The_DC_Book_A_Vast_and_Vibrant_Multiverse_Simply_Explained_Stephen

The ship crashes on Earth near Family tradition While Superman and JUSTICE OR DOOM? 51
Smallville, Kansas, and the baby is his wife and son regularly save lives and
found and adopted by farmers defend universes, they still consider builds a succession of isolated
Jonathan and Martha Kent. Naming themselves ordinary people at heart. citadels to contain alien and
the precocious child Clark, they dangerous technologies. Grown
raise him as their own. Clark soon Moving to Metropolis, Clark from sentient Sunstone, his Fortress
learns that anyone in need must be becomes a reporter on the Daily of Solitude first rested in the Arctic
helped and it is his duty to do the Planet, where he meets true love and is currently hidden deep in the
right and just thing. Thanks to his Lois Lane and carves out a second Bermuda Triangle.
new parents’ love, warmth, and life as Superman. He actively
socially conscious example, the separates his twin careers—human Always saving lives—and even
alien grows up wholly human on reporter and alien Super Hero—and fighting his way back from death—
the inside, with uncompromising Superman faces deadly foes like
principles shaping his life and Luthor, Brainiac, Doomsday,
benefitting the world. Darkseid, and more and plays a
critical role in all reality-rending
Clark is not the only remarkable Crises. Key archetypes of Multiversal
child from Smallville. Neighbor Lex continuity, both he and new wife,
Luthor grows up to be the smartest Lois, survive Flashpoint, and when
man on Earth, President of the reality realigns, they exist outside
United States, and a universe- the newly formed existence.
shaking Super-Villain. Carl Draper
uses his formidable skills as the On a revised “Earth Prime,” they
criminal Master Jailer, and Kenny retire to raise their infant son, Jon,
Braverman, mutated by Kryptonite in secret, but timestream corruption
radiation, threatens Earth as Conduit. triggers the deaths of this reality’s
Clark’s best pal Pete Ross becomes younger Lois and Clark, and they
Luthor’s Vice President and reluctantly replace them in public life.
succeeds him when Lex is forced Eventually, they learn from Fifth-
from office, while close childhood Dimensional prankster Mr. Mxyzptlk
that living and dead iterations are
friend Lana Lang grows up to be a actually equal halves of the same
brilliant inventor, journalist, and unique beings. The eventual
costumed hero Superwoman. merging of these halves reunifies
the fractured timelines, cementing
a true rebirth of existence. ■

Lois Lane-Kent

Across the Multiverse, Lois investigative reporter for the
Lane is capable, determined, Daily Planet, exposing crime,
and high-principled, with an civic malfeasance, and corruption
intense sense of justice and everywhere. Powerful men
hatred of secrets. On Earth such as Lex Luthor respect her
Prime, she is the eldest intelligence, dread interviews
daughter of US General Sam with her, and justifiably fear
Lane, a hard-line military her attentions.
policy maker with connections
to the global intelligence After marrying Clark Kent,
community. Lois and sister, she continues her quest for
Lucy, grow up on army bases knowledge until the birth of
all over the world, giving Lois their son, which coincides with
a cosmopolitan outlook and the destruction of their reality.
keen distrust of authority. Transported to another Earth,
they raise Jon in secrecy into his
Settling in Metropolis, Lois teens, after which she resumes
becomes an award-winning her stellar investigative career.

52

PMEAONPOLEF THE

LEX LUTHOR

ON THE RECORD endeavor he attempts. Unhindered Lionel’s time-bending inquiries
by scruples or ethical compass, involve abducting and torturing an
REAL NAME Lex gets what Lex wants, and woe alien child, latter-day Martian
Alexander Joseph Luthor betide anybody who gets in his way. Manhunter J’onn J’onzz. Befriended
by little Lex (aka “Albie”), J’onn
ALLEGIANCES Triumph of the will escapes and returns to Mars. Their
LexCorp, Legion of Doom, memories are altered, but Lex and
Justice League, Secret Born and raised in Smallville, Kansas, J’onn remain connected, a fact Lex
Society Lex Luthor is abused by his scientist exploits to defeat the Justice League
father. Lionel Luthor is employed by and absorb Martian DNA while
BASE Vandal Savage to master the becoming Perpetua’s ultimate
Metropolis Totality and Reality’s seven weapon.
hidden forces, but Savage
ABILITIES rewards him by destroying
Super-genius, master of all the researcher’s intellect.
sciences, devious strategic Reduced to drunken brutality,
and tactical planner Lionel turns his frustrations
on his family, dying a broken man.
MISSION Rumors persist that Lex murdered
Proving his superiority, his father to protect his sickly little
destroying Superman sister, Lena, stories Lex denies but
does nothing to dispel.
STATUS REPORT
Constantly defeated, never In the future, Winner
beaten gods will bow to men. takes all
There is no
L ex Luthor is a complex man. Lex Luthor triumph or
A multidisciplinary scientific accolade
genius and billionaire Lex Luthor
entrepreneur, he is also utterly does not
amoral, a sociopathic Super-Villain, covet, and he
and adulation-hungry would-be will destroy
hero. His intellectual brilliance is and kill
coupled to an obsessive need to be anybody who
the undisputed best at whatever disagrees.

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 53

Apex Lex

Despite belief in scientific sacrosanct DNA, becoming
rationality, faith in human the prototype hybridized
dominance, and utter conviction Human/Martian predator
of his own superiority, Lex conceived by Perpetua. She saw
surrenders everything he is them as the Multiverse’s ultimate
after experiencing a vision of life-form, her invincible army
himself worshipped by future against her Sixth Dimensional
mankind. Divesting himself of nemeses The Hands.
fortune and patents, he fakes
his death, becoming Perpetua’s True to the ideals of self-
high priest, preaching her truth serving Doom, Perpetua
in a religion of self-interest. ultimately discards Apex Lex,
His missionary zeal and gifts and he retaliates by betraying
of power convert many Super- her to the remaining Super
Villains and the majority of Heroes of the Death Metal
Earth’s common population. universe. Dying to destroy
Perpetua’s dream forever, Lex
Lex even forsakes his Luthor is reborn as his original
treasured humanity and unfathomable, unbeatable self.

Determined to prove himself Heroes and even after being forced become Earth’s true Superman,
the greatest man in history, Lex from the office of President of the US Lex eventually succumbs to
Luthor is the personification of for crimes and misdemeanors, seduction—tricked by imprisoned
humanity’s drive to succeed. Luthor remains an idol to many. cosmic originator Perpetua to
He possesses all the finer feelings become everything he despises.
and higher ideals that bring In truth, he is a dedicated True to his nature, however, Lex
mankind close to divine spirituality, champion, but Lex defends mankind Luthor again has the last word. ■
but they never weaken his resolve like it is his beloved pet. He is
to attain his goals. incapable of valuing individuals— Dark Messiah Lex rejects ruling the
killing without mercy or compunction ancient gods of Apokolips to subjugate
Success story for momentary gain or to assuage an and remake humanity in his own
imagined slight. He destroys lives image back on Earth.
Arguably the most selfish, predatory simply because he can.
human alive, Lex is able to trick and
deceive politicians, military men, In the ethically warped universe
cunning super-criminals, alien of Earth-3, where good and evil are
overlords like Darkseid, and even switched as dominating principles,
utter maniacs like The Joker. An Alexander Luthor is the prime foe
American success story and source of the wicked and brutal Crime
of employment for millions, Lex is Syndicate. When they invade
adored and envied by many who Earth Prime, Lex reclaims his
readily forgive such minor sins as reputation by defeating them
murder, theft, fraud, extortion, arms- and rescuing the Justice League.
dealing, and illegal experimentation. After helping the heroes defeat
His ambition builds a vast corporate the terrifying Amazo Virus, which
empire, but simple jealousy brings he causes, Lex bullies and buys
about his ruin as he expends capital his way onto the team and
and goodwill trying to destroy becomes a god on Apokolips,
Superman, who he sees as an before forsaking extraterrestrial
“unworthy” alien intruder. divinity for domination of Earth.

Despite constant defeats and After reveling in the adulation
humiliations at the hands of Super of inferiors while attempting to
supplant the Man of Steel and

54

THE DARK
KNIGHT

BATMAN

ON THE RECORD is the greatest of the three. Inherently I shall become a bat!
human, a mortal shaped by tragedy Bruce Wayne
REAL NAME and tainted by darkness, he is an
Bruce Wayne indomitable warrior for the weak
and an avenger of the universal
ALLEGIANCES wrongs that spawned him.
Justice League, The
Outsiders, Gotham Knights Born into Gotham City’s financial
aristocracy, eight-year-old Bruce
BASE Wayne witnesses his parents’
Gotham City murder by mugger Joe Chill. Deeply
traumatized, he swears to wage war
ABILITIES
Brilliant mind; extensive on crime—intent on becoming a
knowledge of all sciences, perfect instrument of justice.
history, criminology; peak Reluctantly supported by family
physical condition; master of butler and appointed guardian
various martial arts Alfred Pennyworth, Wayne hones
body and mind, traveling the world
MISSION to acquire an arsenal of skills before
“I swear on the spirits of returning to his increasingly corrupt
my parents to avenge their and crime-ridden hometown.
deaths by spending the rest
of my life warring on all His initial misguided efforts
criminals.” as a vigilante are unsatisfactory.
However, as he ponders his future,
STATUS REPORT a bat crashes into his study and
Fighting crime he is gripped by a dark inspiration.
He decides to use fear and
W ith Superman and
Wonder Woman, superstition as his primary
Batman comprises tools and hunt evil dressed
a trinity of heroic archetypes as a creature of the night.
recurring throughout the
Multiverse, and arguably Dress code Batman constantly
upgrades his outfits with advanced
technology to aid his war on crime.

Dark legacy Batman’s help transforms The Outsiders but devises methods JUSTICE OR DOOM? 55
many victims into powerful champions of defeating them “just in case”
of hope and vengeance. they ever turn evil. He establishes Alfred Pennyworth
Batman Incorporated, placing
World’s greatest … trained and trustworthy substitute Rebellious Alfred Pennyworth
Batmen across Earth. He also adopts rejects a tradition of domestic
For Batman, no crime is unworthy young victims of crime, training service to join the British
of attention, and his greatest regret them to channel their own traumas. army, become a spy for MI5
is that he cannot prevent them all. Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim (Military Intelligence), and,
Acting covertly, he wins allies such Drake, Stephanie Brown, and others later, try his hand as an actor.
as Police Lieutenant James Gordon all serve as junior partner Robin, On the death of his father,
and District Attorney Harvey Dent, prior to solo heroic careers. Batman however, Alfred dutifully
but also seems to attract murderous equips Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), replaces him as Thomas and
madness. Simple criminals are similarly aiding Cassandra Cain Martha Wayne’s butler and
gradually sidelined by homicidal (Orphan), Harper Row (Bluebird), administrator. When they are
maniacs with uniquely themed and Duke Thomas (The Signal). murdered four years later,
motifs and motivations. Always Alfred becomes guardian
tainted by oppressive Doom, His finest work is redeeming the to their young son, Bruce.
Gotham City becomes a playground lost—trying to cure Harvey Dent
for humanity’s most depraved when he becomes lunatic killer A true polymath,
monsters and madmen. Even Two-Face, reforming shapeshifter Pennyworth excels in
Batman’s true love, the exotic thief Clayface, Killer Frost, and deranged combat, medicine, and
Selina Kyle, lives a deadly double metahuman Gotham Girl. His engineering, with little
life as the fearsome Catwoman. greatest success is his own son. compunction about killing to
Damian Wayne is born and raised as serve a greater good. While
For Batman, all crime is personal an assassin by his cult leader mother, supporting Batman’s career,
and every situation is assessed for Talia, and ecoterrorist grandfather, he prays Bruce will abandon
threat potential. He completely trusts Ra¯’s al Ghu¯ l, but chooses to live his dark crusade. Alfred
his allies in the Justice League and with and learn from his father. treats all of Batman’s junior
partners as though they were
Despite creating elite young his own children, showering
Super Heroes and founding many them with the affection
teams, utilizing a council of Batman could not.
consultant criminologists such as
Detective Chimp and Elongated Always supporting the
Man Ralph Dibny, and allying with extended Batman Family,
champions across the universe, in Alfred willingly dies to
the final accounting, Batman only preserve their ideals. He is
ever depends on or risks himself. eliminated by Bane when the
criminal mastermind takes
This failing almost ends creation over Gotham City. Alfred’s
when Darkseid maroons Batman role falls to Wayne Industries
in the Stone Age, where Dark CEO Lucius Fox, who also
Multiverse dragon-god Barbatos shares Batman’s secrets.
infects him with exotic metals.
This “Mantling” transforms Batman,
allowing Barbatos to consume
reality through him, while
unleashing The Batman Who
Laughs and a legion of deviant-
reality alternates. It is conclusive
proof that the Dark Knight is the
most potent, potential-laden
weapon in existence. ■

See Also: World’s Greatest, High Hopes,

Secrets and Identities.

56

LDAIEUGHING

THE JOKER

ON THE RECORD evil on Earth—an undying man Last laugh
devoted to madness, murder, and Life means
REAL NAME the wholehearted destruction nothing to
Undisclosed of every decent human feeling. The Joker.
Dreaded by cops and heroes, he is His atrocities
ALLEGIANCES truly feared by fellow villains who are performed
Legion of Doom, Secret know team-ups with the Clown solely for their
Society of Super-Villains, Prince of Crime tend to end emotional effect
Red Hood Gang abruptly, with a shrill laugh and the on his true
cooling corpses of his allies. audience—
BASE Batman.
Gotham City Object lessons
hair green. Years later, The Joker
ABILITIES Since first plundering Gotham City duplicates the accident to seal his
Resistance to pain, skilled as leader of the Red Hood gang, The hold on his submissive partner-in-
chemist and engineer, Joker has waged war on the city, crime Harley Quinn.
powerful charisma persecuting citizens and relentlessly
stalking its heroes. The only
MISSION verifiable facts are that while
Make ’em laugh … and die. evading Batman, “Red Hood One” is
saturated by toxic spillover at the
STATUS REPORT Ace Chemical Processing Plant,
At large, with Jim Gordon in bleaching his skin and turning his
hot pursuit
I just love large dead crowds.
I n a world of mystery and The Joker
impossible wonders, often
barely clinging to sanity and
logic, the comfort of Super Heroes is
always welcome. However, amazing
powers are of little use when facing
a living incarnation of chaos,
immune to sentiment and devoted
to inflicting pain and terror. The
Joker is the most terrifying force for

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 57

Mad Love

The Joker exerts near-hypnotic acts. After becoming his ardent
charm on those around him. pupil, she embarks on her crazed
His macabre influence has career as Punchline.
warped many exposed to his
depraved sway, but henchmen The most tragic victim of
and minions have learned The Joker’s allure is criminal
far too late the attraction is psychologist Dr. Harleen Quinzel
strictly one way. His most who treated The Joker in
destructive affect is on women Arkham Asylum. Whether
who mistakenly believe that seduced into darkness or
he needs them. liberated from tenuous sanity,
Dr. Quinzel becomes Harley
His most recent convert is Quinn, The Joker’s ever-willing,
Alexis Kaye. A rare survivor of adoring acolyte. She endures
one of his mass atrocities, she abuse and frequent attempts
is obsessed with a supposed on her life until breaking free
metaphysical message in his of The Joker’s abusive control.

He is a living enigma, seeding his Adoring classic comedy and Clown Prince of Crime. His guns
past with false flags and red herrings family fun, The Joker adapts vintage may fire flags instead of bullets.
to obscure his origins. So deep is his practical jokes to his needs—high- Of course, the flags hang from
derangement that he may actually explosive cigars, razor-sharp playing sharpened darts, ejected with the
believe each story. Considering cards, ejector seat Jack-in-the- force and speed of spear guns.
himself a social critic whose comedy boxes, lethal-voltage joy buzzers,
contains a vital message, The Joker and lapel flowers ejecting acid or A true theatrical showman,
steals to pay for his schemes and poison are regular schticks for the The Joker is also an improvisational
ruthlessly targets families as his maestro, gleefully killing bystanders,
natural prey. His primary opponent Die laughing The Joker’s imagination or henchmen who ask questions,
is Batman—a man he considers his and Batman’s resolve merge to create by shoving them into traffic, down
true, but unenlightened, equal. reality’s greatest predator—the Batman elevator shafts, or simply with his
Who Laughs. lavender-gloved hands.
He torments Police Commissioner
Jim Gordon for years, shooting and The absolute antithesis of
paralyzing his daughter, Barbara, Batman, The Joker is a cosmic
and orchestrating the relapse and archetype constantly recurring
death of recovering mental patient across the Multiverse. His madness
James Gordon Jr. The clown’s has literally infected worlds and
proudest moment is brutally killing even resists telepathic cures
Batman’s partner Robin (Jason from heroes such as the Martian
Todd), a feat he has perpetually Manhunter. The power of his
sought to encore, ever since the boy insanity almost erases reality itself
was resurrected to become a new when his personality transforms an
crime-busting Red Hood. alternate-Earth Bruce Wayne into
the deadly Batman Who Laughs.
The Joker’s antisocial mania Combining the gifts of Dark Knight
changes the world as the troubled, and Killer Clown, this deadly
disenfranchised, and disaffected Dark Multiverse composite
adopt his compelling imagery and ruthlessly gathers power until
attitude to authority. Street gangs it is able to destroy cosmic mother
calling themselves Jokerz spring up Perpetua, before finally falling to
all over Earth, growing for decades, the pure might of Justice as wielded
to threaten probable futures in by an ascended, all-powerful
timelines far beyond the present. Wonder Woman. ■

58

CTHATE APMIGOENOGNS

CATWOMAN

ON THE RECORD As feline-themed master thief Surviving on her wits, capable
Catwoman, she plunders at will, but deeply conflicted, Selina cannot
REAL NAME clashing with both Super Heroes and escape her ingrained inclinations
Selina Kyle Super-Villains, world leaders and to champion underdogs. Damaged,
police of many nations. Her exploits dangerously self-destructive, and
AFFILIATIONS lead to countless clashes with thrill-addicted, she easily crosses
Batman Batman, and he soon realizes she is society’s line between hero
unlike his other foes. Preferring not and villain. She is an ethically
BASE to kill, targeting only the rich and unhindered modern-day Robin
Gotham City aiding the downtrodden, Catwoman Hood who, in the end, will always
is every bit his equal. choose freedom. ■
ABILITIES
Master thief, pickpocket, A relatively unchanging Finders keepers
hacker, safecracker, elite archetype in numerous alternate Catwoman has hard
acrobat and martial artist, realities, her origins always involve rules about personal
affinity with felines, early family trauma, abusive fathers, responsibility and
cat-themed gimmicks, whip, and escape from draconian social decent, humane
and weapons service homes and orphanages. behavior but
Selina reinvents herself on the no regard for
MISSION streets, and tales persist of Gotham other people’s
Chasing pretty baubles, City “family” connections—that her property.
getting even true father was mob boss Rex “the
Lion” Calabrese. She is happy to
STATUS REPORT exploit the myth. On many Earths,
Can’t shake an inconvenient her passionate relationship
conscience with Batman results in
partnership, marriage, and a
Selina Kyle is the ultimate daughter carrying on their
survivor, a forceful, resolute, crusading tradition. On pivotal
independent woman with no Earth Prime, “Cat and Bat”
time for legal niceties. Impulsive and navigate a punishing,
bold, she takes what she wants. turbulent romantic life,
The only things she meticulously hungry for marriage but
plans or carefully researches are always pulled apart by his
her spectacular crime-capers. mission and her character.

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 59

LLUARNCATEINCISSTASND

BATMAN FOES

ON THE RECORD Nocturna, Black Spider, and Killer No laughing matter When The Joker
Moth; ambitious or misguided and The Riddler clash, death and
DESIGNATION metahumans such as Killer Croc destruction are the only real winners.
Batman Super-Villains and werewolf Anthony Lupus; aliens;
and monsters like Blockbuster. All recruit muscle from an army
NOTABLE MEMBERS of the insane, including serial killer
The Joker, Harley Quinn, Outwitting murderous Victor Zsasz, brutish Amygdala,
The Riddler, The Penguin, mercenaries like spymaster Colonel The Mad Hatter, Calendar Man,
Mr. Freeze, Two-Face, Sulphur, zealots such as Anarky, thuggish Tweedledum and
Scarecrow, Bane, Poison and world-threatening tyrants like Tweedledee, and costumed
Ivy, Hush Ra¯’s al Ghu¯ l has delivered a simple laughing stocks like Polka Dot Man,
equation—Batman’s recurring Condiment King, and Kite Man.
BASE foes are larcenists, lunatics,
Gotham City miscreants, or madmen. Oswald Sadly, specialized-motif bandits
“The Penguin” Cobblepot is a like Clue Master or Signalman
MISSION mentally stable but cruel villain, seeking to prove themselves against
Get rich, commit crimes, dominating Gotham City as a Batman are utterly outnumbered
terrify, kill Batman “Gentleman of Crime,” fending off by genuine menaces to society—
constant threats from regular obsessed maniacs Bane, Two-Face,
STATUS REPORT gangsters and deranged the Scarecrow, Hugo Strange, Hush,
Evil never sleeps masterminds like Roman “Black and The Riddler, as well as victims-
Mask” Sionis and self-proclaimed turned-villains such as Mr. Freeze
F or many, Gotham City emits god Maxie Zeus. and Poison Ivy. Of course, truly
an irresistible siren’s call. sane criminals simply opt to
Fabulously wealthy, weakly This ends today! operate elsewhere, preferably in
governed, and mired in corruption, Batman cities that don’t possess costumed
it offers boundless opportunity to heroes of their own. ■
entrepreneurial career criminals. For
a rare few, it also promises challenge
and inspiration. The avowed
protectorate of the Dark Knight
calls them like moths to a flame.

Although his true prey is thieves
and murderers, Batman has battled
hundreds of enhanced felons like

60

AAMMAAZZIONNG

WONDER WOMAN

ON THE RECORD Is all war without honor now? child on the island, schooled by wise
Wonder Woman women and legendary warriors like
REAL NAME Antiope, Nubia, Philippus, Castalia,
Princess Diana super-women, Princess Diana Epione, and others. She believes
rescues fallen warrior Steve Trevor, she is a being of clay, brought
ALLEGIANCES returning him to the outer world to life by magic.
Justice League, Justice and promoting Amazon ways by
League Dark defending truth, liberty, honor, and This is a lie
justice. This occurs during World designed to
BASE War II as the Age of Heroes opens, preserve her life.
Washington, DC; Boston, but subsequent time-shifts reposition In truth, Diana is
Massachusetts; formerly the moment. What never changes a demigod
Themyscira are the soldier she comes to love, daughter
the desperate need of the embattled of Zeus.
POWERS civilization she joins, and her destiny
Super-strength, speed, as part of a Super Heroic trinity that Armed for
durability, endurance, flight, determines the fate of universes. Justice
Amazon warrior training, Equipped with
weapons of the gods Eternal warrior weapons of the
gods, Diana
MISSION On Earth Prime, Diana is born on seeks peaceful
Spreading truth, justice, Themyscira, an island sanctuary for solutions before
and compassion Amazons and a prison where they unleashing hell
guard divine penitentiary Tartarus, on humanity’s
STATUS REPORT holding monsters and disgraced enemies.
Rejected ascension to war-god Ares. Diana is the only
defend humanity

W onder Woman is a
Multiversal archetype,
endlessly reinvented
across realities and timelines.
Details of her origin change, but
key factors are immutable. Paragon
of an ancient race of mythological

Following her seduction by Zeus, Fight and flight JUSTICE OR DOOM? 61
Amazon queen Hippolyta gives birth The Invisible Jet is
to twins and sends male Jason away a wonder of techno- Donna Troy, is later revealed as an
to be raised by immortal argonaut mystical engineering Amazonian construct of magically
Glaucus. These precautions prevent but no match for Wonder animated clay, created to police
Zeus’s notoriously jealous wife, Hera, Woman’s godly speed. Diana’s actions should she ever
from destroying the children. go rogue. The second is Cassie
most unique tools Sandsmark. Ostensibly human,
When Trevor is to be returned to are her Tiara, she is another daughter of Zeus.
modern civilization, Diana defeats all Bracelets, and Both carve out solo careers and join
other Amazons in open competition, thought-controlled the Teen Titans and Young Justice.
winning an arsenal of incredible Invisible Jet. All are The most recent hero to use the name
tools to aid her mission in taking constructed from is Yara Flor, who leaves her home
him home. Many are god-weapons extra-Multiversal in the Amazon to fight for justice.
such as the Sword of Hephaestus Eighth Metal—which Themyscirans Other Amazons also find adventure
and the Lasso of Truth—which call “Amazonium”—and are in the outer world, including
compels all who touch it to tell the primarily defensive aids. Outsider warrior Grace Choi and
truth. She also gains legendary In America, Diana quickly Artemis, the Wonder Woman
artifacts like the shield of Amazon becomes a potent force for change, of a breakaway Amazon colony.
queen Alcippe. Wonder Woman’s lending her name to charities and
good causes, working beside Diana’s destiny is ultimately
Trevor in A.R.G.U.S., and joining revealed as creation totters on
other Super Heroes to form the the edge of extinction. When the
Justice League. Battling gods, Multiverse’s 20-billion-year program
monsters, aliens, tyrants, and to form ascended beings results in
Super-Villains, Wonder Woman Perpetua and The Batman Who
makes firm friends such as Laughs dueling for control of reality,
Lieutenant Commander Etta Candy Wonder Woman defeats both by
and historian Barbara Ann Minerva embracing true nobility and forgiving
and inspires women everywhere. them. For this act, she is elevated to a
Wonder Woman is the inspiration higher form and offered a position in
for other strong female heroes. Three the metaphysical Quintessence. True
use the title Wonder Girl. The first, to her nature, she refuses the honor
and is reborn in the Sphere of the
Gods to seek out new adventures
across infinite frontiers. ■

The Cheetah

Called in by Etta Candy to failed and abandoned her, the
translate mysterious archaic Cheetah develops a pathological
speech, archaeologist Barbara hatred of all deities. Using the
Anne Minerva befriends Diana Eighth-Metal God Killer Sword
after the Amazon first leaves given to her by Apex Lex Luthor,
Themyscira. Growing close and with her claws dipped in the
while learning of each other’s Tear of Extinction (one of Seven
worlds, things change when Hidden Forces of Existence),
Minerva is transformed into a she kills Poseidon and Aphrodite,
savage feline avatar—bride of and destroys the Graveyard
blood-hungry god Urzkartaga. of the Gods, unleashing the
anti-magical Void Wind.
After turning to crime, she
is eventually cured, but the When offered a chance to
Cheetah’s influence always reclaim her humanity, Minerva
overwhelms Minerva’s rejects the offer and vanishes to
humanity. Feeling that Diana carve out her own bloody path.

62

GCRREEDENENTIALS

EARTH’S GREEN LANTERNS

ON THE RECORD countering natural Green star Hal
disasters. The Jordan is one of the
REAL NAMES organization greatest Green
Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, comprises brave, Lanterns—and was
John Stewart, Guy Gardner, honest heroes once their leader.
Kyle Rayner, Simon Baz, from every
Jessica Cruz species— Earth attracts
from living countless dangerous
BASE planets to sentient radio waves. races, fully occupying
Earth, New Oa, Mogo They employ rings harnessing the successive Sector
green light of will—the central and officers and
ALLEGIANCES most stable component of the indigenous Super
Green Lantern Corps, powerful Emotional Spectrum. Heroes like Alan
Justice League, Guardians Scott. In 1940, Scott
of the Universe Despite its inherently unstable, discovers an ancient
troubled nature, Earth in Sector 2814 Green Lantern
POWERS (of 3600) never produces a Green bestowing fantastic
Power rings provide Lantern. This is because the powers. Battling crime
protection, flight, strategic Guardians of the Universe secretly and injustice for decades,
information, transportation, safeguard the source of creation deep Scott learns his power
energy constructs, and within the planet and wish to divert source is the Starheart—
a universal translator attention in every way possible. a condensation of
primordial magic sealed
MISSION Light ’em up!. away by the Oans
Enforcing order, saving lives Guy Gardner millennia previously.
He passes on this
STATUS REPORT mystic might to his daughter,
Not all ring-wielders are Jennifer-Lynn Hayden—aka Jade—
legitimate or worthy who follows in his footsteps.
Due to mystic terrorists the Five
F or over three billion years, Inversions, Green Lantern Abin Sur
the Green Lantern Corps
have policed the known
universe, curbing conquest, colonial
expansionism, and petty evil, or

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 63

his tragic overconfidence causing Moreover, Green power is not

the obliteration of planet Xanshi. exclusive. Human criminals Bill

Trained by elite operative Thaal Baggett and Black Hand devise

Sinestro, Jordan is arguably the many ways to steal it, and Keli

greatest Green Lantern ever but Quintela hacks the power to become

almost causes the organization’s Young Justice warrior Teen Lantern.

eradication. Possessed by Parallax— Latterly, valiant child Tai Pham

the embodiment of Fear—Jordan inherits the title Green Lantern

destroys the Corps and Guardians, to protect Coast City.

seeking to reorder reality before “last The heroism and efficacy of

Green Lantern” Kyle Rayner restarts Earthlings is legendary across the

the organization. Deputizing Jade universe. Some humans have even

as a GL, Rayner spearheads a Corps been Green Lanterns to other

resurgence and later hosts Ion, the worlds. Charlie Vicker initially seeks

Criminal acts Lantern Mullein’s simple Entity of Will. In his wake, Earth and vengeance for a murdered brother
murder mystery escalates into a crisis
threatening three civilized species. Sector 2814 are controversially but ends up as Green Lantern of

fatally crashes on Earth. As per Corps handed over to cadet Lanterns Simon Sector 3319, perishing in battle
protocols, he passes on the ring and
role to a worthy successor. The ring Baz (a Muslim unjustly accused of against Darkseid’s son Grayven,
chooses test pilot Hal Jordan because
he is closest. The other candidate is terrorist acts) and Jessica Cruz (an while human detective
Guy Gardner, who will eventually be
the Guardians’ third representative anxiety-afflicted former villain). Sojourner Mullein
on Earth, but only after terrific pain
and hardship. Before his time comes, Both rise to the challenge In is mysteriously
architect and former marine John brightest day,
Stewart carries the burden, enduring and excel in the job. in blackest night, seconded to the
loss and crushing guilt in the form of They are not the only infamous but
his murdered wife Katma Tui and No evil shall escape
Earth-based recruits. my sight, prestigious
When the Corps is first Far Sector to
decimated, survivors Let those who worship solve a string
Katma Tui, Ch’p, Arisia evil’s might of murders,
Rrab, Salaak, and the first the
Kilowog join Jordan, Beware my power, city of 20 billion
Stewart, and Gardner there Green Lantern’s has seen in five
light!

until rebuilding began. centuries. ■

Sinestro and the Antimatter Universe

Thaal Sinestro of Korugar He is ignominiously assigned
craves order and pursues to protect Earth, but when the
power to enforce it. Originally Guardians catastrophically fail
a revered Green Lantern, to eradicate galactic free will,
he ruthlessly pacifies his he rebels, killing many of them,
Sector and is banished to the before being vanquished again.
Antimatter universe, where the
Weaponers of Qward create a When the Dark Multiverse
yellow power ring, tapping the invades reality and Cosmic
Emotional Spectrum frequency Originator Perpetua breaks
of Fear. Mass-producing the free of the Source Wall, Sinestro
rings, Sinestro forms his own abandons the Emotional
corps of terrorists. But despite Spectrum, mastering instead
dominating and absorbing the the soul-destroying, anti-
Fear entity Parallax, Sinestro emotional power of the
is once again defeated and Ultraviolet spectrum. More
forcibly inducted back into powerful than ever, he resumes
the Green Lantern Corps. his quest for control with the
pitiless Legion of Doom.

64

TMHAENFAALSIVTEEST

THE FLASH

ON THE RECORD Every second is a gift. Flash facts
Barry Allen
REAL NAME Arguably the greatest hero to
Barry Allen the Speed Force. These Multiversal assume the name is Barry Allen,
agents regularly convene in a a police forensic scientist struck by
OTHER SPEEDSTERS Hall of Heroes—an agency acting lightning and drenched in chemicals
Jay Garrick, Wally West, in unison across the Multiverse
Bart Allen, Max Mercury, to preserve reality and life. Earth in his own lab. His life
Wallace West, August Heart, Prime is blessed with many hyper- shaped by tragedies
Avery Ho, Iris Allen (II) swift defenders over the years, engineered by a time-
many sharing a proud and noble traveling enemy of
AFFILIATIONS name—The Flash. Scientist Jay
Justice League, CCPD Garrick invents the role in whom he is completely
the years before World War II,
BASE fighting criminals, Super-Villains, Monarchs of
Central City and global tyranny. motion Barry Allen
scientifically quantifies the
POWERS Garrick discovers that he has a nature of hyper-velocity, while his
Super-speed, bodily secretive predecessor, a cavalry protégé Wally West masters its
molecular control, Speed scout touched by the Speed metaphysical spirit.
Force connection Force in 1838, who took many
identities as the decades
MISSION pass. Settling in the 20th
Helping however he can century as Max Mercury, he
reveals the workings of the
STATUS REPORT Speed Force to Garrick.
Still not fast enough to
save everyone

T hroughout the Multiverse,
heroic speedsters defend
52 Earths in individual
universes. No matter how bizarre,
every reality in the Orrery of Worlds
has at least one being connected to

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 65

Barry and Iris eventually regain
memories of previous lives, while
Wally regains the children, Iris and
Jai, he had lost to time-shifts and
adapts to a new, younger Wallace
West using his Kid Flash title.

China has a Flash named Avery
Ho, and Barry’s best friend August
Heart (Godspeed) is one of many
touched by a Speed Force storm.
Rapid change is part of a speedster’s
life and adaptation to new shocks
becomes second nature, but in
a world of Infinite Frontiers,
everything happens in a flash. ■

The Rogues Like most Super
Heroes, The Flash has a coterie
of regular superpowered foes, but
unlike Superman’s globe-conquering
enemies or Batman’s deadly villains,
the majority are thieves.

Legacy of lightning All Multiversal Earths, West reluctantly steps into Captain Heat Wave Golden
realities owe their continued existence his boots as the third Flash and Cold Glider
to the valiant service of The Flash’s exceeds all expectations.
extensive extended family. Mirror Weather The
Blessed with an instinctive Master Wizard Trickster
unaware, Allen reinvents the role feel for and understanding of the
of The Flash (Garrick’s version is Speed Force, West uncovers its Murmur Gorilla Abra
a childhood comic book hero on spiritual component and explores Grodd Kadabra
Allen’s world) to help others while its deepest mysteries—including
also working to solve his mother’s its function as a Valhalla for Dr. Captain Big Sir
mysterious murder. speedsters. He defeats its grim Alchemy Boomerang
reaper The Black Flash and returns
Allen tirelessly battles countless to the living world thanks to the Tar Pit Girder Rainbow
foes, repeatedly saving the universe. love of his wife, Linda Park. Wally Raider
He seemingly dies saving the also mentors Barry’s grandson Bart,
Multiverse, only to be later who graduates from infuriating,
resurrected. Eventually, he discovers impatient sidekick Impulse to a
that his existence has been fourth Flash who dies proudly
overwritten and blighted by Eobard defending the family legacy.
Thawne, a deranged fan from a
possible future who incessantly Speed Force users are highly
changes history to interact with and susceptible to time and reality
outdo the subject of his obsession. alterations, but The Flash concept
itself is a Multiversal archetype that
During Allen’s career, his is constantly recreated. It reoccurs
impossible accident repeats itself, across alternate realities and
bestowing super-speed on Wally always empowering valiant
West, the young nephew of his individuals through the cosmic
fiancée, Iris West. As Kid Flash, energy of the Speed Force.
Wally carves out his own legend,
singly and with the Teen Titans. As history changes, Flashes are
When “Uncle Barry” apparently edited out and return to reality—
perishes during the Crisis on Infinite resurrected, reimagined, and
augmented by newer iterations.

66

KSEINVGENOFSETAHSE

AQUAMAN

ON THE RECORD The sea gives … and the with lighthouse keeper Tom Curry
sea takes. of Amnesty Bay, Maine. They have a
REAL NAME Aquaman son together, but she is forcibly
Arthur Curry returned to Atlantis to wed King
Rife with natural and mystic forces, Orvax and deliver an heir—Orm.
ALLEGIANCES these seas conceal Earth’s most
Justice League, The Others ancient and powerful civilization. Her firstborn grows up to be
extraordinary. Proudly embracing
BASE Atlantis begins 45,000 years his human side, Arthur Curry
Amnesty Bay, Maine ago and even its catastrophic develops incredible abilities and a
submersion does not destroy it. profound appreciation of fairness
POWERS Survivors adapt, inhabiting distinct and justice. Amphibian, with a body
Enhanced senses/physiology “Seven Seas” realms—Dagon, The adapted to deep-sea conditions, he
adapted to subsea pressures; Brine, The Wights, Sea Lights, can communicate with sea life and
amphibious; telepathic Deserters, The Trench, and Xebel, drifts into a career of Super Heroism,
communion with sea life; which rests within the Bermuda battling ordinary thieves and bizarre
connection to lifeweb; Triangle. This latter realm is a foes such as The Fisherman,
Poseidon’s trident historic Atlantean penal colony;
many of its bellicose inhabitants Storm
MISSION possess hydrokinetic powers, warning
Mediating between surface wielding water as a weapon. Poseidon’s
and undersea worlds trident allows
Advanced in science and Aquaman to
STATUS REPORT sorcery, Atlantis shuns surface control waves
Former king of Atlantis, now civilizations, until Princess Atlanna and weather
guardian of all oceans rebels against arranged marriage. with the
Fleeing upward, she falls in love power of
E arth’s oceans are one vast an angry
interlinked medium god.
sustaining life. The entire
process of planetary population
began in the seas, its waters
supporting life from microorganisms
to gods—mostly beyond the notice
of surface-dwelling humanity.

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 67

Ancient kingdom When the continent
of Atlantis sank, it broke into sections.
Unlike its six other cities, the fortified
capital remains largely intact as it
settles across a huge crevasse.

Farms

Royal City of Atlantis
Treasury Royal palace, civic
Manufacturing buildings, “Crown of
levels Thorns” dome, homes
of lesser nobility

Global guardian Aquaman enjoys the to destroy the surface world but Pradoreis Old
trust of the World’s Greatest Super is defeated and deposed by Arthur. Triage Library of
Heroes above and below the waves. A reluctant king who loathes Center Atlantis
tradition and politics, Arthur is soon Largely
Scavenger, King Shark, Marine replaced by deranged King Rath, ceremonial
Marauder, and pitiless, revenge- but after ending his threat, the and mostly
crazed modern pirate Black Manta. hero-king orchestrates his own abandoned
removal in favor of literally anyone
Strange crew else. Ultimately, the position falls Medicinal Prison Cove
to Mera, who masters motherhood, Cove Health Specialist
Commanding armies of aquatic world-saving, and political intrigue and emergency detention
creatures, Aquaman ensures that with deft skill, to rule Atlantis. compound facilities
justice is done and the seas’ health
is preserved with international Aquaman’s destiny has no Tower of the Penitentiary
renegades “the Others.” He is a room for kingship. Connected to Widowhood Vault
founding member of the Justice Earth’s morphogenetic lifeweb, School Political
League and works with government he communes with sea gods and center housing
agencies and outlaw eco-activists fundamental forces on planes the city’s
such as the Sea Devils whenever such as the Unspoken Waters and historical secrets
the oceans are threatened. Celestial Isthmus. Inheriting the
mighty Trident of Neptune, he Ninth Tride
Arthur constantly mentors young clashes over jurisdiction with Lowest level, slums,
heroes. The first is Atlantean outcast elemental parliaments and their illegal immigrants
Garth, the original Aqualad, who avatar Swamp Thing.
develops into the magic-wielding Subsea floor
Titan known as Tempest. Arthur Aquaman is a border guard, Resting on
also trains human/Xebelian hybrid a channel for planetary life forces lava-filled domain
Jackson Hyde (son of Black Manta), and a living bridge between many of Fire Trolls
Orm’s half-sister Tula, a skilled “Drift” worlds: ancient and modern, dry and
commando dubbed Aquagirl, and wet, privileged and commonplace.
mute Atlantean mutant, Dolphin. Throughout it all he remains a Super
Arthur’s greatest ally is his wife, Hero dedicated to saving all Earth’s
Mera, a Xebel queen who abandons occupants and a simple man who
duty to save lives and find love. considers Amnesty Bay his true
home—a quiet, peaceful place
Aquaman’s greatest foe is half where land and sky meet the sea. ■
brother Orm. As “Ocean Master”
and King of Atlantis, he attempts See Also: World’s Greatest

68

FHREOARMTTHE

GREEN ARROW

ON THE RECORD to a nebulous crime organization and Funded through tech-subsidiary
REAL NAME his father, Robert, is highly placed in Q-Core, Queen turns his traumatic
the ancient war-cult the Arrow Clan. experiences into a Super Hero
Oliver Jonas “Ollie” Queen career unlike any other. Using
AFFILIATIONS/ As a young man, Oliver is the money and gadgets to offset his
ALLEGIANCES embodiment of the spoiled rich brat: human capabilities, Green Arrow
Justice League of America, a drunken wild child ruining every seems unbeatable, even drawing
Black Canary, Arrow Clan chance to turn his life around. attention from the US government
BASE Change comes only after his actions support agency A.R.G.U.S. and the
Star City, Seattle cause the destruction of a Pacific oil
ABILITIES rig he is using for parties. When
Master archer and martial terrorists attack the rig, the cocky
artist, employs variety of playboy tries fighting them off,
technologically modified causing the explosive death of
arrowheads everybody except his best friend
MISSION Tommy Merlyn. Thanks to a tragic
Champion of the poor sacrifice, Queen escapes and
and weak washes up on a desolate island.
STATUS REPORT He lives there for a year, surviving
Reassessing his worth, but appalling hardship and privation.
never his goals After Oliver is rescued, he returns
to discover that he has inherited the
family’s billion-dollar company.

R aised in staggering opulence Eyes on the prize
and luxury, Oliver Queen Green Arrow spared no
grows up hearing his effort to make his mark
father’s tales of Robin Hood while as a Super Hero.
being trained by him to fight and use
a bow. The boy has no conception
that his parents both live secret
lives. His mother, Moira, has links

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 69

Arrow allies

Despite his rabblerousing, Super Hero Black Canary, who
charismatic Oliver Queen is Green Arrow’s partner in
makes invaluable allies easily. love as well as war.
After a fractious partnership
with Roy Harper (Speedy/ Perhaps the most efficient
Arsenal), Oliver recruits a of his crime-fighting comrades
succession of technical is Emiko Queen, daughter of
advisors to backstop his Robert Queen and elite assassin
missions—the longest lasting Shado. A half sister of whom
being hacker Henry Fyff. Oliver was completely unaware,
This distanced assistance is Emiko was raised in secret by
balanced in the field by their father’s financial protégé
ex-Green Beret John Diggle, Simon Lecroix (aka Super-Villain
who joins Oliver’s army after Komodo). In time, Emiko goes
working as a Queen Industries from a murderous enemy, to
bodyguard, and latterly Ollie’s reluctant sidekick Speedy,
indomitable street-fighting before ultimately agreeing to be
his partner Red Arrow.

Justice League. However, although streets together. Harper, a genius back other allies he had driven off.
his impetuous behavior belies a technologist, invents countless He finds true love with Black Canary
keen mind and tactical brilliance, weapons and devices, enabling them and earns the respect of the Justice
it is buried behind an obnoxious to tackle any metahuman menace. League but cannot overcome his
manner that makes many traditional greatest flaw. He is a creature of
Super Heroes deeply uncomfortable. The nonstop adventure and two worlds: equally and hopelessly
enlightened perspective transform drawn toward both the allure of
Queen is also oblivious to the the dilettante Super Hero into a glittering civilization and the
financial chicanery of his late father’s passionate defender of the poor and irresistible call of the wild. ■
board and advisors. Eventually he disenfranchised, but, despite saving
is swindled out of his fortune—but his city from a string of disasters— Take aim Ollie’s daughter, Emiko, was
it does not stop his crusade. many caused by the secret sins of deadly with a bow long before becoming
his family—Oliver’s uncompromising the new Red Arrow.
Call of the wild nature quickly alienates his allies.

Within a year of his debut, Green After years of service, and
Arrow encounters runaway street- earning himself a vast gallery of
kid Roy Harper after the drug- murderous archenemies, Oliver
dependent hacker pulls off a brilliant discovers his greatest threat is from
cyber-attack on Queen Industries. his family. His father has not died
Soon they are bringing justice to the but covertly retreated to Asia to lead
the Arrow Clan, sparking a deadly
If you wanna save the world… war between rival cults. When
it’s gotta be all you have! Robert truly dies, he leaves behind
Green Arrow daughter Emiko, who is raised by
his enemy Komodo to destroy the
Queen line and all its achievements.

Determined and ferociously
impassioned, Oliver overcomes
all obstacles, deprogramming
Emiko and making her his partner.
Champion of the poor and weak,
Green Arrow reconciles with
Harper before his death and wins

70

DOAFUKGRHYTPETRON

SUPERGIRL

ON THE RECORD In misguided attempts to Happy now
prevent planetary extinction, Kara makes
REAL NAME Zor adapts space marauder sure her tragic
Kara Zor-El, Kara Danvers Brainiac’s technologies— past will never
fortifying Argo with force consume her
AFFILIATIONS/ fields while gene engineering aspirations of
ALLEGIANCES superpowered Worldkiller a bright future
House of El, Justice League Defense bioweapons. for all.
United, D.E.O. His growing extremism
eventually alienates his wife, Tragically,
BASE Alura In-Ze, and their daughter. her ship goes
National City into a decades-
A brilliant scholar, skilled long orbit around
POWERS martial artist, and dutiful citizen the sun, and Kara
Solar-fueled Kryptonian with immense potential, Kara is reaches Earth
physiology generating preparing for her graduation trials only after Kal has
super-strength, speed, flight, and babysitting her infant cousin become an adult.
invulnerability, enhanced Kal-El when Zor convinces her to Awaking confused and somehow
senses, heat vision, freeze visit him. He overpowers her and super-energized, the bereft but still
breath, energy projection seals her in stasis, in a space pod teenaged Kara lashes out at
programmed to follow the route everyone around her—particularly
MISSION baby Kal-El takes to the Sol system. the stranger who wears her family
Protecting the universe crest, claims to be her baby cousin,
I don’t understand this world. and insists they are the last survivors
STATUS REPORT … I don’t know if I ever will. of the House of El and Krypton.
Struggling to balance a lost
past with her unfolding Supergirl Gradually, Kara adapts to life
future on Earth, but the process is slow
and painful. Unlike patronizing
A rgo City resident Kara cousin Kal—who thinks and feels
Zor-El is 15 years old
when her father, radical
biologist Zor-El, starts to share
his younger brother Jor-El’s belief
that Krypton is dying.

like a native human—“Supergirl” her being briefly possessed by JUSTICE OR DOOM? 71
grew up on Krypton and remains a fury-fueling Red Lantern ring
true to its ideals and cultural mores. Eventually, with her powers Who’s a good boy?
malfunctioning, Kara returns
Krypton factor to Earth and becomes a ward Across the Multiverse, many
of the Department of Extranormal examples of Kryptonian
Kara’s first years on Earth are Operations. Appointed as her fauna escapes the planet’s
bewildering and often bitterly cover family, agents Jeremiah detonation—life-saving
disappointing, with many trying to and Eliza Danvers gradually Rondors, Thought-Beasts,
exploit or kill her. Only after clashing become true parents to the now flying Drangs, and more.
with Kryptonian survivors such as fully adjusted young Super Hero, The most celebrated animal
time-lost clone H’El, Phantom Zone and even a succession of Super- survivor is Krypto, a dog
criminals like Xa-Du, and her own Villains cannot dispel Supergirl’s devoted to the House of El.
father, who escaped Krypton’s doom enjoyment in a life of service.
to become Brainiac’s enslaved lab Loyal, brave, and very
animal Cyborg Superman, do her This all changes when the smart, he has lived with
opinions shift. Meeting other girls Kryptonian survivors of bottled Kal-El’s Kryptonian and
like herself is crucial to this Kandor are murdered by monstrous Earth families, romped with
assimilation. Kara’s Earth-2 terror Rogol Zaar, a mysterious alien Superboy (Jon Kent), and
counterpart Power Girl, young female claiming to have caused Krypton’s joined Supergirl’s quest to
allies in Justice League United, doom and resolved to eradicate avenge Krypton. During the
and fellow students in intergalactic every remaining survivor. Death Metal crisis, Krypto’s
Super Hero school the Crucible all influence even redeems the
contribute to her change of heart. Accompanied by Super-Dog deranged Superboy-Prime.
Krypto, Kara relentlessly pursues
A redeeming new perspective the mass murderer across space, On many alternate Earths,
comes only after a grim low ultimately uncovering a vast a monkey also survives.
point when the lonely, isolated, conspiracy. Her mission not only “Beppo” later allies with
constantly embattled Kara writhes succeeds in bringing the culprits Krypto, a cat named Streaky,
in survivors’ guilt. This manifests to justice but is also instrumental and a magical Super-Horse in
as all-consuming rage, leading to in the formation of the United an alliance that extends into
the future and other Earths.
Planets federation. They become a self-aware,
Weary but time-traveling Legion of
Super-Pets safeguarding
triumphant, Kara’s past, present, and future.
return to Earth sees On Earth Prime, these
her acclaimed a global fabulous beasts are
champion, but she augmented in contemporary
is drawn into the war times by Robin’s menagerie,
against Perpetua and including Bat-Hound Ace and
infected by Dark the uncanny Batcow.
Multiverse energy—
transformed into one
of the Batman Who
Laughs’ corrupted
Secret Six. However,
even this blight is
ultimately overcome
by Krypton’s most
resolute survivor. ■

Inner demons When
Kara intercepts a toxin
intended for Superman,
it helps unleash her
suppressed fury.

72

SLIPGAHRTKTHE

BLACK LIGHTNING

ON THE RECORD This is the street. My street! When one of his students is
Black Lightning murdered and displayed as an object
REAL NAME lesson by drug dealers, Pierce can no
Jefferson Pierce him from his goal of being the best longer ignore the horrors around him
he can be. An inspirational athlete and turns to old friend Peter Gambi
ALLEGIANCES and dedicated student, he turns for help.
The Outsiders, Justice scholarship into college sports
League of America stardom and wins Olympic gold Power up
in the decathlon before turning Black Lightning
BASE his back on the wealth and never forgets his
Metropolis, Brick City, fame his successes promise. primary mission is to
Freeland bring shining hope to society’s most
Shock treatment benighted and downtrodden souls.
POWERS
Olympic-level decathlete; Pierce is compelled to help
generates electrical blasts; others achieve better, safer lives.
force fields; limited flight; Training as a teacher, he works
enhanced speed, strength, across America before returning to
and durability his old neighborhood, only to find
that it is now a deprived urban
MISSION warzone, mere miles from America’s
Saving the people, crushing wealthiest and safest streets.
street crime Poor neighborhoods are exploited
by crooked politicians, ignored by
STATUS REPORT local government, and brutalized
Super Hero elder statesman by crime gangs like The 100.

J efferson Pierce grows up
in poverty in Metropolis’s
Southside district, Suicide
Slum, but escapes a potential life of
crime or early death thanks to hard
work, a supportive family, and sheer
determination. Even the murder of
his journalist father cannot deter

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 73

Original Outsiders

The Outsiders are Batman’s The team is highly volatile
first team of “off-the-books” and frequently implodes,
investigators. Katana, with the name falling to other
Metamorpho, and Black fringe Super Hero teams such
Lightning are allied with newer as a preemptive strike unit led
heroes Halo, Geo-Force, and by Nightwing and Arsenal.
Looker to work under the radar,
probing mysteries outside Later, Batman reclaims the
the remit of the Justice League designation for a specialized
and beyond America’s borders. squad comprising his protégés
Years later, it is revealed that Orphan and The Signal,
Batman also used them newcomer Sophia Ramos,
to examine incidences of and elite assassin Lady Shiva.
unearthly metal incursions, Led by Black Lightning, they
in his opening gambit to hunt and are stalked in turn
defeat the dread Multiversal by the League of Assassins,
invader Barbatos. before their independence
from the Dark Knight.

Gambi is a reformed underworld his metagene, which is also carried Education during the magnate’s
armorer and convinces Pierce to by his daughters, Anissa and brief tenure as American President.
become an inspirational symbol Jennifer. Gambi’s gadgets and
to combat the criminals ruling technologies are initially used In recent times, Black Lightning
the streets. To protect his wife, to draw out, refine, and enhance has emerged from semi-retirement
children, and students, Pierce Pierce’s powers, but eventually to train a new generation of Super
devises the role of an urban Black Lightning masters his innate Heroes assembled by Batman. It’s a
vigilante hunting drug pushers and gifts to become a terrible foe of task force brought together to end
their gangster boss Tobias Whale. organized crime. His crusade draws the threat of immortal eco-terrorist
Pierce takes his name—Black the attention of A-list Super Heroes, Ra¯’s al Ghu¯ l. To the astonishment
Lightning— from a homily that but Black Lightning declines an of many, Black Lightning is one of
Gambi displays on his workshop. offer to join the Justice League in very few people the Dark Knight
favor of staying local and street ever consults with as an equal. ■
Justice, like level. Eventually, he does enlist
lightning, but prefers working with Batman’s Teachable moments Despite different
should ever covert team The Outsiders, which backgrounds and heroic styles, Batman
he eventually leads. and Black Lightning know they can
appear learn much from each other.
to some men On many Earths and despite
frequent reality revisions, Pierce
hope, remains largely unchanged—a bold,
to other men uncompromising force for personal
improvement and social change
fear. in both civilian and costumed
identities. For Black Lightning,
Gambi’s past connections to no crime is too small and no cry
Super-Villains provide weapons for help can remain unanswered.
granting Pierce electrical-based
powers such as lightning blasts and While battling injustice hands
force fields. Pierce has no idea his on, and growing into a mentor
powers are actually natural—due to to heroes and spokesperson for
Black America, Pierce makes a
devil’s bargain with Lex Luthor.
He becomes Luthor’s Secretary of

74

TGHREEAWTOESRTLD’S

JUSTICE LEAGUE

ON THE RECORD Every enemy of civilization knows Heroes
the Justice League are humanity’s forever
DESIGNATION first and final line of defense. No matter
Justice League how many
Distilled from a long tradition of times realty
FOUNDING MEMBERS individualism and heroic self-reliance, changes,
Superman, Batman, Wonder Earth’s
Woman, The Flash, Green Pull it together, League! Greatest
Lantern, Aquaman, Martian Superman Heroes
Manhunter, Cyborg always
unite as
BASE the Justice
Hall of Justice, formerly League.
Watchtower, Secret
Sanctuary, Happy Harbor, the League is the bedrock of an Age
Rhode Island of Heroes that technically begins with
the Justice Society of America and
SANCTIONED SUBSIDIARIES All-Star Squadron in the 1940s.
Justice League Dark, Justice When invasive transdimensional
League Elite, Justice League meddling removes the JSA from
of America (Batman’s), history, that era is delayed for
Justice League International decades, finally restarting when
newly emergent, regional Super
T he Justice League is the Heroes unite against alien invaders
foremost Super Hero team in from militaristic Appellax.
existence. Governments on
Earth and other worlds seek their Justice for all
aid, as do champions from the past,
future, and alternate realities. An indomitable bulwark against
Heroes hunger to join their ranks— extinction-level threats, the Justice
and are always welcomed—while League consists of dedicated
Super-Villains building reputations volunteers, champions battling
or clearing pathways to global
domination challenge them.

for all humanity. Membership is Apokoliptian tyrant Darkseid. Later JUSTICE OR DOOM? 75
inclusive, welcoming, and constantly restoration of original chronology
changing, but anonymous agents partially turns back time, but always the valiantly benevolent Justice
beyond government oversight are the core principle remains rock- League of Earth Prime and other
deeply mistrusted by Earth’s solid—extraordinary threats planes. These dark paragons
military leaders and political rulers. demand a combined response propagate and export a doctrine of
Moreover, public notoriety and and a League will always answer. evil and selfishness to shake the
covert scrutiny exact high prices on heavens and endanger all life
champions who live ordinary lives Crucial players across the across the Multiverse. ❯❯
when not in action. Eternal battles Multiverse, the League are a focal
against madmen like Doctor Destiny point for every continuity-blip and
and Professor Ivo, alien attacks, and realignment. Founding rosters
armies of barely cooperating but still change and initiating details are
deadly Super-Villains spark dissent. fluid, but the necessary formation of
Internal stresses trigger frequent a union to counter doom, injustice,
resignations and, after another destruction, and despondency never
offworld invasion, the League wavers. Always the League is there,
formally disbands. After the generating hope and ensuring
destruction of the JL Satellite, a new security while safeguarding
JL forms in Detroit. Consisting of the dominant principles of
former JL members and newcomers a myriad of universes.
seeking to address human-scale
problems, this short-lived League In one universe, however,
are decimated during the Crisis on vicious, evil counterparts who
Infinite Earths and, in the aftermath, are every iota as potent and
a United Nations–backed Justice forceful prosper: an unbeatable
League International is constituted Crime Syndicate acting as a
to undertake goal-specific missions necessary cosmic balance to
dictated by political authorities.
Paragons of power The
Time-shifts such as Flashpoint Justice League founders
alter history, and strangely similar are cosmic archetypes,
wonders now unite against endlessly reinvented across
the Multiverse.

Alternate Leagues

Variant Leagues manifest on compared to the dark mirror
countless divergent Earths, of the antimatter universe
modified to accommodate the and Earth-3.
physical dictates and history of
each. In the fairy realm of Goth, In realms where evil is
a disparate band of magical the dominant philosophy, a
entities form around the “last dark anti-archetypal trinity
son of Crypton” to punish the comprising Ultraman, Owlman,
wicked and end war. and Superwoman (pictured)
ride roughshod over super-
Fragile-formed “Elseworlds” powered analogues of Earth’s
in potential realities birth champions. They ruthlessly
astounding variations. Scientific crush hope, exploit the weak,
utopias, Wild-West landscapes, and constantly seek to expand
and barely recognizable lands of into other realities, determined
ancient antiquity all bring forth to prove that sin and violence
gatherings of heroes. However, are the most powerful forces
they are pale reflections when in creation.

76

International heroes

Maxwell Lord’s commercially joke by the public. Beyond
inspired UN project unites scrutiny, the supremely efficient
original Leaguers with Justice League Task Force
inexperienced heroes, and even covertly dismantles tyrannies
villains, to represent member and hunts war criminals under
nations. Although Justice the command of Martian
League International (pictured), Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz) without
Europe, and Antarctica attracting undue media attention.
triumph against formidable
opposition, including a Years later, former UN recruits
Dominator-led invasion of reform as the Super-Buddies
Earth, they are regarded as but cannot escape the public
a ridiculous and unwelcome presentiment that they are
a pack of clowns and idiots.

In a world rife with duplicity, and a need for specialization.
intrigue, and opportunity, government They instigate subdivisions—
figures like Amanda Waller form their including a youth group to mentor
own teams: publicity-courting groups junior heroes like the Wonder Twins,
like Justice League of America, and Teen Titans, and Young Justice.
an expendable covert Suicide Squad Mystic specialists are drafted into
of pressganged Super-Villains. autonomous Justice League Dark:
Observing Machiavellian Maxwell independent experts to counter
Lord manipulating the UN into a spike in supernatural threats.
sponsoring global expansion of the These franchises are based on
original League, the People’s Republic
Dying lights Justice League Dark’s permits a Justice League of China to
supernatural remit asks unlikely heroes operate in tandem with its state-
to battle impossible odds. controlled Great Ten team.

Justice and Doom The original League periodically
reforms to confront extraordinary
The notion of scrupulously non- crises, and some members form
political super first responders is private teams. Captain Atom’s
embraced by the entire world. proactive squad seeks “Extreme
The Justice League concept is Justice,” and Batman forms
compelling and intoxicating but “Outsiders” units for missions
sadly easily appropriated and his League allies cannot
exploited. Espionage agencies condone. During a period when
Checkmate and S.H.A.D.E. are no League exists, Firestorm
repurposed to steer metahuman forms his own group, with tragic
affairs, and new groups A.R.G.U.S. consequences. Ultimately, the
and the D.E.O. monitor empowered originals permanently reform.
individuals while forming Years of bitter experience have
contingency plans. taught these “elder statesmen”
the necessity of their role,

Gods forsaken The Ghost
Sector mission reduces Leaguers
to Darkseid’s wicked Gods before
their ultimate triumph and
dynamic rebirth.

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 77

Mission critical Batman’s private The doctrine of united heroism Convenient allies
League are unaware that they are all endures for centuries and across
being groomed for greater things. divergent realities. Earth-12 benefits Super Heroes are measured
from a fellowship of legacy heroes by their foes and enjoy
a previous experiment when the acting as a Justice League Beyond, distinct advantages when
League ran its own covert unit of while a besieged 31st century is acting in concert with
reformed foes—Justice League Elite. liberated by cloned champions cooperation and trust in their
Justice League 3001. By the 853rd comrades. Super-Villains are
Manifest destinies century, Justice Legion Alpha arrogant, obsessive, and
marshals a veritable Super Hero army, hungry to prove their innate
The concept is open-source. Canada upholding the undying principles superiority. Theoretically,
hosts Justice League United, and of service and valor established by ganging up on heroes is
Cyborg and Green Lantern Jessica the indomitable Justice League. ■ logical, but not when fighting
Cruz helm Justice League Odyssey, beside despised rivals.
a fluid squad battling Darkseid in See also: Tomorrow’s Heroes and Dystopias.
the newly liberated Ghost Sector. Miscreant alliances like
Unsung heroes The 31st century the Injustice Gang fail
The Justice League is Earth’s League comprise of volunteers who because they simply cannot
primary metahuman resource, but donate their bodies as hosts for history’s work together—or even
Batman accepts that it is too reborn Super Heroes. follow someone else’s orders.
ponderous for many problems. Keen Eventually, however, a
to school inexperienced heroes and workable strategy is found.
set villains straight, he gathers a Led by Lex Luthor, an
tight group of unlikely candidates he iteration of the Secret Society
feels have never reached their true of Super-Villains institutes
potential. With Black Canary as field a policy of terror, delivering
commander, he pits them against fatal consequences for any
threats like the extradimensional who break ranks.
Extremists, Queen of Fables, and
time-shredding Chronos. Gradually The policy pays world-
ceding control, the Dark Knight sees shaking dividends in Luthor’s
his theory confirmed when his later Legion of Doom, an
Justice League of America evolves array of arch-foes lured with
into inspirational multinational task fantastic promises of power
force the Justice Foundation. and dreams come true—as
long as they totally comply
with the wishes of Apex
Lex and his all-powerful
dark inspiration Perpetua.

78

HHIOGPHES

NIGHTWING

ON THE RECORD Romani by heritage, Grayson espionage agency Spyral, although
was a stellar trapeze artist before he is actually investigating them
REAL NAME puberty, secretly groomed by the undercover for Batman. Eventually,
Richard John “Dick” Grayson insidious Court of Owls as their next with his secret identity restored, he
Talon enforcer. His destiny is forever becomes Nightwing again, leading
AFFILIATIONS derailed when Gotham City mobster another Titans team and mentoring
Batman Family, Titans, “Boss Zucco” murders his parents in young heroes—until he is shot by
Spyral, Justice League a bid to extort Haly’s Circus. KGBeast. Surviving massive brain
trauma and amnesia, Grayson again
BASE Adopted by Bruce Wayne, Dick battles his way back to fighting form.
Blüdhaven; formerly learns detection and crime fighting He is a paragon of determination and
New York City, New York; under the wing of Wayne’s alter ego, a true beacon of light and hope. ■
Gotham City Batman, and former-spy-turned-
butler Alfred Pennyworth. Dick See also: Teen Titans, Secret Societies
ABILITIES excels yet never loses his joy and
Peak-level acrobat and enthusiasm. The charismatic young and Villains for the Ages.
martial artist man assembles like-minded junior
heroes as the Teen Titans, offering Dangerous
MISSION targeted aid to youngsters in skills
Kicking butt and extraordinary distress and Dick favors
helping people frequently saving the world. He later escrima
goes solo as Nightwing and between sticks in
STATUS REPORT globetrotting adventures, leads close
Recovering from major Titans teams, joins the Justice combat.
head trauma League, and resettles in crime-
ridden Blüdhaven to work as a cop
“T ragedy forges heroes” and Super Hero. When Batman is
is an inescapable lost in time, Dick temporarily
truism, but some assumes the role of the
champions refuse to be consumed Dark Knight until the
by darkness. As Robin, Dick original returns.
Grayson is Batman’s first partner—
overlooked as a simple sidekick, Nightwing’s darkest moments
but earning the respect of heroes come after his capture by the Crime
and villains alike. Syndicate. Publicly outed and
seemingly executed, Dick joins

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 79

DDAAURGKHNTEESRS OF

BATWOMAN

ON THE RECORD I’ve found my way to serve! allies with Batman as drill sergeant
Batwoman and field leader to his team of heroes
REAL NAME and reformed villains—crime
Katherine Rebecca “Kate” She subsequently drives herself in fighters tasked with protecting
Kane every endeavor and wins a place Gotham City. Her military viewpoint
at West Point military academy. and refusal to accept the “Batman
AFFILIATIONS Later expelled for her sexual rule” of no killing brings her into
Batman Family/Gotham orientation and refusing to name conflict with Red Robin and even
Knights, The Colony, others, she roams the world in bigger conflict with Batman.
Gotham City Monsters, a wild, self-destructive haze. Life
Justice League turns around after Batman confronts Batwoman is consistently drawn
her during a mugging. Dragging into arcane conflicts, battling the
BASE herself back from addiction, seeking spectral Weeping Woman and
Gotham City, formerly structure but always finding chaos, vampire Nocturna. She fights beside
Atlanta, Georgia Kate enlists her father to help Gotham City’s heroic Monsters
construct an arsenal to battle evil as to counter demonic terrorist Lord
ABILITIES Batwoman. She has no conception Melmoth. A dark angel of tragedy
Peak physical fitness, range that Jake Kane commands rogue and redemption, Batwoman will stop
of personalized weapons black-ops project The Colony. at nothing to save the helpless. ■
and body armor
Surviving attack by the Religion Warrior woman Kate Kane often
MISSION of Crime, Kate discovers Beth still questions her motives but never the
Saving lives lives—abducted and driven insane need for Batwoman.
to become the cult’s leader, Alice.
STATUS REPORT Eventually, Batwoman defeats and
Seeking redemption institutionalizes Alice. She formally
with honor

T ragedy destroys lives but
also creates unlikely heroes.
In Gotham City, Bruce
Wayne’s cousin, Kate Kane, loses
both her mother and twin sister,
Beth, to terrorists targeting her
father, US Army Colonel Jake Kane.

80

LJUEANGIOURE JUSTICE

TEEN TITANS

ON THE RECORD seeking comradeship and support Titanic trade-off The son of Batman
among similarly situated peers. made his recruits better heroes, and
DESIGNATION they taught him the value of friendship.
Teen Titans The original Teen Titans are
Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash This nurturing tradition subtly
FOUNDING MEMBERS (Wally West), Wonder Girl (Donna shifts when Damian Wayne (Robin)
Robin (Dick Grayson), Troy), Aqualad (Garth), and expert recreates the Titans as his personal
Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, archer Speedy (Roy Harper). strike-force. The team includes Kid
Aqualad, Speedy These junior and teenage heroes Flash, Crush, Roundhouse, and Red
regularly save the planet, driven Arrow. They face old Titan enemies
CURRENT MEMBERS by duty while largely liberated from Brother Blood and Deathstroke. The
Robin (Damian Wayne), overbearing adult expectations and team eventually splits, but a new
Crush, Kid Flash, Red pressures. The group expands Titans Academy is created to shape
Arrow, Roundhouse and diversifies, constantly shifting the next generation of heroes. ■
as its members grow, frequently
AFFILIATIONS disbanding and reforming but
Titans, Justice League, always offering a sheltering
Young Justice environment for metahuman, alien,
or other outsiders to be themselves
MISSION and consider their futures.
Learning to be better Eventually, the original teammates
reform as New Teen Titans and,
STATUS REPORT later, The Titans, offering advice
A rite of passage and mentoring to emergent super-
beings and beneficial alternatives
S uper Heroes defend, protect, to kids on a bad path, such as
and avenge imperiled Deathstroke’s maverick daughter
humanity, aided by gifted Rose (aka Ravager).
and resolute young allies—
apprentice champions learning Every lineup is driven by a
on the (very dangerous) job. sense of duty and a hunger to help
These young warriors grow apart and inevitably contends with
from their mentors as their own overwhelming opposition, from
personalities develop, subsequently demonic tyrant Trigon the Terrible
to insidious, predatory cultists
like Brother Blood.

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 81

TKEICEKNSAGE

YOUNG JUSTICE

ON THE RECORD to thwart genie-possessed Bedlam Fast friends
and restore the status quo, Robin Not even
DESIGNATION (Tim Drake), Impulse (Bart Allen), and reshaped
Young Justice Superboy (Conner Kent) stay together histories
to have fun without adult supervision. and cosmic
FOUNDING MEMBERS Subsequently rescuing immaterial crises can
Robin, Superboy, Impulse girl Secret from the Department of keep Impulse,
Extranormal Operations, they form Superboy, and
CURRENT MEMBERS a team to fight evil in their own way, Robin apart
Robin (Tim Drake), but as membership grows, their for long.
Superboy, Impulse, mentors soon intervene.
Wonder Girl, Jinny Hex, The embittered survivors join
Amethyst, Naomi In return for accepting adult the Teen Titans and continue
supervision, Young Justice is given under strict adult supervision
BASE the JLA’s old HQ, with android and training.
Secret Sanctuary, Happy Red Tornado as on-site guardian.
Harbor, Rhode Island Eventually, Young Justice becomes As Earth is reshaped by
a beacon for youthful adventurers. successive reality shifts, Impulse
AFFILIATIONS However, following increasingly is excised from existence and
Titans, Justice League dangerous missions, they are shut abruptly returned to a much-altered
of America down by Nightwing in response Earth Prime. Discovering no one
to Troia and Omen being killed remembers him, he triggers
MISSION by Brainiac-controlled super-robots. events drawing Robin, Superboy,
Hanging out, saving lives and Wonder Girl together again
We need some ... action! while recruiting new allies
STATUS REPORT Impulse Amethyst, Jinny Hex, and Teen
Getting reacquainted after Lantern. They defeat tyrannical
too long apart Dark Opal and clash with their
own evil counterparts before
A loose association of junior exposing S.T.A.R. Labs’ Dr. Glory
Super Heroes on Earth and as a reality-warping criminal. Young
its adjoining dimensions, Justice always offers a supportive
Young Justice begins after a troubled refuge where teen warriors can
boy banishes adults to a parallel learn to be themselves. ■
world. After teen champions unite

82

SIDEECNRTEITTSIESAND

BATGIRL/ORACLE

ON THE RECORD No more fear! predators and ego-freaks. Realizing
Barbara Gordon she can do more, she builds a task
REAL NAME force to tackle the worst of the
Barbara Joan Gordon influence is older brother, James Jr. worst—her Birds of Prey.
As a child, Barbara correctly
AFFILIATIONS deduces that he is a sociopath Eventually, science cures her
Birds of Prey, Batman Family addicted to murder. paralysis with a cybernetic spinal
implant, and she resumes her two-
BASE At 15, self-trained Barbara fisted career as Batgirl. A powerful
Gotham City secretly mimics Batman and Robin, force for justice in Gotham City,
battling crooks like Killer Moth as an Barbara reevaluates her role after
ABILITIES unofficial “Batgirl.” Initially resistant, her brother—one of the most
Computer genius, skilled the Super Heroes are unable to accomplished serial killers in
detective, strategist, dissuade her and ultimately arm history—dies saving her life.
acrobat, martial artist, and train her. Batgirl’s crusade is Admitting that she’s a better general
utility belt of specialized cut short when the Joker shoots her, than foot soldier, Barbara reactivates
tools and weapons shattering her spine. Confined to a her Oracle guise, ceding the Batgirl
wheelchair, she recreates herself as persona to two former replacements,
MISSION Oracle, an enigmatic online Cassandra “Orphan” Cain and
Saving everyone, proving presence providing information and Stephanie “Spoiler” Brown. ■
her independence resources to crime fighters.
Heroic updates
STATUS REPORT A brilliant programmer and Barbara Gordon
Rocking three lives hacker, Barbara targets financial constantly upgrades
crime, white-collar miscreants, her arsenal as
T ragedy is the spur for many mobsters, and strictly human Oracle and
to become heroes, but for monsters as well as metahuman Batgirl.
Barbara “Babs” Gordon,
life-shattering change comes after
she dedicates her life to helping
others. Barbara is a genius polymath
whose early inspirations are her
father, Gotham City Police
Commissioner James Gordon, and
Batman. An equal and opposite

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 83

FEEMMPAOLWEERMENT

BIRDS OF PREY

ON THE RECORD female Super Heroes—and eventually Women warriors Neither Batgirl nor
villains—offering inducements such Oracle ever lacked moral support or
FOUNDING MEMBERS as purpose, excitement, revenge, sheer firepower when the Birds of Prey
Oracle, Black Canary and money to act as her agents went after bad guys.
across the globe. Unlike most
CURRENT MEMBERS costumed champions who work Soon the team again expands
Black Canary, Huntress, reactively, the wheelchair warrior into a place for empowered women
Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, seeks out injustice and calculates looking to change the direction of
Renee Montoya the most effective way to end it. their lives. The concept spreads far
and wide after Gordon surrenders
AFFILIATIONS With an ever-changing arsenal her Batgirl role to resume her
Justice League of America, of agents, Oracle ends human supervisory and strategic position as
Batman Family trafficking rings, international arms Oracle, heralding a new era in her
dealers, organized crime empires, crime-fighting career. ■
BASE and other outlaws savvy enough
Gotham City to stay off the radar of police,
governments, and attention-
MISSION attracting Super Heroes. The team’s
Proactive life-saving and missions become bigger and more
punitive crime-busting personnel-intensive, but the goal
is always to help those who have
Despite a formidable no one to turn to.
reputation and expediting
the end of many criminal A coalition of independent, strong-
careers, Barbara Gordon decides willed women, the Birds of Prey
she can do more to fix the world. constantly quarrel and break up,
In her information-gathering and with former operatives frequently
planning persona Oracle, she aids borrowing the name for their own
Batman, the Justice League, and purposes and cases. When Barbara
global law enforcement agencies, Gordon finally regains the use of her
learning the closely guarded secrets legs and returns to the streets as
of many masked adventurers. Batgirl, she again allies with first
choice Black Canary in a new Birds
Understanding of how many of of Prey group, gradually accepting the
them think and feel, Barbara contacts help of vigilante and former spymaster
Helena Bertinelli, the Huntress.

84

DO OR DIE

SUICIDE SQUAD

ON THE RECORD We’re all gonna die, Dead to rights Even though personnel
aren’t we? turnover is rapid, all Suicide Squad
DESIGNATION members have the same look of weary
Task Force X/Suicide Squad Captain Boomerang resignation and dwindling defiance.

FOUNDING MEMBERS Governments fear and resent Dead reckoning
Colonel Rick Flag, Karen superpowered individuals, having
Grace, Dr. Hugh Evans no control over anonymous According to intelligence operative
strangers whose motives are and government insider Amanda
FREQUENT REOFFENDERS suspect and who cannot be stopped, Waller, the solution is simple.
Deadshot, Harley Quinn, threatened, or managed. Can it be Throughout history, many cultures
Rick Flag Jr., Killer Croc, altruism or nobility that drives them? pressed into service those it deemed
Captain Boomerang, What really compels beings who criminals. Super Heroes cannot be
Katana, Enchantress, could rule the world to save kittens trusted, or their services relied upon,
El Diablo in trees and go toe-to-toe with but prisons are full of self-serving
Darkseid or the Joker? It certainly metahumans as powerful as the
BASE isn’t for money or fame, or they masked idealists, but utterly lacking
Belle Reve Penitentiary, wouldn’t hide their identities.
Louisiana
Many nations employ
MISSION empowered agents for—usually
Do the mission, don’t get covert—state purposes but suffer a
caught, don’t die, earn shortage of willing living resources.
a pardon If America has the largest proportion
of metahuman or otherwise powerful
O rdinary humans experience individuals, shouldn’t they be doing
extreme ambivalence what their democratically elected
regarding Super Heroes. leaders need them to do?
Their assistance is welcome in
times of crisis, and for many fans
they are the ultimate celebrities,
but their very existence draws
violence and calamity. Their presence
seldom implies happy times ahead.

their annoying scruples. Why not JUSTICE OR DOOM? 85
defray the exorbitant costs of
incarceration and utilize such FALLEN FELONS
resources in service to the state? The Suicide Squad has a fast and fatal staff turnover.
All that is necessary is a means Thanks to magic and exotic technologies, some of them even manage
of control and a suitably secret to come back from the dead and die again!
work agenda.
DEAD AND PARDONED
Waller’s own family has
repeatedly suffered from criminal Blockbuster Mindboggler Slipknot Thinker Multi-Man Mr. 104 Boomerang
assaults, and she ferociously (Owen Mercer)
lobbies for presidential approval
to revive the post-war Task Force X Hack Reverse- King Shark Voltaic Yo-Yo Lime
program. Her successful argument Flash
is to let Super Heroes be themselves,
but compel superpowered convicts Warrant The Hunky Enchantress Mad Dog Rag Doll Tao Jones Skorpio
into wet work and black ops. Punk
Promised pardons, sentencing
reductions, and better conditions Baby Boom Lok Cavalier Master Jailer Magpie
are compelling inducements, and
obedience is assured through The Shark Jog Alchemaster Tiamat
remote-controlled bombs surgically
implanted in the brains of DEAD BUT RESURRECTED
“volunteers.” Moreover, any public
exposure can be spun as “Super- Deadshot Digger Harkness/ Hack El Diablo Scream
Villain rampages,” affording the Captain Boomerang Queen
government complete deniability
while ending dangerous threats. the Suicide Squad to Roman Sionis for long. In short order, a new team
(Black Mask). Disguised as Ted led by militant hero Peacemaker
The operation is based in Kord, he press-gangs metahuman resumes the original mission.
supermax prison Belle Reve, where activists the Revolutionaries into However, Amanda Waller is a
Waller deploys as field commanders his scheme to conquer oil-rich woman who knows where all the
fringe operatives with military Bahdnisia but is outwitted and bodies are buried. Can she be far
or espionage experience—primarily destroyed by his own pawns. from the actions of a new Suicide
career soldier Colonel Rick Flag Jr. Squad for long? ■
His grandfather led the original The Suicide Squad concept is
Suicide Squadron and postwar Task far too effective to stay dormant See also: New World Orders
Force X. Flag Jr. accepts Waller’s
offer because bad guys need killing,
and he wants out of military prison,
where he is serving an indefinite
sentence for refusing to carry out an
illegal order. He has no idea Waller
framed and jailed him.

As a succession of reluctant
rogues eliminates super-terrorists,
mad villains, aliens, monsters, and
death cults like Kobra, the casualty
list soars. Betrayal is constant, but
eventually core survivors Deadshot,
Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, and El
Diablo form an unbreakable bond
of comradeship. A new team is
instated after corrupt senators
orchestrate Waller’s removal and sell

86

KBEILKLIALNLEDD

DEATHSTROKE AND RIVAL SUPER-ASSASSINS

ON THE RECORD hope for Super Heroes to save them her daughter, Cassandra Cain, Black
or pay for metahuman protection, Canary, or the Question—are allowed
REAL NAME individuals can always be found to to live and improve their skills in
Slade Joseph Wilson provide final solutions. Even Darkseid order to provide a more satisfactory
of Apokolips retains an assassin, contest for her at some future date.
AFFILIATIONS the elegant, insidious Kanto.
League of Assassins, Hitmen potentially challenging
Defiance, Team 7 Mastermind Ra¯’s al Ghu¯ l her status include poisoner
monetized his followers, hiring Cheshire, archers Shado and Merlyn,
BASE out the League of Assassins to marksmen Deadshot, Drakon, and
Mobile support his schemes and gain teleporting electrocutioner Bolt, but
influence, however, many contract her true rival is the conflicted former
POWERS/ABILITIES killers cherish independence, war hero Slade Wilson, aka
Hyper-enhanced reflexes, relying on dictators and billionaires Deathstroke (pictured top left).
and senses, superhuman to finance their chosen lifestyles. Wounded while in the black-ops
strength, speed, agility, squad known as Team 7, Wilson’s
and durability, combat and The roster of metagene is triggered by highly
weapons master, Ikon suit freelance super- experimental procedures intended to
with defence capabilities assassins is vast and
ever-changing, but save him. He develops superhuman
MISSION its top tier remains abilities but, unable to adjust,
Following his personal code surprisingly static.
of honor The deadliest of all, abandons his family to pursue
martial artist Sandra a life of murder for profit.
STATUS REPORT Wu-San (Lady Shiva), Like many of his
After dying, Deathstroke is considers killing her competitors, Deathstroke
resurrected and active art form. She is so has a unique code
adept that some of honor. This has
I n a world where gods, monsters, targets—such as compelled him on
and Super Heroes abound, occasion to fight
one ancient profession still Deadliest of the alongside Super Heroes,
flourishes for operatives with species Such are but in the final accounting,
power and initiative. Crime Lady Shiva’s peerless Slade Wilson is
proliferates and bosses need to combat skills that all about the
remove threats. If targets can now no other assassin paycheck, no
can match her. matter who has
to suffer. ■

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 87

BQEUHESAVTIIOORNABLE

THE QUESTION AND OTHER VIGILANTES

ON THE RECORD Heroes frequently work outside Upon reflection Fueled by loss and
the law and ignore due process, pushed to the brink by tragedy, Adrian
REAL NAME yet they often operate with the Chase’s final victim is himself.
Vic Sage, formerly Charles approval of local authorities, tacit
Victor Szasz or otherwise. Some eschew the body and mind. The Question
limiting strictures of the law in returns to clean up Hub City before
AFFILIATIONS pursuit of a more personal form becoming a tireless wanderer,
Batman, Lois Lane, Justice of justice. They use excessive force exposing dark secrets and battling
League and are even willing to kill to injustice. Primarily a detective, he
achieve their brutal goals. prefers not to kill, and often consults
BASE with Batman, Superman, and the
Hub City In Hub City, reporter Vic Sage Justice League.
exposes crime and corruption
ABILITIES before personally confronting Many extraordinary individuals
Elite martial artist, brilliant perpetrators as the Question, are less diligent in their quest for
detective, employs chemicals a relentless, faceless vigilante justice. Taking the name of a 1940s
to obscure his appearance following his conscience rather than western-themed hero, former
the rules. When the political elite District Attorney Adrian Chase
MISSION hire the ultimate assassin Lady foreswore law to destroy criminals
Achieving understanding Shiva to kill Sage, he is crippled and after his family are murdered.
left to die. Incomprehensibly, Shiva This vengeance-driven Vigilante
STATUS REPORT brings Sage to sensei Richard spawns a succession of equally
Solving problems day to day Dragon, who teaches him to master lethal avengers carrying on in his
name as well as regional copycats
A most dangerous trend is There is Good. There is Evil. such as Wild Dog. ■
Super Heroes who push the The Question
boundaries of justice and
punishment. Veteran champions
such as Batman and Green Arrow
might be able to control their urge
to punish, but for former spy the
Huntress, Thorn, resurrected Jason
Todd (Red Hood), or the mysterious
Ghost-Maker, the temptation to end
a recurring threat is hard to resist.

88

MI LYOSVTEERAY!

WATCHING THE DETECTIVES

ON THE RECORD Techniques of ratiocination— Shock and awe Thunderbolt increases
applying established facts, logical her power, but Jonni Thunder’s true
DESIGNATION reasoning, and hypothetical strengths are her street smarts.
Private investigators deduction to problems—are primary
tools of all scientists exploring Super Heroes such as J’onn J’onzz
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED universal laws, but they work (Martian Manhunter), The Question,
Detective Chimp, Jonni equally well in solving crimes. and Elongated Man (Ralph Dibny)
Thunder, Angel O’Day & are primarily detectives, like private
Sam Simeon, Ralph Dibny, All over the world and eye Jonni Thunder, who uses magic
Jonny Double, Ohiyesa throughout history, evildoers flout in her job. Many investigators are
cultural codes and obscure their supernatural specialists. Arcane
AFFILIATIONS actions, countered by individuals sleuths such as John Constantine,
Police departments, media unable to allow injustice to prosper. Doctor Occult, and the Dead Boy
outlets, Super Heroes Mystery-solvers evolve into a Detectives pale beside the strangest
distinct class of champion— “gumshoes” in the business.
ABILITIES determined, compassionate,
Expert deductive reasoning and generally fee-seeking. Angel O’Day’s partner-in-crime-
Former military or police officers busting is cartoonist Sam Simeon,
MISSION like Slam Bradley, Nathaniel an orphan from Gorilla City (pictured
Solving problems Dusk, and Jason Bard become above left), while mystically enhanced
professional private investigators, chimp Bobo is so brilliant that
STATUS REPORT while one PI joins a shipping he regularly advises the world’s
Everyone has their own line to probe nautical crimes greatest detective, Batman. ■
unique “modus operandi” as Captain Mark Compass.

H umanity is an inquisitive, Many troubleshooters have
acquisitive primate, prone a compulsion to solve mysteries.
to violence and addicted Reporters Lois Lane and Jimmy
to snooping. Exposing secrets and Olsen relentlessly probe all manner
suffering the consequences are of secrets, TV journalist Roy
defining characteristics of the Raymond exposes fraudsters, and
species, and the compulsive search stage magician Mysto cleans up the
for answers constantly triggers entertainment industry. In Elkhorn,
skirmishes in the eternal war Nebraska, generations of Native
between Justice and Doom. Americans compete for the role of
crime-buster Ohiyesa. Even some

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 89

HBOADNGOER OF

TOP COPS

ON THE RECORD In every modern city, cops are Gotham City Police Department
stuck with clean-up and paperwork (pictured above) are the most
DESIGNATION once the Super Heroes vanish into embattled force of modern times.
Officers of the law the shadows or rush away. Putting Notoriously corrupt for decades,
criminals on trial and ensuring GCPD begins reclaiming its
HONORABLE MENTIONS that they stay behind bars, it is reputation during Detective James
Commissioner James understandable why so many law Gordon’s meteoric rise to become
Gordon, Detective Harvey enforcement personnel resent the Commissioner. When not arresting
Bullock, Chief of Detectives freedom of independent crime- criminal kingpins and lethal
Mackenzie Bock, Captain stoppers who are unhindered by due lunatics, Gordon exposes bribery
Maggie Sawyer, Detective process. And while many cities and worse in his own department,
Turpin, Inspector Bill have official adversarial policies supported by District Attorney
Henderson, Captain Darryl regarding metahumans, some Harvey Dent and urban myth “the
Frye, Director David Singh actively welcome and work with Batman.” Surrounding himself with
their local Super Heroes. a circle of honest, driven cops such
AFFILIATIONS as Harvey Bullock, Renee Montoya,
City government, Super In twinned conurbation Central
Hero community City/Keystone City, police chief Crispus Allen, Mackenzie Bock,
Darryl Frye encourages and more, Gordon is removed
MISSION speedsters to keep his streets from his post and becomes a
Protect and serve safe, supported by Crime Lab private investigator, hunting
Director David Singh, the The Joker. ■
Even in a world warped majority of beat cops, and a
by wonder and terror and proud populace, while Guiding light Gordon
blighted by crime and Maggie Sawyer, turns the Police
corruption, ordinary individuals Bill Henderson, Commissioner’s
strive tirelessly under unshakable and Dan Turpin role into the most
codes of honor. The worst excesses of the Metropolis dangerous job in
of mobsters, miscreants, maniacs, Special Crimes Gotham City.
and monsters are not only defied by Unit regularly
astounding Super Heroes but also collaborate with
by resolute, steadfast police officers, Superman and
proudly upholding the tenets of other heroic
decent, civilized humanity. metahuman
defenders.

90

FPALNASTATSICTIC

MALLEABLE METAHUMANS

ON THE RECORD when beings can morph their body affinity with extra-Multiversal Nth
parts into deadly weapons. Metal and immunity to the effects
REAL NAME of Dark Matter—a possible
Patrick Edward “Eel” Perhaps elasticity indicates a explanation for his incredible
O’Brian flexibility of attitude. Super Hero abilities and unnatural, often
detectives like Elongated Man (Ralph surreal Super Hero experiences.
AFFILIATIONS Dibny), Tom “Stretch” Longacre,
The Terrifics, Justice League, or Jimmy Olsen certainly make Against his better judgment,
Offspring, Freedom Fighters mincemeat of complex mysteries he joins a pan-dimensional Super
but seldom command respect or Hero alliance with Mister Terrific,
LOCATION strike fear into evil-doers’ hearts. Metamorpho, Phantom Girl, and
Cole City After all, who’s afraid of silly putty? a succession of alternate-reality
The many victims of murderous Super Heroes, graduating
POWERS Dr. No-Face or elastic executioners from battling crooks like the
Infinitely malleable form, Madame Rouge and her daughter Cabal to saving multiple
elastic shapeshifting, Gemini certainly aren’t complaining. universes as a member
virtual invulnerability, of the Terrifics. ■
potential immortality In many realities, Plastic Man
(pictured above) debuts in the 1940s. Bouncing back His
MISSION A private eye, the hero is a WWII flexible ethics allow
A reformed criminal FBI liaison to legendary teams the Plastic Man to
seeking justice for all All-Star Squadron and Freedom switch from
Fighters. He later joins the Justice undercover
STATUS REPORT League. Plastic Man thinks like a gangster to
Bouncing back from criminal because he used to be one. Super Hero.
every hard knock Patrick “Eel” O’Brian is betrayed
by his own crew during a heist.
P owers alone don’t make Shot, doused in exotic chemicals
someone heroic. Heroes and and left for dead, his body
villains often share similar mutates. Compulsively
gifts, including relatively ridiculous changing shape, he resolves
abilities like the malleable, stretchy to protect people from the
bodies of Plastic Man and his son kind of rat he once was.
Luke (aka Offspring). Bendiness
isn’t as useful as real shapeshifting, During the first Dark
Multiverse invasion, Plastic
Man discovers an unexplained

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 91

SHUERPOERES? HAH!

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF SUPER HEROISM

ON THE RECORD Heroes laugh at death and Laugh this off The Inferior Five and
danger, but for some, death and Legion Subs have a hard enough time
DESIGNATION danger laugh right back. Helping coping with reality, let alone saving it.
Unlikely heroes the needy is universally compelling
and independent of race, age, generating more confusion and
NOTABLE EXAMPLES gender, or species. Tragically, it disaster than any villain.
Inferior Five, Ambush Bug, does require a certain amount of
The Heckler ability. Super Heroes like Plastic In sedate borough of Queens,
Man employ mockery as weapons, bewildered ’Mazing Man (Siegfried
AFFILIATIONS but joy and plentiful giggles don’t Horatio Hunch III) does good deeds
No comment ensure successful outcomes. Facing in a homemade costume, spreading
the maniacal Creeper is no joke, but delight all around, but can happiness
MISSION blue-collar costumed vigilante the save the world? The opposite is
Saving lives—preferably Heckler laughs just as hard in battle, definitely not the case. The Inferior
their own convinced that being “annoying as Five are earnest but incapable
hell” is his personal superpower. second-generation Super Heroes
STATUS REPORT pushed into the family business by
There are easier ways to The same can be said of Blue guilt and more terrified of parental
contribute to society Beetle (Ted Kord) and Booster Gold censure than death. They even, in
(Michael Carter). Although effective alliance with 31st-century Legion
F or some irrepressible heroes, Super Heroes individually, when of Substitute Heroes, save the
the neverending war between working as Blue and Gold, they Multiverse. But are they happy?
Justice and Doom cannot devolve into inept jerks, invariably Yes. When the fighting stops. ■
daunt resolve or crush spirits.
They roll with every physical or Don’t talk. Just run.
metaphorical punch that comes their White Feather
way. That is certainly true for Irwin
Schwab (aka Ambush Bug, pictured
above), a deeply delusional, morally
ambiguous Super Hero–obsessed
wannabe. Schwab maintains that
his cosmic insights stem from his
reality existing in comic books read
by extradimensional beings.

92

CTOITMYOORFROW

METROPOLIS

ON THE RECORD Park) grows into a prosperous Shining spires
seaport. Some of America’s earliest The sparkling
NAME newspapers, including The Daily towers of Metropolis
Metropolis Planet, begin there in 1775, and it promise utopia but
is a strategic citadel during America’s conceal danger.
ASSOCIATIONS Revolutionary War. It becomes
Superman, The Daily Fort Hunter/Hunter City after hero a proliferation
Planet, LexCorp, S.T.A.R. Tomahawk’s Rangers defeat the of museums,
Labs, Project Cadmus, British during the “Devil’s Winter libraries, art
Steelworks, MPD/Science Siege,” where time-displaced Dan galleries, a
Police, Invisible Mafia Hunter enters the ranks of legend. University, and the
“Six Boroughs”
POPULAR DESIGNATION By 1847, Metropolis is a hive being renamed
City of Tomorrow, the Big of merchants and stores servicing Metropolis.
Apricot a growing pool of immigrants
from all over the world. Banking, The city is
MISSION steelmaking, and philanthropy now home to
Living tomorrow today dominate, with the dynasty of Edna LexCorp, S.T.A.R.
and Wallace Luthor prominent. Labs, Galaxy
STATUS REPORT In 1905, scientific adventurer Waldo Communications,
Beacon of opportunity, Glenmorgan sparks technological SteelWorks,
invention, and hope experimentation, resulting in Cadmus, The Daily Planet, and
more. It boasts the lowest crime
A gleaming center of There’s only one story, Lane. rate in the US, partially thanks to
commerce, culture, and Metropolis. Superman. Under Captain Maggie
innovation, Metropolis is a Sawyer, the city’s pioneering
paragon of determination, diversity, Perry White Special Crimes Unit reinvents itself
and ingenuity. It is first mapped by to face metahuman threats and
16th-century European explorers. transplanted alien populations, like
The bay region is later settled by the subterranean Underworlders.
Dutch traders at the confluence of The SCU evolves into the Science
mighty rivers. Displacing Algonquin Police, a model ultimately replicated
First Nation tribes, De Vries Village all over the galaxy into the 31st
(now “Old City” near Queensland century and beyond. ■

See also: Way Out West, Time Masters

JUSTICE OR DOOM? 93

CNIITGYHTOF

GOTHAM CITY

ON THE RECORD circumstances after a sealed high, and Dr. Amadeus Arkham
Miagani cave is violated. In 1635, finds many candidates for the
NAME Norwegian Jon Logerquist founds asylum he builds to care for his
Gotham City Gotham City. Its advantageous mother and other broken
location and lack of legality attracts unfortunates. It exists still, a grim
ASSOCIATIONS ambitious opportunists, while repository for the most deranged and
Batman, Wayne Foundation, the entombed warlock’s accursed dangerous individuals alive.
Wayne Industries, Wayne taint attracts darker visitors, like
Tech, Arkham Asylum, demonologist Jason Blood. Eventually Drenched in criminality, the city
GCPD the warlock awakens, proudly calling embraces mobsters and crooked
himself Doctor Gotham in honor administrators like Rupert Thorne.
POPULAR DESIGNATION of the cruel society blossoming Its current state is constant calamity,
City of Crime due to his evil contamination. with plagues, flood, earthquakes,
federal abandonment, gang warfare,
MISSION In 1799, Darius Wayne builds and constant Super-Villain battles
Staying alive, getting ahead a mansion that stands to this day. winnowing the embattled populace.
Alongside the Cobblepots and All it has is a family of Dark Knights
STATUS REPORT Elliots, the Waynes are founding and a few incorruptible cops to
Fortune favors the ruthless fathers and financial overlords of the hold back the tide. ■
city that grows like a
G otham City sits on the East squalid weed around
Coast, a conurbation of them. They are
densely populated islands unaware that the Court
and shoreline bracketed by of Owls is clandestinely
Slaughter Swamp and bleak steering their paths.
Blüdhaven. The area is cursed in
antiquity when a warlock is By the 20th
entombed in its deepest caverns. century, Gotham City
Centuries later, the indigenous is wildly prosperous
Miagani (Bat Tribe) are eradicated but morally bankrupt.
by missionary Deacon Blackfire. The mental cost is

European encroachment begins Gates of Hell Arkham
in 1609. Coastal villages thrive, but Asylum becomes home to
inland settlements fail in horrific the criminally insane and
Batman’s deadliest foes.

SCIENCE
UNBOUN

D Creation in its infancy is chaos
as energies collide seeking
equilibrium. Life evolves, taming
the turmoil. While primitive entities
create magic to explain their origins,
in time, sentient beings systematically
probe their reality and science is born.
Existence itself is codified as mortals
of countless species devise technological
miracles, ever encroaching on the
primitive beliefs. The gods and demons
of old come to be increasingly replaced
by a new reality—scientific exploration.

96 INTRODUCTION

White Martians Fragments of the Ancients flower in Enigmatic wandering Printing first
tamper with Totality and Nth Metal various city-states, with artificer Vulcan used in Tang
proto-primate advances lost to conquest, builds high-tech
DNA. evolve wandering Dynasty
tribes, agriculture, religious suppression, robots and founds China.
writing, and metallurgy. or their own folly. metahuman Sons of

Vulcan cult.

90-70m 50k 30-10k 4k 6th

years ago years ago years ago years ago century ad

unknown 45k 6k 2k
prehistory
years ago years ago years ago

Discovery of language, Atlantis combines Ancient Egyptian Vril-manipulating
fire, ranged weapons, magic and science astronomy is Tibetan mystics leave
and magic. Martians Himalayas to found the
in an extremely advanced by criminal
attempt to modify advanced time-traveler Dzyan city-state in
human DNA. civilization. Darius Tiko. the Antarctic.

W ith the dawn of humanity, Science beats Magic! enables researchers to pool wisdom.
magical powers are Dr. Sivana While undermining reactionary
jealously hoarded by religions, it offers more certain
certain sages and scholars who always surrounded by envious, more rewards than magic. Scientists such
rapidly evolve into an offshoot primitive cultures afraid of or greedy as Watt, Faraday, Frankenstein,
species: Homo magi. Deprived of a for their wonders. In time, such Darwin, and Einstein revolutionize
quick fix for life’s daily difficulties, cities fall, their discoveries stolen human existence, while Super-
ordinary human beings, Homo or lost. In fact, archeologist- Villains like Ultra-Humanite conceal
sapiens, begin to explore the world adventurers like Carter Hall and the astounding discoveries anticipating
around them. Science is born and, Challengers of the Unknown have future profits or conquest. Military
though hampered at times by war, saved modern civilization from many might especially benefits from
disease, or repressive ideologies, ancient monsters and threats. scientific advances, leading to
reshapes the planet. two centuries of horrific warfare.
An age of Enlightenment arrives
Science is a great leveler: that democratizes knowledge and Earth Prime in the 21st century
Ingenuity coupled with the is a world in crisis, home to many
appropriate technology can master cultures in conflict. Race, religion,
almost any enemy or problem. ideology, wealth, status, and other
One deep thinker can benefit a tribe divisive issues divide populations
and turn a humble village into a into militant camps. Thanks to
city. However, true technological humanity’s reckless scientific
progress comes sporadically and in development and rivalries, Earth
isolated enclaves. Strongholds like becomes a tinderbox of lethal
Korr, Ur, or Atlantis develop but are technologies ruled by nervous

SCIENCE UNBOUND 97

Egyptian priests The rise of citizen Advent of Apokolips begins
and smiths utilize scientists and industrialized supplying tech
refined Nth Metal democratization warfare and fringe and weapons to
of knowledge. scientists like the Metropolis
from crashed Ultra-Humanite and
Thanagarian Victor Volcanum. criminal syndicate
spaceship. Intergang.

1250-60 ad 17th-18th 19th 1970 ad

century ad century

800 1637 ad 1760 ad 1945 ad

years ago

Extraterrestrials visit The Enlightenment The Industrial Atomic bombs
Mesolithic Americas, begins with Descartes’s Revolution begins end World War II
abducting Anasazi Nation dictum “I think, therefore and begin an era of
families and leaving behind I am,” signaling decline in England. rapid scientific
advanced technology.
of European magic. discovery.

Finding solutions New God Mister and easy profits. Darkseid, be bought or stolen from other
Miracle knows that thinking outside tyrannical ruler of the planet worlds. Poor people with no
the box is the key to every problem. Apokolips, supplies the powerful access to such advances make
crime syndicate Intergang with useful guinea pigs when testing
governments, despots, and criminals. advanced ordnance in order to new discoveries.
Opportunities are exploited by destabilize humanity and put its
piratical alien beings seeking quick Super Heroes to the test. Medical science faces serious
ethical challenges. No longer
While most ordinary people dedicated to saving lives, medicine
simply long for enough food to eat, becomes increasingly focused on
security, and a decent home to live reshaping genetics for bio-weaponry
in, the benefits of cutting-edge or indefinitely prolonging life,
inventions seem to be the sole while advances in computing and
preserve of the rich, criminals, engineering dramatically enhance
or the criminally rich. They have human potential in a cybernetic/
ready access to flying cars, energy metahuman arms race.
weapons, teleportation, non-
polluting power sources, force fields, When answers to longstanding
AIs, robots, and the very latest scientific problems can simply
medical procedures. be obtained by consulting
extraterrestrial beings, or by giving
After global authorities officially free rein to amoral super-geniuses,
confirm that Earth has been visited potentially dangerous technology
by extraterrestrials, human science may be deployed before humanity
is supplemented by whatever can is mature enough to use it. ■

98

GMRINEDAST

POLYMATHS AND MENTAL PRODIGIES

ON THE RECORD technologies, the initial spark that Campus utopia The Terrifictech
DESIGNATION triggers great leaps forward in Modern Community Association
knowledge invariably arises from Campus provides free education for all.
Genius thinkers who are in a league of
DEFINING their own—scientific geniuses.
CHARACTERISTICS
Heightened intellect, Certain planets are renowned for
enhanced memory, producing individuals of immense
deductive reasoning, intellect. Many of Krypton’s greatest
obsessive drive achievements stem from the House
MISSION of El. In addition, the planet’s
Inquiring, understanding, reverence for learning produces
improving everything many other innovative intellects.
STATUS REPORT Planet Yod-Colu’s dominant species
Solutions are the prize, but dedicates itself to intellectual
searching for them is an advancement, but even here, the
addictive drug Dox bloodline is unique, generating
a sequence of organic “Brainiacs”
who outshine all others. On Rann,

A cross the universe, What’ll I do for an encore? the polymath Sardath almost single-
civilizations prosper thanks Thomas Oscar Morrow handedly rebuilds a technological
to the inspired observations society from the radioactive ruins of
and groundbreaking research of rare a previous utopia.
individuals. Wherever science defines
cultural development, revolutionary Not all advances are beneficial.
thinkers reshape it. Although On the antimatter world Qward, a
teachers, designers, and engineers competitive cult demands creation
may refine and modify existing of ever more deadly armaments from
competing Weaponers, while in the
New Gods’ transdimensional realm,

techno-gods Metron, Himon, and The same holds true for visiting SCIENCE UNBOUND 99
Desaad devise processes and geniuses from other worlds.
artifacts that both elevate and Tom and Tesla Strong reshape Stars above Benevolent geniuses like
endanger all existence. their planet (Earth-ABC) while Tom Strong want to learn everything
acting as its Science Hero and love to share their knowledge.
Work smart champions; while Earth-2’s
Power Girl (Karen Starr) builds The sole difference between these
On Earth, a thirst for knowledge an amazing tech empire on Earth geniuses and those publicly termed
affects many individuals of superior Prime, simply to facilitate a return “mad scientists” is simple morality.
intelligence; however, it is always to her homeworld. Most brilliant Polymaths like Michael Holt, Ray
influenced by personal experience minds specialize early on. John Palmer, Ryan Choi, Heinrich Megala,
or choices. If Batman (Bruce Wayne) Henry Irons and his niece Natasha and Shay Veritas are painfully aware
and The Flash (Barry Allen) were are technical wizards of defensive of the potential harm that their
not haunted by troubled childhoods, armor and armaments. Will Magnus discoveries might wreak. However,
what heights could their astounding dedicates his life to robotics, and others are more calculating and apply
intellects have reached? How would Barbara Gordon’s computing principles of cost-benefit analysis.
“Prof” Walter Haley have changed brilliance enhances both crime- Lex Luthor loves Earth and above all
the world if he had not dedicated fighting techniques and clean else wants to protect his investment
himself to challenging the unknown energy programs. in it. Doom Patrol Chief Niles Caulder
on his planet’s behalf? is painfully aware of and hungers for
public support. Heinrich Megala has
Great minds think unlike … military committees to answer to, and
The intellectual rankings of Earth’s greatest minds constantly change. past defeats and mistakes have made
Whether wide-ranging or focused on a particular speciality, these thinkers former Blue Beetle Ted Kord cautious
are all way ahead of the curve. about future innovation.

Martin Sadly, many apply their gifts for
Stein profit and personal power. A host of
criminal geniuses, such as Professor
Walter Ray Ultra Will Milo and Toyman (Hiro Okamura),
Hayley Palmer Humanite Magus plague society. Some seek to
artificially enhance their troubled
T.O.Morrow minds. Bodiless villain the Brain plugs
himself into the World Wide Web and
Kirk Ryan Michael Lex Luthor Shay Heinrich Ted Kord Hector Hammond is evolved into a
Langstrom Choi Holt Veritas Megala telepathic future freak. Others are
also transformed. “Thinker” Clifford
Thaddeus Niles Hugo Devoe and a succession of felons
Sivana Caulder Strange called Brain Storm apply electronic
stimulation to their brains, while
Simon Hiro The super-thief Ira Quimby (aka IQ)
Stragg Skamuru Brain discovers that exposure to sunlight
temporarily multiplies his inventive
capacity to incalculable heights. ■

100

BAD IDEAS

MAD SCIENTISTS AND
EVIL GENIUSES

ON THE RECORD Drop it! I have a particle corpses for his experiments. As the
wave ray gun and 19th century ends, Victor Volcanum
DESIGNATION bipolar disorder! retires to his private volcano to
Evil scientists Will Magnus build a robotic army of conquest,
while in the US a frail, sinister
ABILITIES who are always in the market for polymath adds neurosurgery to
Boundless intellect, better weapons. Groundbreaking his arsenal of accomplishments.
matchless ingenuity, thinkers and artisans-for-hire As the Ultra-Humanite, he plunders
unhampered by caution like Archimedes or Leonardo banks and battles mystery men
or ethical considerations da Vinci give way to for decades, evading justice by
scientific trendsetters who transplanting his brain into fresh
MISSION strive to be self- bodies, ranging from a kidnapped
Satisfying personal financing, free to select movie actress to a purpose-grown
curiosity, making things their own agendas giant insect. His goal is power and
happen, ruling the world and areas of research. immortality, but he eventually
Victor Frankenstein pauses, while inhabiting a mutated
STATUS REPORT illegally obtains
No such thing as a bad idea, albino superpowered ape,
as long as you’re not caught Scrambled brains to concentrate on the
Chang Tzu is a brilliant removal of all Super
H umanity is simultaneously intellect and Hero obstacles in
blessed and beset by patriotic hero his path.
brilliant thinkers driven but cannot bear
by curiosity, inflamed by their own the cruel names
intellects, and besotted by the allure others call him.
of invention. From earliest times,
observation, inquiry, and rationalistic
philosophies revolutionize daily life,
but too frequently these cogitators
value their ideas more than the
people around them.

As societies develop, a
codependent relationship evolves
between such innovators and rulers,