Radiant (comics)

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The Radiant

Radiant art by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding

Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance
Created by

Characteristics
Homeworld	Calaton
Supporting character of	Superman
Abilities	Energy blasts Flight Protective force field Superhuman strength Near invulnerability

The Radiant is a superhero from the DC Comics Universe. He was created as part of the backstory to the Doomsday storyline following The Death of Superman, in which the origin of Doomsday as well as his future (and that of Superman's) is revealed.

1 Origin
- 1.1 The Radiant vs. Doomsday
2 Death
3 Powers

[edit] Origin

The monster known as Doomsday traveled across the galaxy to Calaton, a rich world of golden spires and advanced technology. Calaton could not withstand Doomsday's onslaught, and after three years of his relentless attacks only the capital survived. Royal scientists had worked night and day to find a way to stop Doomsday.

The Monarch's family, inbred for eons, had developed certain unique metahuman abilities which would be the key to Calaton's survival. The royal scientists created a vessel to channel their leaders' abilities, and all members of the King's families were gathered up at his command. Their metahuman life forces were drained, their lives willingly given to a greater good. The royal scientists, grieving as they watched their rulers make such noble sacrifices, channeled the energies into their creation; the Radiant, a being of pure energy, artificially engineered to destroy the artificially engineered Doomsday.

[edit] The Radiant vs. Doomsday

The battle between The Radiant and Doomsday lasted over a week. Bertron had created a creature that could kill any known form of life but, as a being of pure energy, the Radiant proved stronger and prevailed over Doomsday, unleashing a final blast of pure energy that destroyed a fifth of Calaton.

Had the Calatonians destroyed Doomsday's body his story might have ended there, but, following their usual custom of burial, Doomsday was suited and chained so his spirit wouldn't escape in the afterlife. As a murderer he was deemed unworthy of burial on sacred Calaton, so his body was cast into the coldness of space where it would drift forever. His ship, in which his body resided, became entangled amidst an asteroid flow and eventually crashed on Earth, its impact carrying it deep underground until Doomsday finally escaped.

[edit] Death

After his apparent death at the hand of Superman, the body of Doomsday was tied to an asteroid and flung away from the Earth. Doomsday eventually revived and ended up on Apokolips, the homeworld of Darkseid. Darkseid's servant had Doomsday teleported to Calaton, hoping that the Calatonians could defeat Doomsday again. The Radiant (presumably still alive and remaining on Calaton after these countless years, although possibly a new construct) again fought Doomsday, but Doomsday had adapted, and tore The Radiant apart by cancelling out his energy. As Superman arrived, the Radiant asked Superman to save his people, before finally dying once again.

Following Doomsday's battle with the Radiant (and Superman), much of Calaton's surface had been ravaged and irradiated. A religious group sprang up, worshipping the Radiant and expecting his return. As Calaton's police force arrived to arrest the cult and bring them into a (radiation-safe) city, the Radiant's face appeared and left a message of hope, before disappearing again (presumably forever).