Earth Prime
Encyclopedia
Earth Prime is a term sometimes used in works of speculative fiction
involving parallel universes
or a multiverse
, and refers either to the universe containing "our" Earth, or to a parallel world with a bare minimum of divergence points from Earth as we know it. The "Earth Prime" of a given fictional setting may or may not have an intrinsic value to or vital connection to the other Earths it exists alongside (although it appears to be the case that such Prime Earths -and sometimes the 'central universes' in which those Prime Earths exist as well -are portrayed in fiction to be vital to the existence of the other Earths).
, Earth-Prime is the true Earth from which all the other worlds within the multiverse originate, the actual reality where the readers lived, DC Comics operated as a publisher and all superheroes are fictional. However, Earth Prime became an alternate reality in its first appearance in Flash #179 (May, 1968), when the Flash
(Barry Allen) accidentally travels there from Earth-One by being pushed by a creature called The Nok. The Flash, stranded, contacts DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz
, who helps him construct a cosmic treadmill
to return to Earth One. Eventually it was stated that the writers of DC Comics of Earth Prime unconsciously base their stories on the adventures of the heroes on Earth-One and Earth-Two.
In Flash #228 (July/Aug 1974), Earth Prime's Cary Bates
travels to Earth-One, where he discovers that the stories he writes are not only based on events on Earth-One, but can actually influence these events as well. This power turns for the worse in Justice League of America #123 (October 1975), when Bates is accidentally transported to Earth-Two. The interdimensional trip temporarily turns Bates into a supervillain, and he quickly kills the Justice Society of America
. Luckily fellow DC writer Elliot S. Maggin, with the help of the Justice League and the Spectre
, is able to restore matters on both Earths (in Justice League of America #124 (November, 1975)).
.
#87 (Nov. 1985). This Superboy's powers first manifested around the time of the passage of Halley's Comet in 1985. Just after manifesting his powers, Superboy-Prime met Earth-One's Superman. Very soon thereafter Earth-Prime was destroyed in Crisis on Infinite Earths
#10. Superboy-Prime escaped his universe's destruction, and later joined Earth-Two's Superman, Earth-Two's Lois Lane-Kent, and Earth-Three's Alexander Luthor in a "paradise dimension".
Superboy Prime possesses powers far exceeding those of the modern "New-Earth" Superman (Kal-El).
In issue #6 of the Infinite Crisis
mini-series, a now anti-heroic Superboy-Prime convinced Alexander Luthor
that Earth-Prime was the ideal world and urged him to draw his inspiration for making a new Earth from Earth-Prime. Luthor began searching through the myriad Earths for Earth-Prime and, in a metatextual nod to Earth Prime's original status as the keystone Earth, looks directly at the readers and reaches out towards them to grab our reality.
In 2004
, DC revisited the Earth-Prime concept in the miniseries
Superman: Secret Identity
. Writer Kurt Busiek
states in the introduction to the collected volume of the series that the original appearance of Superboy-Prime was the inspiration for his graphic novel.
to fight Superman and the three versions of the Legion of Super-Heroes. During the battle, the 2004 team's Element Lad
created Kryptonite
that unexpectedly affected Superboy-Prime. The Kryptonite of New Earth had no effect on Superman (Kal-L) and Prime during Infinite Crisis.
At the end of the mini series, it's revealed that Earth-Prime has been reborn
and Superboy-Prime was returned there. It was also revealed that the Threeboot Legion are from Earth-Prime's future.
and Stan Lee
. Yet other characters are capable of breaking the fourth wall
and addressing the readers directly, such as the She-Hulk
and Deadpool; and still others, such as the Earth's Watcher
, Uatu
, is possessed of the ability to see all alternate Earths in the Marvel Universe setting at will, including the real one in which he and all other beings are nothing more than fictional characters (in some early issues of What If?
, the Watcher actually addressed the reader by showing him which issues of which comics the past exploits of a given character could be found in).
, is the name of the alternate Earth where the four original sliders (Quinn Mallory
, Wade Welles
, Rembrandt Brown
, and Maximillian Arturo
) started their journey. This Earth was the same as ours until 1997 or 1998, when the Kromagg
s slid onto Earth Prime and took humanity hostage.
's Dark Tower
series takes place in "the keystone world", essentially the Earth Prime concept under a different name, complete with appearances by King himself as a character.
" - popular fantasy series by Roger Zelazny
- has a similar concept. In the Amber stories, Amber is the only true world; all others, including our Earth
, are but "shadows" of the tension between it and Chaos.
made-for-TV film, Turtles Forever
, Ch'rell (or 2003 series
's version of The Shredder), took the technodrome
from his 1987 series
counterpart and Krang
and upgraded it with Utrom technology. He later decided to destroy Turtle-Prime
to destroy the multiverse
. He was stopped by the three teams of turtles from the Prime, 1987, and 2003 universes. Although the true "Earth Prime" of the movie would be that inhabited by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in the closing shot, shown putting the finishing touches on the first issue of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book.
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
involving parallel universes
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
or a multiverse
Multiverse (science)
The multiverse is the hypothetical set of multiple possible universes that together comprise everything that exists and can exist: the entirety of space, time, matter, and energy as well as the physical laws and constants that describe them...
, and refers either to the universe containing "our" Earth, or to a parallel world with a bare minimum of divergence points from Earth as we know it. The "Earth Prime" of a given fictional setting may or may not have an intrinsic value to or vital connection to the other Earths it exists alongside (although it appears to be the case that such Prime Earths -and sometimes the 'central universes' in which those Prime Earths exist as well -are portrayed in fiction to be vital to the existence of the other Earths).
DC Comics
In the DC MultiverseMultiverse (DC Comics)
The DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity, allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternative versions of characters and...
, Earth-Prime is the true Earth from which all the other worlds within the multiverse originate, the actual reality where the readers lived, DC Comics operated as a publisher and all superheroes are fictional. However, Earth Prime became an alternate reality in its first appearance in Flash #179 (May, 1968), when the Flash
Flash (comics)
The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
(Barry Allen) accidentally travels there from Earth-One by being pushed by a creature called The Nok. The Flash, stranded, contacts DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz
Julius Schwartz
Julius "Julie" Schwartz was a comic book and pulp magazine editor, and a science fiction agent and prominent fan. He was born in the Bronx, New York...
, who helps him construct a cosmic treadmill
Cosmic treadmill
The cosmic treadmill is a fictional time travel device in the DC Comics universe. The treadmill first appears in The Flash #125 written by John Broome.-Origins:The treadmill was first seen in The Flash #125 written by John Broome...
to return to Earth One. Eventually it was stated that the writers of DC Comics of Earth Prime unconsciously base their stories on the adventures of the heroes on Earth-One and Earth-Two.
In Flash #228 (July/Aug 1974), Earth Prime's Cary Bates
Cary Bates
Cary Bates is an American comic book, animation television and film writer.-Biography:Bates began submitting ideas for comic book covers to DC Comics at the age of 13, and a number of them were bought and published, the first as the cover to Superman #167...
travels to Earth-One, where he discovers that the stories he writes are not only based on events on Earth-One, but can actually influence these events as well. This power turns for the worse in Justice League of America #123 (October 1975), when Bates is accidentally transported to Earth-Two. The interdimensional trip temporarily turns Bates into a supervillain, and he quickly kills the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
. Luckily fellow DC writer Elliot S. Maggin, with the help of the Justice League and the Spectre
Spectre (comics)
The Spectre is a fictional character and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a next issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 and received his first story the following month, #52...
, is able to restore matters on both Earths (in Justice League of America #124 (November, 1975)).
Ultraa
The first, Ultraa, was introduced in Justice League of America #153. Like Superman, Ultraa was the sole survivor of a destroyed alien world, rocketed to Earth-Prime as a baby. After his first encounter with the Justice League, Ultraa decided Earth-Prime was not ready for superheroes and relocated to Earth-One. Post-Crisis, when there was no longer an Earth-Prime or greater multiverse, Ultraa was retconned into being from the planet Almerac, homeworld of MaximaMaxima (comics)
Maxima is a fictional character from the DC Comics Superman titles. She was created by writer Roger Stern and artist George Pérez.-Fictional character biography:...
.
Superboy-Prime
The second superhero (later anti-hero) is Superboy-Prime, the true Superman from which all the other Supermen originate. He first appeared in DC Comics PresentsDC Comics Presents
DC Comics Presents was a comic book published by DC Comics from 1978 to 1986 featuring team-ups between Superman and a wide variety of other characters of the DC Universe...
#87 (Nov. 1985). This Superboy's powers first manifested around the time of the passage of Halley's Comet in 1985. Just after manifesting his powers, Superboy-Prime met Earth-One's Superman. Very soon thereafter Earth-Prime was destroyed in Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
#10. Superboy-Prime escaped his universe's destruction, and later joined Earth-Two's Superman, Earth-Two's Lois Lane-Kent, and Earth-Three's Alexander Luthor in a "paradise dimension".
Superboy Prime possesses powers far exceeding those of the modern "New-Earth" Superman (Kal-El).
In issue #6 of the Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
mini-series, a now anti-heroic Superboy-Prime convinced Alexander Luthor
Alexander Luthor, Jr.
Alexander Luthor Jr. is a DC Comics character who turned from a hero to a villain. Created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Alexander has a prominent role in the DC Universe storylines Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis....
that Earth-Prime was the ideal world and urged him to draw his inspiration for making a new Earth from Earth-Prime. Luthor began searching through the myriad Earths for Earth-Prime and, in a metatextual nod to Earth Prime's original status as the keystone Earth, looks directly at the readers and reaches out towards them to grab our reality.
In 2004
2004 in comics
-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
, DC revisited the Earth-Prime concept in the miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
Superman: Secret Identity
Superman: Secret Identity
Superman: Secret Identity is a four-issue mini-series of 48 pages each in prestige format, written by Kurt Busiek and illustrated by Stuart Immonen. The first issue was published in January 2004, and the limited series ran until April 2004. A re-release of the first two issues will become available...
. Writer Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.-Early life:...
states in the introduction to the collected volume of the series that the original appearance of Superboy-Prime was the inspiration for his graphic novel.
Legion of Super-Heroes
In 2008 the Final Crisis tie in series Legion of Three Worlds, makes various references to Earth-Prime, while Superboy-Prime is still looking to make his "Perfect Earth". He starts by rebuilding the Legion of Super-VillainsLegion of Super-Villains
The Legion of Super-Villains is a team of fictional supervillains that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. They are adversaries of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future...
to fight Superman and the three versions of the Legion of Super-Heroes. During the battle, the 2004 team's Element Lad
Element Lad
Element Lad is a fictional character in the 30th and 31st centuries of the , a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. A native of the planet Trom, he has the power to transmute chemical elements.-Pre-Zero Hour:...
created Kryptonite
Kryptonite
Kryptonite is a fictional material from the Superman mythos —the ore form of a radioactive element from Superman's home planet of Krypton. It is famous for being the ultimate physical weakness of Superman, and the word kryptonite has since become synonymous with an Achilles' heel —the one weakness...
that unexpectedly affected Superboy-Prime. The Kryptonite of New Earth had no effect on Superman (Kal-L) and Prime during Infinite Crisis.
At the end of the mini series, it's revealed that Earth-Prime has been reborn
52 (comic book)
52 was a weekly American comic book limited series published by DC Comics that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. The series was written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid with layouts by Keith Giffen...
and Superboy-Prime was returned there. It was also revealed that the Threeboot Legion are from Earth-Prime's future.
Marvel Comics
In the fictional Marvel Universe, the 'Earth Prime' of that setting is designated by extradimensional cartographers as Earth-0000, where real-life readers buy Marvel Comics. On some occasions, various characters of the Marvel Universe, looking for their version of God, encounter 'real world' figures such as Jack KirbyJack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
and Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
. Yet other characters are capable of breaking the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
and addressing the readers directly, such as the She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
and Deadpool; and still others, such as the Earth's Watcher
Watcher (comics)
The Watchers are a fictional race of extraterrestrials that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the first Watcher - named Uatu - appears in Fantastic Four #13 .-Fictional history:...
, Uatu
Uatu
Uatu, often simply known as The Watcher, is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and designed by artist Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The Fantastic Four #13 ....
, is possessed of the ability to see all alternate Earths in the Marvel Universe setting at will, including the real one in which he and all other beings are nothing more than fictional characters (in some early issues of What If?
What If (comics)
What If, sometimes rendered as What If...?, is the title of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics, exploring "the road not traveled" by its various characters...
, the Watcher actually addressed the reader by showing him which issues of which comics the past exploits of a given character could be found in).
Sliders
Earth Prime, as used in the television show SlidersSliders
Sliders is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast for five seasons, beginning in 1995 and ending in 2000. The series follows a group of travelers as they use a wormhole to "slide" between different parallel universes. The show was created by Robert K. Weiss and Tracy Tormé...
, is the name of the alternate Earth where the four original sliders (Quinn Mallory
Quinn Mallory
Quinn R. Mallory is a fictional character on the science fiction television show Sliders, played by Jerry O'Connell.-Childhood:Quinn was born in 1973 and raised in San Francisco, California, the son of Michael and Amanda Mallory...
, Wade Welles
Wade Welles
Wade Kathleen Wells, a fictional character on the show Sliders played by Sabrina Lloyd, is from San Francisco, and worked at Doppler Computer Store while attending North Shore Junior College. She was studying literature and poetry....
, Rembrandt Brown
Rembrandt Brown
Rembrandt Lee Brown is a fictional character played by Cleavant Derricks on the science fiction television show Sliders. In 1994, Rembrandt was living in San Francisco. Rembrandt is a musician, whose stage name is The Crying Man because of his ability to "cry real tears" on stage...
, and Maximillian Arturo
Maximillian Arturo
Professor Maximillian P. Arturo is a fictional character on the science fiction television show Sliders. He was played by John Rhys-Davies....
) started their journey. This Earth was the same as ours until 1997 or 1998, when the Kromagg
Kromagg
The Kromaggs , are a fictional species of humanoid primates from the science fiction television show, Sliders...
s slid onto Earth Prime and took humanity hostage.
The Dark Tower
Much of the action in the last few books of Stephen KingStephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
's Dark Tower
The Dark Tower (series)
The Dark Tower is a series of books written by American author Stephen King, which incorporates themes from multiple genres, including fantasy, science fantasy, horror and western. It describes a "Gunslinger" and his quest toward a tower, the nature of which is both physical and metaphorical. King...
series takes place in "the keystone world", essentially the Earth Prime concept under a different name, complete with appearances by King himself as a character.
The Chronicles of Amber
Though not using the term "Earth Prime", "The Chronicles of AmberThe Chronicles of Amber
The Chronicles of Amber is group of novels that comprise a fantasy series written by Roger Zelazny. The main series consists of two story arcs, each five novels in length. Additionally, there are a number of Amber short stories and other works....
" - popular fantasy series by Roger Zelazny
Roger Zelazny
Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...
- has a similar concept. In the Amber stories, Amber is the only true world; all others, including our Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, are but "shadows" of the tension between it and Chaos.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
In the Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
made-for-TV film, Turtles Forever
Turtles Forever
Turtles Forever, also known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles Forever or TMNT: Turtles Forever is a 2009 made-for-tv animated movie that was produced by 4Kids Entertainment...
, Ch'rell (or 2003 series
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated series, mainly set in New York City. It first aired on February 8, 2003 and ended on November 21, 2009...
's version of The Shredder), took the technodrome
Technodrome
The Technodrome is the semi-spherical tank-like metallic mobile subterranean fortress of Krang and Shredder, the main villains in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, the Archie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comics and most TMNT video game adaptations. The Technodrome was also...
from his 1987 series
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated television series produced by Murakami-Wolf-Swenson. The pilot was shown during the week of December 28, 1987 in syndication as a five part miniseries and began its official run on October 1, 1988...
counterpart and Krang
Krang
Krang is a fictional supervillain who appears in the Sonic The Hedgehog TV shows and most frequently in the 1987 STH cartoon and its associated media, such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comic book and most of the classic TMNT video games....
and upgraded it with Utrom technology. He later decided to destroy Turtle-Prime
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage Studios)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American comic book published by Mirage Studios from 1984 to 2009. Originally conceived by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird as a one-off parody, the comic's popularity has gone on to inspire a major pop culture franchise, including three television series, four...
to destroy the multiverse
Multiverse
The multiverse is the hypothetical set of multiple possible universes that together comprise all of reality.Multiverse may also refer to:-In fiction:* Multiverse , the fictional multiverse used by DC Comics...
. He was stopped by the three teams of turtles from the Prime, 1987, and 2003 universes. Although the true "Earth Prime" of the movie would be that inhabited by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in the closing shot, shown putting the finishing touches on the first issue of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book.
In other media
- In the DC animated feature Justice League: Crisis on Two EarthsJustice League: Crisis on Two EarthsJustice League: Crisis on Two Earths is a 2010 original direct-to-video animated film released on February 23, 2010. It is based on the abandoned direct-to-video feature, Justice League: Worlds Collide, which was intended as a bridge between the then-concluding Justice League animated television...
, the villainous OwlmanOwlman (comics)Owlman is the name of several fictional supervillains that appear in comic books published by DC Comics who are the intended reverse counterparts of Batman. Owlman first appeared in Justice League of America #29 , and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky...
's ultimate goal is to locate a universe he designates as Earth Prime, the so called "original" universe that all other universes stem from, and destroy it, thus leading to the destruction of all reality as well. Earth Prime is shown to be a desolate barren wasteland of a planet which has been ripped out of orbit, with ruins as far as the eye can see. It is unknown what exactly caused its desolation, though Owlman reasons that mankind was destroyed by itself or by the Anti-MonitorAnti-MonitorThe Anti-Monitor is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain and the antagonist of the 1985 DC Comics miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths. He first appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 , and was destroyed in Crisis on Infinite Earths #12, only to return after a long absence in Green...
.
- In the final episode of Spider-Man: The Animated SeriesSpider-Man: The Animated SeriesSpider-Man, also known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series, is an American animated series starring the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man. The show ran on Fox Kids from November 19, 1994, to January 31, 1998. The producer/story editor was John Semper, Jr. and production company was Marvel Films...
, after saving the multiverse from Spider-Carnage, an evil version of himself from an alternate Earth, Spider-ManSpider-ManSpider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
briefly visits Earth Prime and meets his own creator, Stan Lee.