Bloodwynd

Last updated
Bloodwynd
Bloodwynd 0.png
Bloodwynd as depicted in Showcase '94 #5 (May 1994); art by Max Douglas.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Justice League America #61 (April 1992)
Created by Dan Jurgens (writer & artist)
In-story information
Alter egoRaphael Arce
Quintus Arce
SpeciesHuman (Quintus)
Metahuman (Raphael)
Place of origin Metropolis (Raphael)
Team affiliations Justice League
Justice League International
Sentinels of Magic
The Conclave
Notable aliasesSuperman of Hell
Martian Manhunter
Man of Mystery
AbilitiesMystic blood gem grants various magical abilities.

Bloodwynd is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character initially debuted in Justice League America #61 (April 1992), created by Dan Jurgens. Since the character's debut, several retroactive changes have established him to be three individuals, including being an alter-ego of Martian Manhunter, and having a streamlined origin over time. [1] [2] Bloodwynd's reception as a character was mixed; while noted for a striking design and being a African-American superhero whose powers are tied to magic, the character's name was panned as well as his reduced roles. [3] [2]

Contents

The first Bloodwynd (originally unrevealed) is Quintus Arce, a necromancer and descendant of African American slaves that sought retribution against their slave owner by invoking a dark ritual involving a blood sacrifice, creating a blood gem that facilitated their freedom. [4] Martian Manhunter briefly appropriated the identity due to subtle mental coercion from the entity within the blood gem ("Rott") while Quintus foiled Rott's attempt to escape, a gambit enacted by Rott to find a power source able to allow his freedom but was defeated and the real Quintus was freed. [5] It is revealed he was condemned to Hell after an encounter with the sorcerer Felix Faust. [4] The second Bloodwynd is Quintus' nephew Raphael Arce, an empath whose abilities was awakened by the Lazarus rain during Lazarus Planet . He later absorbs portions of Doomsday and Martian Manhunter's souls, giving him several unique eldritch abilities. [4]

Fictional character biographies

Quintus Arce

Bloodwynd is the descendant of a group of African-American slaves owned by a brutal, sadistic planter named Jacob Whitney. These slaves performed an ancient ritual to create a mystical Blood Gem, with which they killed Whitney. The Blood Gem was passed down among the slaves' descendants. The Gem bestowed great physical powers on its wearer; unbeknownst to them, it also contained a microscopic world, where Jacob Whitney's spirit had become incarnate as the demon Rott. Over the years, Rott grew stronger as the Gem absorbed the dark side of each wearer's soul.

Rott sucked Bloodwynd into the Gem and held him captive, while mind controlling Martian Manhunter, compelling him to wear the Gem and impersonate Bloodwynd. Using Bloodwynd's identity, Martian Manhunter rejoined the Justice League, seeking a power source which would enable Rott to escape from his micro-world. While the JLA fought Doomsday alongside Superman, Blue Beetle realizes that Bloodwynd is Martian Manhunter after he is incapacitated by fire. Once the truth is exposed, the Justice League battles Rott and frees the real Bloodwynd.

Post-Flashpoint

In the revised continuity, Bloodwynd's history closely mirrors his pre- Flashpoint incarnation. In DC Power 2024, it is revealed that Quintus, a descendant, becomes the superhero Bloodwynd after inheriting the bloodgem. Following a confrontation with Felix Faust, Bloodwynd is condemned to Hell, where he relives his past failures. Saved by his nephew Raphael, Bloodwynd learns that holding the bloodgem upon death leads to damnation. Raphael takes on the mantle, freeing Bloodwynd from Hell. Before vanishing, Bloodwynd urges his nephew to carry the legacy responsibly. [4]

Raphael Arce

In Lazarus Planet , Raphael, a native of Metropolis affected by the Lazarus rains, discovers that he has gained empathic powers. Utilizing his abilities to alleviate the pain of others, he encounters a living memory of Doomsday and traps him in a psychic blood gem. [6] [7]

Other versions

A version of Bloodwynd is part of Earth 16 which is free of crime due to Superman's robots. Bloodwynd manages to break free of the ennui surrounding the heroes as he recalls his heroic past; he realizes there is more to life than letting the robots handle everything. [8]

Powers and abilities

Quintus is a proficient necromancer, adept at summoning and utilizing the life energy and enhanced power of deceased spirits. He also possesses the ability to sense death locations and can impose the torment of victims upon murderers, similar to Ghost Rider's "Penance Stare". [9]

The Raphael Arce incarnation of Bloodwynd is a metahuman with empathy that enables him to heal emotional and physical pain. [6] Both iterations of Bloodwynd are equipped with a "blood gem", a potent arcane object that bestows a range of magical abilities. These abilities include flight, enhanced strength, telepathy, and the ability to cast illusions. [10]

Reception

Bloodwynd has had mixed reception; while praised for his design and being one of the few black characters of mystical origin, [3] [2] criticisms noted both the character's name and roles in storylines has caused the character to be "underdeveloped" and fade into obscurity. [3] [11] [12]

In other media

Bloodwynd appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure . [13]

References

  1. ↑ Cronin, Brian (March 4, 2023). "Justice League: Could You Solve the Mystery of Bloodwynd?". CBR . Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Corley, Shaun (February 7, 2024). "DC's "Superman of Hell" Gets a Serious Power Upgrade Thanks to New, Simplified Origin". Screen Rant . Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 AdamFarrar (October 20, 2022). "The Mysteries of Bloodwynd". The Avocado. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jemisin, N. K.; Thomas, Brandon; Eaton, Cheryl Lynn; Giles, Lamar (January 30, 2024). DC Power 2024 (2024) #1. DC Comics.
  5. ↑ Jurgens, Dan (April–May 1993). Justice League America #76-77. DC Comics.
  6. 1 2 Waid, Mark (2023). Lazarus Planet. DC Comics. ISBN   978-1-77952-333-4.
  7. ↑ Whitaker, Piper (August 29, 2023). "Action Comics: Doomsday Special #1 review". AIPT Comics. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  8. ↑ Multiversity: The Just #1 (October 2014)
  9. ↑ Showcase '94 #5 (May 1994)
  10. ↑ Who's Who 1993 Update #2. DC Comics. December 22, 1992.
  11. ↑ Smith, Wesley (September 9, 2020). "Justice League's Lamest Hero Ever Explained". Screen Rant . Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  12. ↑ Hopkins, Evan (June 24, 2017). "Justice League: The 15 WORST Members EVER". CBR . Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  13. ↑ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN . Retrieved May 28, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.