Mageddon
Encyclopedia
Mageddon is a fictional character
that appears in comic book
s published by DC Comics
. The character first appeared in JLA
#37 (Jan. 2000) and was created by Grant Morrison
and Howard Porter
.
and referenced as being the entity Tezcatlipoca
in Aztek
: The Ultimate Man #1 (Aug. 1996), Mageddon actually first appeared in the World War III storyline in JLA #37-41 (Jan. 2000 - May 2000). Mageddon has yet to reappear.
, who learns that at some point he must face and defeat Tezcatlipoca
, the Aztec
god of evil. The next mention occurs when leader of the New Gods
Lightray
asks superhero team the JLA to accept fellow New Gods Orion
and Big Barda
into their membership, referring to a grave, future threat. Together with New Gods Metron
and Mister Miracle
, Lightray views Mageddon's name on the Source Wall
; and the entity's presence is felt when a Mageddon spore
infects villain Hector Hammond
and causes a prison riot.
Mister Miracle also arrives to warn the JLA that Mageddon has entered Earth's solar system. The New God reveals that Mageddon was one of many war machines used during the Ragnarök
of the "Old Gods" that led to the destruction of their world (and the subsequent creation of New Genesis
and Apokolips
, the home planets of the New Gods and their foe Darkseid
respectively). Apparently Mageddon is unable to be destroyed, and is "chained" at the edge of the universe
's space time continuum inside what was described as an "immense gravity sinkhole
."
When several members of the JLA investigate a prison break in Belle Reve
prison, the team discover that even the warden and guards are on a killing spree. The cause is revealed to be a spore
that has formed in the shape of an eye around the telepathic villain Hector Hammond
. The villain the Red Dart steals Green Lantern's ring and delivers it to JLA foe Prometheus
for study (actually the subtle guidance of Mageddon) before returning it. The riot stops once the spore is destroyed and Hammond is freed.
Metron, Big Barda and Wonder Woman
travel to "Wonderworld", a huge planet at the edge of the universe once occupied by highly advanced superbeings that Aquaman
, the Flash
and Green Lantern
had previously encountered. On that occasion, Adam-One, the leader of the heroes on Wonderworld, had hinted at the fact that they stood guard at the edge of the universe to ward off a future threat. Wonder Woman finds the dying being the Mote (who specialized in self-miniaturization), who reveals that Mageddon turned the heroes of Wonderwolrd against one another, and that with the exception of speedster Glimmer (who escaped by running "perpendicular to time"), none survived.
As Mageddon enters Earth's solar system, a second spore forms around Lex Luthor
, who has formed another version of the Injustice Gang
(Prometheus, the General
and an alien
Queen Bee
called Zazzala) and attacks the Watchtower
, not knowing he is actually being controlled by the weapon. Green Lantern discovers his power ring has been neutralized as the General storms the Watchtower. After battling Superman
, the Martian Manhunter
and Orion, is driven into Prometheus' realm the "Ghost Zone" when attacked by Orion's war dog, Sturmer. Zazzala takes control of the human populace in New York City
and begins to build a hive
. Although seriously wounding Big Barda, Zazzala is defeated by JLA members Steel
and Plastic Man
, who take advantage of the fact that like all bees Zazzala is blind to the colour red.
Mageddon arrives in Earth's orbit, and conflicts on Earth escalate and JLA member Zauriel
enlists the angelic host to aid in pacifying the leaders of the world. Superman
and Orion attack Mageddon but Superman is captured and assimilated into the weapon, while Orion is badly injured. Animal Man
deduces that Mageddon is capable of inciting rage in humanoids by stimulating the reptilian
component of their brain stem
. Animal Man; Wonder Woman
and Black Lightning
use a device to tap into the morphogenetic field that is the source of Animal Man's powers, hoping to force a temporary jump forward in human evolution, thereby granting temporary superhuman abilities to all humans. Although Black Lightning is unable to generate the necessary power, the Flash summons the Glimmer- having travelled to the end of the universe, the Glimmer than went to Earth as the one location in history where anyone made a stand against Mageddon-, who powers the machine and creates a huge army of superhumans that travel into the atmosphere to battle Mageddon. Green Lantern successfully overcomes the dampening effect placed on his power ring by Mageddon.
Mageddon kills thousands of the newly empowered superhumans, but their attack provides a diversion that allows Aztek to heal Orion and then sacrifice himself to damage Mageddon. Via a telepathic link with the Martian Manhunter, Batman
is able to convince Superman to free himself from Mageddon's control, forcing his friend to fight past the despair and grief that Mageddon was bombarding him with by reminding him of how they had constantly refused to give up. Superman then travels to Mageddon's core, and absorbs the anti-sunlight it radiates, deactivating Mageddon.
-like face that incites hatred and violence in life forms as it approaches the heart of a galaxy. Some lifeforms can be totally controlled by the weapon, with a spore (in the shape of a large eye) forming around them and magnifying the negative emotions. Once Mageddon reaches its target, courtesy of an "anti-sun" brain it is capable of detonating and destroying the entire galaxy. Its precise size is never specified, but it was shown to be large enough to dwarf both Earth and the moon.
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...
that appears in comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s published by DC Comics
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...
. The character first appeared in JLA
JLA (comic book)
JLA was a monthly comic book published by DC Comics from January 1997 to April 2006 featuring the Justice League.-Publication history:The low sales of the various Justice League spinoff books by the mid-1990s prompted DC to revamp the League as a single team on a single title...
#37 (Jan. 2000) and was created by Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
and Howard Porter
Howard Porter
Howard Porter is an American comic book artist from southern Connecticut.-Biography:Porter graduated from Paier College of Art in Connecticut where he majored in illustration. One of his teachers there was Frank McLaughlin...
.
Publication history
Although previously hinted at in several issues of JLAJLA (comic book)
JLA was a monthly comic book published by DC Comics from January 1997 to April 2006 featuring the Justice League.-Publication history:The low sales of the various Justice League spinoff books by the mid-1990s prompted DC to revamp the League as a single team on a single title...
and referenced as being the entity Tezcatlipoca
Tezcatlipoca (DC Comics)
Tezcatlipoca is a the name used by two fictional characters who appeared in the DC Comics. One is the deity from Aztec mythology and appeared in Wonder Woman. The other is a character who appeared in Green Arrow and is a hybrid of human and jaguar, a werejaguar.-Aztec deity:The Aztec god...
in Aztek
Aztek (comics)
Aztek is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe. Based out of the fictional Vanity City, Aztek is the champion of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. The character first appeared in Aztek, The Ultimate Man #1 in August 1996, created by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar...
: The Ultimate Man #1 (Aug. 1996), Mageddon actually first appeared in the World War III storyline in JLA #37-41 (Jan. 2000 - May 2000). Mageddon has yet to reappear.
Character biography
The existence of Mageddon is first revealed to the hero AztekAztek (comics)
Aztek is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe. Based out of the fictional Vanity City, Aztek is the champion of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. The character first appeared in Aztek, The Ultimate Man #1 in August 1996, created by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar...
, who learns that at some point he must face and defeat Tezcatlipoca
Tezcatlipoca
Tezcatlipoca was a central deity in Aztec religion. One of the four sons of Ometeotl, he is associated with a wide range of concepts, including the night sky, the night winds, hurricanes, the north, the earth, obsidian, enmity, discord, rulership, divination, temptation, jaguars, sorcery, beauty,...
, the Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
god of evil. The next mention occurs when leader of the New Gods
New Gods
The New Gods are a fictional race appearing in publications by DC Comics, as well as the title for four series of comic books about those characters. They first appeared in New Gods #1 , and were created and designed by Jack Kirby....
Lightray
Lightray
Lightray is a DC Comics superhero. Created by Jack Kirby for the "Jack Kirby's Fourth World" meta-series, he first appeared in New Gods #1 .- Fictional character biography :...
asks superhero team the JLA to accept fellow New Gods Orion
Orion (comics)
Orion is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in New Gods #1 , and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby.-Jack Kirby Era:...
and Big Barda
Big Barda
Big Barda is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Mister Miracle #4 , and was created by Jack Kirby....
into their membership, referring to a grave, future threat. Together with New Gods Metron
Metron (comics)
Metron is a character created by Jack Kirby for his Fourth World series in DC Comics. He was "based on Leonard Nimoy as Spock", and designed as a character who "would frequently change sides [between New Genesis and Apokolips]"...
and Mister Miracle
Mister Miracle
Mister Miracle is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Mister Miracle #1 and was created by Jack Kirby.-Publication history:...
, Lightray views Mageddon's name on the Source Wall
Source Wall
The Source Wall is a fictional structure in the . The wall lies on the edge of the known universe, in the Promethean Galaxy. Beyond the wall lies what is known as the Source, a cosmic essence or being that is the "source" of all that exists. The wall is theoretically passable. However, all those...
; and the entity's presence is felt when a Mageddon spore
Spore
In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...
infects villain Hector Hammond
Hector Hammond
Hector Hammond is a DC Universe supervillain who is primarily an enemy of Green Lantern. The character was created by John Broome and Gil Kane, and originally appeared in Green Lantern # 5...
and causes a prison riot.
Mister Miracle also arrives to warn the JLA that Mageddon has entered Earth's solar system. The New God reveals that Mageddon was one of many war machines used during the Ragnarök
Ragnarök
In Norse mythology, Ragnarök is a series of future events, including a great battle foretold to ultimately result in the death of a number of major figures , the occurrence of various natural disasters, and the subsequent submersion of the world in water...
of the "Old Gods" that led to the destruction of their world (and the subsequent creation of New Genesis
New Genesis
New Genesis is a fictional planet in the . This planet, along with Apokolips, is speculated to be near the constellation Orion...
and Apokolips
Apokolips
In the DC Comics fictional shared Universe, Apokolips is the planet ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series. It is also integral to many DC Comics stories. The planet is considered the opposite of New Genesis....
, the home planets of the New Gods and their foe 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....
respectively). Apparently Mageddon is unable to be destroyed, and is "chained" at the edge of the universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
's space time continuum inside what was described as an "immense gravity sinkhole
Sinkhole
A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffosion processes for example in sandstone...
."
When several members of the JLA investigate a prison break in Belle Reve
Belle Reve
Belle Reve Penitentiary is a fictional prison and sanitorium in the DC Universe, first appearing in Suicide Squad #1 by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell.-Fictional background:...
prison, the team discover that even the warden and guards are on a killing spree. The cause is revealed to be a spore
Spore
In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...
that has formed in the shape of an eye around the telepathic villain Hector Hammond
Hector Hammond
Hector Hammond is a DC Universe supervillain who is primarily an enemy of Green Lantern. The character was created by John Broome and Gil Kane, and originally appeared in Green Lantern # 5...
. The villain the Red Dart steals Green Lantern's ring and delivers it to JLA foe Prometheus
Prometheus (comics)
Prometheus is the name of three fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.The first Prometheus debuted in New Teen Titans vol. 2, #24 and was created by Marv Wolfman and Eduardo Barreto . The second version debuted in New Year's Evil: Prometheus Prometheus is the name...
for study (actually the subtle guidance of Mageddon) before returning it. The riot stops once the spore is destroyed and Hammond is freed.
Metron, Big Barda and Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
travel to "Wonderworld", a huge planet at the edge of the universe once occupied by highly advanced superbeings that Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
, the Flash
Wally West
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash....
and Green Lantern
Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually in those starring the Green Lantern Corps, an extraterrestrial police force of which Rayner is a member. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks, Rayner first appeared in Green Lantern vol...
had previously encountered. On that occasion, Adam-One, the leader of the heroes on Wonderworld, had hinted at the fact that they stood guard at the edge of the universe to ward off a future threat. Wonder Woman finds the dying being the Mote (who specialized in self-miniaturization), who reveals that Mageddon turned the heroes of Wonderwolrd against one another, and that with the exception of speedster Glimmer (who escaped by running "perpendicular to time"), none survived.
As Mageddon enters Earth's solar system, a second spore forms around Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
, who has formed another version of the Injustice Gang
Injustice Gang
The Injustice Gang is a group of fictional supervillains in the DC Comics universe. They are antagonists of the Justice League.-First Formation:The original Injustice Gang's membership consisted of:...
(Prometheus, the General
General Wade Eiling
General Wade Eiling, sometimes known as The General, is a fictional character published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Captain Atom #1 , and was created by Cary Bates and Pat Broderick.-Captain Atom:...
and an alien
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
Queen Bee
Queen Bee (comics)
Queen Bee is the name of four different DC Comics supervillains.-Queen Bee :The leader of the hiveworld Korll, Zazzala lives only for the interstellar expansion of her species. Zazzala first appeared in Justice League of America #23...
called Zazzala) and attacks the Watchtower
Justice League Watchtower
The Watchtower is the name of various bases used by the Justice League of America in DC Comics and various other media. It has been portrayed in DC comics as a building on Earth's moon, and as a space-station in orbit in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon.The Watchtower debuted in JLA #4 during...
, not knowing he is actually being controlled by the weapon. Green Lantern discovers his power ring has been neutralized as the General storms the Watchtower. After battling 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...
, the Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
and Orion, is driven into Prometheus' realm the "Ghost Zone" when attacked by Orion's war dog, Sturmer. Zazzala takes control of the human populace in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and begins to build a hive
Beehive
A beehive is a structure in which bees live and raise their young.Beehive may also refer to:Buildings and locations:* Bee Hive, Alabama, a neighborhood in Alabama* Beehive , a wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings...
. Although seriously wounding Big Barda, Zazzala is defeated by JLA members Steel
Steel (comics)
Steel, in comics, may refer to one of several DC Comics characters:* Commander Steel, a World War II hero and his grandsons, also known as simply "Steel" and "Citizen Steel"....
and Plastic Man
Plastic Man
Plastic Man is a fictional comic-book superhero originally published by Quality Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. Created by writer-artist Jack Cole, he first appeared in Police Comics #1 ....
, who take advantage of the fact that like all bees Zazzala is blind to the colour red.
Mageddon arrives in Earth's orbit, and conflicts on Earth escalate and JLA member Zauriel
Zauriel
Zauriel is a fictional character in the DC Universe. Originally a guardian angel who served Heaven for millions of years, he willingly fell to Earth and becomes a superhero, having been a member of DC's all-star Justice League. He first appeared in JLA #6...
enlists the angelic host to aid in pacifying the leaders of the world. 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...
and Orion attack Mageddon but Superman is captured and assimilated into the weapon, while Orion is badly injured. Animal Man
Animal Man
Animal Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . As a result of being in proximity to an exploding extraterrestrial spaceship, Buddy Baker acquires the ability to temporarily “borrow” the abilities of animals...
deduces that Mageddon is capable of inciting rage in humanoids by stimulating the reptilian
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
component of their brain stem
Brain stem
In vertebrate anatomy the brainstem is the posterior part of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the spinal cord. The brain stem provides the main motor and sensory innervation to the face and neck via the cranial nerves...
. Animal Man; Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
and Black Lightning
Black Lightning
Black Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.- Publication history :...
use a device to tap into the morphogenetic field that is the source of Animal Man's powers, hoping to force a temporary jump forward in human evolution, thereby granting temporary superhuman abilities to all humans. Although Black Lightning is unable to generate the necessary power, the Flash summons the Glimmer- having travelled to the end of the universe, the Glimmer than went to Earth as the one location in history where anyone made a stand against Mageddon-, who powers the machine and creates a huge army of superhumans that travel into the atmosphere to battle Mageddon. Green Lantern successfully overcomes the dampening effect placed on his power ring by Mageddon.
Mageddon kills thousands of the newly empowered superhumans, but their attack provides a diversion that allows Aztek to heal Orion and then sacrifice himself to damage Mageddon. Via a telepathic link with the Martian Manhunter, Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
is able to convince Superman to free himself from Mageddon's control, forcing his friend to fight past the despair and grief that Mageddon was bombarding him with by reminding him of how they had constantly refused to give up. Superman then travels to Mageddon's core, and absorbs the anti-sunlight it radiates, deactivating Mageddon.
Powers and abilities
Mageddon is an ancient weapon created by a race of now extinct Old Gods. The weapon is a huge (larger than the planet Earth) semi-sentient orb with a squidSquid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
-like face that incites hatred and violence in life forms as it approaches the heart of a galaxy. Some lifeforms can be totally controlled by the weapon, with a spore (in the shape of a large eye) forming around them and magnifying the negative emotions. Once Mageddon reaches its target, courtesy of an "anti-sun" brain it is capable of detonating and destroying the entire galaxy. Its precise size is never specified, but it was shown to be large enough to dwarf both Earth and the moon.