Glorith
Encyclopedia
Glorith of Baaldur is a fictional villainess appearing in stories published by DC Comics
. Her primary foe is the 30th century team known as the Legion of Super-Heroes
, and she was a major presence in Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4). Originally a minor villain who made one appearance in the 1960s, Glorith became a central figure in DC's attempts to repair the continuity problems created when it removed the original Superboy
from continuity following the Crisis on Infinite Earths
miniseries.
who was sent back in time to the 30th century. She attempts to destroy the Legion by transforming them into children. However, when the pre-pubescent Legionnaires managed to defeat her, the Time Trapper de-aged her until she reverted to protoplasm.
miniseries, writer/artist John Byrne created The Man of Steel
, a six-issue miniseries which reinterpreted the origin of Superman
. In Byrne's version of the origin, which was accepted as canon by the DC editorial board, Superman did not begin his superhero career until adulthood. Thus, Kal-El (Superman) had never been Superboy
, and did not serve as the primary inspiration for the Legion. It was revealed that the Time Trapper created a pocket universe
from a slice of time in the distant past, and altered reality until a parallel Earth was formed, complete with a teenage Kal-El named Superboy. The Time Trapper then further manipulated the timestream so that whenever the Legion would travel into the past to visit the 20th century, and whenever Superboy visited the Legion's future, the two would be directed into each other's worlds. Thus, Superman and the Superboy who inspired the Legion were said to be two distinct individuals. When the Trapper attempts to destroy the Pocket Universe Earth, Superboy saves the planet, sacrificing his own life in the process.
Although the "Pocket Universe" plot twist allowed previous Legion continuity to be essentially preserved, DC editors later made the decision to remove Superboy from Legion continuity altogether. Writers Keith Giffen
and Tom & Mary Bierbaum
crafted a tale wherein Brainiac 5
learned that the Time Trapper's essence was present within Mon-El
's mind (The Trapper had been presumed destroyed by the Infinite Man
when a covert group of Legionnaires sought revenge for the death of Superboy). Mon-El then effectively "murdered" the Trapper in the Pocket Universe. The Time Trapper's death erased the Pocket Universe and the Superboy who inhabited it from existence, which in turn meant that the Legion was never formed. Without the Legion to hold his power in check, the sorcerer Mordru
dominated much of the known universe. In the altered timeline, Glorith was Mordru's "First Wife". Another of Mordru's wives, Mysa (the Legionnaire White Witch
), had visions of the previous reality and the Trapper's importance in preventing the rise of Mordru. Mysa's covert allies, Andrew Nolan (the Legionnaire Ferro Lad) and Rond Vidar
, devised a plan to use Glorith to recreate the previous timeline, and end Mordru's domination. Mordru discovered the plan moments before it was enacted, but was too late to stop it.
being replaced by 30th century member Laurel Gand of Daxam
, and with the Time Trapper being replaced as the master of time manipulation by Glorith. Along with the Dominators
, she was the preeminent villain of the "Five Years Later" era of Legion continuity.
Glorith frequently meddled in Legion history. In the new "Glorithverse" timeline, she was responsible for the death of An Ryd (a crime for which Ultra Boy
was framed), Brainiac 5's temporary loss of sanity, and the genocidal destruction of the planet Daxam
(an event which replaced the death of Superboy in Legion history).
Ultra Boy began to suspect that Glorith had manipulated the timeline to replace another being (the Time Trapper) and steal his power, and that she would soon reach omnipotence. To stop her, he tricked Mordru into attacking her. Although the battle was essentially a draw, it cost her enough power to prevent her from conquering the universe. Eventually, Glorith learned of Ultra Boy's covert operations. To punish him, she sent his fiancee Phantom Girl
a thousand years back in time (where she became the amnesiac Phase and joined L.E.G.I.O.N.
), and made it seem that Phantom Girl had died. To maintain a counterbalance, she took a 20th century Durlan
(who was the sole friend of L.E.G.I.O.N. founder Vril Dox II) and sent him forward to the mid-30th century. After a virus permanently removed his shape-shifting powers and froze him in humanoid form, the Durlan assumed the name R. J. Brande
. He would prosper in business, becoming one of the richest persons of the era and the benefactor of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Additionally, Glorith attempted to seduce Valor in the 20th century. When he ultimately rejected her, she banished him to the Bgztl Buffer Zone (the "Glorithverse" equivalent of the Phantom Zone
) until he was released in the 30th century by the Legion. Ultimately, however, her continual rewriting of timelines caused the original Time Trapper to reappear, exacerbated the destabilization of the current timeline, and was a major catalyst for the events leading to Zero Hour in 1994, after which Legion continuity was completely rebooted.
Glorith did not appear in the post-Zero Hour Legion continuity, although the character of Lori Morning
bore some resemblance to her.
miniseries, Mordru calls upon "those that died by pain and torture by my hand!" Glorith is one of the three upon whom he calls. Her reanimated skeleton arises and is promptly destoyed by the Legion.
In Adventure Comics
#523, a young woman from an unknown planet is shown on the Sorcerers' World, having been raised and trained by Blok
, The Black Witch and other mystics. The woman is identified as Glorith, although she bears little resemblance to the original beyond her mystical nature.
The current incarnation of Glorith has training in the use of sorcery, but is still a novice in the mystic arts. She has certain magical abilities that can be used spontaneously, but apparently requires prior preparation or the use of rituals for more significant effects.
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...
. Her primary foe is the 30th century team known as 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....
, and she was a major presence in Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4). Originally a minor villain who made one appearance in the 1960s, Glorith became a central figure in DC's attempts to repair the continuity problems created when it removed the original Superboy
Superboy (Kal-El)
The original Superboy is a fictional superhero who appears in DC Comics. The name of Superman as a boy, Superboy has adventures that occur in the relative past to those of Superman and take place predominantly in his hometown of Smallville...
from continuity following the 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...
miniseries.
Pre-Crisis
The original Glorith of Baaldur was a nonpowered henchwoman of the Time TrapperTime Trapper
The Time Trapper is a fictional character, a supervillain in stories published by DC Comics. The Time Trapper's main enemies are the Legion of Super-Heroes...
who was sent back in time to the 30th century. She attempts to destroy the Legion by transforming them into children. However, when the pre-pubescent Legionnaires managed to defeat her, the Time Trapper de-aged her until she reverted to protoplasm.
Removal of the Time Trapper
After the Crisis on Infinite EarthsCrisis 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...
miniseries, writer/artist John Byrne created The Man of Steel
The Man of Steel (comic book)
The Man of Steel is a six-issue comic book limited series released in 1986 by DC Comics, several months after the twelve-issue limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths completed. The Man of Steel was written and penciled by John Byrne and inked by Dick Giordano.-Overview:The mini-series was...
, a six-issue miniseries which reinterpreted the origin of Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
. In Byrne's version of the origin, which was accepted as canon by the DC editorial board, Superman did not begin his superhero career until adulthood. Thus, Kal-El (Superman) had never been Superboy
Superboy (Kal-El)
The original Superboy is a fictional superhero who appears in DC Comics. The name of Superman as a boy, Superboy has adventures that occur in the relative past to those of Superman and take place predominantly in his hometown of Smallville...
, and did not serve as the primary inspiration for the Legion. It was revealed that the Time Trapper created a pocket universe
Pocket universe
-In science:A pocket universe is a concept in inflationary theory, proposed by Alan Guth. It defines a realm like the one that contains the observable universe as only one of many inflationary zones.-In fiction:...
from a slice of time in the distant past, and altered reality until a parallel Earth was formed, complete with a teenage Kal-El named Superboy. The Time Trapper then further manipulated the timestream so that whenever the Legion would travel into the past to visit the 20th century, and whenever Superboy visited the Legion's future, the two would be directed into each other's worlds. Thus, Superman and the Superboy who inspired the Legion were said to be two distinct individuals. When the Trapper attempts to destroy the Pocket Universe Earth, Superboy saves the planet, sacrificing his own life in the process.
Although the "Pocket Universe" plot twist allowed previous Legion continuity to be essentially preserved, DC editors later made the decision to remove Superboy from Legion continuity altogether. Writers Keith Giffen
Keith Giffen
Keith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
and Tom & Mary Bierbaum
Tom and Mary Bierbaum
Tom and Mary Bierbaum are an American husband-and-wife writing team, known for their work on the DC comic book Legion of Super-Heroes.-Biography:...
crafted a tale wherein Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5 is a fictional character who exists in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. He is a long standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Brainiac 5 is from the planet Colu...
learned that the Time Trapper's essence was present within Mon-El
Lar Gand
Lar Gand, known primarily as Mon-El , is a fictional character in DC Comics' universe who is associated with the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superboy, and Superman...
's mind (The Trapper had been presumed destroyed by the Infinite Man
Infinite Man
This article is about the LSH character; for information on the New Gods character with a similar name, please see Infinity-Man. For information on the 1973 science fiction novel by Daniel F. Galouye, see The Infinite Man....
when a covert group of Legionnaires sought revenge for the death of Superboy). Mon-El then effectively "murdered" the Trapper in the Pocket Universe. The Time Trapper's death erased the Pocket Universe and the Superboy who inhabited it from existence, which in turn meant that the Legion was never formed. Without the Legion to hold his power in check, the sorcerer 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...
dominated much of the known universe. In the altered timeline, Glorith was Mordru's "First Wife". Another of Mordru's wives, Mysa (the Legionnaire White Witch
White Witch (comics)
The White Witch is a fictional comic book character who exists in the DC Universe, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century. Her real name is Mysa Nal, although her name was given as Xola Aq in Silver Age Legion stories in Adventure Comics; the revelation that her name was...
), had visions of the previous reality and the Trapper's importance in preventing the rise of Mordru. Mysa's covert allies, Andrew Nolan (the Legionnaire Ferro Lad) and Rond Vidar
Rond Vidar
Rond Vidar is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Adventure Comics #349 , and was created by Jim Shooter, Mort Weisinger and Curt Swan.-Fictional character biography:...
, devised a plan to use Glorith to recreate the previous timeline, and end Mordru's domination. Mordru discovered the plan moments before it was enacted, but was too late to stop it.
Glorithverse
After the restoration of the original timeline, Legion history was rebooted with Mon-El (renamed "Valor") replacing Superboy as the Legion's inspiration, 20th century member SupergirlSupergirl (Kara Zor-El)
Kara Zor-El is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and related media, created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino. As Supergirl, Kara Zor-El serves as the biological cousin and female counterpart to DC Comic's iconic superhero Superman, created...
being replaced by 30th century member Laurel Gand of Daxam
Daxam
Daxam is a planet within the DC Universe. It is home to a race called the Daxamites, who are descended from Kryptonian colonists.-History:Daxamites were originally Kryptonians who left their homeworld in order to explore the Universe. They are an intensely xenophobic race, and are fearful of alien...
, and with the Time Trapper being replaced as the master of time manipulation by Glorith. Along with the Dominators
Dominators
The Dominators, collectively known as the Dominion, are a fictional alien race from the outer cosmos of the DC Universe. They are highly technologically advanced, and live in a rigid hierarchical society, in which one's caste is determined by the size of a red circle on one's forehead...
, she was the preeminent villain of the "Five Years Later" era of Legion continuity.
Glorith frequently meddled in Legion history. In the new "Glorithverse" timeline, she was responsible for the death of An Ryd (a crime for which Ultra Boy
Ultra Boy
Ultra Boy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in DC Comics. He is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. Ultra Boy gained these powers when the space-speedster he was flying was swallowed by an ultra-energy beast , exposing him to...
was framed), Brainiac 5's temporary loss of sanity, and the genocidal destruction of the planet Daxam
Daxam
Daxam is a planet within the DC Universe. It is home to a race called the Daxamites, who are descended from Kryptonian colonists.-History:Daxamites were originally Kryptonians who left their homeworld in order to explore the Universe. They are an intensely xenophobic race, and are fearful of alien...
(an event which replaced the death of Superboy in Legion history).
Ultra Boy began to suspect that Glorith had manipulated the timeline to replace another being (the Time Trapper) and steal his power, and that she would soon reach omnipotence. To stop her, he tricked Mordru into attacking her. Although the battle was essentially a draw, it cost her enough power to prevent her from conquering the universe. Eventually, Glorith learned of Ultra Boy's covert operations. To punish him, she sent his fiancee Phantom Girl
Phantom Girl
Phantom Girl is a fictional comic book superhero who appears in books published by DC Comics. In the Post-Zero Hour continuity, she is known as Apparition, and is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries...
a thousand years back in time (where she became the amnesiac Phase and joined L.E.G.I.O.N.
L.E.G.I.O.N.
L.E.G.I.O.N., is a team of fictional extraterrestrial superheroes, a science fiction comic book published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Invasion! #1, and were created by Keith Giffen, Bill Mantlo and Todd McFarlane...
), and made it seem that Phantom Girl had died. To maintain a counterbalance, she took a 20th century Durlan
Durlan (DC Comics)
The Durlans are a fictional extraterrestrial species, a race of shapeshifting beings from the planet Durla, as depicted in DC Comics.-Fictional history:...
(who was the sole friend of L.E.G.I.O.N. founder Vril Dox II) and sent him forward to the mid-30th century. After a virus permanently removed his shape-shifting powers and froze him in humanoid form, the Durlan assumed the name R. J. Brande
R. J. Brande
Rene Jacques "R. J." Brande is a fictional DC Comics character in the 30th and 31st centuries with the Legion of Super-Heroes.-Pre-Crisis:Originally a Durlan named Ren Daggle, Brande was frozen in human form by the deadly Yorggian fever...
. He would prosper in business, becoming one of the richest persons of the era and the benefactor of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Additionally, Glorith attempted to seduce Valor in the 20th century. When he ultimately rejected her, she banished him to the Bgztl Buffer Zone (the "Glorithverse" equivalent of the Phantom Zone
Phantom Zone
The Phantom Zone is a fictional prison dimension featured in the Superman comic books and related media published by DC Comics. It first appeared in Adventure Comics #283 , and was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp...
) until he was released in the 30th century by the Legion. Ultimately, however, her continual rewriting of timelines caused the original Time Trapper to reappear, exacerbated the destabilization of the current timeline, and was a major catalyst for the events leading to Zero Hour in 1994, after which Legion continuity was completely rebooted.
Glorith did not appear in the post-Zero Hour Legion continuity, although the character of Lori Morning
Lori Morning
Lori Morning is a fictional character in DC Comics' Legion of Super-Heroes.-Early appearances:She first appeared as part of the Underworld Unleashed crossover, as the ten-year-old daughter of one of Chronos's henchmen; her father Ron first appeared in a 1989 issue of The Atom, also written by Tom...
bore some resemblance to her.
Post-Infinite Crisis
In the Final Crisis: Legion of Three WorldsFinal Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds
Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds is a five-issue 2008 limited series produced by DC Comics. The series is a tie-in to Final Crisis. It is scripted by Geoff Johns, and drawn by George Pérez....
miniseries, Mordru calls upon "those that died by pain and torture by my hand!" Glorith is one of the three upon whom he calls. Her reanimated skeleton arises and is promptly destoyed by the Legion.
In Adventure Comics
Adventure Comics
Adventure Comics was a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1935 to 1983 and then revamped from 2009 to 2011. In its first era, the series ran for 503 issues , making it the fifth-longest-running DC series, behind Detective Comics, Action Comics, Superman, and Batman...
#523, a young woman from an unknown planet is shown on the Sorcerers' World, having been raised and trained by Blok
Blok (comics)
Blok is a fictional character, a superhero in the 30th century of the DC Comics universe. He has a massive, stony body possessed of incredible strength and endurance.-Fictional character biography:...
, The Black Witch and other mystics. The woman is identified as Glorith, although she bears little resemblance to the original beyond her mystical nature.
Powers and abilities
Glorith has complete control over time itself. She is able to freeze it, alter it, and even separate parts of it, thereby allowing her to (paradoxically) maintain the Time Trapper's pocket dimensions. She has the ability to age or de-age living beings to a seemingly unrestricted degree. At its extreme, this power can easily end one's life. She can send individuals forward or backward in time. Unlike the Time Trapper, her powers are partially based in sorcery. Thus, she also exhibits abilities such as mind control and manipulation.The current incarnation of Glorith has training in the use of sorcery, but is still a novice in the mystic arts. She has certain magical abilities that can be used spontaneously, but apparently requires prior preparation or the use of rituals for more significant effects.