Savitar (comics)
Encyclopedia
Savitar is a fictional supervillain
published by DC Comics
. He first appeared in Flash
(v.2) #108 (December 1995), and was created by Mark Waid
and Oscar Jimenez.
pilot for a third-world nation, the man who would become known as Savitar was to test a supersonic
fighter jet. As he reached top speed, his plane was struck by what appeared to be lightning
, and he went down in hostile territory. Discovering he could defeat the enemy by moving at super-speed, he became obsessed with speed, naming himself after Savitr
the Hindu
"god of motion", and dedicating his life to unlocking its secrets. As Savitar studied, he discovered new powers that no other living speedster has mastered. He can protect himself in a null-inertia force field, give speed and kinetic energy
to objects or people, even those in a rest state, he could also heal his own injuries almost instantly.
Savitar’s obsession gained followers, and he became the leader of a cult
. In search of more knowledge, he sought out the only super-speed hero operating at the time: Johnny Quick
. This encounter became a battle, the tide of which was turned with the arrival of Max Mercury
, who led Savitar toward the Speed Force
, but caused him to bounce off.
Savitar reappeared decades later to find that his cult had grown in his absence, awaiting his return. He recruited former Blue Trinity
member Lady Flash (Christina Alexandrova), and discovered a way to use her speed to divert all energy from the Speed Force to his own army of ninja
s. He then sought to eliminate the competition: Flash (Wally West), Impulse
, Golden Age Flash (Jay Garrick
), Johnny Quick, Jesse Quick, XS
, and especially Max Mercury.
Fortunately, Wally’s direct line to the Speed Force prevented Savitar from stealing his speed, and a coalition of just about every speedster (except for Red Trinity
), foiled his plans. Hell-bent on at least destroying Flash’s world in retribution, he led the Flash on a worldwide race of destruction, until Flash chose to give Savitar what he wanted: union with the Speed Force. His earlier encounter had shown him that the others who had arrived before would deal with Savitar as they saw fit.
In The Flash Rebirth, #1 (April, 2009), Savitar is able to escape from the Speed Force. He is run down by the recently returned to life Barry Allen, however, when Barry touches Savitar, he (Savitar) disintegrates, leaving only a pile of bones. It's revealed that Professor Zoom
altered the Speed Force and Barry to make the Flash shift in reverse, and cursed to kill every Speed Force user with a single touch, though it seemed to be undone by the defeat of Professor Zoom during the conflict between the two speedsters. Thus far, Savitar, Lady Flash (AKA lady Savitar at the time) and the golden age speedster Johnny Quick have been killed by this effect.
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
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...
. He first appeared in Flash
Flash (comics)
The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
(v.2) #108 (December 1995), and was created by Mark Waid
Mark Waid
Mark Waid is an American comic book writer. He is well known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America...
and Oscar Jimenez.
Fictional character biography
A Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
pilot for a third-world nation, the man who would become known as Savitar was to test a supersonic
Supersonic
Supersonic speed is a rate of travel of an object that exceeds the speed of sound . For objects traveling in dry air of a temperature of 20 °C this speed is approximately 343 m/s, 1,125 ft/s, 768 mph or 1,235 km/h. Speeds greater than five times the speed of sound are often...
fighter jet. As he reached top speed, his plane was struck by what appeared to be lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
, and he went down in hostile territory. Discovering he could defeat the enemy by moving at super-speed, he became obsessed with speed, naming himself after Savitr
Savitr
Savitr IAST: savitrIn Vedic religion, Savitr , Savitā is a solar deity and one of the Adityas i.e. off-spring of Vedic deity Aditi. His name in Vedic Sanskrit connotes "impeller, rouser, vivifier"...
the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
"god of motion", and dedicating his life to unlocking its secrets. As Savitar studied, he discovered new powers that no other living speedster has mastered. He can protect himself in a null-inertia force field, give speed and kinetic energy
Kinetic energy
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy which it possesses due to its motion.It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes...
to objects or people, even those in a rest state, he could also heal his own injuries almost instantly.
Savitar’s obsession gained followers, and he became the leader of a cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
. In search of more knowledge, he sought out the only super-speed hero operating at the time: Johnny Quick
Johnny Quick
Johnny Quick is the name of two DC Comics characters, each with the power of superhuman speed. The first was a superhero who appeared mostly in More Fun Comics during the Golden Age...
. This encounter became a battle, the tide of which was turned with the arrival of Max Mercury
Max Mercury
Max Mercury is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero based on Quality Comics' Quicksilver.- Publication history :He first appeared in Quality's National Comics #5, cover dated November 1940, as Quicksilver...
, who led Savitar toward the Speed Force
Speed Force
The Speed Force is a concept presented in various comic books published by DC Comics, primarily in relation to the various speedsters in the DC Universe.-Empowered:...
, but caused him to bounce off.
Savitar reappeared decades later to find that his cult had grown in his absence, awaiting his return. He recruited former Blue Trinity
Red Trinity
Red Trinity is a fictional DC Comics Russian superteam introduced in Flash #6 . They were created by Mike Baron and Jackson Guice.-Fictional history:...
member Lady Flash (Christina Alexandrova), and discovered a way to use her speed to divert all energy from the Speed Force to his own army of ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
s. He then sought to eliminate the competition: Flash (Wally West), Impulse
Bart Allen
Bartholomew "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...
, Golden Age Flash (Jay Garrick
Jay Garrick
Jay Garrick is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe and the first to use the name Flash.-The Flash:...
), Johnny Quick, Jesse Quick, XS
XS (comics)
XS is a fictional character, a superheroine in the future of the DC Comics universe. A member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, she is the granddaughter of Barry Allen , and first cousin of Bart Allen .-Fictional character biography:Despite being the granddaughter of Barry Allen and the daughter of...
, and especially Max Mercury.
Fortunately, Wally’s direct line to the Speed Force prevented Savitar from stealing his speed, and a coalition of just about every speedster (except for Red Trinity
Red Trinity
Red Trinity is a fictional DC Comics Russian superteam introduced in Flash #6 . They were created by Mike Baron and Jackson Guice.-Fictional history:...
), foiled his plans. Hell-bent on at least destroying Flash’s world in retribution, he led the Flash on a worldwide race of destruction, until Flash chose to give Savitar what he wanted: union with the Speed Force. His earlier encounter had shown him that the others who had arrived before would deal with Savitar as they saw fit.
In The Flash Rebirth, #1 (April, 2009), Savitar is able to escape from the Speed Force. He is run down by the recently returned to life Barry Allen, however, when Barry touches Savitar, he (Savitar) disintegrates, leaving only a pile of bones. It's revealed that Professor Zoom
Professor Zoom
Eobard Thawne, who has gone by the codenames "Professor Zoom" and "Reverse-Flash", is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain in the DC Universe. Thawne is the Arch enemy of the superhero Barry Allen, the second hero to be called the Flash...
altered the Speed Force and Barry to make the Flash shift in reverse, and cursed to kill every Speed Force user with a single touch, though it seemed to be undone by the defeat of Professor Zoom during the conflict between the two speedsters. Thus far, Savitar, Lady Flash (AKA lady Savitar at the time) and the golden age speedster Johnny Quick have been killed by this effect.
Powers and abilities
Savitar can move at super speed, and is able to lend or steal speed from moving objects. He has accelerated healing due to increased metabolism and can generate a null inertia force field.External links
- Those Who Ride The Lightning: Savitar
- DCU Guide: Savitar
- Crimson Lightning - An online index to the comic book adventures of the Flash.