Takion
Encyclopedia
Takion is a fictional character
in the DC Comics
comic book
series which ran for 7 issues in 1996, and of the lead character of that series. The character was created by Paul Kupperberg
and Aaron Lopresti.
Josh Saunders, a blind psychologist, who was chosen by Highfather
to become a Source Elemental and given the ability to manipulate the Source, because Highfather felt he was "a man without destiny" and therefore would not be missed. Highfather names him Takion of the Source and tells him that he must clean a taint from the Source. In reality, Takion was created as an Avatar
of Highfather, as a security measure in the event of Highfather's death. In that moment, Takion was able to see everything, all his failures and victories, time was without boundary. He was even able to foresee Highfather's death.
While trying to deal with the ebb and flow of energy through his body into and out of the Source, Josh attracts the attention of Captain Atom
, the Flash
, Green Lantern
; after a brief fight, he easily defeats all three heroes and leaves the planet feeling that with his immense power levels, he was a threat to everyone on Earth.
, Takion has cosmic awareness but has to filter this awareness and all the information it brought using the primitive thought structures of a human brain. This dissonance was making him unstable. He spent his time in space learning how to separate the future and past from the present, and forcing his awareness to exist only in the present. He allowed his body to discorporate so that he could re-assemble himself, which is when he first discovered the ability to possess others, read their minds and also their potential timeline and destiny. Takion also learned how to accept and use his cosmic awareness.
. After Stayne's creation, he is finally caught up to Darkseid and confronts her for the first time. Takion must deal with Stayne's ability to cut him off from the Source and the threatening fact that if she makes physical contact with the Wall first, she will gain control over reality.
event, Highfather (Izaya) learned of Darkseid's plans to destroy the Source Wall and take control the Source itself. Izaya gathered a group of younger gods, including Zeus, Jove, Odin and Ares
together to fight him. However, Ares rebelled against Highfather and killed him. Ares was imprisoned in the new Source Wall by the other gods.
(Mister Miracle) who is Izaya's only living heir. Scott turns the offer down, leaving Takion to become the new Highfather. During a crisis, he asks for guidance from Highfather, who had become one with the Source. Highfather is able to temporarily return from the Source by using the body of his Avatar Takion, as this was the real purpose for Takion's creation. Highfather resurrects Supertown, providing the people of New Genesis with new hope.
in order to learn the identity of the serial killer that has slain many New Gods. Takion himself falls victim to and dies at the hands of the Infinity-Man
.
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...
in the 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...
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...
series which ran for 7 issues in 1996, and of the lead character of that series. The character was created by Paul Kupperberg
Paul Kupperberg
Paul Kupperberg is a former editor for DC Comics, and a prolific writer of comic books and newspaper strips.-Biography:Kupperberg entered the comics field from comics fandom, as had his brother, writer/artist Alan Kupperberg...
and Aaron Lopresti.
Fictional character biography
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 ....
to become a Source Elemental and given the ability to manipulate the Source, because Highfather felt he was "a man without destiny" and therefore would not be missed. Highfather names him Takion of the Source and tells him that he must clean a taint from the Source. In reality, Takion was created as an Avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
of Highfather, as a security measure in the event of Highfather's death. In that moment, Takion was able to see everything, all his failures and victories, time was without boundary. He was even able to foresee Highfather's death.
While trying to deal with the ebb and flow of energy through his body into and out of the Source, Josh attracts the attention of 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...
, 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....
, 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...
; after a brief fight, he easily defeats all three heroes and leaves the planet feeling that with his immense power levels, he was a threat to everyone on Earth.
Cosmic Awareness
The problem was that unlike a New GodNew 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....
, Takion has cosmic awareness but has to filter this awareness and all the information it brought using the primitive thought structures of a human brain. This dissonance was making him unstable. He spent his time in space learning how to separate the future and past from the present, and forcing his awareness to exist only in the present. He allowed his body to discorporate so that he could re-assemble himself, which is when he first discovered the ability to possess others, read their minds and also their potential timeline and destiny. Takion also learned how to accept and use his cosmic awareness.
Stayne
Takion's main nemesis is Stayne, his dark counterpart who was a nameless human woman transformed by Darkseid's power. She is sent to keep Takion from achieving his true potential and to prevent him from learning about Darkseid's plan to destroy the Source WallSource 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...
. After Stayne's creation, he is finally caught up to Darkseid and confronts her for the first time. Takion must deal with Stayne's ability to cut him off from the Source and the threatening fact that if she makes physical contact with the Wall first, she will gain control over reality.
Izaya's death
During the GenesisGenesis (DC Comics)
"Genesis" was a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self titled, four-issue, weekly mini-series and published by DC Comics in August 1997. The series was written by John Byrne and drawn by Ron Wagner and Joe Rubinstein...
event, Highfather (Izaya) learned of Darkseid's plans to destroy the Source Wall and take control the Source itself. Izaya gathered a group of younger gods, including Zeus, Jove, Odin and Ares
Ares (DC Comics)
Ares is a fictional character, a supervillainous God appearing in DC Comics publications and related media. Based upon the Greek mythological figure of the same name, he is the god of War and one of the major adversaries of Wonder Woman. He first appeared in Wonder Woman #1, volume 1, published in...
together to fight him. However, Ares rebelled against Highfather and killed him. Ares was imprisoned in the new Source Wall by the other gods.
Highfather
After Izaya's death, the role of Highfather is offered to Scott FreeMister 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:...
(Mister Miracle) who is Izaya's only living heir. Scott turns the offer down, leaving Takion to become the new Highfather. During a crisis, he asks for guidance from Highfather, who had become one with the Source. Highfather is able to temporarily return from the Source by using the body of his Avatar Takion, as this was the real purpose for Takion's creation. Highfather resurrects Supertown, providing the people of New Genesis with new hope.
Death
Takion travels to the Source Wall, accompanied by HimonHimon
Himon is a fictional character. Created by Jack Kirby, the character is one of the New Gods, a fictional race of gods in publications from DC Comics...
in order to learn the identity of the serial killer that has slain many New Gods. Takion himself falls victim to and dies at the hands of the Infinity-Man
Infinity-Man
Infinity-Man is a fictional character, an extraterrestrial superhero published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Forever People #1, .-Fictional character biography:...
.
Powers and abilities
- A living embodiment of the Source, and to the spirit of Highfather. He serves as a conduit and avatar, between the Source and the New Gods of New Genesis.
- Takion's only limit is the amount of energy existing in the Source, he cannot create new energyEnergyIn physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
, but can channel and manipulate existing forms of energy. He apparently can actively shift the signature of wave energy along its spectrum. - He seems to be able to rewrite the atomic structure of matter by re-arranging the subatomic particles that form its identity matrixMatrix mechanicsMatrix mechanics is a formulation of quantum mechanics created by Werner Heisenberg, Max Born, and Pascual Jordan in 1925.Matrix mechanics was the first conceptually autonomous and logically consistent formulation of quantum mechanics. It extended the Bohr Model by describing how the quantum jumps...
. - He could become intangible at will as well as teleport.
- He could manipulate subjective time on a quantum level.
- He could also dampen energy fields, including the ring of Green Lantern Kyle Rayner.
Resources
- GCD Project: Takion #1
- DCU Guide: Takion Profile
- DCU Guide: Takion Chronology
- New Gods Library: Takion
- New Gods Index: Highfather