Wanderers (comics)
Encyclopedia
The Wanderers are a fictional group of superheroes
appearing in comics
published by DC Comics
. They first appeared as allies of the Legion of Super-Heroes
in Adventure Comics
#375 written by Jim Shooter
, illustrated by Win Mortimer
with a cover by Neal Adams
. DC published a thirteen-issue series featuring the team in the late 1980s
.
, which their leader wore across his neck. The Wanderers were:
After meeting the Legion, the Wanderers were accidentally exposed to radiation from the Nefar Nebula which turned them evil. They stole a valuable gemstone and faced the various Legion members in contests of strength. The Legion managed to figure out what had happened to the Wanderers and reverse the process. The two teams parted as friends.
The Wanderers then reappeared as guests at Duo Damsel and Bouncing Boy
's wedding, and also reappeared during the Legion's clash with Darkseid
.
Artist Dave Cockrum
's redesign sketch for the Wanderers was published in Marvel Comics
' X-Men Anniversary Magazine (1993), which showed that one of the originally planned members was Nightcrawler
, who Cockrum instead ended up using as a member of the X-Men
after he moved to Marvel Comics
.
Post-Crisis
In June 1988
, the Wanderers appeared in their own eponymous title, written by Doug Moench
, which ran for thirteen issues. Original artist Steve Dillon
redesigned the characters, however he was replaced by Dave Hoover
and Robert Campanella who redesigned them again. In this series, all the Wanderers were killed then recreated by Clonus, their Controller mentor, with upgraded powers and drastically different bodies with the exception of Celebrand, whose cloning attempt failed:
The new Wanderers ultimately solved the murder of their original selves, and officially became agents of the United Planets. On their final mission, they successfully created a clone of their former leader, Celebrand, and opted to follow mysterious aliens into another dimension. Only Dartalon was ever seen again.
" superhero group created by the United Planets to combat the Dominators
. All of the Wanderers except Mekt Ranzz
were killed fighting the Dominators. Mekt then scoured the galaxy to recreate the team and recruited several heroes, such as Polar Boy
, Inferno
, White Witch
, Nemesis Kid
, Plant Lad
and others. Mekt also attempted to recruit his sister Light Lass
, as well as Karate Kid
, Star Boy, Ultra Boy
and Mon-El.
Other members of the team include a figure resembling Tyr
and the team's co-ordinator Tarik.
The members of this version of the Wanderers includes:
, the post-Zero Hour Legion
, whose universe was destroyed during the events of Infinite Crisis
, decide to travel the Multiverse
under the guidance of Shikari Lonestar in an attempt to find and rescue survivors of other lost universes. XS
and Gates
remain behind with the original Legion, the former to explore her new world and locate lost relatives, the latter to provide a non-humanoid voice for the group.
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
appearing in comics
American comic book
An American comic book is a small magazine originating in the United States and containing a narrative in the form of comics. Since 1975 the dimensions have standardized at 6 5/8" x 10 ¼" , down from 6 ¾" x 10 ¼" in the Silver Age, although larger formats appeared in the past...
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...
. They first appeared as allies of 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....
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...
#375 written 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...
, illustrated by Win Mortimer
Win Mortimer
James Winslow "Win" Mortimer was a comic book and comic strip artist best known as one of the major illustrators of the DC Comics superhero Superman...
with a cover by Neal Adams
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
. DC published a thirteen-issue series featuring the team in the late 1980s
1980s in comics
This article lists major events in the field of comics during the 1980s.Publications: 1980 - 1981 - 1982 - 1983 - 1984 - 1985 - 1986 - 1987 - 1988 - 1989-1982:*Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo debuts in Young Magazine.- March :...
.
Pre-Crisis
In their first appearance, the Wanderers were introduced as a team of adventurers that existed several years before the Legion of Super-Heroes were formed. Their symbol was a mandalaMandala
Maṇḍala is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". In the Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions their sacred art often takes a mandala form. The basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point...
, which their leader wore across his neck. The Wanderers were:
- Celebrand - the leader and the group's strategist.
- Psyche - mistress of emotions.
- Quantum Queen - able to project or turn herself into any type of quantum energy.
- Elvo - master swordsman who wields an energy sword.
- Dartalg - expert with blowguns and darts. Has several types of darts for use, such as exploding darts.
- Orintho - born with wings and is able to shapeshift into any other bird.
- Immorto - expert marksman who cannot be killed, instead his body automatically rejuvenates.
After meeting the Legion, the Wanderers were accidentally exposed to radiation from the Nefar Nebula which turned them evil. They stole a valuable gemstone and faced the various Legion members in contests of strength. The Legion managed to figure out what had happened to the Wanderers and reverse the process. The two teams parted as friends.
The Wanderers then reappeared as guests at Duo Damsel and Bouncing Boy
Bouncing Boy
-Fictional character biography:Bouncing Boy is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century. He is Chuck Taine of Earth, and he has the power to inflate like a ball and bounce. He received his powers when he accidentally drank a super...
's wedding, and also reappeared during the Legion's clash with Darkseid
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...
.
Artist Dave Cockrum
Dave Cockrum
David Emmett Cockrum was an American comic book artist known for his co-creation of the new X-Men characters Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus...
's redesign sketch for the Wanderers was published in Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' X-Men Anniversary Magazine (1993), which showed that one of the originally planned members was Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler (comics)
Nightcrawler is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. He has been associated with both the X-Men and Excalibur, originally appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, he debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1...
, who Cockrum instead ended up using as a member of the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
after he moved to Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
Post-CrisisCrisis on Infinite EarthsCrisis 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...
In June 19881988 in comics
-Events and publications:* Jack Binder, creator of the original Daredevil, dies at c. age 86.* Tarpé Mills, creator Miss Fury, dies at c. age 73....
, the Wanderers appeared in their own eponymous title, written by Doug Moench
Doug Moench
Douglas Moench , better known as Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok.-Biography:...
, which ran for thirteen issues. Original artist Steve Dillon
Steve Dillon
Steve Dillon is a British comic book artist, from Luton, Bedfordshire, best known for his work with writer Garth Ennis on Hellblazer, Preacher and The Punisher.-Biography:...
redesigned the characters, however he was replaced by Dave Hoover
Dave Hoover
Dave Hoover was an American comic book artist and animator, most notable for his art on DC Comics' The Wanderers limited series, as well as lengthy runs on DC's Starman and Marvel Comics' Captain America.-Early life:Hoover received his B.S...
and Robert Campanella who redesigned them again. In this series, all the Wanderers were killed then recreated by Clonus, their Controller mentor, with upgraded powers and drastically different bodies with the exception of Celebrand, whose cloning attempt failed:
- Dartalon (formerly Dartalg) - now changed into an almost monstrous form, with quills coming out of his body and out of his hand like talons instead of his simply using them as weapons.
- Elvar (formerly Elvo) - now owned an energy sword that fired emotion-triggered blasts.
- Re-Animage (formerly Immorto) - now had the power to heal and revive other people.
- Aviax (formerly Ornitho) - retained his original powers.
- Psyche - retained her original name and powers.
- Quantum Queen - retained her original name and powers.
The new Wanderers ultimately solved the murder of their original selves, and officially became agents of the United Planets. On their final mission, they successfully created a clone of their former leader, Celebrand, and opted to follow mysterious aliens into another dimension. Only Dartalon was ever seen again.
Five Years Later
Dartalon appeared in a Silverale commercial in Legon of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) after the events of the "Five Year Gap". Inexplicably, Dartalg was later seen among Leland McCauley's collection of captive statuary."Threeboot"
In the "Threeboot" Legion continuity, the Wanderers are a "black opsBlack operation
A black operation or black op is a covert operation typically involving activities that are highly clandestine and often outside of standard military protocol or even against the law.-Origins:...
" superhero group created by the United Planets to combat 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...
. All of the Wanderers except Mekt Ranzz
Lightning Lord
Lightning Lord is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. The older brother of Lightning Lad and Lightning Lass of the Legion of Super-Heroes, he first appeared in Superman #147 , and was created by Jerry Siegel and Curt Swan....
were killed fighting the Dominators. Mekt then scoured the galaxy to recreate the team and recruited several heroes, such as Polar Boy
Polar Boy
Polar Boy is a fictional character, a superhero from the 30th century of the DC Universe, initially suggested by reader Buddy Lavigne of Northbrook, Illinois in the letters page of Adventure Comics #304, January, 1963.-Fictional character biography:...
, Inferno
Inferno (DC Comics)
Inferno was also the name of the "SW6" version of the Legionnaire Sun Boy.Inferno is a fictional character, a superheroine in the DC Comics universe...
, 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...
, Nemesis Kid
Nemesis Kid
Nemesis Kid is the alias of Hart Druiter, a comic book supervillain in the DC Comics universe. He lives in the future, comes from the planet Myar, and is an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
, Plant Lad
Chlorophyll Kid
Chlorophyll Kid is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe.-Fictional character biography:Chlorophyll Kid was born Ral Benem on the planet Mardru. As a young man, he accidentally fell into a tank of hydroponic serum which gave him the power to stimulate plant growth. He can grow...
and others. Mekt also attempted to recruit his sister Light Lass
Lightning Lass
Ayla Ranzz, known originally as Lightning Lass is a comic book fictional character, who is a super heroine in a future DC Comics universe...
, as well as Karate Kid
Karate Kid (comics)
Karate Kid is a fictional character, a superhero in the future of the DC Comics universe, and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. He is a master of every form of martial arts to have been developed by the 31st century...
, Star Boy, 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...
and Mon-El.
Other members of the team include a figure resembling Tyr
Tyr (DC Comics)
Tyr is a fictional supervillain in the DC Universe. He first appeared in Superboy Vol. 1, #197 , and was created by Dave Cockrum. His name is taken from Týr, the one-handed Norse god of war.- Pre-Zero Hour:...
and the team's co-ordinator Tarik.
The members of this version of the Wanderers includes:
- Grav - anti-grav acrobat.
- InfernoInferno (DC Comics)Inferno was also the name of the "SW6" version of the Legionnaire Sun Boy.Inferno is a fictional character, a superheroine in the DC Comics universe...
- generates heat and light. - Jeyra Entinn - Saturnian telepath.
- Kid Quake - generates earthquakes.
- Kromak - able to graft body parts together.
- Mekt RanzzLightning LordLightning Lord is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. The older brother of Lightning Lad and Lightning Lass of the Legion of Super-Heroes, he first appeared in Superman #147 , and was created by Jerry Siegel and Curt Swan....
- leader. Generates electricity. - Micro Lass - giant who shrinks down to six feet.
- Nemesis KidNemesis KidNemesis Kid is the alias of Hart Druiter, a comic book supervillain in the DC Comics universe. He lives in the future, comes from the planet Myar, and is an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
- powers unknown (the pre-Crisis version could manifest super-powers to defeat any one foe). - Physo - powers unknown.
- Plant LadChlorophyll KidChlorophyll Kid is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe.-Fictional character biography:Chlorophyll Kid was born Ral Benem on the planet Mardru. As a young man, he accidentally fell into a tank of hydroponic serum which gave him the power to stimulate plant growth. He can grow...
- accelerates plant growth. - Polar BoyPolar BoyPolar Boy is a fictional character, a superhero from the 30th century of the DC Universe, initially suggested by reader Buddy Lavigne of Northbrook, Illinois in the letters page of Adventure Comics #304, January, 1963.-Fictional character biography:...
- slows molecular movement. - Thoom - super-strength.
- Vrax Gozzl - ColuColuColu is a fictional planet in DC Comics whose primary inhabitants are called the Coluans. Another name given for the planet was "Yod" , which has appeared only once in comics, was later pointed out in a letter by a fan...
an who possesses a tenth-level intellect. - 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...
- Spellcasting. - TelekinesisTelekinesis (comics)Telekinesis is a mysterious character who appeared in Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes 28, as a member of a rival team to the Legion, the Wanderers.-Fictional character biography:...
- telekinetic.
Earth-247 Legion
Following the events of 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....
, the post-Zero Hour Legion
Legion 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...
, whose universe was destroyed during the events of Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
, decide to travel the Multiverse
Multiverse (DC Comics)
The DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity, allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternative versions of characters and...
under the guidance of Shikari Lonestar in an attempt to find and rescue survivors of other lost universes. XS
XS (comics)
XS is a fictional character, a superheroine in the future of the DC Comics universe. A member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, she is the granddaughter of Barry Allen , and first cousin of Bart Allen .-Fictional character biography:Despite being the granddaughter of Barry Allen and the daughter of...
and Gates
Gates (comics)
Ti'julk Mr'asz, codename Gates, is a fictional character, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the DC Universe. Like all natives of the planet Vyrga, Gates has a largely insectoid body...
remain behind with the original Legion, the former to explore her new world and locate lost relatives, the latter to provide a non-humanoid voice for the group.