Equus (DC)
Equus is a male comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Equus
He would later come into conflict with Superman when the superhero discovered the Vanishing which was an event in which one million people completely disappeared from the face of the Earth that included his wife Lois Lane. He came to be traced to an unspecified country in the Middle East. Investigating, Superman intervened in a civil war by using his speed to snatch all the guns from a group of men fighting one another. The fighting continued, however, and in his continued quest to put an end to it. Superman confronted Equus where the large, monstrous, cybernetically enhanced humanoid creature whose claws were capable of piercing Superman's skin. General Nox who was the leader of the rebels puts an end to the fight between the two beings, telling Superman that his side has won the war, and showing him that the people outside the palace where Superman and Equus had fought were now cheering Nox's name. (Superman v2 #206) Although Superman initially stands down, he later appears before Nox, who has captured an advanced-looking device from the deposed regime, which his lieutenant informed him was, according to the confession of a minister of that regime, the weapon that was responsible for The Vanishing. Although still operational, it lacks any accuracy, functioning like a shotgun. Superman then appears, demanding to know of the weapon's origins, and when Nox informs him that the former king had intended to use it against Nox, and that the King is to be executed, along with more than a dozen other members of the king's regime, Superman intervenes, feeling that the condemned men deserve a trial, again coming to blows with Equus, who carries out the execution. During the fight, Superman rips the claws right out of Equus' right arm, and seemingly defeats him. Superman then returns to Nox's palace, confronting him with the question of what he intends to do with the weapon, but Equus also appears, and ignores Nox's orders to stand down, saying that he is not being paid by Nox. Nox reminds him that Equus is there to aid him, but Equus brushes Nox aside, and attacks Superman. Superman is less forgiving in this rematch, using his X-ray and microscopic visions to learn much about Equus' enhancements, and physically disabling much of their exterior components. Equus escapes by activating the weapon, causing not only himself to vanish, but another 300,000 other people from across the planet. (Superman v2 #207)
When the dying time-lost super-hero Karate Kid and his partner Una came to the base seeking Orr's assistance, the scientist sent Equus after them to see what they were made of. Satisfied with what he had witnessed, Orr introduced himself to the heroes and agreed to help them. However, shortly after they left the facility, Equus took it upon himself to hunt them down. He found them on a railroad car in Benkelman, Nebraska and began fighting them. The conflict garnered the attention of Supergirl who traded several blows with Equus. During the fight, Karate Kid managed to sever Equus' arm with a high-powered karate chop, but he quickly recovered from the injury. (Countdown v1 #35)
Overview
Personality and attributes
Powers and abilities
Equus stands approximately twice as tall as other humans, and possesses massive musculature on his upper torso. (Superman v2 #206) He has white skin composed of crocodilian skin cells laced with self-healing hinge molecules. His internal cybernetics are built upon a haptic interface, through which the numerous cables attached along various points of his body, and covering his head, are connected. His circulatory system includes webs of titanium-reinforced biometric arteries, and his endocrine system is filled with synthetic steroids, adrenaline, and endorphins. The artificial portions of his anatomy include three grades of soft plastic that Superman had never seen before prior to his first encounter with Equus. Equus' mechanical components are powered by a system of oligotronic solar powered fuel cells controlling seven different senses, and his nervous system is powered by enough electricity to power a city block. (Superman v2 #207)
In addition to reducing the subjects' amygdalae enlargement, added nanoparticle magneto-rheological fluids, housed in a carbon nanotubular vasculature system, in order to give the subjects the ability to continue functioning after death. (Superman v2 #207)
They had their amygdalae enlarged as part of their genetic modifications, though this was scaled back for the subsequent versions, according to Mr. Orr, because this made the subjects psychotic. Specimens from the project that produced Equus were also said to have the wingbones of a fallen angel within their forearms. (Superman v2 #215)
Notes
- Equus was created by Brian Azzarello and Jim Lee where he made his first appearance in Superman v2 #206 (August, 2004).
In other media
Television
- In Superman & Lois, Equus made a brief cameo appearance in the setting of the live-action television series in the third season episode "Of Sound Mind". He was shown in a hologram as one of the numerous foes of Superman.
Appearances
- Superman v2: (2004)
External Links
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