Orion (comics)
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| Orion | |
 The New Gods vol. 2 #1 featuring Orion. Cover art by Paris Cullins. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | New Gods #1, (February 1971) |
| Created by | Jack Kirby (writer & artist) |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Orion |
| Species | New God |
| Team affiliations | New Gods Justice League |
| Notable aliases | O'Ryan |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, speed, stamina and durability, immortality, Regenerative Healing Factor, The Astro Force (via the Astro-Harness), the Mother Box. |
Orion is a fictional deity published by DC Comics. He first appeared in New Gods #1 (February 1971), and was created by Jack Kirby.
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[edit] Publication history
Orion was a series pencilled and written by Walt Simonson, centered around Jack Kirby's Fourth World character, Orion. It was lettered by John Workman. Bob Wiacek would provide the inks on occasion, while Simonson would do the bulk of the inking. Colors were provided by Tatjana Wood and Sherilyn Van Valkenburgh. In the publishing continuity of Jack Kirby's Fourth World, it was published after John Byrne's "Jack Kirby's Fourth World" series ended.
Orion ran for 25 issues, from June 2000 to June 2002. Issues #15 and #25 were oversized and priced at $3.95 instead of the usual $2.50. Sales of the title would see a gradual decline in preorders, averaging under 14,000 copies mark during the second half of the book's run. Sample sales are 14,372 copies for issue #15, and 11,891 for the last issue, #25. [1] [2] John Byrne filled in as penciller for the main stories in issues 13 and 14, though Simonson did provide writing and pencilling duties on backup stories in both of those issues (although not under the banner of Tales of the New Gods), with Wiacek inking. [3]
Issues 1-5 were reprinted by DC Comics in the trade paperback The Gates of Apokolips. Also included as reprints were portions from the Secret Origins of Super-Villains 80-Page Giant, issue #1 and the Legends of the DC Universe 80-Page Giant, issue #2.
A backup that ran consistently in the Orion book was Tales of the New Gods. Simonson invited fellow artists and, on occasion, writers to provide a short story often supplementing the issue's main action.
[edit] Fictional character biography
Orion is the second son of Darkseid, half brother of Kalibak and Grayven, and the husband of Bekka.
As a child, he was traded for Scott Free in a peace effort between New Genesis and Apokolips. Raised as the son of Highfather Izaya, he was taught to control his rage and anger, becoming the most powerful warrior either world has ever known. This in itself was not an easy task given that his heritage boiled with the rage of the brutal and merciless Darkseid. Learning how to control his dark nature consumed much of Orion's youth, but as he grew, his friends among the New Gods helped him direct his anger. Orion counts among his friends Lightray, Metron, Jezebelle, Scott Free, Barda and Forager. He is a hero dedicated to the ideals of New Genesis. His fighting skill and stamina have earned him the nickname "The Dog of War".
The 25 issue Walt Simonson series was designed to follow the continuity of the original Jack Kirby's Fourth World series, and was published after John Byrne's "Jack Kirby's Fourth World" series ended. To flesh out the series, characters such as Fourth World stalwarts Lightray, Darkseid, Desaad, and Kalibak, in addition to lesser used characters such as Tigra (early on in the series), Mortalla, and the Newsgroup Legion (an update of the Newsboy Legion) often supplied aid or ill intentions to the quick tempered Orion.
During Walt Simonson's series, Orion was able to obtain the Anti-Life Equation (the source Darkseid was in search of). He then went to Apokolips and confronted Darkseid about his birth, and ended up fighting for control of Apokolips (he refused to use the Anti-Life Equation due to issues of pride and earning his destiny unaided). He defeated Darkseid and gained control of Apokolips. With the anti-life equation, Orion went to Earth to begin creating intergalactic peace. He turned Earth into a utopian world that began disrupting the balance of the universe. It was revealed that Darkseid, alongside Metron, allowed Orion to defeat him, so he could understand the potential of the anti-life equation.
Orion has served two terms with the Justice League. He first demanded to join the League alongside his friend, Lightray. (Justice League America #42, 9.90). They were accepted into the ranks and stayed on until after the battle with the Evil Eye. (Ibid #50) Later, he and Big Barda were sent as agents of New Genesis to serve in the JLA. (JLA #17, April 1998) During his time in the League, Orion helped to defeat the returned Starro when its actions put almost the entirety of North America to sleep, and also aided Green Lantern, Steel, Plastic Man, and Barda in capturing a White Martian that had regained its original memory. On one occasion, when he and some of the other Leaguers were abducted by the apparently-insane Adam Strange as part of a plot to defeat a telepathic race, Steel was forced to steal Orion's mother box and use it as a telepathic shield; Orion was so enraged that the mother box was devoting too much energy to keeping him calm to do anything else. However, Orion and Barda's central mission was to help mobilize Earth's heroes against the coming of the omnipotent Mageddon. Once again, Orion abandoned his mother box, giving it to Oracle while he confronted Mageddon at full ferocity, Oracle using it to set up a telepathic online network that could coordinate the heroes as they fought to stop the wars that Mageddon's presence was inciting. Once Mageddon was defeated, he and Barda resigned. (Ibid #41)
In 2008's Death of the New Gods, Orion initially suspects the New Gods' murderer to be his father, Darkseid, but discovers this is not the case when Darkseid is interrogated by Mister Miracle. He himself is then suspected by the other New Gods, leading to a showdown with Mister Miracle which Superman defuses. Orion ultimately challenges the God Killer to single combat, intending to sacrifice himself so his friends can discover the God Killer's identity. He sees the killer approach and charges him on his Astro Harness, leading to his death in a cataclysmic explosion which blinds even Superman and causes him to realize exactly why the residents of New Genesis profess divinity. All that can be found of him afterwards is his empty helmet, and it is revealed that so great was his wrath that in his death, he perished whole and returned to the Source, as opposed to having his soul stolen like most other New Gods. After his death, his father Darkseid senses it and looks into the skies of Apokolips with a trace of sadness, declaring that their joined story has at last ended.
However, Orion's death is less permanent than it appears. The Source itself manages to recover Orion's soul, and restores him in a mute energy projection to face Darkseid, who now has access to the slain New Gods residual energies. Due to his lineage, Orion is able to tap into this same power source, putting him on an even footing with his father. Darkseid retreats when the Source moves to destroy Apokolips, claiming that their battle will only be delayed.
In the end, Darkseid attempts to directly claim the entire energy of the slain New Gods from Jimmy Olsen (who has been used as a living vessel for their power), only to fail thanks to the intervention of the Atom. It is then that Orion arrives via Boom Tube, apparently restored to his original body, to end his endless fight with Darkseid. In order to comply with the prophecy, he kills Darkseid by ripping his heart out, creating a firepit of Apokolips from Darkseid's chest cavity. A battered, wounded Orion walks away evidently to die of his wounds, refusing any care or external help. Whether his resurrection would have been permanent in any case is unknown. He apparently succumbs to his injuries in a shipping yard, early in Final Crisis, with the Black Racer looming over him.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Orion's primary abilities are his superhuman strength, speed, stamina and durability. His physical strength is difficult to gauge accurately, but he has successfully defeated Darkseid at least once. He has also been shown to hold his own against the likes of Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, and even Superman. No normal Earth-made barrier or substance can possibly stop Orion if he wishes to enter an area. Few barriers, even in the Fourth World are capable of stopping Orion. Battles that have had Orion at the scene are known to be catastrophically destructive and often have extreme loss of life. Orion was granted a Mother Box that can calm his temper and temporarily change his appearance to something more handsome than his parentage normally allows. Orion's Mother Box expends much of its energy keeping Orion's rage in check. When she is not doing that she is maintaining Orion's link to the Source and directing the energies of his Astro Harness. Bolstered by his rage and his Mother Box, Orion is virtually inexhaustible. In addition, Orion also possesses a regenerative Healing Factor in the event that enough force is brought to bear on him which might actually cause him any type of severe injury. He is also able to call upon his "Mother Box" to assist in healing injuries or to sustain his life energies. As one of the most damage-resistant New Gods, Orion is extremely difficult to kill, and has even withstood immersion in the Fire Pits of Armagetto.[4] Like all denizens of Apokolips and New Genesis, he ages at an immensely slow rate, being functionally immortal by human standards.
The "Astro-Harness" is an alien artifact of unknown origin even amongst the New Gods. Worn around his waist and slung over his shoulders, with attached stirrup-like footrests, it is capable of several abilities and is used exclusively by Orion. He is able to use his Astro Harness to project the "Astro-Force", an energy described by Orion as "the Wrath of the Source". Orion can also channel the Astro-Force through his wristbands for smaller blasts when away from the Harness. In one notable case in Orion issue #25, it is implied that it lays waste to much of Apokolips. Orion's dual nature is crucial to his use of the Astro-Force; only someone like himself, who stands "poised between the ferocity of Apokolips and the compassion of New Genesis", can wield it. If Orion turns away from the Source and its teachings, as has happened in the past, then the Astro-Force can become uncontrollable and the Harness becomes a danger to its wearer. The Astro-Harness can also produce a force field barrier, and can absorb energy from the local environment in the event that its access to the Source has been cut off. It also has the ability to place a "Magna-Lock" on an object; this is similar to a tractor beam, allowing Orion to tow an object from a distance. The Harness can be programmed to fly another person to safety and then return to Orion. The device also allows Orion to travel at faster than light speeds in space. Like much of the technology of New Genesis, the Astro-Harness is capable of self-repair and will repair itself completely as long as any portion of the device exists. In issue 21 of Orion (cover date Feb. 2002), Orion recreated his wristbands, and from them the complete Astro-Harness. Orion used a link to the Source (which did not obviously involve a Mother Box) to do this. It was revealed that the Harness and his wristbands are "a part of the Source and cannot be destroyed by mortals. Perhaps not even by gods!"
Orion (like all other New Gods) is vulnerable to a substance called Radion. Its source is unknown and its effects are toxic only in sustained amounts or after explosive exposure. Orion's second weakness is a psychological one. He struggles to reconcile his destructive nature with the more gentle teachings of New Genesis.
[edit] Alternate versions
- Orion appeared in the graphic novel Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. This is set in the future of the current DC continuity and features many aged heroes. Orion himself has overthrown Darkseid and become the reluctant ruler of Apokolips. He wears simple clothes and is more calm and in control of himself. Apokolips however has not changed. The people are so used to Darkseid's despotic rule that they are unable to grasp the concepts of freedom. Orion himself fears that too much change could lead to disaster. Big Barda and Scott Free travel around trying to teach the "lowlies" about thinking and standing up for themselves and tell that that they can "dream of things beyond" Orion. This is done with Orion's approval.
- The Mister Miracle series of Grant Morrisons Seven Soldiers of Victory portrays Orion in a similar manner to that of the rest of the new gods, as a homeless refugee living on Earth, cast out of the Fourth World after Darkseid won the war with New Genesus. His "human" persona is the form of a large, muscular african-american man, who is often seen pushing Metron's wheelchair.
- The satirical miniseries Captain Carrot and the Final Ark, featuring an earth of anthropomorphic animal superheroes, features the New Gods as canines, dubbed The New Dogs. Orion is a brown bloodhound or bulldog named Orihound.
[edit] Other media
- In Superman: The Animated Series, Orion (voiced by Steve Sandor) comes to Metropolis in the episode Apokolips...Now! to warn Superman of Darkseid's oncoming invasion. He helps fend off some of the Apokoliptian-technology-enhanced Intergang criminals, and then goes back to New Genesis. He convinces Highfather to place Earth under New Genesis' protection, and they arrive on Earth just in time to stop Darkseid from beginning all-out war with humanity (under the terms of the truce between Apokolips and New Genesis, an act of war on Earth will now be considered an act of war on New Genesis and a breaking of the truce). This incarnation is quite true to the comic version, in origin, weaponry, and demeanor; Orion is portrayed as having a controlled but short temper, one that particularly gets focused towards his biological father Darkseid.
- In Justice League, Orion appears again in the episode Twilight (this time, voiced by Ron Perlman). The return of Darkseid to Superman's attention (Superman having developed a severe hatred of the tyrant due to his murder of Dan Turpin and his brainwashing of Superman against Earth) caused Superman to ask Batman and Wonder Woman to seek out Orion's help. The mention of Darkseid, however, causes Orion to go against Highfather's wishes and heads off to confront the menace directly. After this, Orion has joined the expanded Justice League—as seen on Justice League Unlimited—although given his previous focus on events pertaining directly to New Genesis, his membership in the League seems odd.
- Orion has a significant supporting role in the episode "Flash and Substance." When Batman learns of a plot to kill Flash, he comes with Orion to Central City to protect both Flash and any innocents during the grand opening of the Flash Museum. Orion is plainly irritated and uncomprehending of Flash's lighthearted attitude and affinity for talking to his enemies, instead of opting immediately for battle. He even calls Flash a fool for having compassion for the Trickster, who is not innately evil but suffers from psychological problems. Batman's hunch was correct and Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master and Captain Cold all make appearances to fight. Orion's flying harness is destroyed by Captain Cold's ice attack, prodding him to fight on foot. He sustains punishment from explosives and ice attacks, yet once freed he is not noticeably injured. At the end of the story, his best guess is that Flash's lighthearted attitude is meant to hide "a warrior's pain".
[edit] See also
- Apokolips, Orion's birth planet
- Bekka, Orion's wife
- Darkseid, Orion's father
- Highfather Izaya, Orion's adoptive father
- Jack Kirby, Orion's creator
- Jack Kirby's Fourth World, Orion's fictional setting
- list of New Gods
- mother box
- New Genesis, Orion's adoptive home
- New Gods, Orion's people
[edit] References
- ^ Orion #15 sales. Last accessed March 11, 2007
- ^ Orion #25 sales. Last accessed March 11, 2007
- ^ Orion Credits. Last accessed Feb 09, 2007
- ^ Wolfman, Marv (w), Ordway, Jerry (p,i). "From the Dregs..." Adventures of Superman #426 (March, 1987) DC Comics (2)
[edit] External links
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