Solovar
Solovar is a male comic character who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Solovar was a male evolved gorilla who was an inhabitant of Gorilla City. (The Flash v1 #106)
A year ago, he was part of an expeditionary trip outside his home city when he was captured by humans. To protect himself, he pretended to be an ordinary Congo gorilla so as to not draw the humans suspicion. (The Flash v1 #106)
When King Solovar of Gorilla Citty was taken by a human expedition to the Congo his rival Gorilla Grodd knew the time was right to fulfill his dream of taking over first Gorilla City and then the world. He flew his nuclear-powered craft to Central City, hiding out in the park. Gorilla Grodd couldn’t help but being spotted on occasion, and his rumors of his existence frightened the citizens of Central City. Actor Fred Perason, start of “The Great Gorilla” play, called his friend Barry (Flash) Allen, saying he was worried he was the mysterious gorilla because he’d been playing the role of one for so long it might have affected his mind. He had no memory of his last stage performance, which was supposedly his most realistic one yet. Pearson didn’t realize that Gorilla Grodd, looking for a place to hide out for a few hours, knocked him out and took his place on stage. Barry promised he’d investigate. Gorilla Grodd was searching for Solovar, hoping to steal his power of force of mind so he could mind control others. He spotted a circus traveling through town and by luck Solovar was one of the animals being kept in a cage. Grodd used his telepathy to learn force of mind from Solovar, bragging about what he’d do with his new power. When Grodd left Solovar knew he had no choice but to escape his cage and find Flash, who he believed was the only man capable of stopping Grodd. Flash was shocked to be speaking to a talking gorilla, but after Solovar explained the situation Flash agreed to help. Flash sped Solovar back to Africa and confronted Grodd. Grodd had already mind controlled the residents of Gorilla City, planning on using them as soldiers to conquer the rest of the world. Flash created a whirlwind under Grodd before he could use his force of mind on him, and Solovar, rightfully restored to his throne, had Grodd imprisoned. Solovar told Flash that the whirlwind he created had knocked the knowledge of force of mind out of Grodd’s head and he no longer possesed the power. Solovar said he feared what would happen to Gorilla City if the outside world ever learned of them and Flash promised to never reveal the location of Solovar’s secret city. (The Flash v1 #106)
Gorilla Grodd had only pretended to lose his force of mind power, and used it to escape captivity. Solovar sent a distress signal to Flash, who ran to Africa in seconds, but was confused when he saw no sign of Gorilla City,. Solovar used a device to keep Gorilla City on a vibrational plane that couldn’t be observed by humans, and turned the device off to allow Flash entry. Solovar kept a register of the vibrational frequency of everyone in Gorilla city, and used it to determine that Grodd was miles underneath the city. Flash used his supserpeed to drill himself underground until he found Grodd, who’d discovered an underground world populated by Bird-People. Grodd had already used his force of mind on them, planning on making them into an army to conquer the world. He’d also developed a devolutionizer ray that would turn Solovar and the citizens of gorilla city into ordinary apes. Grodd fired the devolutionizer at Flash using a setting that caused the Mola, the strange underground atmosphere, to crystallize around Flash’s body. The encased Flash toppled forward, damaging the devolutionizer and Grodd cursed him for delaying his plans of conquest while he repaired it. Grodd instructed the Bird-People to place Flash in the town square as a warning to all who would oppose Grodd’s plans. Flash couldn’t move in the crystalline Mola, but managed to rock himself back and forth on the pedestal he’d been placed on until he fell over and the Mola shattered. Flash confronted Grodd again, and created a whirlwind around him, but Grodd was strong enough to break free. Flash was worried about his size and strength, but with his speed he was able to punch Grodd a hundred times before the villain could lay a hand on him, felling him. With Grodd unconscious the Bird-People regained their senses and thanked Flash for freeing them. Flash handed Grodd over to Solovar, who promised to keep a closer eye on him. (The Flash v1 #107)
He was set to marry Boka when Grodd returned to Gorilla City in secret where he used his laboratory to expose himself to neo-magnetism. This made himself irresistible to her where she came to married him instead leading to Grodd briefly becoming Gorilla City's king. (The Flash v1 #127)
King Solivar held a judgement over the murderer Koris where he sentenced him to rehabilitation. After the trial, the chambers was visited by Harbinger where she came to enlist his aid for a great crisis affecting the cosmos and teleported him away with the Gorilla City guards unable to stop her. He next appeared on the Monitor's satellite as one of a number of champions tasked with averting the coming threat to the Multiverse. (Crisis on Infinite Earths v1 #1) He set out to protect his cosmic machines from the Anti-Monitor's Shadow Demons. Solovar was gravely injured while protecting the boy Kamandi from the demons and was presumed dead by his allies, but the Monitor actually teleported him back to Gorilla City in time for his life to be saved. (Crisis on Infinite Earths v1 #3)
Modern
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Solovar was a simple un-evolved ape who lived during the rise of the Mayan Empire. When an extra-dimensional phenomenon his society would eventually dub The Light touched him and his herd they gained a vastly augmented state of being enabling them to read and write and speak their open minds. Solovar learned of it's true nature as the Speed Force studying how its lashed out before destroying and remaking the history of the world many times over, he gained such insight when his evolved mind showed him the distant past and a darkened future ahead. (The Flash v4 #14)
Overview
Personality and attributes
It was noted that he was willing to sacrifice himself rather than risk exposing the existence of Gorilla City. (The Flash v1 #106)
Powers and abilities
An inhabitant of Gorilla City, Solovar was a member of a race of highly intelligent gorillas. It was said that he possessed the greatest mind in the world. (The Flash v1 #106) The Flash finds Solovar's intelligence to be immeasurable and possessed awesome mental power. (The Flash v1 #295)
Notes
- Solovar was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino where he made his first appearance in The Flash v1 #106 (April–May, 1959).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In the DC Animated Universe, Solovar made a number of appearances in the shared continuity setting:
- In Justice League, Solovar appeared in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor David Ogden Stiers.
- In Justice League Unlimited, Solovar appeared in the animated television series where he was voiced once again by actor David Ogden Stiers.
- In The Flash, Solovar appeared in the 2014 live-action television series in the episode "Attack on Gorilla City" where he was voiced by actor Keith David.
Video games
Appearances
- The Flash: (1959)
- Crisis on Infinite Earths v1:
- The Flash v5:
External Links
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