Bialya
Encyclopedia
Bialya is a fictional country
appearing in many comic book
series published by DC Comics
. It was notably featured in issues of Justice League International
as written by Keith Giffen
and J.M. DeMatteis. It originally appeared in Justice League #2 (Publication: June 1987)
. It is north of its neighbors, real-life countries Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Originally ruled by the buffoonish Col. Rumaan Harjavti, the country was taken over by the ruthless femme fatale Queen Bee. She was eventually killed by Harjavti's brother Sumaan, who was in turn replaced by Queen Bee, sister of the second Queen Bee. She, in turn, was deposed by forces unknown. After the disaster with Black Adam
(see below), President Rashid is seen in power.
became members of the Bialyan military, causing friction with their replacements in the Justice League International.
Around this time, the survivors of the Champions of Angor
, separated from their home dimension, visit Bialya during a mission to rid the world of nuclear bombs. Rumaan Harjavti manages to convince them that he is on their side, and convinces them to attack Russia
. The hero known as Wandjina stops a meltdown and seemingly dies in the process, but his body is taken care of by Bialya, and his reanimated body is later used in one of the country's many coups. Despite this, Wandjina come to be revered as a national hero by the country's citizens.
During Rumaan's rule, he opens the borders to known supervillains. Dozens go there for refuge, to enjoy the casinos, gambling and the pleasant beaches. Booster Gold
and Blue Beetle
attempt to stop this by infiltrating the country and making it seem as if the villains were stealing from Rumaan. When this fails, Batman leads a team and fools the villains into thinking Rumaan is stealing from them. In the ensuing chaos, Rumann is forced to officially ask for help from the Justice League. He also foils a coup attempt by his assistant, Geoffrey Foukes, who was trying to take advantage of the fact that Rumaan did not understand the English translation of the press briefing he was reading. Rumann, who had simultaneous translation, kills Geoffrey live and on-air. Rumaan is later killed by the reanimated Wandjina, paving way for the Queen Bee's takeover of Bialya.
Soon, the Queen Bee has managed to brainwash most of the Global Guardians into serving her. Many international incidents arise when the Justice League cross Bialyan borders against the express wishes of the current ruler and the United Nations. Once such incident is after a multi-month media blackout ends and Bialyan stands terra-formed into a green-covered tourist-friendly resort destination. This is when Captain Atom
, Sarge Steel
and Rocket Red
investigate. Finally, the Queen Bee's plans are thwarted by the combined might of the Justice League's American and European branches, as well as the no longer-brainwashed Global Guardians. In the ensuing chaos, the second Queen Bee is killed by Sumaan Harjavti, brother of the deceased Rumaan.
Another incident happens when the fourth Queen Bee (sister of the second) gathers volunteers for an army based on the villains known as the Extremists
. The members of Extreme Justice
invade the country and defeat what would turn out to be cyborg versions of the villains. Captain Atom
discovers facilities to make an army's worth and destroys those too. This incident leads to a disbanding of all three JLA groups.
In the series Young Justice
, Red Tornado
's adopted daughter Traya Sutton is revealed to be half-Bialyan. Traya was the victim of hate crime
at her private school after a fellow student's parents were killed in a terrorist attack in Bialya. She was rescued from such attacks by her roommate, Cissie King-Jones, aka the former Young Justice member Arrowette
.
Under the influence of an outside telepathic force, the current ruler of Bialya, a male, helps to draft a merger between his country and Qurac
. The Justice League later neutralizes this outside force, a telepathic entity which had been inhabiting the mind of the Martian Manhunter
.
of collaborating with Intergang
and serving as a base of operation for their technology-created Horsemen of Apokolips
, two million innocent Bialyans were the victims of a total genocide
perpetuated by Black Adam. This retaliation for the murders of Isis
and Osiris
and many citizens of Kahndaq
, apparently results in the death of most life in the country, millions of men women and children, as well as animals and insects.
and S.T.A.R. Labs
. Several instances of more basic crimes are focused upon, such as a food stealing ring and a doctor using injured Bialyans simply to pad his resume.
The legendary Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have re-manifested inside the borders of Bialya. It is thought by the creator of the Horsemen, Dr. Veronica Cale, that the forms built with technology from the distant planet Apokolips
served simply as vessels for the biblical Four Horsemen. She further opines that they will return.
The first re-manifestation, which calls itself Yuurd the Unknown, representing Famine, formerly 'Sobek
', possesses Reese Taylor, the corrupt WayneTech employee who is selling food shipments. He slays many Wayne-Tech employees, kills a guard, injures many others, including Bruce Wayne and Superman, and escapes into the ruins of Bialya. Another horseman is seen manifesting far from the refugee camps.
Many of the humanitarian aid employees and Biaylan citizens are killed in the resulting chaos, their bodies taken by the Four Horsemen in order to build new battle-forms. Superman scans the country and indicates that all within its borders, with the exception of Snapper Carr
and Batman, have died.
The refugee crisis in Bialya and the United Nations response to it continues as a subplot in Checkmate
v.2 # 21-22. The surviving population is estimated to be 250,000 people in issue #21.
Later, a Bialyan terrorist group, moving weapons, is busted by the J.S.A.
and John Rogers
, it was revealed that Dan Garrett, the original Blue Beetle, discovered the scarab which gave him his powers in Bialya. This is apparently a retcon
on earlier depictions setting the discovery in Egypt
.
Fictional country
A fictional country is a country that is made up for fictional stories, and does not exist in real life, or one that people believe in without proof....
appearing in many comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. It was notably featured in issues of Justice League International
Justice League International
Justice League International is a DC Comics superhero team written by Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, with art by Kevin Maguire, created in 1987.-Publication history:...
as written by Keith Giffen
Keith Giffen
Keith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
and J.M. DeMatteis. It originally appeared in Justice League #2 (Publication: June 1987)
Fictional history
It has existed as a country since at least during the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. It is north of its neighbors, real-life countries Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Originally ruled by the buffoonish Col. Rumaan Harjavti, the country was taken over by the ruthless femme fatale Queen Bee. She was eventually killed by Harjavti's brother Sumaan, who was in turn replaced by Queen Bee, sister of the second Queen Bee. She, in turn, was deposed by forces unknown. After the disaster with Black Adam
Black Adam
Black Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. Originally created as a one-shot villain for Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family team of superheroes, Black Adam was revived as a recurring supervillain after DC Comics began publishing Captain...
(see below), President Rashid is seen in power.
Rulers
Under the reign of the Harjavti brothers and Queen Bee, members of the United Nations superteam known as the Global GuardiansGlobal Guardians
The Global Guardians is a team of fictional DC Comics superheroes whose members hail from countries around the world. The concept originated in the Super Friends Saturday morning cartoon, in which several heroes were added to the Justice League to give it more ethnic diversity.-History:The...
became members of the Bialyan military, causing friction with their replacements in the Justice League International.
Around this time, the survivors of the Champions of Angor
Champions of Angor
The Champions of Angor are a fictional superhero team in the DC Comics universe. They are a pastiche of the Avengers from the Marvel Comics universe. They were created by Mike Friedrich and Dick Dillin in the pages of Justice League of America #87 February...
, separated from their home dimension, visit Bialya during a mission to rid the world of nuclear bombs. Rumaan Harjavti manages to convince them that he is on their side, and convinces them to attack Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The hero known as Wandjina stops a meltdown and seemingly dies in the process, but his body is taken care of by Bialya, and his reanimated body is later used in one of the country's many coups. Despite this, Wandjina come to be revered as a national hero by the country's citizens.
During Rumaan's rule, he opens the borders to known supervillains. Dozens go there for refuge, to enjoy the casinos, gambling and the pleasant beaches. Booster Gold
Booster Gold
Booster Gold is a fictional DC Comics superhero. Created by Dan Jurgens, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 and has been a member of the Justice League, DC Comics' all-star team of heroes. The character is initially depicted as a glory-seeking showboat from the future, using knowledge of...
and Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle is the name of three fictional superheroes that appear in American comic books published by a variety of companies since 1939.-Publication history:...
attempt to stop this by infiltrating the country and making it seem as if the villains were stealing from Rumaan. When this fails, Batman leads a team and fools the villains into thinking Rumaan is stealing from them. In the ensuing chaos, Rumann is forced to officially ask for help from the Justice League. He also foils a coup attempt by his assistant, Geoffrey Foukes, who was trying to take advantage of the fact that Rumaan did not understand the English translation of the press briefing he was reading. Rumann, who had simultaneous translation, kills Geoffrey live and on-air. Rumaan is later killed by the reanimated Wandjina, paving way for the Queen Bee's takeover of Bialya.
Soon, the Queen Bee has managed to brainwash most of the Global Guardians into serving her. Many international incidents arise when the Justice League cross Bialyan borders against the express wishes of the current ruler and the United Nations. Once such incident is after a multi-month media blackout ends and Bialyan stands terra-formed into a green-covered tourist-friendly resort destination. This is when Captain Atom
Captain Atom
Captain Atom is a fictional comic book superhero that has existed in three basic incarnations. Created by writer Joe Gill and artist/co-writer Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Space Adventures #33 . Captain Atom was created for Charlton Comics but was later acquired by DC Comics and revised for...
, Sarge Steel
Sarge Steel
Sarge Steel is a detective/spy character published by Charlton Comics during the 1960s. As he was published during the time of Charlton's Action Heroes line of superheroes, and had loose ties to some, he is sometimes included with that group...
and Rocket Red
Rocket Red
The Rocket Red Brigade is a DC Comics superhero team. They first appeared in Green Lantern Corps #208 , and were created by Steve Englehart and Joe Staton.-History:...
investigate. Finally, the Queen Bee's plans are thwarted by the combined might of the Justice League's American and European branches, as well as the no longer-brainwashed Global Guardians. In the ensuing chaos, the second Queen Bee is killed by Sumaan Harjavti, brother of the deceased Rumaan.
Another incident happens when the fourth Queen Bee (sister of the second) gathers volunteers for an army based on the villains known as the Extremists
Extremists (comics)
The Extremists are a team of supervillains in DC Comics Justice League titles, they were introduced in Justice League Europe issue #15.-History:...
. The members of Extreme Justice
Extreme Justice
Extreme Justice was a monthly Justice League spin off title in the DC Comics universe. It replaced the cancelled Justice League International and ran for nineteen issues from 1994 to 1996.-Overview:...
invade the country and defeat what would turn out to be cyborg versions of the villains. Captain Atom
Captain Atom
Captain Atom is a fictional comic book superhero that has existed in three basic incarnations. Created by writer Joe Gill and artist/co-writer Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Space Adventures #33 . Captain Atom was created for Charlton Comics but was later acquired by DC Comics and revised for...
discovers facilities to make an army's worth and destroys those too. This incident leads to a disbanding of all three JLA groups.
In the series Young Justice
Young Justice
Young Justice is a fictional DC Comics superhero team consisting of teenaged heroes. The team first appeared in Young Justice: The Secret , before graduating to their ongoing monthly series...
, Red Tornado
Red Tornado
Red Tornado is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Justice League of America #64 , and was created by Gardner Fox and Dick Dillin.-Publication history:...
's adopted daughter Traya Sutton is revealed to be half-Bialyan. Traya was the victim of hate crime
Hate crime
In crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, social status or...
at her private school after a fellow student's parents were killed in a terrorist attack in Bialya. She was rescued from such attacks by her roommate, Cissie King-Jones, aka the former Young Justice member Arrowette
Arrowette
Arrowette is the name of two fictional superheroes in the DC Comics universe. The first character is the mother of the second.-Bonnie King:The first Arrowette is Bonnie King, a would-be sidekick and general nuisance to Green Arrow...
.
Under the influence of an outside telepathic force, the current ruler of Bialya, a male, helps to draft a merger between his country and Qurac
Qurac
Qurac is a fictional country in the DC universe. It is a tiny Middle Eastern country on the Persian Gulf, wedged between Iraq and Kuwait. Qurac is often used when DC has need of a terrorist state in the Middle East.-History:...
. The Justice League later neutralizes this outside force, a telepathic entity which had been inhabiting the mind of the Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
.
Black Adam
Found guilty by Black AdamBlack Adam
Black Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. Originally created as a one-shot villain for Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family team of superheroes, Black Adam was revived as a recurring supervillain after DC Comics began publishing Captain...
of collaborating with Intergang
Intergang
Intergang is a fictional organized crime group in Superman and other DC comics. Armed with technology supplied by the villainous New Gods of the planet Apokolips, it is a potent foe who can seriously challenge the most powerful superheroes...
and serving as a base of operation for their technology-created Horsemen of Apokolips
Apokolips
In the DC Comics fictional shared Universe, Apokolips is the planet ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series. It is also integral to many DC Comics stories. The planet is considered the opposite of New Genesis....
, two million innocent Bialyans were the victims of a total genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
perpetuated by Black Adam. This retaliation for the murders of Isis
Isis (DC Comics)
Isis is a DC Comics superhero, as well as a separate Egyptian goddess also living in the DC Universe. The recent superhero character is modeled closely after the main character of The Secrets of Isis, a live-action American Saturday Morning television program that served as the second half of The...
and Osiris
Osiris (DC Comics)
Osiris is the name of three fictional characters published by DC Comics. The first appeared in 1994 as a foil for the Justice League. The second appeared under the Vertigo Comics imprint in a spin-off of The Sandman in 2002. The third debuted in the pages of Teen Titans and 52 in 2006.-Publication...
and many citizens of Kahndaq
Kahndaq
Kahndaq is a fictional Middle Eastern country in the DC Comics Universe. Its real world location is on the continent of Africa, between Egypt and Israel...
, apparently results in the death of most life in the country, millions of men women and children, as well as animals and insects.
Surviving Black Adam
In 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #1 (October 2007), it is revealed many thousands of Bialyans have survived Black Adam. President Rashid, the de-facto ruler, has refused all but the basic humanitarian aid. Some of such is being supplied by WayneTechWayne Enterprises
Wayne Enterprises is a company in the DC Universe, owned by Bruce Wayne and run by his business manager, Lucius Fox. It was founded by merchant ancestors of the Wayne family in the 17th century as a merchant house, although the company changed when the heir of Judge Solomon Wayne, Alan, utilized...
and S.T.A.R. Labs
S.T.A.R. Labs
S.T.A.R. Labs, is a fictional research facility, and comic book organization appearing in titles published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Superman vol. 1 #246 , and was created by Cary Bates and Rich Buckler.-Publication history:...
. Several instances of more basic crimes are focused upon, such as a food stealing ring and a doctor using injured Bialyans simply to pad his resume.
The legendary Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have re-manifested inside the borders of Bialya. It is thought by the creator of the Horsemen, Dr. Veronica Cale, that the forms built with technology from the distant planet Apokolips
Apokolips
In the DC Comics fictional shared Universe, Apokolips is the planet ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series. It is also integral to many DC Comics stories. The planet is considered the opposite of New Genesis....
served simply as vessels for the biblical Four Horsemen. She further opines that they will return.
The first re-manifestation, which calls itself Yuurd the Unknown, representing Famine, formerly 'Sobek
Sobek (comics)
Sobek is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appears in 52 #26 , and was created by Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Grant Morrison, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen and Pat Olliffe.-Fictional character biography:...
', possesses Reese Taylor, the corrupt WayneTech employee who is selling food shipments. He slays many Wayne-Tech employees, kills a guard, injures many others, including Bruce Wayne and Superman, and escapes into the ruins of Bialya. Another horseman is seen manifesting far from the refugee camps.
Many of the humanitarian aid employees and Biaylan citizens are killed in the resulting chaos, their bodies taken by the Four Horsemen in order to build new battle-forms. Superman scans the country and indicates that all within its borders, with the exception of Snapper Carr
Snapper Carr
Lucas "Snapper" Carr is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, most famous as a supporting character to the superhero team the Justice League of America . He has often been referred to as the team's mascot...
and Batman, have died.
The refugee crisis in Bialya and the United Nations response to it continues as a subplot in Checkmate
Checkmate (comics)
Checkmate, a division of Task Force X, is a fictional covert operations agency within the DC Comics universe. It first appeared in Action Comics #598 and proceeded to have its own ongoing title in Checkmate!...
v.2 # 21-22. The surviving population is estimated to be 250,000 people in issue #21.
Later, a Bialyan terrorist group, moving weapons, is busted by the J.S.A.
Blue Beetle scarab
In Blue Beetle #8 (December 2006), co-written by Keith GiffenKeith Giffen
Keith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
and John Rogers
John Rogers (writer)
John Rogers is a screenwriter, comedian, film producer, and comic book writer. Although born in Worcester, Massachusetts, he attended McGill University in Montreal and is better known publicly as a Canadian writer...
, it was revealed that Dan Garrett, the original Blue Beetle, discovered the scarab which gave him his powers in Bialya. This is apparently a retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
on earlier depictions setting the discovery in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Television
- Bialya is shown in Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
episode "Journey to the Center of the Bat!". The BrainBrain (comics)The Brain is a fictional character, a supervillain in the and frequent enemy of the Doom Patrol. He is a French mastermind and criminal genius...
threatens to destroy a city in Bialya with the help of ChemoChemo (comics)Chemo is a fictional supervillain that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Showcase #39 Chemo is a fictional supervillain that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Showcase #39 Chemo is a fictional supervillain...
, but his plan is foiled by BatmanBatmanBatman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. He is imprisoned in a Bialyian jail.
- Bialya is used as the primary setting of the Young JusticeYoung Justice (TV series)Young Justice is an American animated television series created by Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti for Cartoon Network. Despite its title, it is not an adaptation of Todd Dezago and Todd Nauck's Young Justice comic series, but rather an adaptation of the entire DC Universe with a focus on young...
episode "Bereft". The members of Young Justice are initially sent to Bialya (here described as a rogue Middle-Eastern nation under the control of the Queen Bee) on the border of QuracQuracQurac is a fictional country in the DC universe. It is a tiny Middle Eastern country on the Persian Gulf, wedged between Iraq and Kuwait. Qurac is often used when DC has need of a terrorist state in the Middle East.-History:...
by Batman after the Justice League detects a massive spike of extraterrestrial energyBoom tubeA boom tube is a slang expression for a fictional extra-dimensional point-to-point travel portal opened by a Mother Box used primarily by residents of New Genesis and Apokolips in DC Comics...
in the country's desert.