Vandal Savage
Vandal Savage is an ancient immortal comic book supervillain that features in DC Comics.
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Biography
Pre-Crisis
Before the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Vandal Savage was a native of Earth-2.
Post-Crisis
Vandal Savage was an immortal would-be world conqueror, over 30,000 years old, who has taken on hundreds of identities in his long life. Vandal Savage was originally Vandar Adg, a member of a Cro-Magnon tribe who (along with the man who would be known as the Immortal Man) was transformed by a meteor into a superior and extremely long-lived being. (He is not completely immortal, but his lifespan is so incredibly long that he merely had a few white streaks by the 853rd century.)
Twenty thousand years ago, Vandal Savage and his clan migrated out of Asia as they sought new lands. During this time, the four thousand strong clan followed him until they discovered a crashed space craft that contained a slain Oan. However, they were not alone as a Burning Martian had survived the crash and it began to kill scores of the Cro-Magnon tribe. It took Savage two months before he managed to kill it and it was only because the creature desired death. (JLA v1 #86) Among his people, the beast was known as the Dakath or the Burning but it was only twenty millennia later did he learn that the beast was a Martian. Vandal later kept the severed head of the creature sealed in one of his headquarters. (JLA v1 #85)
Savage served in many militaries, playing the role of conqueror and king numerous times, frequently clashing with the Immortal Man in his various identities. (Vandal claimed to have been many historical conquerors, such as Julius Caesar and Genghis Khan, but it is likely he's exaggerating.) He also founded movements and groups to aid him, such as the Illuminati.
In the 1940s, Vandal saw an opportunity to gain power, which led him to battle with many heroes of the era, including Green Lantern and the Justice Society of America. He allied with the Injustice Society of the World, to increase his chances, but ultimately failed.
Years later, Vandal began to age again, and sought out the meteor that gave him his longevity; he was seemingly destroyed by it, but was actually revitalized. Vandal has since engaged in more Machiavellian plots, preferring less direct conflicts.
In modern times, a plot of Savage's gone awry destroyed the city of Montevideo in Uruguay, and Savage lost an eye in battle with the Martian Manhunter, after which he went underground.
By the 853rd century, Vandal Savage was recognized as a major foe of the Justice Legion A, and allied with the mad stellar computer Solaris in an attempt to conquer the galaxy. He met his end when Chronos remotely tampered with his equipment, sending him back in time to Montevideo- just in time to be annihilated.
The New 52
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of history was created with a different series of events.
Overview
Personality and attributes
Powers and abilities
Notes
- Vandal Savage was created by Alfred Bester and Martin Nodell where he made his first appearance in Green Lantern v1 #10 (December, 1944).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In Young Justice, the character appeared as the primary antagonist where he was voiced by actor Miguel Ferrer.
- In The Flash, Vandal Savage appeared as a villain in his first appearance in the shared universe of Arrow with the character portrayed by actor Casper Crump.
- In Arrow, the villain retured as part of the cross-over episode with The Flash with actor Casper Crump returning to portray the role.
- In Legends of Tomorrow, the villain returned as part of the shared universe of Arrow where he was once more portrayd by actor Casper Crump.
Films
- In Justice League: Doom, the character appeared as the primary antagonist with actor Phil Morris reprising his role from the Justice League animated series.
Video games
Appearances
- Green Lantern v1:
- The Flash v1:
- Action Comics v1:
