Sorcerers' World
Encyclopedia
Sorcerers' World, also known as Zerox is a fictional planet, a comic book
location appearing in titles published by DC Comics
. Sorcerers' World first appeared in Adventure Comics
vol. 1 #369 (June 1968), and was created by Jim Shooter
and Curt Swan
.
later became the Sorcerers' World. In Legion of Super-Heroes
(vol. 4) #3 the Sorcerers' World was destroyed and its refugees resettled on the planet Tharn
. In the current version as seen in Action Comics
#886, Sorcerers' World is both a planet and a dimension which is the center and source of all magic.
#886, the 21st Century Sorcerers' World is the universal focus of all magic, and the perpendicular touchpoint for all so called magical dimensions including Gemworld
, Ifè, the 5th Dimension
, Myrra
, Skartaris
, Hell
, Jejune Realm
, Land of the Nightshades, The Dreaming
, Azarath
, Limbo
, Faerie
, the Red
, the Grey, and the Green
. Members of the Shadowpact
explained its significance to Captain Atom
. It would later be known as "Zerox" in the 30th and 31st centuries.
, from the planet Naltor
, learned her sorcery on Zerox. The most famous sorcerer to arise from Zerox is undoubtedly Mordru
. In a mystical coup, he seized control of the planet, gaining control of most of the other sorcerers on the planet. He then lead Zerox on a series of conquests that gained control of over half the galaxy, maintaining his capital on Zerox. When Mordru was finally defeated, a benign council of sorcerers assumed control of the planet.
During the Great Darkness Saga
storyline, the Sorcerers' World played a major role. First, the White Witch was attacked by the Servants of Darkness there, and later all five servants and their master Darkseid
fought the Legion there, which though defeated, did manage to keep them away from the council, which had been working a ritual seeking a way to defeat Darkseid. The result of this ritual was a child, who turned out to be Izaya, aka the Highfather
. Other noted planets with heavy magic use were Orando
and Avalon
.
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...
location appearing in titles 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...
. Sorcerers' World first appeared 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...
vol. 1 #369 (June 1968), and was created by Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
and Curt Swan
Curt Swan
Douglas Curtis Swan was an American comic book artist. The artist most associated with Superman during the period fans and historians call the Silver Age of comic books, Swan produced hundreds of covers and stories from the 1950s through the 1980s.-Early life and career:Curt Swan, whose Swedish...
.
Publication history
There have been many versions of Sorcerers' World over the years. In DC continiuty, GemworldGemworld
Gemworld, also known as Faerie, is one of two fictional other dimensional homelands for the Faerie, as published by DC Comics. In the mainstream DC Comics universe all members of the Faerie race relocated to a dimension called Gemworld which debuted in Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld #1 , and was...
later became the Sorcerers' World. In Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes (1958 team)
The 1958 version of the Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 31st century of the . The team is the first incarnation of the Legion of Super-Heroes, followed by the 1994 and 2004 rebooted versions...
(vol. 4) #3 the Sorcerers' World was destroyed and its refugees resettled on the planet Tharn
Tharn
Tharn is a fictional planet, a comic book location in titles published by DC Comics. It first appeared in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #3 , and was created by Keith Giffen, Al Gordon, Tom Bierbaum and Mary Bierbaum.-History:...
. In the current version as seen in Action Comics
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
#886, Sorcerers' World is both a planet and a dimension which is the center and source of all magic.
21st Century
According to Action ComicsAction Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
#886, the 21st Century Sorcerers' World is the universal focus of all magic, and the perpendicular touchpoint for all so called magical dimensions including Gemworld
Gemworld
Gemworld, also known as Faerie, is one of two fictional other dimensional homelands for the Faerie, as published by DC Comics. In the mainstream DC Comics universe all members of the Faerie race relocated to a dimension called Gemworld which debuted in Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld #1 , and was...
, Ifè, the 5th Dimension
Mister Mxyzptlk
Mr. Mxyzptlk , sometimes called Mxy, is a fictional impish supervillain who appears in DC Comics' Superman comic books.He was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and first appeared in Superman #30 . He is usually presented as a trickster, in the classical mythological sense, in that he enjoys...
, Myrra
Nightmaster
The Nightmaster is a fictional character, a sword and sorcery hero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Showcase #82 , and was created by Denny O'Neil and Jerry Grandenetti.-Publication history:...
, Skartaris
Skartaris
Skartaris is a fictional Hollow Earth fantasy setting created by Mike Grell for the sword and sorcery comic book Warlord, published by DC Comics. Skartaris debuted in 1st Issue Special #8 , where the character Travis Morgan, a US Air Force pilot, discovers a passage into this world through the...
, Hell
Hell (DC Comics)
Hell is a fictional location, an infernal underworld utilized in titles published by DC Comics. It is the locational antithesis of the Silver City. The DC Comics location known as Hell is based heavily on its depiction in Judeo-Christian mythology...
, Jejune Realm
Vext
Vext is a fictional character created by Keith Giffen and the star of a short-lived 1999 comic book series published by DC Comics. The series was written by Keith Giffen, pencilled by Mike McKone, inked by Mark McKenna, lettered by Bob Lappan, and colored by Lovern Kindzierski with separations by...
, Land of the Nightshades, The Dreaming
The Dreaming (comics)
The Dreaming is a fictional place, a comic book location published by DC Comics. The Dreaming first appeared in the Sandman vol. 2 #1, , and was created by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth. The Dreaming is the domain of Dream of the Endless....
, Azarath
Azarath
Azarath is a fictional dimension featured in the Teen Titans comic book series and animated series. It is the birthplace of the character Raven.-Fictional history:...
, Limbo
Limbo (DC Comics)
Limbo refers to a fictional location in books published by DC Comics. Limbo first appeared in Ambush Bug #3 , and was created by Keith Giffen.-History:In Ambush Bug Limbo refers to a fictional location in books published by DC Comics. Limbo first appeared in Ambush Bug (vol. 1) #3 (August 1985),...
, 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...
, the Red
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...
, the Grey, and the Green
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
. Members of the Shadowpact
Shadowpact
The Shadowpact is a group of magic-based heroes who fought against the Spectre in the 2005 limited series Day of Vengeance, published by DC Comics. They are a sort of Justice League for the supernatural elements of the DC Universe...
explained its significance to Captain Atom
Captain Atom
Captain Atom is a fictional comic book superhero that has existed in three basic incarnations. Created by writer Joe Gill and artist/co-writer Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Space Adventures #33 . Captain Atom was created for Charlton Comics but was later acquired by DC Comics and revised for...
. It would later be known as "Zerox" in the 30th and 31st centuries.
31st Century
A large number of magic-users, mystics, wizards and other arcane practitioners settled on Sorcerers' World, then known as Zerox, during the millennium before the 30th century. There, they practiced and refined their art, and were generally acknowledged as the most advanced users of magic in the known galaxy. The Legionnaire White WitchWhite 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...
, from the planet Naltor
Naltor
Naltor is a fictional planet first depicted in stories of DC Comics' Legion of Super-Heroes set in the 30th and 31st Centuries. It was portrayed as being the home of Legion members Dream Boy, Dream Girl and her sister White Witch....
, learned her sorcery on Zerox. The most famous sorcerer to arise from Zerox is undoubtedly 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 a mystical coup, he seized control of the planet, gaining control of most of the other sorcerers on the planet. He then lead Zerox on a series of conquests that gained control of over half the galaxy, maintaining his capital on Zerox. When Mordru was finally defeated, a benign council of sorcerers assumed control of the planet.
During the Great Darkness Saga
The Great Darkness Saga
"The Great Darkness Saga" is a five-issue Legion of Super-Heroes story arc written by Paul Levitz, with art by Keith Giffen and Larry Mahlstedt. Published by DC Comics in 1982, the arc first appears in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, #290-294...
storyline, the Sorcerers' World played a major role. First, the White Witch was attacked by the Servants of Darkness there, and later all five servants and their master 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....
fought the Legion there, which though defeated, did manage to keep them away from the council, which had been working a ritual seeking a way to defeat Darkseid. The result of this ritual was a child, who turned out to be Izaya, aka the Highfather
Highfather
Highfather is a fictional comic book character in the . He is chief of the New Gods of New Genesis in the Fourth World and ruled the fictional planet. Highfather first appeared in The New Gods #1 ....
. Other noted planets with heavy magic use were Orando
Orando
Orando is a fictional planet in the DC Universe. It is the home planet of Princess Projectra of the Legion of Super-Heroes.-Fictional history:...
and Avalon
Avalon (DC comics)
Avalon is the name of two fictional locations in the DC Comics universe. They are inspired by the mythical Avalon of Arthurian legend.-Original Avalon:...
.
Other versions
- During an event known as the Magic Wars , magic started to suddenly become more commonplace throughout the universe. Figuring the Sorcerers' World might shed some light on this, the Legion found it in the grasp of a being called the "Archmage". It was revealed he had been imprisoned at the heart of Zerox and was also the source of its magic. In defeating the Archmage, Zerox was destroyed and the refugees resettled on TharnTharnTharn is a fictional planet, a comic book location in titles published by DC Comics. It first appeared in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #3 , and was created by Keith Giffen, Al Gordon, Tom Bierbaum and Mary Bierbaum.-History:...
. - In the alternate timeline setting of the post-Zero HourZero Hour (comics)Zero Hour: Crisis in Time is a five-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by DC Comics in 1994. In it, the former hero Hal Jordan, who had until then been a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps, mad with grief after the destruction of...
Legion of Super-HeroesLegion of Super-Heroes (1994 team)The 1994 version of the Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 31st century of the DC Universe. The team is the second major incarnation of the Legion of Super-Heroes after the 1958 version and followed by the 2004 version. It first appears in Legion of Super-Heroes The 1994...
, the Sorcerers' World was reintroduced when Mordru attempted to recreate his empire. Following Mordru's defeat it was where DragonmageDragonmageXao Jin, known as Dragonmage, is a comic book fictional character, a DC Comics superhero and comes from New Shanghai Colony. He first appeared in Legion of Super-Heroes Xao Jin, known as Dragonmage, is a comic book fictional character, a DC Comics superhero and comes from New Shanghai Colony. He...
was trained by the White Witch.
In other media
- In the Legion of Super-Heroes animated series episode "Child's Play", the Sorcerers' World is introduced under the name Zerok. Phantom GirlPhantom GirlPhantom 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...
must ask the planet's ruling council to stop a young sorcerer attacking Earth. Until the events of the episode, there has been no contact between the UP and Zerok since a diplomatic mission by Phantom Girl's mother went badly. Everything on Zerox is controlled by complex and arcane rules. It is explained that, without strict rules, a planet of magic-users might do anything.