Harbinger (DC Comics)
Encyclopedia
Harbinger is a fictional character
, a DC Comics superheroine created in the early 1980s.
, made several short teasing appearances in various DC comic books up until 1985, when the Crisis on Infinite Earths
began. Up until Crisis, she and Monitor appeared to be simple, albeit somewhat pompous, weapons brokers. At the time, she was named Lyla Michaels, and served the Monitor as a fairly conventional secretary.
All that changed in Crisis, where she adopted the name and appearance of Harbinger, revealed her power of splitting into various selves that could reintegrate later, and sent those selves through various points in time and space (across various realities, even), initially to recruit the aid of heroes for the Monitor's fight against his evil twin, the Anti-Monitor
. That conflict and its consequences were the core of the Crisis limited series.
She was also a central character in the Millennium
crossover, had a couple of spotlights (in DC Presents and Titans Spotlight), and was a member of the New Guardians
. At one point she was invited to serve the island nation of Themyscira
as the Amazons
' official historian.
When the newest Supergirl
lived on Themyscira to learn battle tactics, she and Harbinger developed a close friendship. However, that did not last long once Darkseid
's forces attacked: Harbinger was slain by the Female Furies
on the shores of the island while Doomsday
clones attracted the attention of the other warriors.
acted like a "new" Harbinger during the 52
storyline. Within the new 52-Earth Multiverse, the Monitors employ several Harbingers, among them Dark Angel
and The Forerunner
.
Harbinger reanimated as a Black Lantern
during the Blackest Night crossover. She uses her knowledge of history to provoke her targets by bringing up emotional memories, but is destroyed with the other Black Lanterns.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a DC Comics superheroine created in the early 1980s.
Fictional character biography
She and her associate, the MonitorMonitor (comics)
The Monitor is a fictional character created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez as one of the main characters of DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths limited series....
, made several short teasing appearances in various DC comic books up until 1985, when 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...
began. Up until Crisis, she and Monitor appeared to be simple, albeit somewhat pompous, weapons brokers. At the time, she was named Lyla Michaels, and served the Monitor as a fairly conventional secretary.
All that changed in Crisis, where she adopted the name and appearance of Harbinger, revealed her power of splitting into various selves that could reintegrate later, and sent those selves through various points in time and space (across various realities, even), initially to recruit the aid of heroes for the Monitor's fight against his evil twin, the Anti-Monitor
Anti-Monitor
The 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...
. That conflict and its consequences were the core of the Crisis limited series.
She was also a central character in the Millennium
Millennium (comics)
"Millennium" was a comic book crossover story line that ran through an eight-issue, self-titled, limited series and various other titles cover dated January and February 1988 by DC Comics. The limited series was published weekly, which was a departure for an American series...
crossover, had a couple of spotlights (in DC Presents and Titans Spotlight), and was a member of the New Guardians
New Guardians
New Guardians is a short-lived series published by DC Comics. It was a spin-off from the Millennium event,and ran for twelve issue, from 1988 through 1989, before being canceled. It is also the name of the group of characters who appeared in the series. The characters first appeared in Millennium...
. At one point she was invited to serve the island nation of Themyscira
Themyscira
Themyscira is a fictional island nation in the DC Comics universe that is the place of origin of Wonder Woman and her sister Amazons. Known as Paradise Island since Wonder Woman and the island's first appearance in All Star Comics #8 , it was renamed "Themyscira" with the character's February...
as the Amazons
Amazons (comics)
The Amazons of DC Comics are a fictional all-female society of superhumans, based on the Amazons of Greek mythology. There have been three major incarnations of these Amazons, one before the Crisis, and two after. What two of these groups have in common is that they are the race which produced...
' official historian.
When the newest Supergirl
Supergirl
Supergirl is a female counterpart to the DC Comics Superman. As his cousin, she shares his super powers and vulnerability to Kryptonite. She was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino in 1959. She first appeared in the Action Comics comic book series and later branched out...
lived on Themyscira to learn battle tactics, she and Harbinger developed a close friendship. However, that did not last long once 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....
's forces attacked: Harbinger was slain by the Female Furies
Female Furies
The Female Furies are a group of fictional women warriors appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Mister Miracle #6 , and were created by Jack Kirby.-Team history:...
on the shores of the island while Doomsday
Doomsday (comics)
Doomsday is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Superman: The Man of Steel #18 , and was created by writer-artist Dan Jurgens. IGN's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time ranked Doomsday as #46...
clones attracted the attention of the other warriors.
Post-Infinite Crisis
Donna TroyDonna Troy
Donna Troy is a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in The Brave and the Bold vol. 1 #60 , and was created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani...
acted like a "new" Harbinger during the 52
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...
storyline. Within the new 52-Earth Multiverse, the Monitors employ several Harbingers, among them Dark Angel
Dark Angel (DC Comics)
Dark Angel is a fictional DC Comics villain who battled Wonder Woman. She is a wandering spirit who inhabited the body of Baroness Paula Von Gunther during World War II...
and The Forerunner
Forerunner (comics)
Forerunner is a fictional character published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Countdown #46 , and was created by Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Jesus Saiz.-Fictional character biography:...
.
Harbinger reanimated as a Black Lantern
Black Lantern Corps
The Black Lantern Corps is a fictional organization of revenants appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The group is composed of deceased fictional characters that seek to eliminate all life from the DC Universe.-Publication history:...
during the Blackest Night crossover. She uses her knowledge of history to provoke her targets by bringing up emotional memories, but is destroyed with the other Black Lanterns.
Film
- Lyla appears in the September 28, 2010 direct-to-DVD film Superman/Batman: ApocalypseSuperman/Batman: ApocalypseSuperman/Batman: Apocalypse is a 2010 direct-to-video animated film based on the Superman/Batman comic storyline "The Supergirl from Krypton" and is a sequel to Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. The art style is partly based on that of Michael Turner, who penciled the Superman/Batman comic book arc...
, voiced by Rachel Quaintance. In the film she lives on ThemysciraThemysciraThemyscira is a fictional island nation in the DC Comics universe that is the place of origin of Wonder Woman and her sister Amazons. Known as Paradise Island since Wonder Woman and the island's first appearance in All Star Comics #8 , it was renamed "Themyscira" with the character's February...
among the Amazons. When she begins to receive horrible visions of 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...
's death she joins Wonder Woman in trying to stop the visions from taking place. In trying to save Supergirl from Darkseid's forces, she dies in her place.
Toys
- On July 7, 2005 the DC ComicsDC ComicsDC 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...
owned company DC DirectDC DirectDC Direct is the collectibles division of DC Comics, the Time Warner subsidiary that publishes comic books and licenses characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Batman, Batgirl and Hawkgirl. DC Direct produces statues, props, replicas and prints for the direct market, a...
released an action figure of Harbinger as part of the line of Crisis action figures.