Thanagarians
The Thanagarians are an alien species that feature in DC Comics.
Contents |
History
Pre-Crisis
Thanagarians were a raced of winged humanoids that were native to the planet Thanagar.
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
According to scriptures, the Thanagarians were haunted by the Seven Devils with Onimar Synn being chief among them. This was until a legendary champion named Kalmoran emerged who bound and imprisoned the demon in a vault of Nth Metal. (JSA v1 #25)
During the formation of the first Thanagarian empire, their civilization spread and so to did the species religion. This saw temples established on worlds such as distant Ancar where statues of their deities were crafted from Nth Metal. (Rann-Thanagar War v1 #2) One of the worlds conquered by the Thanagarians was the planet inhabited by the Slithians whose representatives were in no position to negotiate their surrender. Thus, they could not enter terms that looked after the welfare of their race leading to the species serving as menials and a workforce for Thanagar. (Hawkworld v1 #1)
Around the 19th century, a Thanagarian ship had crash landed on Earth in Ancient Egypt with this event prophesized by the sorcerer Nabu. Khufu, Nabu and Teth-Adam made their way to the ship before their enemies where they cared for the dying pilots that spoke of Nth Metal along with a danger that will come in a thousand years. After the pilots death, they took the craft into the pyramid to study its secret that included a small cache of Nth Metal. (JSA v1 #22)
The invaders ground forces received air support in the form of Thanagarian hawkships that served as the airforce for their allies. (Invasion v1 #2)
The forces of New Krypton fought against a fleet of Thanagarians in the Sol system where the hawkmen destroyed the Kryptonian pilot ship that was part of Operation: Callisto that intended to move the moon Callisto from its orbit to their new homeworld. (Superman: World of New Krypton v1 #7) The fierce battle only ends when General Kal-El saves the Wing-Master's ship from a reactor overload and explains his peaceful intentions. This battle group later assists the Kandorians by slowing down the out of control Jovian moon Callisto by utilizing nth metal properties to slow it down. Following that point, Vetalla Dae was assigned by her government to serve as the Thanagarian representative to New Krypton though she had reservations as her people remembered the days of the Kryptonian empire. (Superman: World of New Krypton v1 #8) She was present when the Saturnian King Jemm stormed into the Kryptonian council chambers in anger at the Kandorians actions in the system. Superman managed to prevent any further violent action and Dae commented that the Thanagarians had an accord with New Krypton with them watching the Kandorians. (Superman: World of New Krypton v1 #9)
The Thanagarians later launched an invasion of Saturn in the hope of using it as a beachhead for an attack on Earth. The resultant Saturn-Thanagar War saw the Justice League intervening as they supported King Jemm against the attackers. (Justice League of America v2 #60)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of history was created with a different series of events.
At some point, the Daemonites were noted for also being enemies of the Thanagarians. Their repeated invasions had failed in the past and thus they made use of diplomacy in order to provide a gift as a peace offering to their foes. However, this served only as a means of unleashing a bioweapon called the plague that afflicted the winged Thangarians causing many to die and leading to their wings withering into nothing. Thus, the entire species became wingless and the plague was responsible for killing their emperor. (Savage Hawkman v1 #0)
Thangarian ruler Corsar Thal in his effort to mine the Nth Metal from Kalomoran considered hiring mining equipment from the Kherubim. (Savage Hawkman v1 #0)
A delegation from Thanagar arrived on Rann where they were enraged over the Ultraa Project and took the body of the seemingly deceased Katar Hol. General Thorvis Thal's ship would be attacked by the Thanagarian terrorist Byth who wanted to harvest Hawkman's body of its Nth Metal. (Justice League United v1 #4)
The Thanagarians attended a United Planets summit that was being set at Oa which was to discuss the Green Lantern Corps admission into the interstellar alliance's ranks. (Green Lantern v6 #1)
Overview
In terms of appearance, the Thanagarians were the most humannoid in form. (Invasion v1 #2)
They made use of winged flight devices in order to fly. (Invasion v1 #2)
By nature, the species were highly disciplined with a great deal of experience in interplanetary warfare. (Invasion v1 #2) Thanagarians were raised under the belief that ‘violence is the only true commerce’. (Naomi v1 #3)
Royal Ca'arra Hawks were revered animals in their society and served as the basis for their militaristic culture. (Firestorm v3 #20)
Leadership of their empire was held by the High Mor. (JSA v1 #25)
Following the destruction of their homeworld, every Thanagarian Wingman carried an art-sphere that formed a realistic projection of Thanagar when it was destroyed with this reminding them of the reason they fought. (Firestorm v3 #20)
One of their religions was Te Shamaar who worshipped an ancient group of deities known as the Celae. (Hawkworld v2 #15) It was considered part of the old religion on Thanagar though not one of the seven official religions with it said that practice in it was largely abandoned. One of the chief warriors of the Celae was Kakahlan who employed the souls of the dead as an army known as the Faenear. (Hawkworld v2 #14)
Among their deities included:
- Falomer : the lord of wisdom. (Hawkworld v2 #15)
- Ar Rehon : one of the chief goddesses of the Celae. (Hawkworld v2 #15)
- Mawys : one of the chief gods of the Celae. (Hawkworld v2 #15)
- Gae Deon : one of the old gods known as the Celae who was known as the Golden and was the giver of light and knowledge. (Hawkworld v2 #15) It was said that the god was analogous to Apollo on Earth. (Hawkworld v2 #14)
- Mar Rhigan : a demoness who called herself the Dark Woman. (Hawkworld v2 #15) She was regarded as the goddess of death who possessed a cauldron which the dead could be placed in it and afterwards they would walk again. (Hawkworld v2 #14)
- Ga Vanon : a noted deity. (Hawkworld v2 #15)
- Ka Kahlan : a deity who was part of the Faenear. (Hawkworld v2 #15)
- Haarli : god of love. (Hawkworld v2 #12)
- Thasaro : a male deity known as 'the Fallen One' who was a child so corrupt and primordially evil that the gods own existence was threatened by him with a possible end to their ancient reign. He was banished from heaven and condemned to the fiery nests for all eternity but underestimated him as he survived and grew stronger where he led a demonic horde against the Aerie as he sought vengeance. He nearly brought the Aerie's defeat until a single warrior named Hol struck him down with a blessed feather and defeated him. To ensure his defeat, the surviving Thanagarian gods imprisoned Thasaro in a mystic urn with their magic with Hol charged with taking it to a distant newly formed world across the galaxy for the deity to remain imprisoned forever with the planet actually being Earth. (Legend of the Hawkman v1 #3)
In addition, there were a pantheon of demons known as the Seven Devils which included:
- Beska : one of the Seven Devils of Thanagar. (Hawkworld v1 #14) also known as the Devil of Folly. (Hawkworld v2 #15)
- Kokh : one of the Seven Devils of Thanagar. (Hawkworld v1 #14)
- Irble : one of the Seven Devils of Thanagar. (Hawkworld v1 #14)
- Onimar : one of the Seven Devils of Thanagar. (Hawkworld v1 #14) Onimar Synn was one of the Inhumi and one of the deadliest of the Thanagarian demons. (JSA v1 #23)
- Shekkel : one of the Seven Devils of Thanagar. (Hawkworld v1 #14)
- Shoggoth : one of the Seven Devils of Thanagar. (Hawkworld v1 #14)
- Vorox : one of the Seven Devils of Thanagar. (Hawkworld v1 #14)
Basic Thanagarian theology held that their gods had descended from the heavens and lay with mortal women. The result of the union of gods and mortals were the first true Thanagarians with it claimed that this made them superior to other beings. As a result, sex had a large role within all the Thanagarian religions that were based on it. According to the high priests in the Council Divine, true-born Thanagarians all possessed a bit of the divine in their souls. This supposedly justified their terrible treatment of those they deemed as lesser races. Despite this being the case, the Thanagarians also inflicted harm on one another but not as openly. Thanagarian priests engaged in ornate politics, wore peacock style dresses and had a preoccupation with all things sexual. Instead of open warfare, each priest usually had their own Raven who were black garbed individuals wearing a red eyed raven mask. Ravens were the priests acolytes who were also a combination of spy and assassin that served as dark angels who were instruments of vengeance of a particular god. Though priests were laughed at, the Ravens were feared as symbols of death. (Hawkworld v2 #12) One cult was the Talon of Truth who claimed to be the priests of the Downsiders. (JSA v1 #22) The gods of Thanagar were known as the Seven Devils with the sacred Nth Metal being used to craft statues of them. Foremost amongst their ranks was Onimar Synn who was known as the Eater of Souls. (Rann-Thanagar War v1 #2) A death cult amongst the Thanagarians worshipped the luciphage that was Starbreaker with this sect being tolerated on Thanagar as being harmless superstition. (Adam Strange: Planet Heist v1 #7)
Women were said to hold an honoured place in their society but none had ever become a high priestess except within the old religion. (Hawkworld v2 #12) Thanagarian beliefs held the sun Polaris was a traditional resting place for their heroes with bodies sent to it. (Rann-Thanagar War v1 #4)
A noted holiday celebration was Impossible Day whereby tradition held for families gathered and people attempted to do three impossible things. (Brave and the Bold v1 #44)
On Thanagar, individuals did not personally handle money but paid for everyday items with their Indenti-Cards. Money that was earned was automatically deposited into a persons account at the planetary bank and through the cards they could make purchases. Beyond cards, Thanagarians were given medals as an award for achievement but these had no monetary value but were prized targets for thieves. (The Brave and the Bold v1 #42)
An elite group within their military was the Thanagarian Black Guard who were considered the best of the best. (Superman v5 #14)
Thanagarian language included the following words:
- Dal : a time unit that was the equivalent of an hour on Earth. (The Brave and the Bold v1 #42)
- Rothan : a time unit that was the equivalent of a week on Earth. (The Brave and the Bold v1 #42)
Technology
On Thanagar, they had developed the Veracikone that was a hand-held device used to get criminals to tell the truth. (Hawkman v1 #18) For interrogation, truth-ray' lamps were present at headquarters with these being used to make captive criminals reveal the truth. (The Brave and the Bold v1 #42) Another device was the mind-eater that assaulted the mind of the target. (Swamp Thing v2 #58)
They made use of robotic cleaners that were used to clean residences. (The Brave and the Bold v1 #42)
Weather was controlled on their worlds such as Thanagar which followed a rigid pattern designed by the Thanagarians. (The Brave and the Bold v1 #42) Among their technology was the relativity-beam system that allowed instantaneous transportation between locations. It operated with a scanner measuring the retinal pattern and brain electricity patterns against a model programmed into it. (Justice League of America v1 #78)
Their ships were powered by the anti-gravity elements of Nth Metal with coils present in their spacecraft that needed to be in sync with one another for the vessel to fly. (Hawkman v4 #2)
One was the vibrarod that was a hand held weapon. (Hawkman v1 #18)
Members
- Katar Hol :
- Shayera Thal :
- Vetalla Dae : female Thanagarian Wing-Master that fought against the Kandorian forces in the Sol system during Operation: Callisto. (Superman: World of New Krypton v1 #7-#8)
- Nul : male Thanagarian Vice-Wing who assisted Wing-Master Dae. (Superman: World of New Krypton v1 #8)
- Kalmoran : a legendary champion who defeated Onimar Synn of the Seven Devils and imprisoned the demon in a vault of Nth Metal. (JSA v1 #25)
- Keela Roo :
- Fel Andar :
- Rhon Dhu : an ancestor of Shayera Hol. (Brave and the Bold v1 #44)
- Kragger : a bearded male Thanagarian who was one of the Wingmen and partner to Ensign Katar Hol. (Hawkworld v1 #1)
- Andar Pul : a male Thanagarian who served as Chief of Police on his world. (The Brave and the Bold v1 #42) He was the dark haired male Thanagarian Commissioner of the Wingmen. (Hawkworld v1 #1)
- Thal Porvis : a male Thanagarian Administrator and father of Shayera Thal. (Hawkworld v1 #1)
- Paran Katar : father to Katar Hol and noted scientist that developed the wings that gave them the power of flight. (Hawkworld v1 #1)
- Ariosto : a male General Thanagarian who led their fleets and forces. (Hawkman v1 #26)
- Oyama : a male aristocrat, Count Oyama was the planet's leading scientist and secretly a traitor working for the Infinite Empire. (Hawkman v1 #26)
- Corla Tavo : (Shadow War of Hawkman v1 #2)
- Sazor Ki : (Shadow War of Hawkman v1 #2)
- Rab Mekir : (Shadow War of Hawkman v1 #2)
- Alegna Kadu : (Shadow War of Hawkman v1 #2)
- Qyeala : a female Thangarian who headed an elite and secret military force that reported to Thangarian Command. (Naomi v1 #3)
- Corsar Thal :
- Ro-R-Yden : male on the Thanagarian Galactic Security Council and the Chief of Intergalactic Intelligence who was present on Unity Day. (Superman v5 #14)
- Ameyra Khalan : a female auburn haired Thanagarian who served as a captain in the United Planet's brigade where she helped handle security during the summit on Oa. (Green Lantern v6 #1)
Notes
- The Thanagarians were created by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert where they made their first appearance in Brave and the Bold v1 #34 (March, 1961).
Alternate Versions
- During the JLA/Avengers crossover, the actions of Krona led to both universes inhabitants colliding with one another with one such incident leading to the Thanagarians battling the Skrulls.
In other media
Television
- In Justice League, the Thanagarians appeared in the DC Animated Universe television series with Hawkgirl being one of their number. Its revealed in the episode "The Terror Beyond" that the Old One Ichthultu was once worshipped by the Thanagarians who were taught science by the alien deity until their culture rejected him. Centuries ago, Thanagarian explorers Katar Hol and Chay-Ara crash landed on Earth in Egypt where they became the rulers of the land to establish a great kingdom. The pair were later killed when Hol's advisor Hath-Set's treachery led to a poisoning that killed both Hol and his love Chay-Ara. They later make an appearance in "Starcrossed" where they came to Earth with the apparent intention of protecting it from the threat of the Gordanians. However, this proves to be a deception as they intended to create a hyperspace bypass that would destroy Earth but allow the Thanagarians to defeat the Gordanians in a war that the hawkmen were losing. To achieve their goals, they had their advance agent Hawkgirl learn everything about the planet and the weaknesses of its superheroes thus allowing them to defeat the Justice League. However, they are defeated and Hro Talek dies fighting the Gordanians whereupon their homeworld is conquered by the Gordanians as revealed in "Hunter's Moon".
- In Legion of Super-Heroes, the Thanagarians made a brief appearance in the second season finale "Dark Victory, Part 2". They were one of the worlds attacked by the corrupted Brainiac 5. Brainiac arrived on the planet and revealed his desire to remove chaos from the universe thus provoking a Thanagarian response but the Coluans digitization technology destroys them as well as Thanagar.
- In Green Lantern, Thanagarians made a brief appearance in the animated series. A group of Thanagarians led by Byth were stranded at a former Spider Guild asteroid prison who manage to escape when the Red Lantern Corps attack the facility.
- In Legends of Tomorrow, Thanagarians were mentioned in the shared continuity setting of the Arrowverse. In the episode "Destiny", it was revealed that the Time Masters had allowed for the rise of Vandal Savage in the 22nd century in order to unite the world against the Thanagarian invaders that attack Earth in 2171. According to the Time Masters, the threat of the Thanagarians was so great that they even managed to conquer them in their home at the Vanishing Point.
Appearances
- Brave and the Bold v1: (1961)
- Hawkman v1:
- Invasion v1: #1-3
- Hawkworld v1:
- Hawkworld v2:
- JSA v1:
- Savage Hawkman v1:
- Justice League United v1:
- Death of Hawkman v1:
- Justice League v4:
- Naomi v1:
- Superman v5:
- Green Lantern v6: (2021)
External Link
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