Avalon (DC comics)
Encyclopedia
Avalon is the name of two fictional locations in the DC Comics
universe
. They are inspired by the mythical Avalon
of Arthurian legend.
, it is shown to exist in (or to be accessible from) 6th century Britain
. It is ruled by the immortal sorceress Vivienne, the Lady of the Lake
, a sister of Nimue
and Morgaine le Fey
.
When Morgaine is exiled from their people, the Elder Folk, for meddling with mortals (specifically the High King Uther Pendragon
and his family), Vivienne gives her sanctuary on Avalon. As such, Morgaine is often tied to the island in legend. Avalon has thus far only been shown from a distance, making it unclear how many of the stories are true in the DC Universe. Visually, it bears resemblance to Glastonbury Tor
, an area in Somerset
, England often equated with Avalon in folklore.
After the climactic Battle of Camlann
that ends his reign, King Arthur
is taken to Avalon to be healed. Those responsible for this have not been depicted. Arthur remains on Avalon to this day under an enchanted sleep, destined to one day return.
In The Books of Magic
, "Avalon" is one of the names given to the realm of Faerie
, indicating that the island may exist within it or that the two may be synonymous. During his visit to Faerie, Timothy Hunter
encounters a sleeping Arthur in a cave guarded by a giant
and Thomas the Rhymer
. Thomas claims that Arthur "sleeps on Avalon and he sleeps here." He explains that, the mystical nature of Faerie being what it is, this sleeping king figure represents both Arthur and other legendary heroes destined to return, such as Brian Boru
.
and served by knight
s bearing weapons shaped like oak branches, the planet exists in a medieval
stage of technology.
The King's rule is challenged by a wizard calling himself "Lord Romdur", who turns out to be Mordru
in disguise. The Legion of Super-Heroes
visits the planet, where Star Boy
uses his mass-inducing powers to collapse Mordru's castle, burying him alive. He remains there until freed by Darkseid
.
, King Arthur is explicitly shown to be asleep below Glastonbury Tor, following the tradition that this location is Avalon.
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. They are inspired by the mythical Avalon
Avalon
Avalon is a legendary island featured in the Arthurian legend. It first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 1136 pseudohistorical account Historia Regum Britanniae as the place where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was forged and later where Arthur was...
of Arthurian legend.
Original Avalon
As in the legend, Avalon is a mystical island paradise. In the Vertigo Comics series Madame XanaduMadame Xanadu
Madame Xanadu is a fictional character, a comic book mystic published by DC Comics. The character is identified with Nimue, the sorceress from Arthurian mythology made popular by Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur.-Publication history:...
, it is shown to exist in (or to be accessible from) 6th century Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. It is ruled by the immortal sorceress Vivienne, the Lady of the Lake
Lady of the Lake
The Lady of the Lake is the name of several related characters who play parts in the Arthurian legend. These characters' roles include giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, enchanting Merlin, and raising Lancelot after the death of his father...
, a sister of Nimue
Madame Xanadu
Madame Xanadu is a fictional character, a comic book mystic published by DC Comics. The character is identified with Nimue, the sorceress from Arthurian mythology made popular by Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur.-Publication history:...
and Morgaine le Fey
Morgaine le Fey (DC Comics)
Morgaine le Fey is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. She debuted in The Demon vol. 1 #1, , and was created by Jack Kirby...
.
When Morgaine is exiled from their people, the Elder Folk, for meddling with mortals (specifically the High King Uther Pendragon
Uther Pendragon
Uther Pendragon is a legendary king of sub-Roman Britain and the father of King Arthur.A few minor references to Uther appear in Old Welsh poems, but his biography was first written down by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae , and Geoffrey's account of the character was used in...
and his family), Vivienne gives her sanctuary on Avalon. As such, Morgaine is often tied to the island in legend. Avalon has thus far only been shown from a distance, making it unclear how many of the stories are true in the DC Universe. Visually, it bears resemblance to Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor is a hill at Glastonbury, Somerset, England, which features the roofless St. Michael's Tower. The site is managed by the National Trust. It has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument ....
, an area in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England often equated with Avalon in folklore.
After the climactic Battle of Camlann
Battle of Camlann
The Battle of Camlann is best known as the final battle of King Arthur, where he either died in battle, or was fatally wounded fighting his enemy Mordred.-Historicity:...
that ends his reign, King Arthur
King Arthur (DC Comics)
King Arthur ' is a fictional character, a comic book King published by DC Comics. Arthur debuted in New Comics #3, , and was created by Rafael Astarita. The character is based on the mythical ruler King Arthur whose earliest recorded appearances were in the Annales Cambriae, the Historia Brittonum,...
is taken to Avalon to be healed. Those responsible for this have not been depicted. Arthur remains on Avalon to this day under an enchanted sleep, destined to one day return.
In The Books of Magic
The Books of Magic
The Books of Magic is a four-issue English-language comic book mini-series written by Neil Gaiman, published by DC Comics, and later an ongoing series under the imprint Vertigo. Since its original publication, the mini-series has also been published in a single-volume collection under the Vertigo...
, "Avalon" is one of the names given to the realm of Faerie
Faerie (DC Comics)
Faerie, The Fair Lands or The Twilight Realm is one of two fictional otherdimensional homelands for the Faerie, as published by DC Comics. The Vertigo Comics realm of Faerie is an amalgam of the mythological realms of Álfheimr, Otherworld, the Fortunate Isles, Tír na nÓg and Avalon. This mix is...
, indicating that the island may exist within it or that the two may be synonymous. During his visit to Faerie, Timothy Hunter
Timothy Hunter
Timothy Hunter, is a fictional character, a comic book sorcerer published by DC Comics. He first appeared in The Books of Magic vol. 1 #1 , and was created by Neil Gaiman and John Bolton.-Publication history:...
encounters a sleeping Arthur in a cave guarded by a giant
Giant (mythology)
The mythology and legends of many different cultures include monsters of human appearance but prodigious size and strength. "Giant" is the English word commonly used for such beings, derived from one of the most famed examples: the gigantes of Greek mythology.In various Indo-European mythologies,...
and Thomas the Rhymer
Thomas the Rhymer
Thomas Learmonth , better known as Thomas the Rhymer or True Thomas, was a 13th century Scottish laird and reputed prophet from Earlston . He is also the protagonist of the ballad "Thomas the Rhymer"...
. Thomas claims that Arthur "sleeps on Avalon and he sleeps here." He explains that, the mystical nature of Faerie being what it is, this sleeping king figure represents both Arthur and other legendary heroes destined to return, such as Brian Boru
Brian Boru
Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, , , was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated...
.
Second Avalon
Avalon is also the name of a fictional planet in the 30th century of the DC Universe, named after the legendary island. Ruled by a kingMonarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
and served by knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
s bearing weapons shaped like oak branches, the planet exists in a medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
stage of technology.
The King's rule is challenged by a wizard calling himself "Lord Romdur", who turns out to be Mordru
Mordru
Mordru is a fictional character, a supervillain in the DC Comics' main shared universe.Mordru is the most prominent Lord of Chaos who is fated to survive even after the end of the universe, although he is usually shown as a powerful wizard...
in disguise. The Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
visits the planet, where Star Boy
Star Boy
Thom Kallor is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, spanning many incarnations, all connected to the various incarnations of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
uses his mass-inducing powers to collapse Mordru's castle, burying him alive. He remains there until freed by Darkseid
Darkseid
Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
.
Other versions
In the miniseries Camelot 3000Camelot 3000
Camelot 3000 is an American twelve-issue comic book limited series written by Mike W. Barr and penciled by Brian Bolland. It was published by DC Comics from 1982 to 1985 as one of its first direct market projects, and as its first maxi-series.-Plot:...
, King Arthur is explicitly shown to be asleep below Glastonbury Tor, following the tradition that this location is Avalon.