Warpsmith
Encyclopedia
The Warpsmiths are fictional
aliens
in several science fiction
comics
by Alan Moore
and Garry Leach
.
magazine Warrior, and figuring into a fictional timeline and universe
developed by Alan Moore and Steve Moore
(no relation), the Warpsmiths only appeared in two stories before the end of Warrior. The first appearance of a Warpsmith was in the 1982 'Summer Special'. Leach retained ownership of the characters, and lent them to Moore's series Miracleman
(which Leach had illustrated earlier in Warrior) in which they became a major part of the story, with art by John Totleben
based on Leach's designs. In 1989 Leach began a new anthology title, A1, the first issue of which included a Warpsmith short story written by Alan Moore. Subsequent issues would feature stories by other writers.
themselves or others instantaneously anywhere in the universe. The only other entity able to 'warp' is Winter, Miracleman's daughter.
They are humanoid creatures with pale skin, three digits per hand, and four nostrils. They usually wear metallic armor. Warpsmiths are believed to be immortal; they have lived for millennia without any apparent aging. However, at some point in the past their entire species became infertile.
Warpsmith culture has a rigid caste
system, with each member's role in life defined by his or her color:
The Black Warpsmiths arose several thousand years ago. They developed the 'derma-circuitry' that allows Warpsmiths to teleport, and created (or birthed) all of the other Warpsmiths. Their interstellar government is called the Confederacy of the Gulf Worlds.
Known Warpsmiths include Aza Chorn (deceased), Phon Mooda, Kana Blur, and Lorna Krill.
s) act as a type of benign cosmic police protecting less technologically and evolutionary advanced species. Their main opponents are the Qys, a species whose members each own a wide variety of powerful bodies which are stored in 'sub-space'; the Qys can change into these bodies at need, choosing which ever body meets the circumstances.
The Warpsmiths in Moore's stories (where they are supporting characters) are depicted as quiet and aloof. They and the Qys have been stalemated in a Cold War
for centuries. Finally, Miraclewoman brokered a détente
between them, so that negotiators from each side would meet on Earth's moon.
Curiously, the solution suggested by Miraclewoman was that a meeting between any two alien cultures will always either tend towards the thanotic
(death), or the erotic
, and that the Warpsmiths and the Qys should recognise this and embrace the erotic. Initially, both sides were enraged by the suggestion. However, it soon became clear that there had been a translation error, and that Miraclewoman had not really intended the sentiment to be expressed as "go fuck yourselves".
Doctor Who
spin-off Gallifrey (audio series)
produced in 2005 and 2006. In these stories they are one of the major temporal powers of the universe who participate in political negotiations over the use of time technology. It is uncertain whether this is an official appearance.
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...
aliens
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
in several science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
by Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
and Garry Leach
Garry Leach
-Biography:Garry Leach studied Graphic Design at St. Martin's School of Art. He was first noted for his early work for 2000 AD, which was mainly on one-off stories featuring Dan Dare and M.A.C.H. 1. He then became a fan-favourite for his work on the series The VCs.In 1981 he joined Dez Skinn's...
.
Publication history
Created by Alan Moore when he was a teenager for a small publication by an arts lab in his native Northampton, England. He and artist Garry Leach expanded on the characters for the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
magazine Warrior, and figuring into a fictional timeline and universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
developed by Alan Moore and Steve Moore
Steve Moore (comics)
Steve Moore is a British comics writer.Moore is credited with showing acclaimed writer Alan Moore , then a struggling cartoonist, how to write comic scripts...
(no relation), the Warpsmiths only appeared in two stories before the end of Warrior. The first appearance of a Warpsmith was in the 1982 'Summer Special'. Leach retained ownership of the characters, and lent them to Moore's series Miracleman
Miracleman
Marvelman, also known as Miracleman for trademark reasons in his American reprints and story continuation, is a fictional comic book superhero created in 1954 by writer-artist Mick Anglo for publisher L. Miller & Son. Originally intended as a United Kingdom home-grown substitute for the American...
(which Leach had illustrated earlier in Warrior) in which they became a major part of the story, with art by John Totleben
John Totleben
John Totleben is an American illustrator working mostly in comics.-Biography:After studying art at a vocational high school in Erie, Totleben attended The Kubert School for one year...
based on Leach's designs. In 1989 Leach began a new anthology title, A1, the first issue of which included a Warpsmith short story written by Alan Moore. Subsequent issues would feature stories by other writers.
Characteristics
Warpsmiths are thought to be one of the two most powerful species in their universe, due to their ability to teleportTeleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
themselves or others instantaneously anywhere in the universe. The only other entity able to 'warp' is Winter, Miracleman's daughter.
They are humanoid creatures with pale skin, three digits per hand, and four nostrils. They usually wear metallic armor. Warpsmiths are believed to be immortal; they have lived for millennia without any apparent aging. However, at some point in the past their entire species became infertile.
Warpsmith culture has a rigid caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
system, with each member's role in life defined by his or her color:
- Black: the first four Warpsmiths
- Blue: artists
- Grey: diplomats
- Red: workers
- White: warriors
The Black Warpsmiths arose several thousand years ago. They developed the 'derma-circuitry' that allows Warpsmiths to teleport, and created (or birthed) all of the other Warpsmiths. Their interstellar government is called the Confederacy of the Gulf Worlds.
Known Warpsmiths include Aza Chorn (deceased), Phon Mooda, Kana Blur, and Lorna Krill.
- "He lept for Aza Chorn, fast as a cheetah; as a mamba; as an ink-black thunderbolt. Yet, when they brag amongst themselves, the cats and snakes and sheets of lightning use one ultimate comparison, albeit sparingly. Fast as a warpsmith."
- Alan Moore, describing Kid Miracleman trying to attack a Warpsmith
Differences in the Comics
The Warpsmiths in Leach's stories (where they are the protagonistProtagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
s) act as a type of benign cosmic police protecting less technologically and evolutionary advanced species. Their main opponents are the Qys, a species whose members each own a wide variety of powerful bodies which are stored in 'sub-space'; the Qys can change into these bodies at need, choosing which ever body meets the circumstances.
The Warpsmiths in Moore's stories (where they are supporting characters) are depicted as quiet and aloof. They and the Qys have been stalemated in a Cold War
Cold 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...
for centuries. Finally, Miraclewoman brokered a détente
Détente
Détente is the easing of strained relations, especially in a political situation. The term is often used in reference to the general easing of relations between the Soviet Union and the United States in the 1970s, a thawing at a period roughly in the middle of the Cold War...
between them, so that negotiators from each side would meet on Earth's moon.
Curiously, the solution suggested by Miraclewoman was that a meeting between any two alien cultures will always either tend towards the thanotic
Thanatos
In Greek mythology, Thanatos was the daemon personification of death. He was a minor figure in Greek mythology, often referred to but rarely appearing in person...
(death), or the erotic
Eros (love)
Eros is one of the four words in Ancient Greek which can be rendered into English as “love”. The other three are storge, philia and agape...
, and that the Warpsmiths and the Qys should recognise this and embrace the erotic. Initially, both sides were enraged by the suggestion. However, it soon became clear that there had been a translation error, and that Miraclewoman had not really intended the sentiment to be expressed as "go fuck yourselves".
Big Finish Appearances
The Warpsmiths, referred to as the "Warpsmiths of Phaidon" also appear as a supporting race in three Big FinishBig Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
spin-off Gallifrey (audio series)
Gallifrey (audio series)
Gallifrey is the umbrella title of a line of audio plays set in the Doctor Who universe, produced by Big Finish Productions, featuring Louise Jameson as Leela, Lalla Ward as President Romana, and John Leeson as two K-9 units, Mark I and Mark II...
produced in 2005 and 2006. In these stories they are one of the major temporal powers of the universe who participate in political negotiations over the use of time technology. It is uncertain whether this is an official appearance.