Nekron

Not to be confused with Necron or Necrom.
Nekron
Nekron as depicted in Blackest Night #6 (December 2009). Art by Rodolfo Migliari.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceTales of the Green Lantern Corps #2 (June 1981)
Created byMike W. Barr (writer)
Len Wein (writer)
Joe Staton (artist)
In-story information
Full nameNekron
Team affiliationsBlack Lantern Corps
PartnershipsKrona
Scar
Black Hand
Notable aliasesLord of the Unliving
AbilitiesDraws power from and commands the souls and spirits of all who have ever died.
  • Darkness manipulation
  • Dark energy manipulation
  • Necromancy
  • Godly strength
  • Invulnerability
  • Fatal touch
  • Soul manipulation
  • Matter manipulation
  • Energy manipulation
  • Dimensional manipulation
  • Dark lightning
  • Telepathy
  • Reality warping
  • Size alteration
  • Immortality

Nekron is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of the Green Lantern Corps. Created by Mike W. Barr, Len Wein and Joe Staton, the character, who exists as an embodiment of Death, first appeared in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2 (June 1981).[1] He is the primary antagonist in the 2009-2010 Blackest Night storyline.

Publication history

Origins

Nekron, as he first appeared in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2. Art by Joe Staton.

Nekron is the personification of Death and ruler of a region adjoining Hell known as the Land of the Unliving, that also seems to border on Limbo and Purgatory within the DC Universe. It is where the souls of the dead await passage to their final residence in either the Silver City or Hell. Nekron draws his power from the souls and spirits of the dead.[2]

After Krona is banished from Oa and transformed into an energy being, his energy opens a rift between dimensions that enables Nekron to escape the Land of the Unliving. However, Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps manage to defeat him.[3]

1990 – 2002

In the following years, Nekron encounters Captain Atom, Kyle Rayner, the demon Nebiros, and Doctor Fate. He, the Black Racer, and Death of the Endless are described as representing death as the ultimate opponent, death as an inevitability, and death as a release from living.[4][5][6]

Nekron also encounters Wonder Woman and Rebecca Carstairs (Witchfire).[7]

"Blackest Night"

In the Blackest Night storyline, Nekron creates the black power rings, which reanimate the dead, and resurrects many deceased superheroes and supervillains.[8][9] He is also revealed to have orchestrated the miraculous resurrections of several superheroes in the past, which were previously thought to be a consequence of Brother Blood tampering with life and death.[10] He is also able to transform living beings into Black Lanterns, including Superman, Wonder Woman, Donna Troy, Kid Flash, Animal Man, Ice, Green Arrow and Superboy.[11][12]

According to Black Lantern Jean Loring, Nekron was an avatar of darkness who was formed out of the nothingness in existence before the creation of the universe an antithesis to the White Light.[11][12][13]

Nekron then attempts to kill the Life Entity, which would kill all life in the universe alongside it. However, this is thwarted when Sinestro bonds with the Entity and becomes a White Lantern.[14][15]

The heroes eventually learn that Black Hand serves as Nekron's link to the living world and attack the former, leading Nekron to be banished to the Land of the Unliving..[16]

"Brightest Day"

In Brightest Day, Nekron's personality enters and corrupts Swamp Thing before Alec Holland and the elementals (Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Firestorm, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter) defeat him.[17][18]

The New 52

In the Wrath of the First Lantern storyline, Hal Jordan kills himself and temporarily becomes a Black Lantern to harness Nekron's power and stop Volthoom. Afterwards, he obtains a Green Lantern ring that revives him, enabling him to return Nekron to the Dead Zone.[19]

DC Rebirth

During DC Rebirth, Nekron returns and confronts Volthoom, who begs him to kill him. However, Nekron reveals that Volthoom is incapable of dying as long as there is light in the universe.[20]

Powers and abilities

The limitations of Nekron's powers are unknown. Geoff Johns has described him as the most powerful dark force in the DC Universe. He has displayed the ability to raise the dead, kill anyone with a touch, generate black lightning, and grow to a colossal size.[3][6] Additionally, he is incredibly durable, being able to withstand a blast from the Anti-Monitor.[16]

Other versions

In other media

References

  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2 (June 1981)
  3. ^ a b Tales of The Green Lantern Corps #3 (July 1981)
  4. ^ Captain Atom #42–43 (June–July 1990)
  5. ^ Fate #12 (November 1995)
  6. ^ a b Green Lantern (vol. 3) Annual #7 (1998)
  7. ^ The Power Company: Witchfire #1 (March 2002)
  8. ^ George, Richard (2009-08-13). "Blackest Night's Mastermind Revealed". IGN. Archived from the original on 2009-08-17. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  9. ^ Blackest Night #4 (December 2009)
  10. ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #31 (2006)
  11. ^ a b Blackest Night #5 (November 2009)
  12. ^ a b Blackest Night #6 (December 2009)
  13. ^ Green Lantern (vol. 4) #51 (February 2010)
  14. ^ Blackest Night #7 (February 2010)
  15. ^ Green Lantern (vol. 4) #52 (March 2010)
  16. ^ a b Blackest Night #8 (March 2010)
  17. ^ Brightest Day #23 (April 2011)
  18. ^ Brightest Day #24 (April 2011)
  19. ^ Green Lantern (vol. 5) #20
  20. ^ Green Lanterns #18 (March 2016)
  21. ^ Flastpoint: Abin Sur – The Green Lantern #1 (June 2011)
  22. ^ Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War #3
  23. ^ Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War #6
  24. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved August 8, 2024.