Orion (character)
| Orion | |
|---|---|
 Orion on the cover of Jack Kirby's New Gods trade paperback (1998), art by Jack Kirby. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | New Gods #1 |
| Created by | Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Orion |
| Team affiliations | New Gods, Justice League |
| Abilities | Vast superhuman strength, speed, and endurance, immortality, The Astro Force (via the Astro-Harness), the Mother Box. |
Orion is a fictional character, a superhero and member of the New Gods. He first appeared in New Gods #1 of "Jack Kirby's Fourth World" meta-series published by DC comics.
Character history
Orion is the true, second son of Darkseid. As a child, he was traded for Scott Free in a peace effort between New Genesis and Apokolips. Raised as the son of Highfather Izaya, he was taught to control his rage and anger, becoming the most powerful warrior either world has ever known. This in itself was not an easy task given that his heritage boiled with the rage of the brutal and merciless Darkseid. Learning how to control his dark nature consumed much of Orion's youth, but as he grew, his friends among the New Gods helped him direct his anger. Orion counts among his friends Lightray, Metron, Jezebel, Scott Free, Barda and Forager. He is a hero dedicated to the ideals of New Genesis. His fighting skill and stamina have earned him the nickname "The Dog of War".
Powers and abilities
The beings of New Genesis call themselves Gods and live outside of normal time and space in a realm called the Fourth World. These New Gods have evolved due to their close proximity to the Source, a primaeval energy, believed to be one of the ultimate foundations of the Universal Expression of Energy, along with their superior technology, into beings of genetic stability and evolutionary perfection. The denizens of New Genesis are immortal, stronger, faster, and smarter than homo sapiens, despite their resemblance to the same. It is believed that there is a connection between the Fourth World and the Third World (the recognized human universe) but that connection has yet to be completely explored. Since there are physical similarities, perhaps the races of the Fourth World help populate the planets of the Third World at an earlier time in the history of the Universe.
Orion's primary abilities are his superhuman strength, speed, agility, durability and hardiness. His physical strength is difficult to gauge accurately, but he has successfully defeated Darkseid at least once. He has also been shown to hold his own against the likes of Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, and Superman. In one crossover series Orion has even been shown capable of combating the cosmic might of the Silver Silver. No normal Earth-made barrier or substance can possibly stop Orion if he wishes to enter an area. Few barriers, even in the Fourth World are capable of stopping Orion. Battles that have had Orion at the scene are known to be catastrophically destructive and often have extreme loss of life.
Orion's stamina is legendary. Only on Apokolips, New Genesis or the Earth are there any beings with the ability to compete with Orion in a conflict of any nature. Bolstered by his rage and his mother box, Orion is a virtually inexhaustible engine of destruction. This does not mean that Orion does not tire. In battles against foes of equal might, such as Superman or Darkseid, Orion has been seen to fatigue, but only after many days of a long and exhausting battle.
Weaknesses
Orion and all of the New Gods are vulnerable to a substance called Radion. Its source is unknown and its effects are toxic only in sustained amounts or after explosive exposure. The average New God can be slain by an application of Radion from a Radion blaster or bomb. More powerful New Gods such as Orion, protected by their mother box, armor and sheer toughness, have been known to take two hits and survive. Some posit that Radion must be hard to come by due to its scarcity in appearances, thinking that perhaps it requires the mysterious Element X to create it.
Orion's second weakness is a psychological one. He struggles to reconcile his destructive nature with the more gentle teachings of New Genesis. This is not to say that Orion is without nobility or mercy; rather, as the son of Darkseid, the morality he was taught growing up under Highfather's wing is in constant struggle against the darker natural instincts he inherited from his father. However, it is a testament to Orion's will that in spite of being the son of Darkseid, he is more often than not able to repress his darker nature.
Weapons and Tools
The Astro-Harness
The Astro-Harness is an alien artifact of unknown origin even amongst the New Gods. Worn around his waist, shoulder and slung over his feet, it is capable of several abilities and is used exclusively by Orion. The device makes Orion able to fly at speeds up to Mach 6 in atmosphere, or at speeds above 150,000 mph in space. It is unknown whether Orion actually needs the device to protect him from the ravages of interstellar space, but considering his natural durability, it is unlikely.
Self Repairing
Like much of the technology of New Genesis, the Astro-Harness is capable of self-repair and will repair itself completely as long as any portion of the device exists. This is believed to be from the influence of the Mother Box, because she has a link to the Source and a perfect memory of what the Astro-Harness is, she can recreate it from the native materials available around her.
Astro-force projection
The most potent power of this device is its projection of the Astro Force in beams originating from the hand portions of the harness for small blasts, and from the hands and the chest plate for blasts against inanimate objects, large starships or invulnerable super beings. This weapon is so powerful, it has been used from orbit to attack land dwelling targets or to attack other space craft.
Energy Manipulation
The Astro-harness can also acts as a force field barrier to attacks directed at Orion, protecting him from injury. It can also absorb stray energy from the environment and other beings in order to power itself, in the event that its access to the source has been cut off.
The Mother Box
Orion was granted a Mother Box that can calm his temper and temporarily change his appearance to something more handsome than his parentage normally allows.
The true nature of these living computers/beings is unknown. Called Mother Boxes by their users/partners, these beings/devices possess wondrous powers and abilities not understood even by their users. How they came to be involved with the beings of New Genesis is not known. Mother Boxes have sacrificed themselves for causes they have believed in and are greatly respected by the people of New Genesis, speaking of them as loving, living entities in the shape of a small box worn much like a common day pager on Earth.
Powers of the Mother Box
Access the Energy of the Source for various effects, change the gravitational constant of an area, transfer energy from one place to another, control the mental state of a host, communicate telepathically with a host or other life form, manipulate the life-force of a host to sustain it past fatal injuries, open or close boom-tubes, take over and control non-sentient machines, evolve non-sentient machines, merge sentient beings into a single more powerful being, sustain a life form in a hostile environment such as space, and many others. Mother Boxes have an affinity for the Source and are believed to draw their power from it.
Orion's mother box expends much of its energy keeping Orion's rage in check. When she is not doing that she is maintaining Orion's link to the Source and directing the energies of his Astro Harness.
Other media
In Superman: The Animated Series, Orion (voiced by Steve Sandor) comes to Metropolis in the episode Apokolips...Now! to warn Superman of Darkseid's oncoming invasion. He helps fend off some of the Apokoliptian-technology-enhanced Intergang criminals, and then goes back to New Genesis. He convinces Highfather to place Earth under New Genesis' protection, and they arrive on Earth just in time to stop Darkseid from beginning all-out war with humanity (under the terms of the truce between Apokolips and New Genesis, an act of war on Earth will now be considered an act of war on New Genesis and a breaking of the truce). This incarnation is quite true to the comic version, in origin, weaponry, and demeanor - Orion is portrayed as having a controlled but short temper, one that particularly gets focused towards his biological father Darkseid.
In Justice League, Orion appears again in the episode Twilight (this time, voiced by Ron Perlman). The return of Darkseid to Superman's attention (Superman having developed a severe hatred of the tyrant due to his murder of Dan Turpin and his brainwashing of Superman against Earth) caused Superman to ask Batman and Wonder Woman to seek out Orion's help. The mention of Darkseid, however, causes Orion to go against Highfather's wishes and heads off to confront the menace directly (this may have been what Superman wanted all along). After this, Orion has joined the expanded Justice League — as seen on Justice League Unlimited — although given his previous focus on events pertaining directly to New Genesis, his membership in the League seems odd.
Orion has a significant supporting role in the episode Flash and Substance. When Batman learns of a plot to kill Flash, he comes with Orion to Central City to protect both Flash and any innocents during the grand opening of the Flash Museum. Orion is plainly irritated and uncomprehending of Flash's lighthearted attitude and affinity for talking to his enemies, instead of opting immediately for battle. He even calls Flash a fool for having compassion for the Trickster, who is not innately evil but suffers from psychological problems.
Batman's hunch was correct and Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master and Captain Cold all make appearances to fight.
Orion's flying harness is destroyed by Captain Cold's ice attack, prodding him to fight on foot. He sustains punishment from explosives and ice attacks, yet once freed he is not noticeably injured. At the end of the story, he mistakenly believes that Flash's lighthearted attitude is meant to hide "a warrior's pain". Flash and Batman have little recourse but to let Orion believe this; it is clear that powerful, polarized emotions and concepts are Orion's way of life and he cannot easily comprehend diplomacy, mercy, and empathy.
See also
- Jack Kirby
- New Gods
- New Genesis
- Apokolips
- Darkseid
- Highfather Izaya
- Big Barda
- The Fourth World
- Justice League
- Mister Miracle
- Mother Box