Black Racer
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The Black racer is also a type of snake.
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The Black Racer is a fictional character in publications from DC Comics. In comic books, Black Racer is the equivalent of Death or the Grim Reaper among the New Gods from Jack Kirby's Fourth World meta-series. In a standard Kirby fashion, this cosmic entity makes use of skis as his means of transport, much as Silver Surfer (another Kirby creation) used a surfboard for transportation through space. New Gods are collected by the Racer at the moment of their deaths, and taken to Hadis (the Fourth World version of Hades).
The Black Racer's corporeal form is that of the otherwise bedridden Sgt. Willie Walker, who was paralyzed during the Vietnam War. Walker was contacted by the Source when Darkseid first brought the war of the gods to Earth, and told it was his responsibility to take on the role.
Many fans have speculated that the Black Racer is just another form Death uses, like the Black Flash is the death for speedsters, the Black Racer might be the death for the New Gods or perhaps just all kinds of heroes.
According to Captain Atom #42 the Black Racer represents "death as inevitability", whereas Death of the Endless represents "death as compassionate release". This has been contested by Neil Gaiman, who says that Death of the Endless is the ultimate incarnation of death in the DC Universe.
During the Our Worlds at War crossover, he came to harvest Steel's soul, but Superman talked him out of it. This was a highly unusual occurrence; the Black Racer is usually implacable.
In Grant Morrison's miniseries Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle, the Black Racer appears as a wheelchair-bound man (probably not Willie Walker, as he appears Caucasian), following the destruction of Apokolips and New Genesis. He has a bet with Metron as to whether Mister Miracle will be successful in saving the New Gods.
[edit] Black Racer (Marvel Comics)
In the Marvel Comics universe, a supervillain named Black Racer is a member of the Serpent Society and is named for the snake.
It should also be noted that Doorman from the Marvel parody comic Great Lakes Avengers becomes a personification of Death and also flies using skis which is possibly a reference to Black Racer.
