Vartox | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | Superman #281 (November 1974) |
Created by | Cary Bates (writer) Curt Swan (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Vartox |
Species | Valeronian |
Place of origin | Valeron |
Notable aliases | Vernon O'Valeron |
Abilities | "Psychic by nature", possession of Hyper-powers grants him:
Skills:
|
Vartox is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics.
He first appeared in Superman #281 (November 1974) and was created by Cary Bates and Curt Swan. [1] When asked if the character was inspired by the 1974 film Zardoz, Bates stated "Absolutely, I remember giving Curt a bunch of Zardoz stills as swipes". [2]
Vartox is a Valeronian, a humanoid alien from the planet Valeron in the Sombrero Galaxy. [3] After Valeron is destroyed, Vartox adopts a new world which he is sworn to protect. He is older and more experienced than Superman, serving as a rival to him and vying for Lana Lang's affection.
Vartox's wife is later killed after her "psychic twin" on Earth is murdered. He pursues the killer, Frank Sykes, to Valeron, ultimately capturing him and subjecting him to rapid aging.
Vartox later comes into conflict with his former lover Syreena, who he had previously arrested. She later accidentally petrifies herself and Lana before being cured when Lana is.
In 1999 a post-Crisis version of Vartox was introduced by Dan Jurgens and Steve Epting. He makes his debut in Superman vol. 2 #148, alongside two other aliens named Vestion and Paz. This version has significantly reduced powers, apparently slightly less than the post-Crisis Superman, and a revised costume. After Valeron's champion Ontor dies, Vartox becomes his self-proclaimed successor.
Vartox returns in Power Girl (vol. 2). After a "contraceptive bomb" renders every female Valeronian sterile, Vartox comes to Earth in search of a new wife, selecting Power Girl as the prime candidate. The two battle an Ix Negaspike, a dragon-like alien, before combining their powers to restore the Valeronians' fertility, impregnating all of them in the process. [4] [5]
Vartox appears in the Supergirl episode "Pilot", portrayed by Owain Yeoman. [6] This version is an escapee from the Phantom Zone prison Fort Rozz. After Supergirl defeats him, he commits suicide to avoid capture.
Vartox appears in the audio drama Death From A Distant Galaxy, based on Superman #373 - #375.
Supergirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original, current, and most well known Supergirl is Kara Zor-El, the cousin of superhero Superman. The character made her first appearance in Action Comics #252 and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino.
Streaky the Supercat is a fictional superhero cat that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Action Comics #261 and was created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney.
Lana Lang is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, most often associated with Superman.
Lar Gand, known mainly as Mon-El, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superboy, and Superman. The character has been reinterpreted over the years, but in all versions serves as a hero with abilities similar to those of Superman, sometimes serving as a substitute for him.
Krypto, also known as Krypto the Superdog, is a superhero dog appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the character Superman. In most continuities, Krypto is Superman's pet dog, usually depicted as a white dog of a generic pedigree often resembling a Labrador Retriever, a plain white Dalmatian, or a White Shepherd.
Brainiac is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, and debuted in Action Comics #242. He has since endured as one of Superman greatest enemies. The character's name is a portmanteau of the words brain and maniac.
Superwoman is the name of several fictional characters from DC Comics. Most of them are, like Supergirl, women with powers similar to those of Superman, like flight, invulnerability, and enhanced strength.
Kara Zor-El (Supergirl) also known by her adoptive names of Linda Lee Danvers, Kara Kent, Linda Lang, and Kara Danvers, is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She was created by Otto Binder and designed by Al Plastino. Danvers first appeared in the story "The Supergirl from Krypton" in Action Comics #252. Kara is the biological cousin of Kal-El, who went on to adopt the name of Clark Kent and the superhero identity Superman. Her father, Zor-El, is the brother of Superman's father, Jor-El. During the 1980s and the revolution of the Modern Age of Comics, Superman editors believed the character's history had become too convoluted, thus killing Supergirl during the 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths event and retconning her out of existence.
Terra-Man is a supervillain appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of Superman.
Comet is the name of two fictional comic book characters owned by DC Comics whose adventures have been published by that same company. The first character was a sapient horse with magical powers who was once a centaur in ancient Greece. The second character is a shapeshifter with three forms. Both characters are connected to the Superman family of titles.
The Superman dynasty, an extension of the House of El, is a lineage of DC Comics superheroes. The term is used for the descendants of Kal-El, the original Superman, who continue to uphold his legacy of heroism well into the 853rd century, as depicted in the DC One Million crossover. Repeated references to members of the Superman dynasty, as Superman's "descendants" and at least one reference to them as the "blood of his blood" would seem to indicate that they are, in fact, the biological descendants of Superman in some fashion.
Cary Bates is an American comic book, animation, television and film writer. He is best known for his work on The Flash, Superman, Superboy, the Legion of Superheroes and Captain Atom. Bates is the longest-serving Superman writer, at twenty years.
Faora is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with Superman. The character was created by Cary Bates and Curt Swan, and first appeared in Action Comics #471. Most commonly, Faora is an ally and sometimes the wife and/or lover of Superman's Kryptonian nemesis General Zod.
Insect Queen is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.
"Superman Red/Superman Blue" refers to two different comic book storylines published by DC Comics featuring Superman.
Lyla Lerrol is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in the Superman daily newspaper strip on August 27, 1960 before her comics debut in Superman #141, publication date September 15 the same year. She is one of the many Superman characters with the initials "LL".
The fictional superheroine Supergirl has been adapted into pop culture several times since 1984. This includes a feature film and several animated and live-action television programs.
"The Sandman Saga" is a Superman story arc published in 1971 in Superman #233 - 235, #237 - 238 and #240 - 242. This is the first Superman storyline under editor Julius Schwartz and the first Bronze Age-era Superman story.
Kandor is a fictional city spared from the doomed world of Krypton in DC Comics' Superman titles. Before Krypton exploded, the futuristic city was captured by the supervillain Brainiac, miniaturized by his shrinking ray and placed inside a glass bell jar. Defeating Brainiac and taking possession of the jar, Superman brings the city to his Arctic hideout, the Fortress of Solitude, and spends many years attempting to restore it to normal size.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)