Stalker (DC Comics): Difference between revisions
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==Other versions== |
==Other versions== |
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A different version of Stalker appeared in ''All-Star Comics'' (vol. 2) #1, and as a recurring theme in a retroactive story featuring the [[Justice Society of America]]. This Stalker was an insane demon/[[supervillain]], bent on destroying dimension after dimension in his quest to end all conflict (by ending all life).<ref>As seen in ''All-Star Comics'' #1 (May [[1999 in comics|1999]]):</ref> He was defeated in a time warp generated by the [[Hourman (android)|Hourman android]]. Reference was made to this Stalker in the alternate reality created by [[Brother Grimm]] and [[Mirror Master]] where the [[Speed Force]] never existed, [[Captain Cold]] telling [[Wally West|the Flash]] that he read a book about this world's history that explained that the Stalker had killed [[Mr. Terrific]] without [[Jay Garrick]] there to help the fight, causing such damage to American morale that the JSA helped to deploy a bomb that annihalated [[Germany]] before retiring in disgust at themselves. |
A different version of Stalker appeared in ''All-Star Comics'' (vol. 2) #1, and as a recurring theme in a retroactive story featuring the [[Justice Society of America]]. This Stalker was an insane demon/[[supervillain]], bent on destroying dimension after dimension in his quest to end all conflict (by ending all life).<ref>As seen in ''All-Star Comics'' #1 (May [[1999 in comics|1999]]):</ref> He was defeated in a time warp generated by the [[Hourman (android)|Hourman android]]. Reference was made to this Stalker in the alternate reality created by [[Brother Grimm]] and [[Mirror Master]] where the [[Speed Force]] never existed, [[Captain Cold]] telling [[Wally West|the Flash]] that he read a book about this world's history that explained that the Stalker had killed [[Mister Terrific (Terry Sloane)|Mr. Terrific]] without [[Jay Garrick]] there to help the fight, causing such damage to American morale that the JSA helped to deploy a bomb that annihalated [[Germany]] before retiring in disgust at themselves. |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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Revision as of 01:14, 4 June 2010
| Stalker | |
|---|---|
 Cover of Stalker #1. Art by Steve Ditko | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Stalker #1, (June/July 1975) |
| Created by | Paul Levitz (writer) Steve Ditko (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Elpis |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, senses and speed, various mystical abilities, expert fencer |
Stalker is a fictional antihero and swords and sorcery character published by DC Comics. The character debuted in Stalker #1 (June/July 1975), and was created by Paul Levitz and Steve Ditko.
Publication history
The Stalker title lasted four issues, to Dec. 1975/Jan. 1976 before it was cancelled by DC.
Fictional character biography
A young warrior seeking immortality and power challenges and defeats the Demon Lord Dgrth, winning immortality but losing his soul. The young warrior now known as Stalker the Soulless begins a quest to regain his lost soul. However, the more he traveled the greater his power grew, and the more he physically resembled Dgrth. Stalker eventually fights his way to the demon god in the depths of that dimension's netherworld, and defeats him, only to discover that the deity has already used up the energies of the traded soul. The only way to get his soul back would be to end the existence of that dimension's supreme deity, a solution which could only occur after the abolishment of all war.[1]
Stalker the Souless later appeared in Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #163, arriving on Earth alongside Claw the Unconquered, Isis, Arion and Starfire. This storyline suggested that all DC "heroic fantasy" worlds were creations of Jim Rook (Nightmaster)'s mind, but this has been contradicted since.
Wonder Woman
Stalker reappears in Wonder Woman vol. 3 #20, and requests that Wonder Woman kill a demon from his dimension named D'Grth, to these ends he encourages her to recruit Beowulf Prince of Geats, and Claw the Unconquered. [2][3] During this adventure Wonder Woman gives Stalker the proper name of Elpis, which means "hope" in Themyscirian. When D'Grth and Grendal eventually appear Stalker reveals that he deceived the trio of warriors as a means of gaining his soul back at the bidding of D'Grth. He then throws his sword at Diana but Beowulf jumps in its way at the last second. Claw sees to Beowulf's wounds while Wonder Woman confronts Stalker. She tells him that Elpis is a female name. She then manages to steal the Rock of Destiny from Stalker and uses it to transport herself and D'Grth to Earth, leaving Stalker in his own world with an aspect of a soul. It is discovered that the soul Stalker possesses is in truth Diana's soul, which slowly began leaving her body shortly into hers and Stalker's first meeting. Stalker, though reluctant, agreed to return Diana's soul to her and joined in the final destruction of D'Grth. He then leaves with an oracle as a companion.
Other versions
A different version of Stalker appeared in All-Star Comics (vol. 2) #1, and as a recurring theme in a retroactive story featuring the Justice Society of America. This Stalker was an insane demon/supervillain, bent on destroying dimension after dimension in his quest to end all conflict (by ending all life).[4] He was defeated in a time warp generated by the Hourman android. Reference was made to this Stalker in the alternate reality created by Brother Grimm and Mirror Master where the Speed Force never existed, Captain Cold telling the Flash that he read a book about this world's history that explained that the Stalker had killed Mr. Terrific without Jay Garrick there to help the fight, causing such damage to American morale that the JSA helped to deploy a bomb that annihalated Germany before retiring in disgust at themselves.
Notes
- The series takes place on a world that appears epic fantasy-based, but when the protagonist travels to his world's version of the underworld, men in astronaut garb can be seen among the hordes of doomed souls.