Infinity-Man
Encyclopedia
Infinity-Man is a fictional character
, an extraterrestrial superhero
published by DC Comics
. Created by Jack Kirby
, the character first appeared in Forever People
#1, (February 1971).
). Before dying himself of old age, Astorr passes on his role as ‘Infinity-Man’ to Drax, who then spends several years studying in preparation.
Having assumed the title of Infinity-Man, Drax goes on to serve Highfather
on New Genesis
, where he is acquainted with The Forever People and becomes a protector. Whenever Infinity-Man is needed, the Forever People grant him special powers by touching the mother box
es and reciting the word “Taaru”. This ritual would cause The Forever People to enter a state of limbo, until Infinity-Man returns the power to them.
In one story, Darkseid sees Infinity-Man as a threat and is able to place him in another dimension. Infinity-Man temporarily makes a new home on a planet called Adon, until The Forever People free him from this prison.
A later plotline focuses on Devilance the Pursuer
and his personal vendetta against the Forever People and Infinity-Man. Devilance tracks down Infinity-Man and the two battle, resulting in the destruction of the island on which they are fighting. The two appear to die, but—once again thanks to the efforts of the Forever People—Infinity-Man returns once again.
In DC's year-long weekly event, Countdown to Final Crisis
, and the monthly title, Death of the New Gods
, Infinity-Man is suspected by Superman
, Mr. Miracle, and Orion
to be the mystery killer behind the recent deaths of the New Gods. However, the Mother Box used to summon him appears to have been destroyed and the Forever People murdered. Later, it is revealed that Infinity-Man is, in fact, the killer of New Gods, posing as Himon
to avoid detection and collecting the dead gods' souls in a second Source Wall
, surrounding the original one and preventing the slain gods from reuniting with the Source.
Superman
challenges him to battle, but Infinity-Man teleports away mid-battle. His motive in killing the New Gods remains unclear. However, he claims to be acting on behalf of the Source itself—revealed as the "good" half of an entity that previously encompassed the Source
and the Anti-Life Equation
—and that his killings were intended to reunite both aspects.
The "Source" itself, or at least the physical representation of it, appears to back his claims, leading Infinity-Man to battle Mister Miracle, now empowered with the Anti-Life Equation itself, near the Source Wall. Infinity-Man then pushes Mister Miracle into battle, duping him to blast away the Second Wall, and letting the Source and the Anti-Life reunite. Infinity-Man is seemingly destroyed by Mister Miracle's attack.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, an extraterrestrial superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. Created by Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
, the character first appeared in Forever People
Forever People
The Forever People are a fictional group of extraterrestrial superheroes published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Forever People #1 , and were created by Jack Kirby as part of his "Fourth World" epic.-Fictional history:...
#1, (February 1971).
Fictional character biography
Infinity-Man’s story begins with Astorr, a powerful warrior from another planet, rescuing and nursing back to health the badly burned Drax (brother of DarkseidDarkseid
Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
). Before dying himself of old age, Astorr passes on his role as ‘Infinity-Man’ to Drax, who then spends several years studying in preparation.
Having assumed the title of Infinity-Man, Drax goes on to serve Highfather
Highfather
Highfather is a fictional comic book character in the . He is chief of the New Gods of New Genesis in the Fourth World and ruled the fictional planet. Highfather first appeared in The New Gods #1 ....
on New Genesis
New Genesis
New Genesis is a fictional planet in the . This planet, along with Apokolips, is speculated to be near the constellation Orion...
, where he is acquainted with The Forever People and becomes a protector. Whenever Infinity-Man is needed, the Forever People grant him special powers by touching the mother box
Mother Box
Mother Boxes are fictional devices in Jack Kirby's Fourth World setting in the DC Universe.-History:Created by Apokoliptian scientist Himon using the mysterious Element X, they are generally thought to be sentient, miniaturized, portable supercomputers, although their true nature and origins are...
es and reciting the word “Taaru”. This ritual would cause The Forever People to enter a state of limbo, until Infinity-Man returns the power to them.
In one story, Darkseid sees Infinity-Man as a threat and is able to place him in another dimension. Infinity-Man temporarily makes a new home on a planet called Adon, until The Forever People free him from this prison.
A later plotline focuses on Devilance the Pursuer
Devilance
Devilance the Pursuer is a fictional extraterrestrial hunter in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Forever People #11 and was created by Jack Kirby.- Character history :...
and his personal vendetta against the Forever People and Infinity-Man. Devilance tracks down Infinity-Man and the two battle, resulting in the destruction of the island on which they are fighting. The two appear to die, but—once again thanks to the efforts of the Forever People—Infinity-Man returns once again.
In DC's year-long weekly event, Countdown to Final Crisis
Countdown to Final Crisis
Countdown, known as Countdown to Final Crisis for its last 24 issues based on the cover, was a comic book limited series published by DC Comics. It debuted on May 9, 2007, directly following the conclusion of the last issue of 52...
, and the monthly title, Death of the New Gods
Death of the New Gods
Death of the New Gods was an eight-issue comic book limited series published in 2007 and 2008 by DC Comics. It was written and pencilled by Jim Starlin.The series follows the final days of the New Gods as they are stalked by a mysterious killer....
, Infinity-Man is suspected by Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, Mr. Miracle, and Orion
Orion (comics)
Orion is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in New Gods #1 , and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby.-Jack Kirby Era:...
to be the mystery killer behind the recent deaths of the New Gods. However, the Mother Box used to summon him appears to have been destroyed and the Forever People murdered. Later, it is revealed that Infinity-Man is, in fact, the killer of New Gods, posing as Himon
Himon
Himon is a fictional character. Created by Jack Kirby, the character is one of the New Gods, a fictional race of gods in publications from DC Comics...
to avoid detection and collecting the dead gods' souls in a second Source Wall
Source Wall
The Source Wall is a fictional structure in the . The wall lies on the edge of the known universe, in the Promethean Galaxy. Beyond the wall lies what is known as the Source, a cosmic essence or being that is the "source" of all that exists. The wall is theoretically passable. However, all those...
, surrounding the original one and preventing the slain gods from reuniting with the Source.
Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
challenges him to battle, but Infinity-Man teleports away mid-battle. His motive in killing the New Gods remains unclear. However, he claims to be acting on behalf of the Source itself—revealed as the "good" half of an entity that previously encompassed the Source
Source (comics)
The Source was a metaphysical concept created by writer/artist Jack Kirby for his Fourth World series of comic books. It first appeared in New Gods #1, .-History:...
and the Anti-Life Equation
Anti-Life Equation
The Anti-Life Equation is the equation for total control over the free will of sentient beings, for which the DC Comics villain Darkseid is searching in the Jack Kirby's Fourth World setting. It is for this reason that he sends his forces to Earth, as he believes part of the equation exists in the...
—and that his killings were intended to reunite both aspects.
The "Source" itself, or at least the physical representation of it, appears to back his claims, leading Infinity-Man to battle Mister Miracle, now empowered with the Anti-Life Equation itself, near the Source Wall. Infinity-Man then pushes Mister Miracle into battle, duping him to blast away the Second Wall, and letting the Source and the Anti-Life reunite. Infinity-Man is seemingly destroyed by Mister Miracle's attack.
Powers and abilities
- Seemingly limitless strength and endurance, invulnerability, flight, ability to "phase" through matter, vast energy and matter manipulation, magnetic powers, and Infinity-Beams.
- In the relatively few comics Infinity Man appeared in, he displayed many abilities. He sums up his powers on his first appearance, when he says that he comes from a place where all natural law bends. In the first issue of the Forever People, Darkseid's minions are driving Superman deep into the ground, with their power to transmit the gravity of the universe into one person. The Forever People summon Infinity Man, who quickly and effortlessly throws them high into the air away from the area, saying: "The answer to gravity is anti-gravity".
- In the Glorious GodfreyGlorious GodfreyGlorious Godfrey is a DC Comics villain created by Jack Kirby, originally as part of The Fourth World series of comic books in the early 1970s. He first appeared in Forever People vol. 1 #3 .-Fictional character biography:...
issue, Infinity Man infiltrates Godfrey's tent by manipulating the ground's atomic structure, so he can "swim through it like the blue sea." In the same issue, he is shot at with lasers from Apokolips, but stops the lasers in mid-shot and sends them back at his attackers. When he faces Mantis, Infinity Man shows his manipulation powers again, by changing the atomic structure of the ice he was trapped inside. In the same issue, he survives being touched with anti-matter and finally defeats Mantis with Infinity-beams, which effectively remove the energy from Mantis. - Other powers include a form of advanced healing and telepathy.
- In one issue of Young JusticeYoung JusticeYoung Justice is a fictional DC Comics superhero team consisting of teenaged heroes. The team first appeared in Young Justice: The Secret , before graduating to their ongoing monthly series...
, the hero known as ImpulseBart AllenBartholomew "Bart" Allen is a superhero in the . Allen first appeared as the superhero Impulse. He would later go on to become the second Kid Flash and the fourth Flash. Allen's first cameo appearance was in The Flash #91, while his first full appearance was in issue #92...
took part in the Forever People's summoning, resulting in the manifestation of a somewhat immature and hyperactive version of the Infinity Man, who displayed super-speed.
Television
- Infinity-Man appears in the Young JusticeYoung Justice (TV series)Young Justice is an American animated television series created by Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti for Cartoon Network. Despite its title, it is not an adaptation of Todd Dezago and Todd Nauck's Young Justice comic series, but rather an adaptation of the entire DC Universe with a focus on young...
episode "Disordered".