Solaris (DC)
Solaris is a comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
In the 853rd century Solaris is a secondary artificial sun, a sentient machine in the orbit of Uranus that helps to warm the outer parts of the solar system and relay communications and information. His caretaker is the future Starman.
Solaris was created in the 20th Century section of the DC One Million storyline in an apparent predestination paradox, as his abilities were required to counteract an organic computer virus his 853rd Century self had sent back, concealed in the android Hourman. Unbeknownst to those constructing him, Solaris' core programming was contained in the computer virus, resulting in the tyrant sun's creation being the result of a time loop, although he was swiftly defeated and banished to the outskirts of the galaxy by the Starman of the 853rd century before he could organise himself enough to take offensive action after his creation. According to the future timeline established in DC One Million, after Solaris was originally created in the late 20th century, he will fight many battles against "the progenitor of the dynasty" (a.k.a. the original Superman) between that time and the departure of the original Superman from Earth at the end of the 21st century. As yet, no such battles have been published. Solaris is still technically at large within the DC universe, though we have no idea where nor for that how long it will take before it is even able to return to Earth's solar system.
Morrison used the character in his out-of-continuity All-Star Superman series, which began in 2005 and concluded in 2008. Solaris was referenced in issue #2 of that series, in the form of a report from Kal Kent, the Superman of the 853rd Century. The report was viewed via Superman's prototype Time Telescope. Kal Kent appeared identical to his appearance in DC One Million. The Tyrant Sun appears as a distinct character in issue #11, where Superman reveals that he knows that Solaris will continue to exist into the distant future, again similar to the events in DC One Million.
After that point, Solaris will be a recurrent villain plaguing Superman's descendants, until he is considered the greatest enemy of the Superman dynasty. This will continue until the 505th century Superman sacrifices his life in order to reprogram the artificial sun. At that point, Solaris will recant its villainous ways and work for the betterment of humanity, becoming an ally of the Superman dynasty.
It will be noted at that time that Solaris is never able to rise to the high standard set by the Supermen, and also that part of his service never seems entirely altruistic. These suspicions will gradually be confirmed as Solaris rises to lead a group called the Pancosmic Justice Jihad, which will take advantage of the paranoia of a dark age to justify an aggressive agenda of preemptive strikes and be venerated by the fearful population. The return of Superman Prime (Kal-El, the original Superman) from his long wandering at the boundaries of existence in the 701st century will trigger a great spiritual revival, during which humanity will look to develop its own ultimate mental potential and turn its back on artificial computers (cf. Frank Herbert's Butlerian Jihad), including Solaris.
Solaris will then be relegated to the role we find him in at the dawn of the 853rd Century, that of the secondary sun of Earth's solar system, forever considered inferior to the yellow primary Sun which serves as Superman's current Fortress of Solitude. The resentment that festers in Solaris as a result of this situation will lead him to plot with the 853rd century Starman and the immortal Vandal Savage to destroy Superman Prime upon his return from his 15,270 year stay in the heart of the sun. Their intention was to trap and kill the original Justice League--Superman's oldest friends—in a world they could not comprehend, and subsequently Solaris would replace the Sun after the original Superman was assassinated using the last known piece of Kryptonite in the universe. However, this plan was thwarted by the Justice League back in the past (consisting of Steel, Plastic Man, Big Barda, Huntress and Zauriel), who destroyed the Kryptonite fragment and secretly replaced it with a Green Lantern power ring, while in the 853rd Century Kyle Rayner triggered a supernova in the core of Solaris and then contained it using his own power ring. Solaris was subsequently crushed by Superman Prime upon his emergence from the Sun using his newly-acquired Green Lantern ring.
Overview
Personality and attributes
Powers and abilities
Notes
- Solaris was created by Grant Morrison and Val Semeiks where he made his first appearance in DC One Million v1 #1 (November, 1998).
Alternate Versions
- In Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman v1 (2021), an alternate version of Solaris appeared in the setting of Future State. It was said that he was an enemy of the new Superman Jonathan Samuel Kent where the two battled with the son of Superman having defeated him once and left him in deadspace. Despite that, the Tyrant Sun survived and went to consume numerous stars in order to get his revenge where he made his way to Earth. In 2070, Solaris came to Earth in order to displace its sun and take over the Earth as part of his plan to destroy Jon Kent. The act of displacing the sun drew the ire of the sun god Kuat who decided to race against Solaris to prove his superiority. The god was weakened from the race where Superman proposed a contest of strength between him and Solaris in an effort to give sometime to save the Earth from further damage.
In other media
Films
- In All-Star Superman, Solaris appeared as an antagonist in the animated film adaptation where he was voiced by actor Robin Atkin Downes.
Appearances
- All-Star Superman v1: (1998)
- JLA v1:
- Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman v1: (2021)
External Links
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