Nekron is a supervillain appearing in published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of the Green Lantern Corps. Created by Mike W. Barr, Len Wein and Joe Staton, the character, who exists as an embodiment of Death, first appeared in Green Lantern #2 (June 1981).
Publication history
Origins
Nekron is the personification of Death and ruler of a region adjoining Hell known as the Land of the Unliving. It is where the souls of the dead await passage to their final residence in either the Silver City or Hell. Nekron draws his power from the souls and spirits of the dead.
[ Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2 (June 1981)]
After Krona is banished from Oa and transformed into an energy being, his energy opens a rift between dimensions that enables Nekron to escape the Land of the Unliving. However, Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps defeat him.[ Tales of The Green Lantern Corps #3 (July 1981)]
1990 – 2002
In the following years, Nekron encounters
Captain Atom,
Kyle Rayner, the demon
Nebiros, and Doctor Fate. He, the Black Racer, and Death of the Endless are described as representing death as the ultimate opponent, death as an inevitability, and death as a release from living.
[ Captain Atom #42–43 (June–July 1990)][ Fate #12 (November 1995)][ Green Lantern (vol. 3) Annual #7 (1998)]
Nekron also encounters Wonder Woman and Rebecca Carstairs (Witchfire).[ The Power Company: Witchfire #1 (March 2002)]
"Blackest Night"
In the
Blackest Night storyline, Nekron creates the black power rings, which resurrect many deceased superheroes and supervillains.
[ Blackest Night #4 (December 2009)] He is also revealed to have orchestrated the miraculous resurrections of several superheroes in the past, which were thought to be a consequence of
Brother Blood tampering with life and death.
[ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #31 (2006)]
According to Black Lantern Jean Loring, Nekron was an avatar of darkness who was formed out of the nothingness in existence before the creation of the universe an antithesis to the Life Entity.[ Blackest Night #5 (November 2009)][ Blackest Night #6 (December 2009)][ Green Lantern (vol. 4) #51 (February 2010)]
Nekron then attempts to kill the Life Entity, which would kill all life in the universe alongside it. However, this is thwarted when Sinestro bonds with the Entity and becomes a White Lantern.[ Blackest Night #7 (February 2010)][ Green Lantern (vol. 4) #52 (March 2010)]
The heroes eventually learn that Black Hand serves as Nekron's link to the living world and attack the former, leading Nekron to be banished to the Land of the Unliving.[ Blackest Night #8 (March 2010)]
"Brightest Day"
In
Brightest Day, Nekron's personality enters and corrupts
Swamp Thing before Alec Holland and the elementals (Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Firestorm,
Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter) defeat him.
[ Brightest Day #23 (April 2011)][ Brightest Day #24 (April 2011)]
The New 52
In
Wrath of the First Lantern, Hal Jordan kills himself and temporarily becomes a Black Lantern to harness Nekron's power and stop Volthoom. Afterwards, he obtains a Green Lantern ring that revives him, enabling him to return Nekron to the Dead Zone.
[ Green Lantern (vol. 5) #20]
DC Rebirth
During
DC Rebirth, Nekron confronts Volthoom, who begs him to kill him. However, Nekron reveals that Volthoom is incapable of dying as long as there is light in the universe.
[ Green Lanterns #18 (March 2016)]
Powers and abilities
The limitations of Nekron's powers are unknown.
Geoff Johns has described him as the most powerful dark force in the DC Universe. He has displayed the ability to raise the dead, kill anyone with a touch, generate black lightning, and grow to a colossal size.
Additionally, he is incredibly durable, being able to withstand a blast from the
Anti-Monitor.
Other versions
-
An alternate universe variant of Nekron appears in Flashpoint.
[ Flastpoint: Abin Sur – The Green Lantern #1 (June 2011)]
-
An alternate universe variant of Nekron appears in Star Trek/Green Lantern.
[ Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War #3][ Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War #6]
In other media
-
Nekron appears as a boss in DC Universe Online.
-
Nekron appears as a character summon in .
-
Nekron appears in DC Legends.
External links
