Durlans (DC)

Revision as of 10:00, 6 March 2013

The Durlans are a shapeshifting species that featured in DC Comics.

History

Origin

The planet Durla had twin setting suns and resided in a galaxy where its light began to eventually die. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #69) Survival on their harsh world later compelled the race to evolve chameleon-like characteristics and after eons they would forget their original form. (Invasion v1 #1)

During distant times, the Durlans were known to had been at war with the inhabitants of the planet Krypton. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #64) This conflict had started so long ago that the reason for it had long been forgotten. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #69) However, this ancient war was one where both sides fed on each others hate for one another. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #71) A group of infiltrators were dispatched to enemy space where they took control of the Kryptonian warship Grand Majesty Sevenfold' where the Durlans killed the crew along with Admiral Mor-Ur. However, Kryptonian starships under the command of Commander Val-R were tasked with the destruction of the captured vessel. The Durlan crew, however, utilized the ships experimental drive system to escape but underwent a chronal event where they became lost in time. In reality, the ship was propelled into the 21st century where all the infiltrators were killed by the transition through time near Earth where only one crew member escaped to the Human homeworld. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #64)

Modern Age

The Durlans accepted the invitation by the Dominators to join the Alien Alliance that intended to besiege Earth. (Invasion v1 #1) The Flash along with Manhunter both were known to had thwarted their actions in Cuba. (Invasion v1 #2)

Sometime afterwards, a Durlan scoutship crashed at the Kanbula Forest Park in the Qinghai province in China where a Chinese xeno-team was dispatched to deal with the alien incursion. A great number of soldiers were killed in the engagement and the Durlans last act was to transform into bacteria that infected the Chinese xeno-team. All died though one managed to survive by using his supply of counteragents but he was badly wounded and transformed as a result of the encounter due to the treatment needed to save him. (The Great War v1 #5)

In the Rann/Thanagar war, the Durlans sided with the Thanagarians and attacked the Rannians along with their allies. One such engagement saw the destruction of a Durlan Bioship alongside its Coluan counterpart (Rann-Thanagar War v1 #2)

In his new guise, the Durlan Gaines decided to fulfil his peoples ancient mission of eliminating their sworn enemies. Thus, he dedicated himself to the singular task of eliminating all Kryptonians and maintained this mandate. Gaines believed that Kal-El was perhaps the last of his race and that he himself was perhaps the last Durlan. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #69) The Durlan used his resources to travel once more to the Grand Majesty Sevenfold and once more activated the vessel in order to use its weaponry to destroy Metropolis. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #70) However, the Durlan Gaines was confronted on the ship by Batman and Superman who managed to redirect the crashing ship. Kal-El stopped the Durlan by using his breath to freeze his foe and the outraged Gaines decided to die rather then be captured. He attempted to shape shift and shattered into many pieces despite being warned of this fate which seemingly killed him. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #71)

The Shadow Council of Durla became afraid of the fact that an unknown being was responsible for seizing control of L.E.G.I.O.N. After being afraid of this fact, they dispatched an agent to restore order before all out war sweeped through the sectors and was thus sent to find Dox to get help. (R.E.B.E.L.S. Vol 2 #5 2009) The Durlans were one of the many races in known space that were notified of the fall of the Dominator homeworld. (R.E.B.E.L.S. Vol 2 #6 2009)

30th/31st Century

The manipulations of the Dark Circle saw them sending an entire fleet to Durla in order to ostracize the planet. (Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #107)

Overview

The malleable nature of their physiology allowed the Durlans to take the form of anyone or anything thus making them excellent shapeshifters though one with no true form. (The Great War v1 #5) This meant that no two bodies of Durlans bore the same external features that resembled one another though their internally their anatomy was identical. (Invasion v1 #2) In fact, though all Durlans could change their shape, they were genetically the same. (Invasion v1 #1) It was believed they were capable of taking on the shape of both animate and inanimate objects though were only capable of replicating the form rather than their function. (Invasion v1 #2) Their natural shapeshifting talents allowed them to take a large variety of forms and even allowed them to survive the vacuum of space unaided. Furthermore, they were able to envelop their substance onto other beings in order to allow them to survive in space should they lack any protective gear. (Invasion v1 #1) Durlans were capable of changing their shape to match their environment though heat signatures were capable of detecting them. Among the height of their abilities was transforming their very bodies into microscopic bacteria thus allowing them to deploy themselves as bioweapons against enemies. (The Great War v1 #5) Ancient Durlan DNA was notably quite different from that future generations that was believed to be the result of evolution of the species. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #69)

The Durlans remained as one of the most enigmatic species known. (Invasion v1 #2) Amongst the leadership body of the species was the Shadow Council of Durla. (R.E.B.E.L.S. Vol 2 #5) Their race had been described as being xenophobic and their governing body resided in subterranean dwellings.(R.E.B.E.L.S. Vol 2 #6) Ancient Durlans were known to had worshipped war gods. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #69)

Infiltrators were known to undergo counterintelligence training that dictated their agents to observe and assimilate when being inserted within alien societies. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #69) Its soldiers wwere known to had dedicated themselves to holy war tenents. (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #70)

Durlans were able to meld their forms together by the hundreds which allowed them to create fully functioning interstellar linkships.(R.E.B.E.L.S. Vol 2 #6) This allowed them to take the form of starships through bio-linking to each other and did not register as vessels on sensors but instead scanned as large integrated organic masses. These were able to divide into their individual component life units. (Invasion v1 #1) Durlan bioships were organic structures that were vulnerable to neural weaponry and capable of shapeshifting in an manner to avoid danger. (Rann-Thanagar War v1 #2) Their scout ships were noted for being alive though these also had a weakness to neural scramblers. (The Great War v1 #5)

Members

• Chameleon Boy :
• Yera Allon :
• Chameleon Chief :
• Anderson Gaines : a Durlan from distant times when his ancestors fought against Krypton and jumped in time through an experimental Kryptonian starship. Afterwards, he landed on Earth in the 21st century where he killed billionaire Anderson Gaines and took his identity.

Appearances

• Invasion v1 #1-3
• Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #107
• Superman/Batman v1 #64-71
• The Great Ten v1 #5
• Rann-Thanagar War v1 #2
• R.E.B.E.L.S. v2 #5-6 (2009)

External link

• Wikipedia Entry
• DC Database Entry

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