Eclipso: The Darkness Within
Encyclopedia
Eclipso: The Darkness Within was a 1992 comic book
mini-series
and crossover
storyline published by DC Comics
. It featured the heroes of the DC Universe fighting against Eclipso
. Issue #1 debuted July 1992, and was created and co-plotted by Robert Loren Fleming
and Keith Giffen
. Keith Giffen also did pencil layouts for the series, and Bart Sears
provided the finished artwork.
ned that Eclipso was not simply Bruce Gordon's dark half, but a vengeance demon who had possessed Gordon.
frees Eclipso from his palace on Earth's moon, he uses hate as a trigger to possess other beings. Whenever someone who has a black diamond in their possession gets angry, Eclipso can instantly take control of that particular person even while trapped in his lair on the moon. He then uses an eyeblast to take control of others. He can also create monsters from a person's anger, which happens with characters like Hawkman
and James Gordon
. Furthermore, there are thousands of black diamonds scattered around the world, through which Eclipso can possess his victims by playing upon their darkest emotions and desires.
It is further established that Eclipso is an extremely cruel and vindictive being, who has only been pretending to be a B-list villain in order to avoid detection by heroes. In the mini-series, Eclipso has grown weary of his modus operandi
and decides to launch an all-out offensive by using his black diamonds to possess heroes and villains directly or to manipulate them by possessing their loved ones. During this conflict, Eclipso possesses Batman
, Captain Marvel
, and even Superman
on two separate occasions. The story climaxes with a massive confrontation at Eclipso's hideout on the moon, where despite the presence of many superpowered heroes and heroines Bruce Gordon, Eclipso's original host, plays a key role in his defeat.
It was also mocked in the Ambush Bug Nothing Special one-shot.
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...
mini-series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
and crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
storyline 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 featured the heroes of the DC Universe fighting against Eclipso
Eclipso
Eclipso is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. The character is the incarnation of the Wrath of God and the Angel of Vengeance that turned evil and was replaced by the Spectre...
. Issue #1 debuted July 1992, and was created and co-plotted by Robert Loren Fleming
Robert Loren Fleming
Robert Loren Fleming is an American comic book writer.-Biography:Fleming worked for DC Comics initially as a proofreader and later writer, creating Thriller, and was writing an Aquaman limited series and one-shot special in 1989 with plotter/breakdown artist Keith Giffen and artist Curt Swan.He is...
and Keith Giffen
Keith Giffen
Keith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
. Keith Giffen also did pencil layouts for the series, and Bart Sears
Bart Sears
Bart Whitman Sears is an American artist and author, originally from Syracuse, New York.Sears has lent his unique style and creative ideas to multiple industries, including but not limited to: Comics , Toys, and Computer Games...
provided the finished artwork.
History
Within this series it was retconRetcon
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...
ned that Eclipso was not simply Bruce Gordon's dark half, but a vengeance demon who had possessed Gordon.
Plot
After an unsuspecting Daxamite hero named ValorLar Gand
Lar Gand, known primarily as Mon-El , is a fictional character in DC Comics' universe who is associated with the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superboy, and Superman...
frees Eclipso from his palace on Earth's moon, he uses hate as a trigger to possess other beings. Whenever someone who has a black diamond in their possession gets angry, Eclipso can instantly take control of that particular person even while trapped in his lair on the moon. He then uses an eyeblast to take control of others. He can also create monsters from a person's anger, which happens with characters like Hawkman
Hawkman
Hawkman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940....
and James Gordon
James Gordon (comics)
James Worthington Gordon, Sr. is a fictional character, an ally of Batman that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane...
. Furthermore, there are thousands of black diamonds scattered around the world, through which Eclipso can possess his victims by playing upon their darkest emotions and desires.
It is further established that Eclipso is an extremely cruel and vindictive being, who has only been pretending to be a B-list villain in order to avoid detection by heroes. In the mini-series, Eclipso has grown weary of his modus operandi
Modus operandi
Modus operandi is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "mode of operation". The term is used to describe someone's habits or manner of working, their method of operating or functioning...
and decides to launch an all-out offensive by using his black diamonds to possess heroes and villains directly or to manipulate them by possessing their loved ones. During this conflict, Eclipso possesses Batman
Batman
Batman 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...
, Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
, and even Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
on two separate occasions. The story climaxes with a massive confrontation at Eclipso's hideout on the moon, where despite the presence of many superpowered heroes and heroines Bruce Gordon, Eclipso's original host, plays a key role in his defeat.
It was also mocked in the Ambush Bug Nothing Special one-shot.
Crossover titles
- Part 1: Eclipso: The Darkness Within #1
- Part 2: Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #1
- Part 3: Green Lantern Annual #1 (vol. 3)
- Part 4: Detective Comics Annual #5
- Part 5: Superman Annual #4 (vol. 2)
- Part 6: Justice League America Annual #6
- Part 7: The Demon Annual #1 (vol. 3)
- Part 8: The Flash Annual #5 (vol. 2)
- Part 9: Action Comics Annual #4
- Part 10: Wonder Woman Annual #3 (vol. 2)
- Part 11: Green Arrow Annual #5 (vol. 2)
- Part 12: Robin Annual #1 (vol. 4)
- Part 13: Hawkworld Annual #3 (vol. 2)
- Part 14: Deathstroke: The Terminator Annual #1
- Part 15: The New Titans Annual #8
- Part 16: Justice League Europe Annual #3
- Part 17: Batman Annual #16
- Part 18: L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 Annual #3
- Part 19: The Adventures of Superman Annual #4
- Part 20: Eclipso: The Darkness Within #2
- Aftermath: Valor #1
External links
- Eclipso: The Darkness Within at the DC Database Project
- DCU Guide: Eclipso, The Darkness Within #1
- DCU Guide: Eclipso, The Darkness Within #2