Bloodwynd

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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
Species Metahuman (Raphael)
Place of origin Metropolis (Raphael)
Team affiliations Justice League
Justice League International
Sentinels of Magic
Notable aliasesSuperman of Hell
Martian Manhunter
Man of Mystery
AbilitiesMystic blood gem grants various magical abilities including flight, superhuman strength, superhuman durability, resurrecting others, controlling the dead, absorbing necrotic energy, reading minds, conjuring objects, casting spells, and illusion casting.

Bloodwynd is a codename used by multiple superheroes who have appeared in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character initially debuted in Justice League America #61 (April 1992) and was created by Dan Jurgens. While the character's origins were initially portrayed as an alter-ego of Martian Manhunter, subsequent portrayals of Bloodwynd depicted them as distinct and independent characters.

Contents

The first Bloodwynd is a necromancer who is revealed to be a descendant of African American slaves seeking retribution against their slave owner. Through a dark ritual involving a blood gem created as a sacrifice, they gained the ability to wield its powers, which facilitated their freedom. This version of Bloodwynd, initially unnamed, is later identified as Quintus Arce. While Martian Manhunter temporarily assumed his identity, Bloodwynd remained an ally of the Justice League and a superhero with sorcerous abilities until his disappearance after the team disbanded. It is revealed he was condemned to hell after an encounter with the sorcerer Felix Faust. [1]

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. [1]

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. [1]

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. [2] [3]

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. [4]

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". [5]

The Raphael Arce incarnation of Bloodwynd is a metahuman with empathy that enables him to heal emotional and physical pain. [2] 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. [6]

In other media

Bloodwynd appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure . [7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jemisin, N. K.; Thomas, Brandon; Eaton, Cheryl Lynn; Giles, Lamar (January 30, 2024). DC Power 2024 (2024) #1. DC Comics.
  2. 1 2 Waid, Mark (2023). Lazarus Planet. DC Comics. ISBN   978-1-77952-333-4.
  3. ↑ Whitaker, Piper (August 29, 2023). "Action Comics: Doomsday Special #1 review". AIPT Comics. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  4. ↑ Multiversity: The Just #1 (October 2014)
  5. ↑ Showcase '94 #5 (May 1994)
  6. ↑ Who's Who 1993 Update #2. DC Comics. December 22, 1992.
  7. ↑ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
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