Mordru, also known as Mordru the Merciless, is a supervillain featured in American comic books published by DC Comics.
Originally Wrynn, a scion of a notable family in Gemworld who sought power through black magic, released an entity whom served the Lords of Chaos, Wyrnn's mind was overtaken and replaced with a different being who christened himself as Mordru.
Mordru's character has been adapted in various media, including television series such as Legion of Super-Heroes and Justice League Unlimited.
Fictional character biography
Gemworld
Mordru was originally an energy being who possessed Wrynn, one of the twin sons of Lord Topaz and Lady Turquoise. As Wrynn, Mordru studies black magic and accidentally resurrects the golem Flaw, a golem and servant of the Lords of Chaos who chooses him to assist them in retaking Gemworld. Over time, Mordru takes over Wrynn's mind and body and banishes him to his subconscious. After killing Wrynn's brother Donal during a battle with Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld, Mordru is banished from Gemworld and imprisoned inside the planet. Mordru develops
taphophobia (the fear of being buried alive), which becomes his "Achilles' heel".
[ Amethyst (vol. 3) #1–4 (November 1987 – February 1988)]
Infinite Crisis erases the Gemworld origin and continues Mordru's post- Crisis battles with Doctor Fate and other super heroes. Instead of possessing Wrynn, Mordru controls the form of sorcerer Arion, and was previously imprisoned in the Rock of Eternity.[ JSA #42-50 (January - September 2003)]
Pre-Crisis (20th century)
Chronologically (in DC Universe time), Mordru's first battle with costumed superheroes occurs during a meeting between Earth-One's
Justice League and
Earth-Two's Justice Society of America. Mordru (who inhabits the Earth-One universe) captures members of the JLA and JSA from the 20th century and forces them to retrieve artifacts to free the
Demons Three. During the battle, the Justice League and the Justice Society ally with the Legion of Super-Heroes.
[ Justice League of America #147–148 (October - November 1977)] His plan fails. There is some loss of continuity following
Crisis on Infinite Earths, the battle is restored to continuity by the events of
Infinite Crisis,
[ Action Comics #864 (June 2008)] where the Justice League and the Justice Society reside in the same universe.
Post-Crisis (20th and 21st centuries)
After
Crisis on Infinite Earths, Mordru is reimagined as a Lord of Chaos. When the Justice Society face him in the present day, Jack Knight (the current Starman) mentions that he knows of Mordru from his visits to the 30th century, and the android Hourman reveals that he attempted to use his time-manipulation to revert Mordru to a less powerful state but found that Mordru's timeline had no beginning or end, suggesting that he is immortal. Mordru attempts to steal the body and power of
Hector Hall (Hector Hall), but is imprisoned in Fate's amulet. After escaping, Mordru overpowers Fate and steals his collar and amulet.
With the aid of
Eclipso and Obsidian, Mordru tries to conquer the world, but is defeated by Fate and the Justice Society.
Fate imprisons Mordru within the Rock of Eternity, where he is overseen by the wizard
Wizard Shazam.
After escaping from the Rock of Eternity, Mordru seeks revenge on Fate and the Justice Society.[ JSA #78 (December 2005)] As Mordru and Fate battle, they encounter different timelines, such as the "Kingdom Come" timeline. Fate mocks Mordru, suggesting he is a 'cosmic fluke' and a cancer and that no other versions of him exist. Mordru is defeated by Jakeem Thunder, who places him "somewhere where none of us will see him again". and the hostless Nabu in JSA #80, art by Don Kramer.]]
Pre-Zero Hour (30th Century)
In the 30th century, Mordru appears on Zerox, the planet of sorcerers, and takes control in a coup. In doing so, he steals the sorcerers' powers, but his apprentice, Mysa Nal (the White Witch) escapes.
Mordru, now known as the "Dark Lord", founds a galactic empire by conquering nearby planets. He combines the technology of the conquered planets with his sorcery. For example, he can jam an enemy's weapons before a space battle. However, Brainiac 5 notices that Mordru is choosing his conquests carefully "as if selecting baubles from a jeweller's tray", suggesting his power has wavered.[ Adventure Comics #369 (June 1968)] In a large space battle, the Legion defeats Mordru's armada. Mordru fights back by appearing as a hundred-foot armored giant. After he defeats the Legion, he reverts to his normal stature to rejoice in his victory, failing to notice that Lar Gand and Superboy were not present during the fight. The two seal him in an airless vault which is placed beneath Legion Headquarters.
While exploring the headquarters, Shadow Lass finds Mordru's vault and opens the outer door. While trying to open the main door, she is interrupted by Mon-El, who warns Shadow Lass and shuts the vault. He opens an outer glass window which lets them see safely inside, but they see Mordru is revived and coming thru the vault side. Mon-El sounds the alarm and Superboy tries to reach him but is rendered unconscious by Mordru, who has not yet regained his full strength. The Legion flee through a Time Bubble. The Legion have no time to set the bubble and arrive at its last setting, Smallville in Superboy's time. They hide the bubble and aided by Clark Kent (Superboy) they assume secret identities. Through Lana Lang and the Smallville townsfolk, Mordru finds the Legion. They battle and again, Mordru is left imprisoned and comatose.
Earthwar
Mordru manipulated the Resource Raiders, the
, the
Dark Circle and events on Weber's World (a diplomatic conference between the
United Planets and the Dominion) to take over Earth and defeat the Legion, but is defeated. In the aftermath of the crisis, the Khunds and the Dark Circle are driven out of United Planets territory. The United Planets and the Dominion sign an extended peace treaty.
Legion of Super-Heroes, volume 4
Mordru is fated to rule the universe for a thousand years. The
Time Trapper tries to use the Legion to stop Mordru's rise to power, but in "The Great Darkness Saga", the Legion become more powerful than expected. The Time Trapper realizes the Legion is a potential threat. When Mon-El destroys the Time Trapper, it disrupts the space-time continuum and reveals a universe in which Mordru does come to power. The villain Glorith casts a spell at the expense of her own life. With this spell, she goes back in time and becomes responsible for the creation of the Legion.
In the new timeline, Glorith orchestrates a battle between Mordru and the Legion. Glorith plans to have Mordru and the Legion destroy each other so she can come to power. Ultra Boy discovers her plan and coerces Mordru to attack Glorith.
Following the Magic Wars, there is a galactic economic collapse and Tharn faces destruction by the Khund. To protect the planet against the Khund starships, the Sorcerers' Council restores Mordru's powers, even though they know the power will corrupt him. Mordru defeats the Khunds and becomes Emperor, allying with Glorith.
Relations with other villains (Pre-Zero Hour)
Due to Mordru's power, other would-be conquerors of the 30th century consider Mordru (and hence the Legion) in their plans. For example, Pulsar Stargrave masquerades as Brainiac 5's father and sends his real father on a series of missions to gather artifacts that could defeat Mordru. Stargrave enlists the aid of the Time Trapper, a "time manipulator". Stargrave orders the Time Trapper to prove his worth by killing the Legion. When the Time Trapper fails, Stargrave tries to enlist the Legion themselves. Later on, the alien sorcerer Sden tries to trick the Legion into retrieving yet another artifact, again with the goal of defeating Mordru.
Post-Zero Hour (30th and 31st centuries)
After
, the future of the DC Universe is rebooted. Instead of an established Legion, a new Legion with younger heroes had just been formed, and the history between the 21st and 30th centuries had changed. The story after
Zero Hour has Mordru establishing a large empire in the 28th and 29th centuries before being imprisoned by Mysa (now his daughter rather than his apprentice) in a vault on the Yuen asteroid. In the battle, Mysa's allies are killed and she is severely aged.
Mordru is released by a mining project on the Yuen asteroid controlled by a group of disgruntled Legion rejects. The new Legion consisting of Sensor, Shadow Lass and Magno investigates unusual events on the asteroid. Mordru searches for his lost talismans which hold his power such as the Emerald Empress.
Legion of 3 Worlds
In
Legion of 3 Worlds, a tie-in to the
Final Crisis storyline, Mordru is one of
Superboy-Prime's Legion of Super-Villains. Mordru rules the Sorcerers' World and holds the White Witch hostage. After killing Glorith, Dragonmage, and Prince Evillo, Mordru holds the remaining magic of the universe.
[ #1 (October 2008)] He also receives the power of
Kinetix (killed by Superboy-Prime) and that of the other sorcerers of "Universe-247". However, the White Witch absorbs Mordru. Due to Mordru's evil in doing, so she becomes the "Black Witch".
[ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #4–5 (June - August 2009)]
The New 52
In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. In
Demon Knights, Mordru and Questing Queen work together to find a specific artifact, and come into conflict with Etrigan the Demon.
[ Demon Knights #1 (November 2011)]
Powers and abilities
Within the
DC Universe, Mordru is recognized as an ultimate-level magic wielder
capable of performing virtually any feat by manipulating forces within the universe according to his own will and possessing exceptional endurance surpassing superhuman limitations, superhuman strength, and immortality.
Throughout the character's depiction, his powers were initially connected to his mastery of black magic.
In later portrayals, Mordru's powers are instead derived from "chaos magic", which requires no systems (
Pentagram,
,
,
Incantation, etc.) to produce the desired outcome.
Weaknesses
Despite his immense power, Mordru has
claustrophobia and cannot properly perform magic when methods such as burial or entrapment are employed. Mordru's overconfidence in his abilities often proves to be a hindrance, making him underestimate opponents or overlook potential threats in which creates opportunities for his opponents to exploit. Furthermore, Mordru is also somewhat limited by the boundaries of his imagination
and requires a physical vessel and host to use his magical powers.
Other versions
Legionnaire
The
Legionnaire (also known as the
Golden Age Legionnaire) is a younger version of Mordru who operated as a hero and sought to avoid becoming a villain. He becomes an ally of the Justice Society, who allow him to join on a provisional basis.
[ Justice Society of America (vol. 4) #8 - 9 (April - May 2024)] However, this causes them to come into conflict with the Legion of Super-Heroes, who believe that he still has the capacity for evil and want to imprison him.
[ Justice Society of America (vol. 4) #10 (September 2024)] As a compromise,
Rainbow Girl arranges for Mordru to join the 31st-century version of the Society.
[ Justice Society of America (vol. 4) #11 (November 2024)]
In other media
Television
-
Mordru appears in Legends of the Superheroes, portrayed by Gabriel Dell. This version is the leader of the Legion of Doom.
-
Mordru makes a non-speaking appearance in the Justice League Unlimited episode "The Greatest Story Never Told".
-
Mordru appears in the Legion of Super Heroes episode "Trials", voiced by Jim Ward.
[ A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.] This version was previously banished from Zerox and stripped of his magic.
Video games
-
Mordru appears in DC Universe Online.
-
Mordru appears as a character summon in .
Miscellaneous
Mordru appears in
Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #18.
External links
