adversaries

Demons are supernatural All are either Hellions—
beings preying on mortals supernatural creatures born
across the Multiverse. They in Hell, such as Etrigan
take sustenance and gain (pictured)—or human souls who
power from belief, guilt, and have surmounted their infernal
acts of evil—primarily from the punishments, proving so evil
living but also from each other. that they are promoted and
They are also inextricably sent out to corrupt others.
linked to human religions, with
the first and mightiest of the Hell is a chaos of torment,
Fallen—Lucifer, Satan, Azazel, politics, and constantly shifting
Abaddon, and Asmodel— alliances. Infernal nobility such
originating as rebellious as Asmodeus, Beelzebub, Belial,
angels cast out from Heaven. and Mammon must constantly
keep an eye on innovative,
Demons thrive in a cruel ambitious upstarts like Nergal
hierarchy and countless and Neron, and invasive other-
subsects such as Rhymers, dimensional rivals such as
Shamblers, and Stranglers. Trigon and Satanus.

154

RBOROANTCAHND

SWAMP THINGS

ON THE RECORD to their specific needs. They are Green politics
REAL NAME impeded to a greater or lesser extent
by other elemental hive minds, and The Green selects avatars to enforce
Alec Holland, Levi Kamei, all employ transformed specimens of their maintenance of the biosphere
Tefé Holland, Jason the planet’s current apex predator in support of plant life but gradually
Woodrue, Alex Olsen as their agents of change. lose control once fast-breeding
AFFILIATIONS humanity discovers life-extending
Justice League Dark, The Ultimately, the Green, which medicines and, worse still, polluting
Green, Parliament of Trees is supervised by an ever-growing petrochemicals. With mankind
POWERS advisory council known as the occupying every niche on Earth and
Connection to and Parliament of Trees, gains the progressively polluting the world,
manipulation of all flora; advantage. This is largely because the Parliament responds slowly,
shapeshifting, rapid growth; Red avatars—Earth’s animal life— especially after being distracted by
multiple-body manipulation; are short-lived, unruly, and easily the successes of the Rot’s newest
knowledge of all history distracted by their primal urges. avatar, Anton Arcane. He obsessively
MISSION pursues and exterminates his Red
Save Earth from humanity The green guard Alec Holland is no and Green counterparts.
and other blights lone warrior but a general commanding
STATUS REPORT endless legions of vegetable veterans In response, the Green exclusively
A new Avatar has bloomed preserving Earth’s ecological balance. switches to humans for its avatars.
All are connected to Earth’s flora in

S ince life first sparked on
Earth, its elemental units
have formed interconnected
groups or hive minds to battle for
control of planetary resources.
For countless millennia, the most
active of these groups—flora and
fauna—fiercely compete with each
other, reshaping the environment

Because he dies prematurely, DIVINE INTERVENTION 155
Holland’s loss prompts the Green to
attempt something new—grafting Global growth Elemental forces have
his consciousness onto pure their own agendas. Each possesses its
vegetable matter culled from the own morphogenetic field, which dictates
Louisiana swamps into which his the form and function of its individual
burning body sinks. earthly operatives and avatars.

Savage garden The Green’s latest ploy Holland is reborn as the Green’s The Metal, The
is embodying its Avatar’s power in indomitable Swamp Thing, who Calculus or Parliament of
still-living human host Levi Kamei. polices Earth, battling supernatural Rithm Constantly
horrors, ecological atrocities, emergent new Flowers
some way and must die in fire before Arcane, and, when necessary, genus comprising Created by
being reborn as Green sentinels. even humanity’s Super Hero sentient/sapient
However, from the Industrial defenders. In time, the plant being electronic Hecate to
Revolution onward, the Green is becomes aware of its true nature. life-forms. supplant
unable to keep pace with human It ascends to control all Earth’s All thus the Parliament
progress, greed, and environmental elemental dominions and leaves far have of Trees. Current
indifference. By the 20th century, to join the Parliament of Worlds. been eliminated status unknown.
Green avatars last less than a by existing
generation. Alex Olsen, Calbraith In the aftermath, the universal Parliaments. The Rot
A. H. Rodgers, Albert Höllerer, Alan Life Entity—the source of all life or Black/
Hallman, and Aaron Hayley come in the universe—resurrects Alec The Red/ Parliament
and go with little impact, as the Holland after the Blackest Night Parliament of Decay An
Parliament of Trees prepares its crisis. Sharing the memories of his of Bones aggressive
hoped-for savior Alec Holland. predecessor, he is immediately Earth’s faction of the Grey
pressured by the Parliament of animal life. seeking the end of life.
Unknowingly groomed from birth Trees to accept his destined role,
to be the Green’s champion, the especially as the Rot avatar Arcane The Grey/ The Green/
brilliant biologist completes a bio- has brought the Red and Green to The Mycos Parliament
restorative formula to end world the brink of extinction. Extraterrestrial
hunger but is blown up by gangsters elemental of Trees
unwittingly working for Arcane. Initially resistant, Holland accepts consciousness Union of all
the burden to save his true love that fell to
I decide what I am! Abigail Arcane, the successor and Earth, co-opting vegetable
Swamp Thing rival of Anton Arcane, who perverts certain forms. Aggressively
(Alec Holland) the Black’s mission to pursue funguses.
his own agenda. After reversing territorial and
Arcane’s scheme to make Earth his The traditionally hostile
ghastly personal “Rotworld,” Alex Divided
and Abigail part, with Swamp Thing Bacteria— to humanity.
drawn into escalating Super Hero Earth’s largest
conflicts. As a member of Justice component, The
League Dark, he battles the malign extremely ancient Clear or Blue/
Hecate, magic-consuming and largely Parliament of
Otherkind, and the sorceress Circe. sedentary. Waves Universal
However, he is unable to save the
Parliament of Trees from near The White/ connection of
eradication and replacement by Parliament all underwater
a Parliament of Flowers, with of Vapors
Holland’s archenemy Jason Woodrue Congregation of life-forms.
taking his place as its avatar. planetary wind
elementals. Unknown/
In the aftermath of these Parliament
struggles, Alec Holland vanishes as
new human host Levi Kamei is called of Flames
to become a new Swamp Thing. ■ Highly isolationist

congregation of
planetary fire
elementals.

The Melt/
Parliament

of Stones
Born of

cooling rock and
early life-forms, each

of which inevitably
secede.

156

DLIEKAEDME

DEADMAN

ON THE RECORD indifference and Invisible touch
astounding physical After a lifetime of
REAL NAME accomplishments. That attention-seeking,
Boston Brand all changes when he is Deadman faces
gunned down in front of an eternity of
AFFILIATIONS shocked crowds while physical isolation.
Justice League Dark, White performing his notorious
Lanterns, Seven Soldiers, high-wire act.
Sentinels of Magic As his body
hits the
LOCATION ground,
Mobile Brand
realizes everything he
POWERS believes is wrong. There are
Intangibility, flight, higher powers running a really
possession of the living Big Show and one of them
has incomprehensibly made
MISSION him a prime player in a game
Save souls, balance great of cosmic consequence,
evil with small acts of good with no consideration for
his feelings or wishes.
STATUS REPORT
Adjusting to new magical Self-proclaimed Spirit of the
environment following Universe Rama Kushna grants
Witching Hour Brand continued existence for
unspecified reasons, motivating the
W hereas the Spectre is a angry revenant to pitilessly hunt
phantom of near-godlike down his own murderer. However,
power, another ghostly “Deadman” is now intangible and
guardian of humanity is frustratingly undetectable, unable even to speak
hampered by his utter lack of force directly to the living. He is also
and agency. In his previous life, immune to the laws of physics, able
Boston Brand, the circus acrobat to pass through solid objects and
and trapeze virtuoso known as even possess living beings,
“Deadman,” revels in his callous including supernatural ones.

DIVINE INTERVENTION 157

Nanda Parbat contemplation overseen by the
universal spirit of balance Rama
Almost every Earth in the Kushna. Those who enter the
Multiverse manifests a place of village are instantly purged of all
spiritual sanctuary, a citadel wicked intent and desire,
of repose and penitence where although some are unable to
the living and the dead can keep evil from reclaiming them.
assess their pasts, consider
their deeds, and decide their After the rise of Perpetua,
future path. In most realities, the ancient sorceress Hecate
that idyllic retreat is called usurps the framework of magic
Nanda Parbat, a place where in a devastating Witching Hour.
evil is expunged and the She destroys Nanda Parbat
dead can live again. and banishes Rama Kushna,
installing her own creation,
On Earth Prime, it lies UltraPsychopomp, in replacement
hidden deep within the institution The Great Necropolis.
Tibetan Himalayas, a simple
walled village for rustic

Brand’s hunt for his murderer I want to know why? but in the aftermath becomes
simultaneously brings him into Why me? a pawn of the white entity of life.
consciousness-raising, intimate Deadman The force of universal life restores
contact with every aspect of the Deadman’s physical form and
humanity he had shunned while he regains full physical form and engineers a doomed romance with
alive. This revelation coincides with enjoys human contact, but his joy is the avatar of Love, Dawn Granger
his being drawn into ancient global short-lived. Many diabolical villains (aka Dove). It also sets Brand on a
and metaphysical conspiracies and such as Ra¯’s al Ghu¯ l and assassin- course to resurrect a number of
emerging as an unlikely comrade master the Sensei constantly seek to fallen heroes and villains, before
and unsuspected guardian of the destroy the paradise on Earth that cruelly restoring the balance by
World’s Greatest Super Heroes. offers every sinner a second chance condemning Deadman to resume
at redemption. Ultimately, this rural his ethereal existence. ■
Now unable to stop caring for Eden is destroyed in the brutal,
his human brethren, Deadman eternal war between good and evil. Free spirit Despite championing
becomes a steadfast warrior, balance and personal advancement,
combatting demonic incursions, Tirelessly involving himself in Rama Kushna never allowed Deadman’s
supernatural horrors, and alien countless tragedies and working independence to disrupt her grand plans.
invasions. He unearths secrets as unnoticed to stave off ever-present
a stalking horse for an increasingly catastrophe, Deadman remains
suspect and untrustworthy Rama an instrument of higher forces.
Kushna. His journey of personal When the dead rise during the
growth exposes much iniquity, Blackest Night, he works with the
but Brand refuses to distinguish universe’s living heroes to restore
between saving entire realities the balance between life and death
beside the Sentinels of Magic,
Shadowpact, or Justice League
Dark and guiding damaged, solitary
souls to their ultimate rewards.

Ghost of a chance

Whenever the pressure becomes
too great, Brand briefly retires to
a paradisiacal Tibetan retreat:
Nanda Parbat. Within its confines,

158

HUUNNDYGIENRG

I, VAMPIRE

ON THE RECORD vampires. Their preferred meal is Vampire messiah Bennett teams up
humanity. Death and transformation with other well-intentioned monsters to
REAL NAME sustain the victim’s personality, battle threats to Gotham City.
Andrew Bennett, “The subsumed to a slavish craving for
Demon’s Lock” blood. They procreate by infecting vampires and save humanity.
victims with vampirism, enabling The task becomes bittersweet as
AFFILIATIONS “sires” to rapidly populate hunting Mary, reveling in her ghastly new
Gotham City Monsters, grounds with subservient disciples powers, began the predatory cult
Justice League Dark all driven by relentless thirst of the Blood Red Moon, sworn to
and an appetite for destruction. reduce humanity to the status of
BASE However, the vampiric race is livestock. Their vendetta spans five
Monster Town, Gotham City uniquely vulnerable, since destroying centuries and results in Bennett
a sire usually eradicates every killer becoming a vampire messiah and
POWERS they have ever spawned. almost eradicating his species
Immortality, shapeshifting, before being reduced to his current
supernatural senses, Crucially, the most powerful status as an undead monster hunter
strength and speed, psionics, force in creation is willpower, and, in Gotham City. ■
variable vulnerability to despite their curse, vampires can
vampire weaknesses resist their supernatural instincts.
Some even turn their talents to
MISSION benign use, such as Scream Queen
Ending the menace of (Nina Skorzeny), Super Hero Looker,
vampirism or the Batman of Earth-43, killed
by Dracula but still firmly defending
STATUS REPORT his Gotham City.
Recently extended his reach
to embrace other The most prominent vampiric
supernatural predators hero is Andrew Bennett, taken in
1591 by primordial sire Cain. It is an
S upernatural predators have act that almost destroys the ancient
stalked Earth since its monster and turns Bennett into a
creation, shaped by magical mystic “Demon Lock,” binding Cain
forces and supremely adapted to to limbo until Bennett the vampire
their environment. None is more dies again. After feeding on his
successful than the undead offshoot beloved Mary Seward, Bennett
repents and resolves to destroy

DIVINE INTERVENTION 159

PVAIGTICLHAWNTOERK

RAGMAN

ON THE RECORD I did it. I saved everyone! It’s a wrap The Suit of Souls is the
Rory Regan greatest defensive weapon any warrior
REAL NAME could dream of.
Rory Regan His team were looking for
loot, but all died when a terrifying pawns of various infernal factions
AFFILIATIONS monster burst out of a crypt they determined to possess it.
Batwoman, Etrigan the had desecrated and burrowed inside
Demon, Ystin of Camelot Rory. Inhuman masked assailants Adding to the confusion,
then attacked, and as his buddies Batwoman, immortal Holy warrior
BASE perished, their essences were sucked Ystin, and the devious demon
Gotham City into the infernal Suit of Souls to lodge Etrigan offer both advice and battle.
inside Regan’s head. Now they’re When the final act plays out, all
POWERS constantly offering advice and Ragman can depend on is his own
Supernatural strength, speed, driving him even more crazy. Worst instincts and the wisdom and
resilience, healing powers, of all, he was followed home by strategies of his dead soldiers
and perceptions generated demons seeking to reclaim the rags and friends, who sacrifice the last
by a semi-sentient demonic that invisibly bonded within him. dregs of their existences to save
mantle, soul stealing him from Z’Dargill, Duke of Hell.
As a succession of horrors After thwarting various devilish
MISSION target him, Regan discovers he is factions, Regan resolves to atone for
Redemption and penitence linked to a Mantle of Hell: semi- his own sins, fighting evil in Gotham
sentient demonic armor that steals City, and wherever it manifests. ■
STATUS REPORT souls to provide energy. The Mantle
At large, seeking to atone absorbs the vitality of the living and
the never-born (such as demons).
W hile on patrol in the Israeli Rory, his son, and ex-wife become
Desert, US soldier Rory
Regan and his unit break
into an old tomb. They unleash
something ancient and terrible and
only Regan survives. Six months
later, Regan has been shipped back
to Gotham City and, while being
treated for PTSD and amnesia,
begins to recall what happened.

160

WPEAARCEAND

HAWK AND DOVE

ON THE RECORD empower unwitting mortals as Mirroring Hank’s fractious
avatars to play out their obscure relationship with Don, Dawn
REAL NAME divine stratagems. repeatedly clashes with Hawk over
Hank Hall (Hawk), Dawn ethics and approach. He favors,
Granger (Dove) When their father is threatened as always, force while Dawn prefers
by criminals, teenagers Don and reason to achieve their goal of
AFFILIATIONS Hank Hall are granted superpowers aiding the helpless. Their sponsors
Titans, Teen Titans by a mysterious voice. One a are now the Gods of War and Peace,
reactionary militarist and the who still allow their proxies to
BASE other an avowed pacifist, the boys endure deadly attacks by fellow
Washington, D.C. argue incessantly while battling avatars such as Condor, Swan,
further injustice as Hawk and Dove. and D’yak. The status quo is
POWERS/ABILITIES They work with the original Teen further affected when magic’s
HAWK: Enhanced strength, Titans, but when Don dies during laws are radically rewritten by the
agility, durability, vision, the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Goddess of Magic, Hecate, reality-
healing factor Hank sours, becoming a raging, shredding Barbatos, The Batman
DOVE: Enhanced strength, senselessly brutal vigilante using Who Laughs, and Perpetua. ■
intelligence, agility, pretexts of heroism to savagely
resilience, empathy, flight, assuage his guilt and grief. Soft power Opponents always make
danger sense the foolish mistake of assuming the
The exalted experiment aggressive, hulking Hawk was more
MISSION continues, with sisters Holly and dangerous than Dove.
Balancing conflict Dawn Granger selected, but a later
warping of timelines places Dawn
STATUS REPORT beside Hank as a new, unwelcome
Currently unaware of Dove. Their strained partnership
their mission ends with Dawn slain by Monarch—
an evil future version of Hank—
H igher beings frequently who evolves into time-warping
test their philosophical Extant before dying himself. Hank
and metaphysical beliefs returns as a zombie when Blackest
using unwitting proxies in the Night reanimates fallen heroes and
physical realities. Earth has always villains and is eventually restored
been a favored arena where the to true life by the power of White
Lords of Chaos and Order regularly Lantern energy. History then
realigns and Holly perishes.

DIVINE INTERVENTION 161

RPUEIRGPNLE

AMETHYST OF GEMWORLD

ON THE RECORD Gemworld is a place where Lilac liberator Amethyst fights to
time runs differently. The plane is bring modern democracy to the
REAL NAME originally ruled by the Lords of troubled, feudal Gemworld.
Amy Winston, Amaya Chaos, but when cosmic realignment
makes Earth increasingly hostile to known on Earth as Amy Winston,
AFFILIATIONS magic, sorceress Citrina negotiates matures in security before returning
Young Justice a pact allowing an exodus to occur. home to avenge her parents and
Now administered by the Realm of destroy Opal using the mystic
LOCATION Dream, Gemworld is populated by might that is her birthright.
Gemworld fabulous beasts, fairies, and creatures
considered fables on Earth. It is However, magic and politics
POWERS governed by 12 Royal Houses, each are all about deception, and after
Supernatural strength, represented by a signature jewel returning, Princess Amethyst learns
speed, and resilience, gifted embodying specific arcane forces. that all she believed is a lie. Her
magic-wielder idealized parents are actually alive
Despite its fairy-tale appearance, and just as cruel and venal as the
MISSION Gemworld is a place of ferocious rest of Gemworld’s autocratic
Saving Gemworld and Earth political rivalry, where the Houses despots. After battling many regal
constantly maneuver for dominance. former allies, Amethyst rejects the
STATUS REPORT When House Amethyst’s rulers are system entirely. She allies instead
Shunned on Gemworld for assassinated by the tyrannical Dark with the downtrodden underclass,
not playing the Ruling Opal, Citrina hides their baby fighting for their emancipation,
Houses’ political games daughter on Earth. The princess, both alone and also in alliance with
the pan-dimensional super-team
E arth is connected to Hey, nice gem. What’s it do? Young Justice. ■
countless higher realms, Amethyst
demonic dimensions, and
mystical planes—a network that
considers the mundane worlds their
arena, laboratory, and playground.
Such is not the case with Gemworld,
a pocket reality populated by
supernatural creatures who migrate
from ancient Earth and are content
to ignore their place of origin.

162

DDIESVGILUIISNE

BLUE DEVIL

ON THE RECORD Oh man, I missed something horrors the universe can conjure up.
important, didn’t I? Cassidy is even tried by Hell’s
REAL NAME Blue Devil lawyers for usurping Nebiros’s
Daniel Cassidy power and position, a case that
awoken demon Nebiros and is concludes with him being briefly
AFFILIATIONS mystically bonded to his costume. appointed the Prince of Hell.
Shadowpact, Sentinels of
Magic, Justice League, Organically merged with the suit, Years later, he works with Justice
Justice League Dark happy-go-lucky Cassidy acquires League Dark and, following the death
ever-expanding mystic power. Rolling of previous champion, Nightmaster
BASE with the punches, he becomes a (Jim Rook), assumes the role of
Myrra media sensation and reluctant Super protector of the magical realm Myrra.
Hero. And, despite his strident He perishes after valiantly defending
POWERS protests, he temporarily endures it from the anti-magical pogrom
Demonic strength, speed, a sidekick in Kid Devil, aka Eddie initiated by the Lords of Order when
and durability, magical Bloomberg. As always, power comes they judge Earth would be more
knowledge, wields trident at a cost, and Cassidy’s eldritch secure without any elements
of Nebiros nature attracts wild magic, triggering of arcane force. It is
weird happenings and making him the third time he dies
MISSION a magnet for chaos and disaster. to save innocent souls,
Doing good, staying out and his bereaved allies
of Hell Cassidy repeatedly saves draw some comfort in
humanity as a member of teams the probability it will
STATUS REPORT such as the Justice League and not be the last. ■
Currently deceased Sentinels of Magic before eventually
joining sorcerous super-group Turning blue
E ngineer, actor, and stuntman Shadowpact and facing the darkest Cassidy’s
Daniel Cassidy receives last starring
a life-changing big break role as
after landing the lead in Hollywood protector
blockbuster Blue Devil. As well as a of Myrra
starring role, he is also commissioned demands he
to construct a mechanized full-body become a
prop for it. Tragically, while on bombastic
location, he is attacked by freshly barbarian
overlord.

DIVINE INTERVENTION 163

DBEEVATILTHE

SUPERNATURAL SUPERTEAMS

ON THE RECORD Ibis, and Nabu join warriors Prince the darkest, vilest corners of the
Khufu, Teth Adam, and others to predatory supernatural world.
EXALTED ASSEMBLAGES protect the empire from arcane
Justice League Dark, Night insurgence and ambitious mages. When Perpetua, Hecate, and the
Force, Demon Knights, It is a duty already enacted in secret Otherkind ravage reality, an ordered
Primal Force, Trenchcoat for centuries by immortal Dr. Mist response finally arises as Wonder
Brigade, Shadowpact, and constantly renewing hero-cult Woman and Zatanna create a threat-
Sentinels of Magic the Leymen. This Primal Force specific unit to confront hostile
carries on covertly into contemporary magic—Justice League Dark. ■
MISSION times, unsuspected by a Dark Ages
Preserving balance, saving association of sin-busting Demon Out of the shadows Justice League
lives and souls Knights, which include Etrigan the Dark bring powerful Super Heroes and
Demon, Madame Xanadu, and time- sorcerous antiheroes together to combat
STATUS REPORT lost “Seventh Soldier” Shining Knight the forces of dark magic.
All exclusively magic (Sir Ystin). Periodically, generations
fighting task forces seem of supernatural teams using the
inherently unstable designation Shadowpact form and
perish counteracting eldritch crises.
B y the time humanity
dominates Earth, mystical Other than Baron Winter’s Night
forces and predatory beasts Force, such groups are reactive.
are firmly entrenched. They view They generally comprise mystically
the planet and their inhabitants enhanced or equipped agents,
as immensely appetizing psychic, sometimes propelling ill-prepared,
spiritual, and physical sustenance. valiant mortals like the Challengers
Here, fire is best fought with fire, of the Unknown, Terry 13, or
and many heroes employ mysticism Johnny Peril into battle, praying
against supernatural threats, despite faith, guts, and firepower will be
knowing that infernal forces can sufficient. In modern times, crises
exact a terrible price. are constant, and Super Heroes
unite as Sentinels of Magic, while
The Golden Age of Atlantis sees a Trenchcoat Brigade of veteran
warriors and wizards united against mages—Mr. E, Dr. Occult, John
ever-encroaching evil. Millennia Constantine, and the Phantom
later, Egyptian wizards Shazam, Stranger (pictured above)—police

164

HFOOCCUUSS

WIZARDS OF EARTH

ON THE RECORD Merlin’s accomplishments create a Blind ambition Struck sightless after
brief golden age for humanity before viewing the cataclysmic World Forge,
NOTEWORTHY SAVANTS being overwhelmed by rival Morgaine Neon foreswears satanic research.
Dr. Mist, Merlin, Zatara, Le Fey. As in all things, sorcery is
Sargon, Dr. Occult, Mr. E, riven with cutthroat competition. After centuries, the “Wizard of
John Constantine, Timothy Shazam” ascended to be leader of
Hunter, Extrano, Neon the Wizardry entices many, the Council of Eternity, adjudicating
Unknown, Mamaragan, but only the most dedicated on Earth’s mystical matters such as
Felix Faust and ambitious survive. Although the punishment of the Trinity of Sin.
skilled magical combatants if the Tragically, even he is prone to
AFFILIATIONS need arises, the best are cunning mistakes. He eternally regrets
Gods, demons, plotters, employing others to secure bequeathing terrifying power to
Higher Beings their aims. Seemingly serving Teth Adam, seeking to atone by
higher powers or ideals, most simply sponsoring a Shazam Family to
POWERS bide their time while working for counter the fearsome Black Adam. ■
Forbidden knowledge, their own advancement. Mystical
magical manipulation, villain Felix Faust even offers his
arcane artifacts own son to demons for power and
knowledge but remains the cause
MISSION of his own undoing.
Gaining knowledge, prestige,
security, immortality Notable exceptions are Giovanni
Zatara and Sargon the Sorcerer who
STATUS REPORT personally battle evil for decades and
The quest never ends give their lives to preserve reality.
Their example—and mentoring—
W izards shape human spawns arcane activists like Dr.
history. Millennia ago, Occult, Mr. E, John Constantine,
Arion safeguards Timothy Hunter, Neon the Unknown,
Atlantis. Nommo creates and and Extraño, who oppose wicked
outlives the ancient civilization Kor, magic-users and the diabolical forces
founding the planet-preserving they unwittingly sustain.
Leymen and surviving to this day as
the Super Hero Dr. Mist. Half-demon Wizards can accumulate enough
power to become gods. Such was
the case with Mamaragan (pictured
above left) in ancient Kahndaq.

DIVINE INTERVENTION 165

LDIEFAETAHFTER

TRIALS OF PSEUDO-SCIENCE

ON THE RECORD sorcery than surgery. In the 18th modern corporate researchers
century, Doctor Victor Frankenstein modify and clone his zombie form.
NOTEWORTHY SAVANTS assembles body parts from corpses,
Frankenstein, The Bride, before sparking immortal life in his Centuries pass and the monster-
Solomon Grundy creation with circulatory fluids hunting Frankenstein joins the
from alien monarch Mr. Melmoth. Super Human Advanced Defense
POWERS The result is indestructible, super- Executive (aka S.H.A.D.E., pictured
Supernatural strength, strong, and intensely moral—a self- above), battling aliens and malign
speed, resilience, loathing being driven to protect horrors alongside other travesties of
indestructibility, immortality natural humanity from things like science, until the organization
himself and The Bride, who his implodes. Most recently, he and
MISSION creator also builds. Their fractious other benign terrors unite to defend
Redemption relationship and foredoomed Gotham City’s Monstertown from
attempts to create a family prove threats both man-made and
STATUS REPORT that artificial or reclaimed life is supernatural. ■
Dead and dangerous just as prone to heartbreak and
tragedy as any simple mortal couple.
The aims of science and
magic are often ironically Although originally quickened
similar: advancement of by supernatural forces and the
knowledge, mastery of environment, Parliament of Trees in Gotham
power, and immortality. Throughout City’s swamps, Cyrus Gold’s
history, humans pursue these goals, remains attain monstrous unlife,
albeit usually couched in more becoming Solomon Grundy, as the
personal terms. One dream that 19th century ends. His plant-matter
unites wizard and biologist, form inflicts great destruction and
alchemist and physician is the draws Super Hero attention,
defeat of death. Here, methodologies but achieves truly lethal
inevitably converge with results consequence only after
that surpass any vampire, werewolf,
or corporeal Hellspawn. Born Monday Grundy’s
intellect waxes and wanes
Many scientists seek to create with each rebirth, but his
or restore life, with mixed results strength never does.
as their techniques owe more to

166

BGUOARRDDERS

WARRIORS OF FRINGE SCIENCE

ON THE RECORD Despite concentrating on Band on the run On the run and
controversial fields of inquiry, mad fighting monsters, Scare Tactics never
DESIGNATION doctors frequently find government give up their musical dreams.
Unsanctioned radical or commercial sponsors. Moreover,
experimentation research at extreme limits quickly Until its demise, S.H.A.D.E. is
blurs established definitions and a troubleshooting division where
AIMS many projects combine rationalistic monsters, magic, and mad science
Increasing universal processes with mystical procedures, merge to benefit humanity and Earth.
knowledge at any cost particularly in the field of human But other Federal agencies are less
transformation. The military of reputable or efficient. One anonymous
METHODS many nations explore the potential unit abducts teenage monsters but
Whatever works of monstrous soldiers. During WWII, cannot find or recapture them after
Nazi scientists use concentration- they escape. Hiding in plain sight
MISSION camp inmates to test a process as constantly touring rock group
Solving all mysteries for reanimating fallen soldiers. Scare Tactics, these involuntary
The Unknown Soldier destroys recruits again prove that bad
STATUS REPORT the project, but several years later science and malign alchemy can
Results are generally G.I. Zombie Jared Kabe (pictured be a force for Justice, not Doom. ■
unanticipated but usually above) becomes the US’s weapon
exploitable of last resort.

S cience proliferates on In 1941, America’s Project M
Earth after the Industrial transforms ordinary soldiers into
Revolution, improving every a vampire, werewolf, and Medusa
aspect of human life. As nations to maximize physical and
compete for economic and psychological shock and awe in
ideological dominance, radical combat. Alongside G.I. Robot,
research grows, with outcast these Creature Commandos join
exponents eagerly pursuing preeminent undead warriors
universal mysteries unconstrained Frankenstein and The Bride to end
by legal or ethical considerations. the Axis threat. All serve covertly in
These driven proponents of later wars, before being reconfigured
“Fringe Science” constantly by the Super Human Advanced
clash with early Super Heroes. Defense Executive (S.H.A.D.E.) to
counter aliens and malign creatures.

DIVINE INTERVENTION 167

NLUUCMKBYERS

TO THE SEVENTH POWER

ON THE RECORD Things happen out here. after Tin constructs a “Nameless”
You’d be surprised! seventh, while six-pack the Gotham
NOTEWORTHY GROUPINGS Greg Sanders City Monsters need Batwoman’s
Seven Soldiers of Victory, presence to achieve their goals.
Gotham City Monsters, six of the Shazam Family, awaiting
Blackhawks, Metal Men the arrival of a final addition. The Seven Unknown Men
are universal time tailors who
LOCATION Seven holds deep significance for orchestrate numerous Seven Soldiers
Universal many major religions and dictates of Victory teams: disparate heroes
the fate of heroes. Ever-renewing assembled to oppose time-rending
MISSION Indian cult The Seven safeguard menaces Neh-buh-Loh and the
Cosmic salvation humanity from mystic predators Sheeda, until the threat of humanity’s
through their agent Dr. Occult final Harrowing is forever ended.
STATUS REPORT but cannot stop a Bahdnisian sect Many groups perish, and one
Math is never wrong abducting infant Johnny Thunder becomes a Super Hero legend before
and imbuing him with control of the last unlikely draft saves creation
W hether a facet of a magical Thunderbolt (actually a and confirms the power of seven. ■
humanity’s propensity to 5th-Dimensional imp). Johnny is
mythologize, or because the seventh son of a seventh son. Count the cost The Seven Unknowns
of some hidden “cheat code” in the know it doesn’t matter how many teams
fabric of existence, certain numbers The effect infects regular heroic lose as long as one team achieves victory.
have universal significance. Seven groupings. Multinational paramilitary
has deep resonance for heroes— troubleshooters the Blackhawks are
a recurring number whenever renowned as the “Magnificent
champions battle darkness. Seven.” The mechanoid Metal Men
consist of six robots designed by
Dr. Mist’s mystic group called Will Magnus but are complete only
the Leymen settle, by death and
natural attrition, into a Primal Force
of seven valiant souls. The Council of
Eternity occupy seven thrones at the
Rock of Eternity, supervising magic
in mortal realms while confining the
Seven Deadly Sins afflicting
humanity. The Council now hosts

168

OCHFITLHDEREGNODS

THE AMAZONS AND OTHER WOMEN
WARRIOR TRIBES

ON THE RECORD soil. It is a price paid to their divine Sisters in arms The Bana-Mighdall’s
sponsors for their creation and later combat experience aids their quest to
REAL NAME liberation from slavery to Herakles. secure a permanent homeland.
Amazons of Themyscira, Millennia ago, a breakaway sect
Bana Mighdall, Amazons of departs for Egypt—mercenary from many nations and learning
the Amazon “Bana-Mighdall” who recruit female another legend of their origins.
fighters of tribes worshiping other
LOCATION gods. In a possible future, another In Earth’s infancy, matriarchal
Themyscira, Amazon colony defends Brazilian rainforests, oracles of all pantheons foresee
rainforest, Formerly Egypt led by Wonder Woman Yara Flor. doom from space. Pooling their
and Qurac (Bana Mighdall) essences, they create warrior
The first Amazons were spirits women tribes—Amazons, Valkyries,
NOTABLE of women murdered by men at the and others—to confront the threat.
REPRESENTATIVES dawn of humanity. They were Even Hippolyta briefly leaves
Diana, Hippolyta, Artemis, preserved by goddesses in a Themyscira, battling beside
Yara Flor, Nubia, Philippus, Well of Souls and reborn in perfect Black Adam, Viking Prince, and
Mala, Donna Troy superhuman bodies. This is not true Earth’s plant elemental in the
of Queen Hippolyta’s daughter, 10th century to defeat the Frost
POWERS/ABILITIES Diana, who grows up believing she King and avert Fimbulwinter. ■
Supernatural strength, is formed of magic clay. This is a
speed, and resilience, ruse to shield her from Zeus’ wife,
immortality, elite warriors Hera. Diana is actually a child of
Zeus who seduced Hippolyta. The
MISSION legend of magic clay persists after
Preserving truth and justice Diana becomes Wonder Woman,
and is actually true of Donna Troy,
STATUS REPORT formerly known as Wonder Girl.
Subject to millennia of male
aggression and prejudice The Amazonian message
of peaceful coexistence is often
C reated by Olympian shared with humanity. During the
goddesses as a human Dark Ages, exiled Amazon Exoristos
ideal, Amazons primarily joins wandering champions the
inhabit Themyscira, wardens to Demon Knights. In the 8th century,
ancient evil imprisoned beneath its Hessia leads a voyage of global
exploration, recruiting women

DIVINE INTERVENTION 169

AANRCTIATNHEESIS

CIRCE

ON THE RECORD however, Circe’s primal magics Devious ascension Circe’s elaborate
make her dreams and desires real. scheming made her the most lethal
REAL NAME magician in existence.
Circe the Weaver In ancient Colchis, Circe is
married to a brutal prince. When she League Dark stop deranged Hecate
AFFILIATIONS can endure no more, she kills him from overwriting the laws of magic.
Injustice League Dark, and flees, washing ashore on Aeaea. Exposing her patron as an enslaving
Hecate, The Secret Society Here, Witch-Goddess Hecate tormentor, Circe betrays and
bestows a portion of power upon replaces the triune goddess in the
BASE her, and Circe hatches a plan. celestial hierarchy. As the fount of
Aeaea, formerly Colchis Over centuries, the “daughter of the sorcery tapped by all magic users,
sun god” beguiles and transforms Circe joins but swiftly abandons Lex
POWERS wanderers. She also constantly Luthor’s Legion of Doom, sworn to
God-level sorceress, mind clashes with Queen Hippolyta’s install primordial creator Perpetua
control, time manipulation, Amazons, an abiding enmity that as master of Positive, Antimatter,
immortality, transformation passes on to Hippolyta’s daughter, and Dark Multiverses. Instead, Circe
Princess Diana, aka Wonder Woman. forms Injustice League Dark to satisfy
MISSION her desires and eradicate her
Becoming all-powerful A pitiless manipulator, Circe enemies but is convinced by Wonder
shapes divine and mortal affairs, Woman to sacrifice herself to defeat
STATUS REPORT orchestrating Wars of the Gods the magic-consuming Otherkind’s
Voluntarily dormant after between rival pantheons, battling invasion of the Multiverse. ■
succeeding in her mission Super Heroes, and allying with
Super-Villains like Ra¯’s al Ghu¯ l. Her
For millennia, Circe cultivates schemes pay off after helping Justice
a legend that she is a devious
witch, tormenting all who I write the rules!
visit her desolate Aegean island. Circe
Although fundamentally true, this
is merely the tip of a terrifying
iceberg. Malicious and powerful,
Circe methodically advances her
own agenda but, at heart, is a
woman grievously wronged by
men. Unlike those other women,

170

KMIYNSGTDIOCMALS

SUPERNATURAL REALMS

ON THE RECORD existence. These metaphysical Beastly behavior The animals of the
regions can be as small as an Wildlands build a society every bit as
DESIGNATION old house or forest glade, or vast callous and cruel as any of mankind’s.
Supernatural Realms as infinity, but are all shaped
by human belief. Ife, or the Jejune Realm—are
DEFINITION purpose-built by pantheons of
Extradimensional regions Many, like Gemworld or Myrra, defunct or diminished deities. There
sustained by belief are physical, populated by magical are processing spaces for the dead:
creatures originally from Earth. heavens, hells, purgatories, and
NOTABLE SITES Some, such as Atlantean Darkworld,
Magiclands, Faerie, Limbo,
Dreaming, Gemworld,
House of Mystery, House
of Secrets, Fiddlers Green,
Hell, Purgatory, Hidden City

LOCATIONS
Earth-adjacent

MISSION
Providing sanctuary,
punishment, emotional
sustenance; reinforcing faith

STATUS REPORT
Beguiling, dangerous, and
unpredictable

E arth forms the central point
in a web of mystical realms,
subdimensions and other,
less definable para-realities—
all simultaneously preying and
dependent upon the planet for
sustenance and continued

DIVINE INTERVENTION 171

The Rock of Eternity

Located at the precise center base and council chamber for
of space-time, The Rock of the highest magical powers of
Eternity is a monumental physical reality—home to the
mountain that houses a vast Council of Eternity until they
citadel built within. It connects are destroyed by Black Adam.
to every locality in existence, It is now a refuge for the
every moment in history, Council’s future replacements
and most dimensions and the Shazam Family.
supernatural domains.
The Rock is highly desirable
The Rock is a steadfast, to terrorists and tyrants such
magical bulwark against as Mr. Mind and Dr. Sivana. It is
extradimensional invasion a repository for mystical artifacts
and a vault containing forces such as the doorway to the
dangerous to humanity such Magiclands, accessed by a
as the petrified forms of the transdimensional subway car
Seven Deadly Sins. It acts as servicing the “Station Nexus.”

The Magiclands cannot the Shazam Family unlock access to
be trusted! the Darklands, Earthlands, Funlands,
Gamelands, Monsterlands, Wildlands,
Black Adam and Wozenderlands, leaving
humanity once more at the mercy
and whim of the great unknown. ■

House rules Many magical realms are
self-contained and mobile, constantly
changing locations to lure “guests,”
who check in but
can never leave.

Limbo; meeting facilities for higher Playground of peril The Funlands
beings; and dungeon dimensions offer unparalleled enticements for
keeping ravening supernatural children and doom for unwary adults.
horrors away from Earth. Some
ethereal enclaves are vibrant, fully power and scope by blending into
functioning repositories for extinct human mythmaking and enticing
or wholly fictitious beings created mortals to reside within them.
by the power of combined human This constant danger is originally
conceptual interaction called the addressed by the ancient Council of
Collective Unconscious. Eternity, who sealed all access to the
constantly evolving “Magiclands”
Sparked by the force of stories (pictured top left). Much later,
and imagination, the Dreaming and however, their unwary successors
its ruler Dream (originally Morpheus
of the Endless, now the mortal child
Daniel Hall) oversee boundless
territories incorporating all that could
possibly be, including established
realms like Faerie, Hell, or Olympus.
All house refugees from other corners
of existence and seek to extend their

MINYSSPTAECREI

ES

C reation operates on immense
scale. For most sentient life,
a planet, solar system, or galaxy
is too vast a concept to grasp. Yet the
stars call out and species respond,
exploiting life’s longing to see what else
exists. Cultures abandon home to build
empires spanning cold, cosmic gulfs.
Everywhere wonder and mystery
awaits. However, alien visitors are
seldom welcome on new worlds and
once again the question of justice or
doom shapes every first encounter.

174 INTRODUCTION

Earth forms, Anunnake Fragments of Atlantis White Oans and
White Entity hunters the Totality trades with Martians alter Kernugians are
pass over extraterrestrial human DNA.
nests in eradicate Earth’s cultures. Arion mistaken for
cooling remaining Earth. imprisons alien gods by early
magma. sea gods. Sumerians/
dinosaur species. Mesopotamians.

5bn 65mn 80k 45k 20k 6k

years ago years ago years ago years ago years ago years ago

4bn 2mn 50k 30k 10k 5.5k

years ago years ago years ago years ago years ago years ago

Oan Guardians Timeless Ones Vandar Adg’s Metron and Kheran- Nth Metal in
monitor Earth imprison Wolf tribe battles other New Daemonite Egypt attracts
Gods begin warriors reach Thanagarian
and modify Abnegazar, Rath, Bird tribe interactions with Earth, interbreed
the Martian and Ghast in warriors for the humankind. with humans. scouts to
Earth’s crust. Totality meteor. pharaoh’s court.
genome.

F or most sentient life-forms, The humanoid Maltusians are into Oan Guardians, Controllers,
space is limitless. Many perhaps the first intelligent life-forms and Zamarons, societies with far
science-based cultures in the universe. After they fracture less consideration for those around
are simply awestruck and curious, them arise. One of the first is the
intrigued by the mystery and Chariot of the gods A crashed Thanagarian Empire, which rapidly
infinite variety of planets and Thanagarian ship in ancient Egypt establishes itself as a rapacious
celestial bodies. As time passes, introduces refined Nth Metal to Earth. deathbringer to less technologically
scientific research into physical advanced and aggressive planets.
phenomena leads to the discovery
of fundamental principles. Scientists Thankfully for many vulnerable
measure, map, and question their worlds, the sheer difficulties of
environments before gaining the conquering planets and ruling an
technological knowledge to finally empire over the massive distances
master space travel and enable of space are a brake to expansion.
spacecraft to voyage to other Aware of this, the warlike Warzoons
worlds and even galaxies. transform their home planet into
a devastating mobile Warworld, but
Some species are eager to die out before this superweapon
share their technical knowledge can be unleashed on the universe.
or religious beliefs; however, others It falls into the hands of a succession
regard new planets and cultures of tyrants called Mongul before its
simply as fresh horizons for true horrific potential is realized.
conquest, with valuable natural
resources to exploit. Nevertheless, the rule of some
empires is benevolent. Home to

MYSTERIES IN SPACE 175

Durlan Waves of minor Talokite Mikaal Alien Appelaxians, Aliens begin Official
refugees alien empires Tomas foils Sddire, Myrmitons, smuggling formation of
mistaken for begin invading his people’s Qwardians, Starro, weapons, drugs, United Planets.
Greek gods. or observing invasion of and other Earth joins
Earth. and others face contraband community of
Earth. Earth’s Super to Earth.
worlds.
Heroes.

4.5k 150 45 10 7 august 18, 2019
unity day
years ago years ago years ago years ago years ago

700 100 30 8 5

years ago years ago years ago years ago years ago

Metamorphic Morlaidhans crash H’san Natall Dominators lead Khundish
Vuldarians trade into Amazon abduct human multi-planet smugglers begin
and interbreed with rainforests and women to breed taking slaves in
South American metahumans for invasion coalition rural communities
establish a colony. future invasion. against
tribes. of Earth.
humanity.

Starman Prince Gavyn, the planet territorially expansive Kryptonians, such as the Qarians, Hykraians,
Kranaltine, Throneworld of the are eager to conquer other worlds. and the Atlanteans of Earth.
Crown Imperial, peacefully governs However, other biological life-forms
the 24 planets of its star system. are just as power-hungry and Planet Earth itself has
ambitious: The massive, telepathic long been a prime target of
Some regions of space are simply starfish-like tyrant Starro seeks extraterrestrial aggressors, such
too dangerous to invade. Thanks to control over all life; while the as the Appelaxians, Daemonites,
the armed might of the incumbent cunning, methane-breathing and the Reach, as well as a host of
Spider Guild and manic depredations Gil’Dishpan specialize in acquiring minor predatory species, such as
of Orange Lantern Larfleeze, the seaborne and aquatic civilizations Man-Hawks, and the plundering,
many worlds of the Vega Star blue-skinned Myrmitons. However,
System are largely shunned for This is Adam Strange. I need Earth’s courageous teams of Super
centuries by greater powers like the to report a missing planet. Heroes have always managed to
Dominion or Guardians. This fragile Adam Strange repel their invasions, and their
equilibrium allows the catlike presence remains a major deterrent
Tamaraneans, Warlords of Okaara, for other would-be invaders. A far
and brutal thugs of the Citadel to greater menace to humanity are
thrive, albeit in constant struggle insidious opportunists like the alien
against each other. Psions and H’San Natall, who seek
to exploit humanity’s infinitely
Strange visitors variable genetic potential. ■

It might appear that only humanoid See Also: Hawkman and Hawkwoman,
species, such as the warmongering
Khunds, Rannians, and the formerly Thanagar, Guardians of the Universe,

Omega Men, Starro

176

WINATTHCEHESRKSY

GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSE

ON THE RECORD There is hope for the future! as judge and executioner until
Ganthet, Guardian of engineer Rami deconstructs the
DESIGNATION Travel Lantern to create seven
Guardians of the Universe the Universe power rings.

LOCATION Guarded by Templar Guardians,
New Oa, formerly Oa defeated Volthoom is sealed in the
Vault of Shadows, as Maltusians
AFFILIATIONS fragment into philosophical factions:
Green Lantern Corps, oppressive Controllers and subtly
Zamarons, Controllers, shepherding Guardians who move
Manhunters, Third Army to centrally located Oa. The majority

POWERS Universe following catastrophic Follow the leaders The Guardians are
Immortality, elevated damage caused to reality by their often unswervingly authoritarian and
intellects, psionic powers, obsessive colleague Krona. When judgmentally condescending.
innate ability to manipulate his time-explorations flood existence
green light of Will with entropy—causing reality to be
“born old”—they enact numerous
MISSION schemes to pacify the churning
Maintaining universal order chaos he triggered.

STATUS REPORT Successive disasters follow
Returned to action Krona’s folly. Transdimensional,
far-future voyager Volthoom arrives
N o other species has had a and, after helping the Maltusians
greater impact upon the master the Emotional Spectrum
universe than Maltusians. and suppress their own feelings,
Ten billion years ago, a divergent employs his Travel Lantern and
super-race on Maltus appoint “First Ring” as an intergalactic hero.
themselves Guardians of the Exposure to the Emotional Spectrum
drives him mad, and he rampages

MYSTERIES IN SPACE 177

No man escapes the Manhunters

Tapping the Emotional A thousand-year war erupts to further their ultimate goal:
Spectrum, Oans concentrate a between Oans and automatons— the complete destruction of
universal pool of willpower in who are patterned on the the Guardians and Green
a Central Battery. Green light peacekeeping Manhunters Lantern Corps.
fuels successive peacekeeping of Ma’aleca’andra (Mars) to seek
militias, beginning with out and destroy evil. Of course,
Manhunters, who patrol the who and what qualifies as
cosmos 3.5 billion years ago. such is in the (cybernetic) eye
These “perfect” robots of the beholder.
malfunction, slaughtering all
life in Space Sector 666, and Driven by their core
sentient recruits replace them. programming, Manhunters fade
These Hallas are supplied with into the universal medley of
spaceships and nonlethal civilizations. They infiltrate
weaponry, using personal countless races and frequently
judgment to enforce law. construct indigenous justice
cults, such as Earth’s Shan Sect,

of females reject anti-emotionalism, highly programmed versions of Ultimately, faced with mounting
colonizing Zamaron and exploring Rami’s original Green Rings. Having crises, the Guardians’ altruistic
the violet light of Love. Another strong-willed sentients act on their atonement sours. They seek to
Guardian founds the proselytizing, behalf is not a first choice for the impose their cold rationality upon
anti-emotion faith the Paling, with Guardians of Oa. Initially, robotic unruly life, targeting free will via
himself as its eternal Pale Bishop. Manhunters patrol 3,600 Space a bio-manufactured Third Army.
Sectors under Guardian control. Ultimately, most Guardians are
Law and order Their horrific failure points to an killed by renegade agent Sinestro.
inevitable, logical conclusion—valor
Denying passion, and even and empathy are as important as The Green Lantern Corps
individuality, Guardians assess power, purpose, and obedience. seizes its own destiny. Now fully
potential problems and employ independent, they work with, not for,
scientific methodology to counteract Guardians initially act as the remaining Guardians. Bolstered
them. Gene manipulation to neuter patriarchal advisers, but gradually, by the Templar Guardians, the
aggressive species accidentally their omniscient benevolence Guardians act as advisors but, after
evolves simple lizards into cruel is recognized as dictatorial their ranks are further depleted by
inquisitors (the Psions) and has manipulation. Their actions are Controllers, assume command again.
limited success with the hyper- questioned by many Green All too soon, however, they leave the
aggressive Burning race of Mars. Lanterns, and some Guardians universe to battle in the Ultrawar,
The resultant White and Green attempt to reconnect with emotion. ordering Hal Jordan to recruit new,
Martians remain far too powerful Appa Ali Apsa abandons immortality young Guardians from Maltus to
and willful. All tactics are tried. to travel with Hal Jordan and Oliver steer the Green Lanterns. ■
Faced with formidable opposition Queen. His reawakened sensitivities
from the likes of Darkseid and the eventually drag him In darkest day The Guardians remain
Spider Guild, Oa uses diplomacy into lethal insanity. true to their original intent of protecting
and espionage, agreeing on treaties Ganthet is a policy
and nonaggression pacts to avoid reformer and the universe.
extended conflict. They know time defiantly marries
is on their side. fellow rebel Sayd.
Tainted by the
The greatest contribution to Anti-Monitor,
cosmic advancement is the Green Scar triggers the
Lantern Corps: autonomous, much-prophesied
multispecies peacekeepers and first Blackest Night.
responders armed with modified,

178

FTIHEENPDISTOF

NEW GODS OF APOKOLIPS

ON THE RECORD Strategic limitations technology, wedding
Darkseid’s deputies are practical philosophies
NOTABLE RECRUITS too busy plotting against to belief and ideological
Desaad, Granny Goodness, each other to challenge force. The antipathy
Kalibak, Steppenwolf, their leader’s position. toward their fellow
Doctor Bedlam, Virman survivors remains,
Vundabar, Kanto, Glorious A ten-billion-year however, as they view
Godfrey, Female Furies golden age ends resplendent New
in total war. The Genesis with jealousy
POWERS destruction of Urgrund and suspicion. An
Super-strength, speed, sparks a transformative entrenched royal family
and resilience, manipulation burst of energy that dominates Apokolips
of exotic energies and reverberates across all through oppressive
technologies of reality, a “godwave” martial meritocracy.
creating countless
MISSION pantheons of enhanced When Darkseid
Serving Darkseid, beings able to tap the comes to power, he
subjugating the universe, Sphere of the Gods forms a ferocious
staying alive and feed on faith— personality cult
a “Third World.” promoting absolute
STATUS REPORT Urgrund’s remnants authority, with
Due to Darkseid’s repeated cool, forming twin planets: New advancement open
deaths, high-ranking officers Genesis is bright and welcoming, to any able to lie, cheat, steal,
pursue personal supremacy while the other, Apokolips, is dark or murder their way upward.
and menacing. Apokolips is devoid of Patterned on Earth’s military
T he New Gods are born of physical resources, stripped of basic dictatorships, his inner circle—
struggle lasting 19 billion elements and powered by flaming Granny Goodness, Kanto, Virman
years, when primal “First firepits. Situated in extradimensional Vundabar, and Doctor Bedlam—
World” Urgrund forms following the space, it can be only reached by pluck candidates from the plebian
Source Wall’s creation. A “Second teleportational Boom Tubes, fueled by “Lowlies” training the best for
World” dawns three billion years Element X, the metal of imagination. Darkseid’s military machine, or
later as beings of immense power specialist roles in the Female Furies,
populate the GodWorld, antecedents Originally, gods manipulated Special Power Elite, or as monstrous
of all Multiversal divinities. magical processes, but Urgrund’s Parademons. When Darkseid falls,
inheritors embrace science and many seek his throne. ■

MYSTERIES IN SPACE 179

FPOEORPELVEER

GODS OF NEW GENESIS

ON THE RECORD Inevitably the interplanetary benign mysteries of the Source.
factions renew their cosmic war. They battle alongside passionate
NOTABLE VOLUNTEERS The horrific military innovations Apokoliptian converts like Big Barda
Highfather, Orion, Lightray, of Apokolips devastate New and Darkseid’s son Orion to save
Metron, Scott Free, Lonar, Genesis, but they cannot shake light, love, and individuality.
Fastbak, Esak, Forever the refined, optimistic faith of the
People Light lovers, which is reinforced Remolded by reality alterations
by direct contact with the spiritual into a more martial society, the
POWERS fountainhead the Source. The champions of New Genesis still
Super-strength, speed, unending struggle is eventually strive to end the insanity of Darkseid
and resilience, extended life revealed to be one of dogma, and light up the Multiverse with
spans, combination of between individual freedom the flame of hope. ■
supernatural forces and and utter surrender to oppressive
technology totalitarianism or “Anti-Life.” War is heaven Although gentle
guardians of life, New Gods are
MISSION New Genesis leader Izaya formidable and ferocious warriors
Preserving the balance, the Inheritor finds another way utterly dedicated to fighting for good.
inspiring hope, restricting to resist after losing his wife to
Darkseid the war. A pact trading his son for
Darkseid’s buys both leaders time
STATUS REPORT to refine their plans for the future.
The war never ends As Darkseid rebuilds his arsenal
and seeks a diabolical equation
W hen the old gods’ to negate free will, the newly
world of Urgrund consecrated Highfather nurtures
cataclysmically sunders, and inspires a race of valiant
matter, energy, mystic force, and protectors who will defend life from
fervent belief are caught up and Darkseid’s soul-crushing madness.
distilled in the blast. After eons of
broken fragments coalescing into Reluctant, superpowered
eternally twinned Apokolips and warriors the Forever People, Infinity
New Genesis, life returns to both Man, Mister Miracle, Lonar, and
but polarized into extremes of Metron are armed with life-affirming
biology and ideology. technologies like miraculous (and
sentient life themselves) Mother
Boxes connecting users to the

180

DTHAERKGNREESAST

DARKSEID

ON THE RECORD What I snuffed out, I can Darkseid. His contemplations lead
rekindle! him to one inescapable conclusion—
REAL NAME Darkseid the chaotic universe needs to be
Uxas controlled and directed, and he
is the only one up to the task.
AFFILIATIONS
New Gods of Apokolips, Acts of god
Grail
Darkseid is not devoid of passion.
BASE His dalliance with science sorceress
Apokolips, formerly Suli results in a son. Kalibak grows
Ghost Sector into an immensely powerful, savage
but intellectually limited brute.
POWERS
Immortality, immeasurable with barely any sign of change. Such
strength, vitality, energy- a triumph of the will is Darkseid.
manipulation, time-bending
Omega Force, powerful and Although more powerful entities
destructive Omega Beams exist, no being is more steeped in
evil or driven by ambition than the
MISSION Apokoliptian despot. Second son of
Eradicating free will ruthless Queen Heggra and mad
King Yuga Khan, Uxas is a
STATUS REPORT descendant of the malicious and
Often defeated, never belligerent gods of shattered
daunted GodWorld Urgrund. A thinker,
plotter, and bleak philosopher,
Reality is subject to radical he murders older brother Drax to
revision, and even gods control a cosmic resource
must endure arbitrary dubbed the Omega Force
alteration. However, just as certain and assumes the
mortal archetypes always resurface portent-steeped title
with minor modifications in a
remade universe, select deities will Omega effect Darkseid
weather temporal transformation can use his Omega power
to manipulate time itself.

Follow me Despite his overwhelming MYSTERIES IN SPACE 181
power, Darkseid needs worshippers and
will even turn sworn foes into new gods Deadly offspring
to serve him.
Darkseid has sired many
When Heggra orders Darkseid’s with himself at the top. His inner formidable children, but none
most trusted confidant, Desaad, to circle are the most skilled and has ever won his approval.
poison Suli, a rift develops between remorseless killers the system can Firstborn Kalibak (pictured
her son and all other beings. produce, many patterning themselves above right) could be
on Earth’s totalitarian leaders. War construed as the fruit of love,
It widens and solidifies after with New Genesis focuses Darkseid. but his blundering savagery
Darkseid is compelled to marry the He dedicates himself to mastering and innate cruelty render him
the Anti-Life Equation that will incapable of rule—or even
Queen’s favorite, Tigra. Official eradicate individuality and replace competence. Orion (pictured
heir Orion is despised by his universal free will with his own. above left) is despised but
father. After having Heggra The quest brings him into continual respected, a mighty warrior
conflict with Earth’s Super Heroes. tainted in Darkseid’s mind
assassinated and seizing the by memories of his mother
throne, Darkseid rids himself Ultimately, the unthinkable Tigra and his treacherous
of the infant, trading him to occurs. Darkseid is defeated and adherence to the ways of
New Genesis in a cease- killed. Death is not permanent for New Genesis. Moreover,
fire pact with Highfather. gods, but his aura of invincibility prophecy dictates that one
Like many New Gods, Darkseid is shattered. Many losses and day Orion will dispatch
can travel in time and constantly resurrections follow, resulting Darkseid to his final death in
interacts with Earth. Originally in a violent free-for-all among the shadows of Armagetto.
fomenting hostilities between its his lieutenants and potential
pantheons of gods, he also draws successors, but not even cunning Third son Grayven is born
inspiration from mortals, fascinated Desaad can replace him. The closest on a campaign of conquest
with their many experiments in to his dark majesty is Lex Luthor, and summarily abandoned.
authoritarian rule—particularly Nazi who becomes the ruling god of He spends years indulging
Germany. Using the technological Apokolips after Darkseid’s war with in interstellar slaughter,
marvels of Apokolips, he transforms the Justice League, a result of the even attempting to invade
his militaristic monarchy into a lethal Apokoliptian tyrant changing Apokolips to impress his
meritocracy, a pyramid of power tactics and seeking to conquer father before perishing.
Earth physically, not intellectually.
Possibly the most devoted
In the aftermath, Darkseid known offspring is Grail.
is reborn on Earth. Aided by his Born to Amazon assassin
daughter, Grail, he accelerates Myrina, she hated Darkseid,
his growth and return to power by but after his reduction to
feeding on god-energy from ancient infancy, murdered many
artifacts or by killing Olympians like Earthly gods to restore him
Hercules. Foiled by Wonder Woman to malignant maturity.
and her brother, Jason, the restored
despot retreats to the Ghost Sector,
creating his own New Gods and
manipulating Cyborg Vic Stone
and Justice League Odyssey into
helping him alter time. He plans
to reverse years of defeat, moving
Apokolips outside reality and into
the unchanging meta-realm of the
Sphere of the Gods. ■

See also: New Gods of Apokolips, Gods of

New Genesis

182

FMRAONMHUMNATRESR

J’ONN J’ONZZ

ON THE RECORD brother, Ma’alefa’ak, creates the Mars’s highly aggressive indigenous
deadly “H’ronmeer’s Curse.” species during “the Burning.”
REAL NAME The successor races were both
J’onn J’onzz While witnessing his wife and programmed with a debilitating
daughter’s deaths and the extinction psycho-physical adverse reaction to
AFFILIATIONS of his entire species, J’onzz is open flame. Despite this disability,
Justice League, Stormwatch snatched from his homeworld by the 10 billion years ago, White wanderer
space-time experiments of human Z’Kran Z’rann became one of the
BASE scientist Dr. Saul Erdel. The aged first beings to wield a Green Lantern
Earth, various locations researcher dies from a heart attack power ring against cosmic evil.
before he can return the shape-
POWERS shifting alien home. It leaves J’onzz Greens and Whites thrived for
Telepathy, psionics, shape- marooned on a world of paranoid, eons, mastering the solar system
shifting, phase-shifting, xenophobic beings incapable of before descending into race war,
super-strength, speed, species-wide communion. which the Greens won. The spark
endurance, durability, for the conflict was a struggle to
senses, advanced scientific Thought police emancipate a servant-species
knowledge created to mine Saturn’s moons.
Billions of years ago, Green and
MISSION White Ma’aleca’andrans (or
Preserving life, honoring Martians, as they’re known on
Ma’aleca’andra’s memory Earth) are created when the
Guardians of the Universe
STATUS REPORT genetically modify and neuter
Life goes on …
Justice link
E arth is home to many When leading
interplanetary orphans, Earth’s greatest
but none is as tragic as Super Heroes,
Martian J’onn J’onzz. Part of a J’onn J’onzz
communal telepathic Great Mind, provides a
he survives a psionic plague by telepathic link
cutting himself off from his entire to maximize
race. His greatest shame is that communication
his own deranged, mind-blind and combat
efficiency.

MYSTERIES IN SPACE 183

Sons of Saturn civil war on Mars. The surviving
Whites were ultimately defeated,
Millennia ago, White and and exiled to the ethereal,
Green Martians genetically timeless Still Zone.
engineered a worker
underclass to exploit the Granted independence,
resources of Saturn’s moons. Red H’ronmeerca’andrans and
The Greens favored red-hued White Koolars colonized Saturn’s
H’ronmeerca’andrans moons, eventually descending
possessing many of their into a generational war, which
creators’ physical and psionic ends only when Red prince
powers, and treated them Jemm (pictured) visits Earth.
as equals. White Martians With the help of J’onn J’onzz
cloned albino drones, cruelly and the Justice League, he
exploiting these aggressive unites all factions, even
“Koolars” as slaves. incorporating native Saturnian
Klarmarian “Faceless Hunters”
The suffering of the Koolars into his multicultural kingdom.
prompted Green Martians to
fight on their behalf, triggering

I come in peace. eventually goes public. As a Super J’onn J’onzz through time to study.
I am capable of war. Hero, he works with numerous As human scientists daily probed
costumed teams. On discovering a and tormented the alien, Lex—
J’onn J’onzz young White Martian, J’onzz takes calling himself “Albie”—tried to
her under his wing, training M’gann ease the Martian’s suffering before
A small group of defeated Whites M’orzz as a hero, helping her devise eventually helping him escape back
escaped into hibernation, later human alter ego Megan Morse and to Mars and his proper time period.
emerging to attack Earth as the a more acceptable Green battle The connection leads to temporary
persona. As Miss Martian, she shines triumph for Luthor’s Legion of Doom
Hyperclan. They are beaten by with the Teen Titans and eventually and apparent dissolution for the
the Justice League, who proudly graduates to the Justice League. Martian Manhunter, but ultimately
include a Green Martian in their J’onzz returns to secure victory—
ranks—J’onn J’onzz, former When deviant creator Perpetua a true survivor and an indomitable
Manhunter of Ma’aleca’andra. escapes from the Source Wall and force for life. ■
After arriving on Earth, J’onzz begins reverting reality to her
creates multiple identities to further preferred blueprint, it is revealed Mixed blessing Wife, M’yri’ah, and
his understanding of humanity— that her original quest for a perfect daughter, K’hym, still joyously abide
everything from a Japanese science- predator focused on the primal deep within J’onn Jonzz’s vast memory.
fiction writer to a little old lady and Martians of antiquity, and her
even a pet cat, but he instinctively modern iterations are
gravitates to murdered cop John formed from J’onzz’s
Jones, who he unobtrusively harvested DNA. His
replaces. Throughout this period, biomatter is used to
J’onzz uses his abilities secretly reconfigure Lex
to achieve justice for victims but Luthor into her high
priest Apex Lex,
but it is not their
first contact.

When Lex was
a child, his father
Lionel worked for
Vandal Savage and
abducted a juvenile

184

PTHLAENDEOTOMED

KRYPTON

ON THE RECORD Capital asset Kandor is the
hub of Kryptonian culture until
LOCATION Brainiac arrives.
Destroyed, previously
orbited red dwarf Rao (LHS A heavy-gravity planet modification. At a peak of
2520, constellation Corvus, orbiting the red sun Rao, attainment, global civil war ensues,
Space Sector 2813) Krypton’s environment sparked by ethical divisions over
250,000 years ago is savagely the rights of life-extending clones.
KNOWN SURVIVORS hostile to life, prompting The horrific upheaval leaves
Kal-El, Kara Zor-El, Zor-El alien biologist Bertron to survivors and later generations
(a Cyborg Superman), use it as a proving ground with a debilitating physical
Krypto, General Dru-Zod, for his forced-evolution response to genetic replication.
Ursa, Lor-Zod, Phantom program. The result is the
Zone convicts unstoppable Doomsday. Science and technology perform
miracles. Thanks to sentient
MISSION Eventually, Krypton is dominated household mechanisms,
Krypton lives on through its by smart, adaptable humanoids programmable building material
survivors who master its amazing ecology, Sunstone, and matter/energy/
which includes flaming fire falls, biology-manipulating AIs such as
STATUS REPORT crystal mountains, and living the Eradicator, no problem seems
All Kryptonians possess dinosaurs such as telepathic beyond Krypton’s finest minds. The
cells that are supercharged Thought-Beasts, metal-eating true problem is mental engagement.
by yellow sun radiation moles, and lumbering Rondors that Descendants of great houses and
emit disease-destroying radiation. career guilds seek contented ennui,
I n most realities and despite Early on, Kryptonians repel alien sidelining much of their astounding
frequent timeline alterations, invasions and learn the values of
planet Krypton is a utopia liberty and self-reliance.
of technological and cultural
attainment. It only becomes a No place like home
focal point for universal attention
after its shattering demise, Over millennia, civilization
cosmically significant not for its undergoes discrete societal ages.
achievements but for those who Kryptonians initially embrace but
survived its end. ultimately reject space travel and
colonial expansion, adopting
isolationism enforced by genetic

legacy. Governed by an elected Rocket baby The young Kal-El carries MYSTERIES IN SPACE 185
Science Council and worshippers with him the hopes and aspirations of
of sun-god Rao, Kryptonians his superior species. This eventually leads to the warlord
maintain strong military traditions, Rogol Zaar expediting Krypton’s
based at Fort Rozz in capital city received and used frequently by destruction as part of a ruthless,
Kandor. In later years, the facility the Science Council, but when his galactic face-saving cover-up.
is converted into a prison, before strident warnings of imminent doom
the city is stolen and bottled by damage his reputation, Jor-El takes As his infant son rockets to Earth
Collector of Worlds Brainiac. desperate action. Secretly bypassing in an experimental ship, Jor-El
Krypton’s government, he begins escapes the detonation, spending
Crime—although rare and interactions with alien governments decades as Mister Oz, course-
highly specialized in the Tenth such as the Thanagarians and others. correcting events to expose
Age—remains a dilemma. Most Krypton’s murder, even as Zaar
modern malefactors are rogue hunts down every survivor he can
scientists such as biologist mass- find. There are many. As well as
murderer Xa-Du, or Jax-Ur, whose Superman, Supergirl, and faithful
rocketry experiments destroy the dog Krypto, Kandor, Argo City, and
inhabited moon Wegthor. Jax-Ur’s the Phantom Zone prisoners all live.
actions lead to a total ban on Belligerent military dictator Dru-Zod,
space-travel research with dire his wife, Ursa, and their son, Lur-Zod
consequences for young scientist even defy Earth Super Heroes and
Jor-El after he learns that Krypton the Green Lantern Corps to carve
is unstable and will soon explode. out a home for some of them—a
Inhumane methods of incarceration New Krypton slowly rehabilitating
lead Jor-El to devise the Phantom itself from rogue status to become
Zone dimensional prison. It is well a cornerstone of the 31st-century
governing body United Planets. ■

See also: Superman, Supergirl

World of wonder

As legend has it, Krypton was first populated by two warring alien humanoids. Eventually, male
Kryp and female Tonn united, birthing the Kryptonian race together. This union began on
Urrika, and, as civilization grew, colonization of new continent Lurvan led to global rivalry
and a catastrophic “Last War,” before a planetary government was established.

“Old world” hemisphere “New world” hemisphere

Xan Ancient ARCTIC CONTINENT Erkol Oldest city Argo Supergirl’s ARCTIC CONTINENT Kandor Capital of
city ruins. COGO SEA on Krypton. birthplace. Krypton until it was
COGO SEA stolen by Brainiac.

TWENX URRIKA Bokos GORV OCEAN
SEA OF BANTZ Independent
island of thieves. LURVAN YORD
NIOZ
TUVUSEA OFD AONCDEAAHNUANSOM UVLOT
OLO
DANDAHU OCE A N ZITH
BOLENTH
FLAME FOREST

Jerat “Ghost city.” SURRUS MORSTIL OCEAN
Antarctic City
Built under the ice. MORSTIL OCEAN Scarlet Jungle MUL Kryptonopolis
Fort Rozz Main Superman’s
ANTARCTIC CONTINENT Vathlo defence center. ANTARCTIC CONTINENT birthplace. Krypton’s
Island second capital.

186

RTHEEACSHTAFROSR

BLUE BEETLES

ON THE RECORD of this dangerously unpredictable Living shell Jaime Reyes’s aversion
state is the fate of extraterrestrial to killing repurposes Khaji-Da’s military
REAL NAME accumulation tool Khaji-Da. A once responses to a more lifesaving mode.
Jaime Reyes, formerly Dan pitiless, infallible sentient weapon,
Garrett, formerly Ted Kord Khaji-Da’s record of success falters Any encounter with such warriors
after the entity crashes in the triggers an extreme automatic
AFFILIATIONS Stone-Age Yucatan Peninsula. overkill response, but the only force
Teen Titans, The Posse, that truly gives them pause is magic,
Justice League 3000 A Reach Infiltrator Unit (Scarab to which they are highly susceptible
Class), Khaji-Da is designed to and which they designate as
LOCATION infest and biologically reprogram “Non-Rational Energy.”
El Paso, Texas a member of the dominant
indigenous species. Its chief goal
POWERS/ABILITIES is to learn and grow until it can
Reyes: Techno-organic alien sabotage planetary defenses,
enhancement carapace allowing the Reach empire to
Kord: Peak human fitness, occupy, absorb, and consume
martial arts training, skilled everything of use. Scarab parasites
with nonlethal weapons transform and protect their host,
generating a suite of advanced
MISSION armaments and sensor technology,
Alternately learning to be a including powered flight, super-
Super Hero and conquering strength, invulnerability, and
Earth shapeshifting, as well as offering
a playbook of strategic responses.
STATUS REPORT Eventually, the host personality
Conflicted and seeking truth is completely eradicated, as the
invader’s militant programming
E arth is an abundantly subsumes and dominates the body.
tantalizing planet seemingly
ruled by caprice and calamity. Over millennia of relentless
Many alien invasion schemes depredation, Reach Scarabs
founder here due to the inherent encounter all forms of resistance,
chaos apparently infecting every particularly Emotional Spectrum
atom of the planet. A prime example energy weapons employed by the
Green, Yellow, or Red Lanterns.

Reveal nothing! polymath Ted Kord to create the MYSTERIES IN SPACE 187
Khaji-Da technologically augmented costumed
champion Blue Beetle, but he retires Attack mode The unleashed Blue
Tangled up in blue after sustaining numerous physical Beetle commands terrifying weaponry
injuries, channeling his energies and and pitiless savagery.
When Khaji-Da crashes on Earth, fortune into metahuman research contradictions still abound. After
it is severely damaged and human and response. The Scarab eventually clashing with the Brotherhood of
host Sky Witness dominates their resurfaces in El Paso, Texas, hunted Evil, benevolent mage Doctor Fate
combined body. Before long, the by crime boss and secret sorceress informs Jaime that his bizarre
Mayan warrior rules the region as a La Dama, and many despised rivals. and powerful “passenger” is not
god, his primitive people developing None knows that the ruthless mobster a Reach weapon at all but an
into a sprawling culture of conquest is the earthly aspect of intergalactic Earthly talisman of magic origins—
and empire building. When he tyrant Lady Styx. Her fumbled quest one that sorcerers have successfully
seemingly dies, the weakened for the alien artifact causes Khaji-Da masked beneath a cloak of Reach
Scarab is buried beneath a collapsing to awaken and instinctively possess technology and history.
temple. Accounts of Khaji-Da’s local schoolboy Jaime Reyes.
recovery differ, but after centuries of While the Blue Beetles are still
dormancy passing from collector to Suddenly transformed into a waiting for all the answers, they use
collector, an azure scarab is reported techno-morphing insectoid weapon, their powers to protect others. ■
to bestow strange powers on Reyes finds he is the lead partner
crusading archeologist Dan Garrett. in a bizarre duality. Still enslaved
to its programming but gradually
His exploits fighting crime and developing an independent
monsters in turn inspire genius personality, Khaji-Da continually
screams in Jamie’s head, seeking
to enact the conquest of Earth.
It is, almost always, overruled by
the kind, brave boy who becomes
an unlikely and extremely unwilling
local Super Hero.

Ted Kord seeks out Reyes,
offering training, mentorship, and
a paying job, but confusions and

The Reach

The Reach are an ancient, material they take. The scarabs
predatory, star-faring power were bioengineered from
that has ruthlessly conquered primitive insects that burrowed
and consumed civilizations for into living hosts, commandeering
millennia. Their tactic is simple the nervous system. Loaded with
and devastatingly efficient. nascent weapons systems,
They seed appealing, advanced tactical libraries, and hard
worlds with scarabs that bond programming, they are scattered
with and transform the across the universe to acquire
unwitting natives. These worlds for the patient Reach.
devastating weapons wreck
all potential forms of resistance Feared by all major civilized
before the Reach arrive to species, the Reach pose a major
harvest the remains. and continual threat to
peacekeeping groups such as
True scavengers, the the Green Lantern Corps but
Reach adopt and exploit all are considered too powerful
the technologies and living to openly combat.

188

OADTVHEENRTWUROERRLDOSN

ADAM STRANGE

ON THE RECORD savior to one of the Man of two worlds Adam Strange
galaxy’s most becomes a respected hero on Rann and
REAL NAME venerable cultures. Earth after countless adventures.
Adam Strange
While excavating Adam Strange becomes Earth’s
AFFILIATIONS a temple in South unofficial ambassador to the stars,
Justice League America, and fights in numerous interstellar
anthropologist conflicts, often alongside or against
BASE Strange is struck Hawkman and the Thanagarians.
Ranagar City, Rann by blinding light He solves interplanetary mysteries
and instantly transported to the with Batman and the Green Lantern
ABILITIES planet Rann in Alpha Centauri. Corps and works with Superman
Peak human fitness, brilliant Ravaged by atomic war, Rannians to create a federation of United
tactician and strategist, are slowly rebuilding to their Planets. Alongside various
Rannian space suit, jet pack previous advanced state. Their incarnations of the Justice League,
and ray gun, Zeta beam attempts to contact other worlds via he battles against Leviathan,
teleportation “Zeta flares” result in Strange’s the Legion of Doom, and other
accidental abduction after cosmic villainous entities.
MISSION radiation transforms the energy-
Saving worlds and raising packets into teleportation beams. Smart, tough, ingenious, and
a family indomitable, Adam Strange is a
Rann is perpetually imperilled heroic man of two worlds, a true
STATUS REPORT by internecine dissent or alien planetary champion and proof
Have spacesuit will travel assault, and Strange becomes its of humanity’s potential. ■
unflagging, infallible defender,
A lthough Earth is excluded foiling conquests and thwarting
from and largely oblivious monstrous menaces. He marries
to official intergalactic Alanna, the daughter of manipulative
interactions, individual humans chief scientist Sardath, and starts
make a lasting mark on interstellar a family, despite being constantly
civilizations. While his homeworld drawn back to Earth whenever
is subject to frequent extraterrestrial the Zeta energy in his body
infiltrations and failed invasions, dissipates. While awaiting follow-up
Earthman Adam Strange becomes Zeta beams, Strange meets the
a cosmic legend—an immigrant Justice League and secretly saves
his birthworld, too.

MYSTERIES IN SPACE 189

TMOAMNORROW

CAPTAIN COMET

ON THE RECORD What in the universe? Settling on the multi-species
Captain Comet commercial outpost Hardcore
REAL NAME Station, Comet helps Adam Strange
Adam Blake At the moment of Blake’s birth against religious fundamentalists
in rural Kansas, a comet flashes on Rann and mediates in their war
AFFILIATIONS through the night skies above his with Thanagar, before battling Nth-
L.E.G.I.O.N., Crucible head. Years later, friend and mentor Metal empowered devil Onimarr
Academy, R.E.B.E.L.S. Dr. Zackro hypothesizes that exotic Synn. Blake is targeted and killed
radiations from it have escalated by intergalactic tyrant Lady Styx,
BASE Blake’s personal evolution, creating who clones his corpse to build a
Hardcore Station a mutant mortal Earth should not super-army. Preserving his life by
produce for millennia to come. jettisoning his consciousness into
POWERS a new body, Comet wrecks her
Hyper-evolved body and After a lonely childhood and brief schemes and kills his doppelgängers
mind, psionic abilities, time as a secret defender of Earth, before resuming the life of an
super-strength, enhanced Blake builds a spaceship, the itinerant intergalactic champion. ■
durability, flight, force field Cometeer, and abandons Earth.
Possessing immense psionic powers Shooting star Despite his future tech,
MISSION housed in a superhuman body, Blake, Comet is often compelled to resolve
Saving worlds and raising aka Captain Comet, roams the galaxy conflicts with primitive brute force.
his family as a nomadic hero. Returning to
Earth after decades, he is mistaken
STATUS REPORT for a Super Hero but remains a lone
Scouring Earth for Neo explorer separated from his own
Sapiens like him kind by eons of evolution. After
clashing with Superman, he returns
F or a fraction of humanity, to the beckoning stars.
the endless stars constantly
call out, beckoning and
enticing the bold and the brave
to see what exists beyond mere
dirt horizons. This “far call” is
particularly strong in Adam Blake,
an extraordinary child of Earth
literally born ahead of his time.

190

OCOFLWLEOCRTLODRS

BRAINIAC

ON THE RECORD You can’t collect people! galaxies for civilizations to shrink and
Superman preserve in bottles, the Over-Brainiac
REAL NAME consumes and assimilates his parallel
Brainiac destroyed, his core code survives, selves while gathering cities from all
transforming Vril Dox and human of the 52 alternate realities plus
BASE telepath Milton Fine to preserve his attendant and divergent timelines.
Mobile self-consciousness and mission. These enclosed enclaves are pitted
against each other in an enforced
POWERS When reality is rewritten again, Convergence to determine those
Computer intelligence, a subtly different Dox observes the worthy of continued existence,
planet-warping technology, Fifth Dimension, discovering that with Over-Brainiac’s enslaved and
Multiversal archetype the atrocity weapon “Spear-of- rebellious ringmaster Telos arranging
Infinite-Heads” is aimed at the Third the bouts to suit his own purposes.
MISSION Dimension and acts to preserve
Preserving select fragments fractions of threatened civilizations Although destroyed by a team
of cultures, stolen and in its path. Eventually, his purpose of psychics recruited by Amanda
converted into units of data is lost and only the world-wrecking Waller, Brainiac’s threat remains
function remains, but now Dox/ after Apex Lex Luthor lends the
STATUS REPORT Brainiac is the destroyer. power of Perpetua to a drone unit,
Dismantled but already upgrading it into the next
rebuilding As heroic archetypes recur Collector of Worlds and
throughout the Multiverse, so too do destroyer of lives. ■
B rainiac is the most feared their most potent enemies. Now an
name in space, a pitiless acquisitive mechanoid, Brainiac not Think again Time and
computer-intelligence taking only predates across the Multiverse space are riddled with
living fragments of thriving worlds but also manifests above and beyond versions of Brainiac
as specimens for idle study. Prone to it as a hyper-dimensional plunderer. able to infinitely
reality alterations and programming Where his universal iterations scour upgrade into
errors, he first appears as a humanoid a threat
explorer, Vril Dox, attempting to to all
repopulate his dead homeworld, that
Yod Colu, with stolen alien cities. lives.
After several defeats at the hands
of Superman, he upgrades into the
nemesis of organic life. Repeatedly

MYSTERIES IN SPACE 191

COBSAMRBICARIAN
MONGUL

ON THE RECORD Beneath his bestial appearance Hit parade Mongul is one of few beings
lies a shrewd, calculating intellect, able to survive a Super-punch—and one
TITLE appreciating the value of detailed of the most deserving of repeat doses.
Mongul (MDCCXCI) research as much as irresistible
force. He is also well aware that while reconsidering the value of
AFFILIATIONS lasting power comes from effective his actions and goals. The nameless
Sinestro Corps, Pale Vicars governance and control, not threats son who eliminates him assumes
or bloodletting. Whether employing his title, rank, and aspirations as
BASE his planet-sized mobile fortress, Mongul MDCCXCII. As Superman
Warworld Warworld, or through subtle and his son, Jon, align warring alien
stratagems with the use of mind- civilizations into a federation of
POWERS/ABILITIES pacifying Black Mercy plants, or United Planets, MDCCXCII savagely
Super-strength, speed, and even by enslaving Earth’s population attacks to disrupt the process.
stamina, invulnerability, fire through computer games, Mongul He is driven off by Super Heroes
vision, strategic genius, compulsively craves subjects to and alien soldiers before being
advanced weapons tech manipulate and dominate. beaten into humiliating submission
by the Man of Steel. ■
MISSION The ultimate pragmatist, Mongul
Subjugating all life will also instantly switch sides
and sacrifice allies to secure even
STATUS REPORT temporary tactical advantage.
His offspring continues After another defeat by Superman,
to spread fear Mongul’s son, Jochi, restores the
crippled Warworld to full destructive
T he name Mongul is dreaded functionality, launching a new reign
throughout space but of terror across the galaxy. However,
belongs not to one tyrannical when Jochi displays mercy to his
terrorist but to a merciless dynasty. subjects, Mongul kills his progeny
Descended from countless killer without hesitation. Self-preservation
kings, Mongul MDCCXCI revels in then prompts Mongul’s deal with
slaughter pitilessly and gleefully Wonder Woman and Superman
crushing opponents. Ruthless and to utilize the station against
terrifying, he briefly rules the Sinestro intergalactic rival Brainiac.
Corps before being defeated by
Green and Yellow Lanterns. The diabolical despot dies during
his own rare moment of weakness—

192

HHUAWNTKEWRSOROLFD

THANAGARIANS

ON THE RECORD law officers, such as their elite Power structure The Rheon Gallt on
Black Order, patterned on feathered Thanagar Prime is the entrance to vaults
NOTABLE raptors. Their faith is based on a encompassing the planet’s entire core.
REPRESENTATIVES concept of “Seven Devils” purging
Katar Hol, Shayera Thal, the weak. The abundance of the secure intergalactic bank where
Byth Rok, Fel Andar, ore—a psycho-reactive mineral with other civilizations store their most
Onymar Synn supernatural properties—facilitates precious commodities and secrets—
personal anti-gravity technologies. for exorbitant fees.
LOCATION Thanagarians fly using wings, armor,
Thanagar Prime, Polaris and their own muscles. Nth Metal Warrior Shayera Hol briefly rules
(Ursa Minor) also empowers the primordial demon as Empress until the vaults are
Onimar Synn, the “Sin Eater,” who compromised by cosmic events such
POWERS dominates the Thanagarians over as the return of Perpetua and the
Enhanced strength, speed, several millennia. scandal of the Empire’s role in the
and resilience, extensive use destruction of Krypton. In the chaos
of Nth Metal in weapons and Dubbed “Hawkworld” for its that follows disclosure, Thanagar
anti-gravity technology harsh attitudes and history of seeks to rebuild its reputation
brutal colonization, Thanagar’s through diplomacy and commerce in
MISSION enlightenment causes a decline in the newly formed United Planets. ■
Retaining security, wealth, influence. Plagues, ill-judged wars,
power, and prestige and rebellion further weaken their
standing, leading to a revival of
STATUS REPORT ancient ways and Synn’s return.
Founding state and first
signatory of United Assisted by Earth Super Heroes,
Planets Accords Thanagarians finally overthrow the
Sin Eater but remain inherently
T hanagar is an ancient, paranoid. The leadership finally
militaristic culture in disclose that their capital world is
the Polaris star system. a sham. The true heart of Empire
Thanks to vast Nth Metal deposits, was always Thanagar Prime, a planet
Thanagarians master flight early, out of phase with regular space.
adopting a cultural motif venerating Constructed on “zombie star gas,”
avian predators, with soldiers and it exists at multiple stellar coordinates
simultaneously. As well as critical
administration, it houses an ultra-

MYSTERIES IN SPACE 193

ASNEED VDEIEGA

THE OMEGA MEN

ON THE RECORD worlds. They initially unite to free the secret mastermind, and steal an
22 planets of the Vega system from artifact sacred to the pacifists of
MEMBERS/ALLIES the yoke of oppressive Citadel rule Changralyn. The Omega Men then
Kalista, Primus, Tigorr, and remain together to overthrow expose the Citadel’s genocide on
Scrapps, Doc, Broot, Harpis, human tyrant Harry Hokum, who Voorl to secure reserves of the rare
Darkfire (Ryand’r), Green fills the power vacuum following mineral Stellarium to begin their
Lantern Kyle Rayner the Citadel’s defeat. final march to victory.

AFFILIATIONS The multipowered collective The Omega Men go on to help
Crucible Academy, Green includes idealistic telepath Primus, Supergirl against Harry Hokum’s
Lantern Corps organic dreadnaught Broot, vile clone warriors, exposing an
reformed war-bot Doc, savage intergalactic conspiracy that caused
BASE ani-morph Tigorr, and Scrapps Krypton’s destruction. The heroic
Vega system (last survivor of planet Voorl), who rebels remain at large and virtuous. ■
are supplemented by wanderers
POWERS from outside the system. Cry freedom As true revolutionaries,
Wide range of psionic, the Omega Men know the value of
cybernetic, energy-casting, Vega is for many years off-limits a rallying symbol.
and morphic talents to Green Lanterns and other
peacekeeping organizations, a
MISSION haven for immoral cultures like the
United to overthrow tyranny Psions to test their most appalling
and liberate Vega scientific advances. Many Omega
Men die and are revived through
STATUS REPORT detestable methods to fight on.
Armed and at liberty Sadly, no one can guarantee whose
side such revenants are on.
E ven when civilizations take
dark, oppressive paths, When Earthman Kyle Rayner
concepts of equality, honor, visits Vega, the Omega Men capture
and justice can still inspire beings him. Apparently executed, the White
to strive against doom and for a Lantern is, in fact, press-ganged
better future. The Omega Men are into their ranks and their struggle.
a mismatched, fractious, and ever- Subsequently, the Omega Men steal
shifting band of rebels from many the Citadel Viceroy’s spacecraft,
“kidnap” Kalista, the Princess of the
Bramins of Euphorix and the team’s

194

OCAVSERTE

THE DOMINION

ON THE RECORD Command, Synthesis, Research, or Red shift Vast amounts of vital social
Implementation—Dominators are status information is conveyed through
LOCATION forbidden personal names. All are variations in Dominator dot size.
Dominion Space, Milky instantly assessed by job and ranked
Way galaxy by the size of a red forehead dot. sovereignty through intricate treaties
with other spacefaring powers, deftly
CIVILIZATION LEVEL Promotion via assassination playing rivals off against each other.
Spacefaring, intellectually and fatal falls from grace are
curious, technologically commonplace, ensuring high-level Masters of biological sciences,
advanced, aggressively Dominators excel in their mandated when Dominators first realize the
imperialistic colonizers jobs, or always have someone lined potential of humanity’s metahuman
up to take the blame for any failure. genome, they orchestrate a Grand
MISSION Due to an ancient civil dispute, their Alliance of other alien races––the
Accruing security, wealth, homeworld is bombarded with the Durlans, Khunds, Gil’dishpan,
power, and prestige through shattered debris of a sister planet Thanagarians, Daxamites, Psions,
military strength once populated by the losers of a Spider Guild, and Warlords of
dominance dispute. Dominators Okaara. When Earth defeats them,
STATUS REPORT view this as a noble achievement. Dominators begin a covert project to
Mistrusted founder-state co-opt the metagene into their own
of newly instituted For eons, the Dominion shuns arsenal. They are early signatories
United Planets interstellar commerce, preferring to the United Planets treaty but
to acquire territory through military remain untrustworthy allies to all. ■
The Dominion is a vast means and enforce their expansion
empire of many worlds. through diplomatic chicanery. The
Ever-expanding and locked Dominion offsets challenges to its
into a hierarchical social caste
structure, it requires individuals of Let us talk war.
astounding ability to maintain rank Dominator
and position. The empire also
expects those who are even more
gifted or devious to topple superiors
and win personal advancement.

Selected at birth and trained to
perform a specific function—such as

MYSTERIES IN SPACE 195

SKERTYTPLTEORNSIAN

DAXAM

ON THE RECORD Easily swayed The even briefly transforming their sun,
Daxamites are a suggestible Valor, from red to yellow.
LOCATION people and easily manipulated
Space sector 1760 by more domineering races. Yat’s actions and political
maneuvers gradually change some
CIVILIZATION LEVEL sensitivity to Kryptonite Daxamite attitudes. He battles
Technologically advanced is superseded by a fatal Cyborg Superman (Hank Henshaw)
but aggressively isolationist, hypersensitivity to the and risks death from Earth’s lead-
conservative and spiritually common metal, lead. drenched atmosphere to aid the
militant, easily swayed by Justice League against a new
theistic or political zeal, Cut off from intergalactic iteration of the deadly Eradicator.
Kryptonian genetic heritage contact, Daxam becomes This manic mechanoid seeks to
an ultra-xenophobic closed restore the glory of lost Krypton
NOTABLE EXPATRIATES society— hidebound, by genetically engineering an army
Sodam Yat, Mon El religiously dogmatic, and of all-conquering Daxamite pawns.
determinedly paranoid. Their fears
MISSION seem prophetic and justified when An early signatory to the United
Integration with greater they are tricked by the Dominion Planets accords, by the 31st century
universe into joining an invasion of Earth, Daxam is the organization’s
sadistically subjugated by Mongul administrative center. It is the
STATUS REPORT and the Sinestro Corps, infiltrated hub of a pan-galactic civilization
Ideal cannon fodder for by Durlans, and raided by Khund incorporating countless species
ambitious tyrants slavers. However, they are ultimately and faiths working together to
saved by one of their own. promote peace and prosperity. ■
D axam is an ancient colony
settled by Kryptonians Young Sodam Yat dreams of
millennia ago. Fleeing star travel and conceals marooned
harsh eugenics and cloning policies, alien Tessog. His outraged parents
the migrants are modified by kill the extraterrestrial and brainwash
a genetic purity enforcement Yat, whose memories are restored
mechanism known as the Eradicator. after seeing Tessog’s body in
Although unaware for centuries, a museum. When recruited as a
Daxamites can convert yellow solar Green Lantern—and despite his
radiation into superpowers, but their sentiments and the open hostility
of his own people—Sodam Yat saves
Daxam from successive catastrophes,

196

WILD MAN

LOBO

ON THE RECORD spacefaring society, the entire is interacting with space dolphins.
population is exterminated by one They bring him joy and peace,
REAL NAME young Czarnian, Lobo, who hates and he will savagely eviscerate
Lobo school and is bored. All Czarnians any being that harms one. Lobo’s
possess physically superior bodies, only weakness is his sense of honor.
ALLEGIANCES incredibly enhanced senses, instant As the most feared bounty hunter
Justice League of America, cellular regeneration, and blood that
L.E.G.I.O.N., space dolphins, generates fast-growing clones on Hooked on classics
R.E.B.E.L.S. exposure to air. It takes an extreme Lobo likes the
effort to kill even one, but Lobo has comfortable familiarity
BASE always been the epitome of of cold metal in
Mobile macabre inspiration and steaming gizzards.
bloody determination.
POWERS/ABILITIES
Unlimited regeneration; Appetite for
super-senses, strength, destruction
speed, stamina, durability;
brilliant mechanic/weapons Although cultivating
maker; expert marksman, the impression of a
skilled dirty fighter dumb, loud-mouthed,
murderous lout,
MISSION Lobo is actually a
Killing, feeding space brilliant and versatile
dolphins, obsessively polymath, able to build
fulfilling all contracts ultra-lethal guns, whip up
exceptional explosives,
STATUS REPORT grow wicked bio-
Never defeated weapons, construct
machinery for killing,
M any civilizations have devise devious death
become extinct across plans, and curse, threaten,
the universe, but very few and order drinks in at least
have been deliberately murdered, 17,897 universal languages.
and none—in manner or motivation—
like Czarnia. An advanced, pacifistic, Lobo loves to fight and hates
to lose. His only nonlethal pleasure

MYSTERIES IN SPACE 197

Crush cage fighter using the name
“Crush,” she joins Damian
Xiomara Rojas always knew Wayne’s Teen Titans on the
she was adopted. Her Earth promise that he will find the
parents find her in the desert, Rojases’ killers. Having once
a pale, dark-eyed baby seen footage of Lobo fighting
wrapped in a sentient, super- Superman, Crush quickly deduces
protective alien chain called who her biological father is.
Obelus. Despite being drug-
dependent petty criminals, Eventually, she clashes
they raise her with love off the with the Czarnian, who has no
grid until they are murdered, memory of her or her mother.
leaving the heartbroken Father and daughter do not part
super-strong teen to fend on good terms and are both
for herself. painfully aware of unfinished
business between them.
After years on the streets
and a time as an underground

I killed Santa Claus and in the universe and even battled him from Amanda Waller’s Suicide
the Easter Bunny an’ things metaphysical entities. When he Squad and makes him fulfill a
once died, he caused so much contract serving as one of his
that don’t even exist! trouble to both Heaven and Hell that Justice League of America team.
Lobo both realms now refuse to take him. A prior similar deal has him working
He is, in effect, condemned to life as muscle for Vril Dox’s freelance
in space, he hunts crooks, villains, and cannot die. peacekeeping agencies L.E.G.I.O.N.
tyrants, monsters, rival mega-killers, and R.E.B.E.L.S. During the period
and even the occasional Super Hero, This obsessive adherence to his of that service, Dox secretly neuters
if the fee is big enough. And once given word has been used by clever Lobo, removing his blood’s instant-
his word is given, he always keeps foes such as Batman, who rescues cloning capacity. The last Czarnian
it. The only known instances of has never forgiven him.
failure to fulfill an obligation or Team player While in the Justice
complete a contract is when the League of America, Lobo keeps the Despite the handicap, Lobo
fugitive offers a bigger fee. murders, maiming, and mutilations has unwanted progeny. After he is
down to a bare minimum. magically reverted to childhood and
The same unyielding principle trapped on Apokolips with Young
applies to his given word. Lobo Justice, “Lil’ Lobo” is wounded and
proudly boasts that he is the last his juvenile blood produces an army
of his kind and will drop everything of doppelgängers. Most perish
to kill any survivor he hears of, there—killed by each other until
such as his unfortunate childhood only one adult Lobo remains—but
schoolteacher Mrs. Tribb, who a damaged, malformed copy returns
was off-planet when he dealt his to Earth with the junior Super
fatal blow to Czarnia. Heroes. As Slobo, he pursues a
different path but soon begins to
The manic mercenary has degrade. Slobo sacrifices his life to
clashed with almost every hero save his friend and comrade Secret.

A more problematic relation
is Lobo’s daughter, Crush. He has
no idea who her mother is and,
on learning of her existence,
attempts to kill and later control her.
She successfully resists, and their
relationship is left unresolved. ■

198

MMIANLDIGBNENDER

STARRO THE CONQUEROR

ON THE RECORD Do exactly as I command! When a mature Starro attacks
Starro Earth, it is repeatedly beaten by
REAL NAME the Justice League of America.
Starro, Jarro, gulfs, immense Motherstars spawn One pitiless and intractable spore
Motherstar countless parasitic spores, brutally overwhelms Time Master Rip Hunter
enslaving worlds and assimilating and travels back to medieval Europe,
AFFILIATIONS other species. Due to their potent retroactively spawning an alternate
Team Mystery, Justice psionic powers, all are connected and reality until Booster Gold intercedes
League may be part of one vast, primal to correct the time stream.
cosmic consciousness.
ORIGIN LOCATION As the Dark Multiverse rises and
Ø-World Starro is relentless but not Perpetua’s return disrupts reality,
infallible. In the distant past, an a Starro joins Earth’s Super Heroes
POWERS attack on the planet Hattorei stalls in repelling an invasion of Omega
Genius intellect, telepathy, because the inhabitants share their Titans. Inspired by Martian
bio-regeneration, mind own psychic link and resist Manhunter, the starfish sacrifices
control, energy manipulation, assimilation until a boy itself, but a fragment of tissue
flight, virtual immortality named Cobi exerts his is regrown by Batman. Nurtured
own personality onto the in a loving environment, “Jarro”
MISSION invader consciousness. becomes a valiant ally who considers
Eradicating individual As the Star Conqueror, himself the newest—and best—
thought Starro goes on to subdue nine Robin. The heroes are unaware that
galaxies before ultimately Luthor’s Legion of Doom has also
STATUS REPORT being defeated by Vril Dox and
Regenerated into his multi-species L.E.G.I.O.N. preserved a Starro fragment,
differentiated forms forces on the planet Rann. regrowing it to
augment their
T he most efficient predator own evil
species spawned in an plans. ■
evolutionary hellhole,
Starros resemble colossal Earth Starstruck For
starfish. Near-immortal and immune countless beings,
to space conditions, they are driven this terrifying
by an irresistible instinct to subjugate image is the last
other life-forms. Traversing interstellar thing they ever
experience.

MYSTERIES IN SPACE 199

PAENAYCCEOASTT

L.E.G.I.O.N.

ON THE RECORD the Green Lantern Corps is greatly Heroes for hire L.E.G.I.O.N.’s agents
weakened, a Dominion-led coalition always get the job done, but collateral
REAL NAME of alien races unites to destroy damage is nonnegotiable.
L.E.G.I.O.N. humanity and its terrifying meta-
gene enhanced defenders. L.E.G.I.O.N.’s impressive
AFFILIATIONS triumphs attract many high-paying
R.E.B.E.L.S., Green Lantern After the Invasion is repulsed, subscribers, necessitating a constant
Corps, Science Directorate of an anticipated era of intergalactic turnover of operatives, including
Rann, Tamaranean Military, barbarism is averted by Coluan elite enforcers such as Lobo and
Darkstars, United Planets Vril Dox II, who founds a multi- disposable grunts. Eventually, the
species peacekeeping force to latter are replaced by robo-troops.
BASE police regions destabilized by the
Mobile defeat. His brilliant mind has Success continues until Dox’s
deduced the desperate need for son, Lyrl, usurps control, pursuing
POWERS order and stability, but perhaps his order through enforced submission.
Recruits display range of actions are also colored by his time In response, several veterans form
psionic, energy-casting, and in “Starlag,” a Dominator-run prison. counterforce R.E.B.E.L.S. to restore
morphic talents L.E.G.I.O.N.’s good name. Vril Dox
Recruiting recently liberated eventually returns and leads them to
MISSION cellmates as operatives, Dox funds victory. He reclaims his creation and
Keeping the peace and his Licensed Extra-Governmental makes it a force for justice—only
making a profit Interstellar Operatives Network this time on his own terms. ■
(L.E.G.I.O.N.) by subscription,
STATUS REPORT courting client worlds who can
Facing a harsh economic be protected from external threat—
climate for a price. His customers have no
idea Dox also intends to clean up
E arth Super Heroes and their domestic transgressions.
expatriate adventurers enjoy
a formidable transgalactic The group’s first actions are
reputation—saving their world and, liberating Dox’s homeworld from
frequently, other alien civilizations oppressive computer tyrants and
from predatory cosmic colonialism cleaning up the galaxy’s “drug
and incomprehensible threats such world” Cairn. They refashion it
as the Sun-Eater. At a time when into the L.E.G.I.O.N. prime base,
supplemented by satellite command
centers on far-flung client planets.

HYPER