Ibis the Invincible
Encyclopedia
Ibis the Invincible is a fictional character
, a comic book
superhero
originally published by Fawcett Comics
in the 1940s and then by DC Comics
beginning in the 1970s. Like many magician superheroes introduced in the Golden Age of Comics, Ibis owes much to the popular comic strip character Mandrake the Magician
. A second Ibis, successor of the first, was introduced in 2007.
#2 (February 1940), and was created by Bill Parker
and Bob Kingett. When superheroes declined in popularity in the early 1950s, Ibis and the other Fawcett characters ceased publication. They were later licensed and eventually bought outright by DC Comics
in the 1970s.
The second Ibis first appeared in Helmet of Fate: Ibis the Invincible
#1 (January 2007), and was created by Tad Williams
and Phil Winslade
.
who was in love with the beautiful Princess Taia of Thebes
. As a young man, Amentep is given the Ibistick, a talisman
of incredible power, by the Egyptian god Thoth
, who empowers the talisman after Ibis was overthrown. Amentep's throne is eventually usurped -- with the aid of a demonic army conjured up by the evil god Set
-- by a cruel magician known as the Black Pharaoh, who shoots Taia with a poisoned arrow as she would not marry him and was under the protection of Osiris
. Using his Ibistick, Amentep places his beloved in suspended animation to allow her to heal. He soon casts a similar spell upon himself, hoping to be present when Taia revived.
4000 years later, the mummy of Amentep returns to life in an American
museum
in 1940 (this was later revealed to be the work of the wizard Shazam
). Now called "Ibis," Amentep sets out in search of his beloved, eventually finding her at another museum. Seeking to adjust to this new world, Ibis uses his vast powers to become a crimefighter.
Ibis can do almost anything with the power of the Ibistick: build force-fields around cities, transport himself and others, heal or destroy people, give superhuman powers, and even make objects appear out of thin air. Without the wand however, he is powerless, and this weakness is frequently exploited by his enemies. The Ibistick apparently vibrates in the presence of evil, at one point it even wakes him up. Taia was once shown using the wand to make lightning strike a foe of Ibis, and often uses it at other times. It can be used by anybody, but not to cause harm directly to Ibis, or it will backfire on the user.
Ibis and Taia next appear in a Justice League
/Justice Society crossovers as members of a team referred to as Shazam's Squadron of Justice. These heroes live in a parallel universe on a world called Earth-S. Along with many other Earth-S characters they were imprisoned in Doctor Sivana's Suspendium globe, but released twenty years later when it drifted near the Sun. He was a member of the Squadron of Justice formed when King Kull captured the beings who empowered the Marvels and tried to wipe out life on all three Earths. He helps defeat Mr Atom on Earth-One as he wrecks the futuristic city of Tomorrow, and the robot are sent to a faraway star when he tries and do this to the heroes, not realising if someone attempts to use the Ibistick to harm Ibis the effect will happen to them.
After the Crisis on Infinite Earths
consolidated the multiple Earths, Ibis and Taia were retconned as part of the Golden Age era of the DC Universe
, with Ibis serving alongside other war-time heroes in the All-Star Squadron
. As noted in Starman #40 (March 1998), Ibis tends to operate out of Fawcett City
alongside other heroes, including Bulletman, Minute Man, Spy Smasher
and the duo of Mr. Scarlet and Pinky.
Ibis was reintroduced in the modern DC Universe
in The Power of Shazam! #11, in which he is resurrected by Mary Marvel
and "Uncle" Dudley
in order to save the wizard Shazam
from being held captive in Hell
by the demoness Blaze
. In Zatanna
#1, part of the Seven Soldiers
miniseries, that Ibis and Taia presumably perish along with Doctor Thirteen
and Swamp Thing
supporting character Timothy Ravenwind at the hands of the shapeless creature known as Gwydion during a seance conducted by Zatanna. The sorceress blames her own shortcomings for the deaths.
Ibis had a cameo in Infinite Crisis
, after winding up back on Earth-S with the other Fawcett superheroes. Also, a modernized version of Ibis recently appeared in 52
#10 as the Egypt
ian representative in Black Adam
's coalition. It has not been shown whether this Ibis is the same character as the previous one.
kid named Danny Khalifa. Danny is given the nickname "Osama
" at school due to the events of 9/11 and becomes the brunt of prejudice and bullying. However, due to being part of an ancient bloodline, Danny is chosen by Amentep to be his successor. He inherits the Ibistick and is thrust into a conflict between ancient Egyptian gods. As Ibis, Danny prevents the helmet of Doctor Fate
from falling into the hands of the dark god Set
. Danny is assisted by the deity Thoth, who gives advice, tutoring, hints and then at the end of the story, frightens off the bullies.
dimension. Danny accepts the summon, with the apparent help of Black Alice, who shows at his doorstep fully aware of his secret identity
providing Ibis with her guide and excuses for his leave of absence. However, while in Hell, Black Alice backstabs him in exchange for her safety, leaving him prey to Neron
's forces.
However, he is later seen alive back on earth, fighting against Frankenstein
after being corrupted by the energy of the Starheart.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a 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...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
originally published by Fawcett Comics
Fawcett Comics
Fawcett Comics, a division of Fawcett Publications, was one of several successful comic book publishers during the Golden Age of Comic Books in the 1940s...
in the 1940s and then 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...
beginning in the 1970s. Like many magician superheroes introduced in the Golden Age of Comics, Ibis owes much to the popular comic strip character Mandrake the Magician
Mandrake the Magician
Mandrake the Magician is a syndicated newspaper comic strip, created by Lee Falk , which began June 11, 1934. Phil Davis soon took over as the strip's illustrator, while Falk continued to script. The strip was distributed by King Features Syndicate.Davis worked on the strip until his death in 1964,...
. A second Ibis, successor of the first, was introduced in 2007.
Publication history
The original Ibis first appeared in Whiz ComicsWhiz Comics
Whiz Comics was a monthly ongoing comic book anthology series, which was published by Fawcett Comics from February 1940 with issue #2 and stopping at issue #155 in June 1953, best known for introducing Captain Marvel. The first issue published of Whiz Comics was issue #2...
#2 (February 1940), and was created by Bill Parker
Bill Parker
William "Bill" H. Parker, Jr. was an American comic book writer and editor. He is best known for creating Fawcett Comics' most popular character, Captain Marvel, in 1940, along with artist C. C. Beck....
and Bob Kingett. When superheroes declined in popularity in the early 1950s, Ibis and the other Fawcett characters ceased publication. They were later licensed and eventually bought outright 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...
in the 1970s.
The second Ibis first appeared in Helmet of Fate: Ibis the Invincible
Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear in books published by DC Comics. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55...
#1 (January 2007), and was created by Tad Williams
Tad Williams
Robert Paul "Tad" Williams, born in San Jose, California, is the author of several fantasy and science fiction novels, including Tailchaser's Song, the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, the Otherland series, and The War of the Flowers....
and Phil Winslade
Phil Winslade
-Biography:Winslade was born in Surrey in 1965 and spent a lot of time indoors as a child because of a heart murmur. His main source of entertainment were Marvel like Howard the Duck and Deathlok. However, it wasn't until he attended Birmingham Polytechnic, to study art, that the idea of working in...
.
Prince Amentep
Ibis begins his life as Amentep, a prince of ancient EgyptAncient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
who was in love with the beautiful Princess Taia of Thebes
Thebes, Egypt
Thebes is the Greek name for a city in Ancient Egypt located about 800 km south of the Mediterranean, on the east bank of the river Nile within the modern city of Luxor. The Theban Necropolis is situated nearby on the west bank of the Nile.-History:...
. As a young man, Amentep is given the Ibistick, a talisman
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
of incredible power, by the Egyptian god Thoth
Thoth
Thoth was considered one of the more important deities of the Egyptian pantheon. In art, he was often depicted as a man with the head of an ibis or a baboon, animals sacred to him. His feminine counterpart was Seshat...
, who empowers the talisman after Ibis was overthrown. Amentep's throne is eventually usurped -- with the aid of a demonic army conjured up by the evil god Set
Set (mythology)
Set was in Ancient Egyptian religion, a god of the desert, storms, and foreigners. In later myths he was also the god of darkness, and chaos...
-- by a cruel magician known as the Black Pharaoh, who shoots Taia with a poisoned arrow as she would not marry him and was under the protection of Osiris
Osiris
Osiris is an Egyptian god, usually identified as the god of the afterlife, the underworld and the dead. He is classically depicted as a green-skinned man with a pharaoh's beard, partially mummy-wrapped at the legs, wearing a distinctive crown with two large ostrich feathers at either side, and...
. Using his Ibistick, Amentep places his beloved in suspended animation to allow her to heal. He soon casts a similar spell upon himself, hoping to be present when Taia revived.
4000 years later, the mummy of Amentep returns to life in an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in 1940 (this was later revealed to be the work of the wizard Shazam
Shazam (comics)
Shazam is a comic book character created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. He is an ancient sorcerer who gives young Billy Batson the power to transform into the superhero Captain Marvel...
). Now called "Ibis," Amentep sets out in search of his beloved, eventually finding her at another museum. Seeking to adjust to this new world, Ibis uses his vast powers to become a crimefighter.
Ibis can do almost anything with the power of the Ibistick: build force-fields around cities, transport himself and others, heal or destroy people, give superhuman powers, and even make objects appear out of thin air. Without the wand however, he is powerless, and this weakness is frequently exploited by his enemies. The Ibistick apparently vibrates in the presence of evil, at one point it even wakes him up. Taia was once shown using the wand to make lightning strike a foe of Ibis, and often uses it at other times. It can be used by anybody, but not to cause harm directly to Ibis, or it will backfire on the user.
Ibis and Taia next appear in a Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
/Justice Society crossovers as members of a team referred to as Shazam's Squadron of Justice. These heroes live in a parallel universe on a world called Earth-S. Along with many other Earth-S characters they were imprisoned in Doctor Sivana's Suspendium globe, but released twenty years later when it drifted near the Sun. He was a member of the Squadron of Justice formed when King Kull captured the beings who empowered the Marvels and tried to wipe out life on all three Earths. He helps defeat Mr Atom on Earth-One as he wrecks the futuristic city of Tomorrow, and the robot are sent to a faraway star when he tries and do this to the heroes, not realising if someone attempts to use the Ibistick to harm Ibis the effect will happen to them.
After the Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
consolidated the multiple Earths, Ibis and Taia were retconned as part of the Golden Age era of the DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
, with Ibis serving alongside other war-time heroes in the All-Star Squadron
All-Star Squadron
The All-Star Squadron is a DC Comics superhero team that debuted in a special insert in Justice League of America #193 . Created by Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway.-The concept:...
. As noted in Starman #40 (March 1998), Ibis tends to operate out of Fawcett City
Fawcett City
Fawcett City is a fictional city, and the home of DC Comics' Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family. It first appeared in the graphic novel "The Power of Shazam" by Jerry Ordway in 1994. Its name is derived from the original publishers of Captain Marvel comics, Fawcett Comics...
alongside other heroes, including Bulletman, Minute Man, Spy Smasher
Spy Smasher
Spy Smasher is the name of two fictional characters appearing in comics published by DC Comics. The first is a superhero that was formerly owned and published by Fawcett Comics...
and the duo of Mr. Scarlet and Pinky.
Ibis was reintroduced in the modern DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
in The Power of Shazam! #11, in which he is resurrected by Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine, originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze, she first appeared in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 in...
and "Uncle" Dudley
Uncle Marvel
Uncle Marvel is a fictional comic book character originally created for Fawcett Comics, and today owned by DC Comics, who appears in stories about the Marvel Family team of superheroes...
in order to save the wizard Shazam
Shazam (comics)
Shazam is a comic book character created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. He is an ancient sorcerer who gives young Billy Batson the power to transform into the superhero Captain Marvel...
from being held captive in Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
by the demoness Blaze
Blaze and Satanus
Blaze and Satanus are fictional demonic siblings published by DC Comics. Blaze debuted in Action Comics #655 ; she was created by Roger Stern and Bob McLeod...
. In Zatanna
Zatanna
Zatanna Zatara is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman vol. 1 #4...
#1, part of the Seven Soldiers
Seven Soldiers
Seven Soldiers is a comic book metaseries written by Grant Morrison and published by DC Comics. It was published as seven interrelated mini-series and two bookend issues. The series features a new version of the Seven Soldiers of Victory fighting to save Earth from the Sheeda.-Publication...
miniseries, that Ibis and Taia presumably perish along with Doctor Thirteen
Doctor Thirteen
Dr. Terrence Thirteen, known simply as Doctor Thirteen or Dr. 13, is a fictional character in comic books set in the DC Universe. The character's first published appearance is in Star Spangled Comics #122, ....
and Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
supporting character Timothy Ravenwind at the hands of the shapeless creature known as Gwydion during a seance conducted by Zatanna. The sorceress blames her own shortcomings for the deaths.
Ibis had a cameo in Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
, after winding up back on Earth-S with the other Fawcett superheroes. Also, a modernized version of Ibis recently appeared in 52
52 (comics)
52 was a weekly American comic book limited series published by DC Comics that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. The series was written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid with layouts by Keith Giffen...
#10 as the 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...
ian representative in 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...
's coalition. It has not been shown whether this Ibis is the same character as the previous one.
Danny Khalifa
Amentep's successor is an Egyptian AmericanEgyptian American
Egyptian Americans are Americans of Egyptian ancestry, first-generation Egyptian immigrants, or descendants of Egyptians who immigrated to the United States. In the 2007 U.S. census, the number of people with Egyptian ancestry was estimated at 195,000, although some estimates range from several...
kid named Danny Khalifa. Danny is given the nickname "Osama
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
" at school due to the events of 9/11 and becomes the brunt of prejudice and bullying. However, due to being part of an ancient bloodline, Danny is chosen by Amentep to be his successor. He inherits the Ibistick and is thrust into a conflict between ancient Egyptian gods. As Ibis, Danny prevents the helmet of Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear in books published by DC Comics. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55...
from falling into the hands of the dark god Set
Set (mythology)
Set was in Ancient Egyptian religion, a god of the desert, storms, and foreigners. In later myths he was also the god of darkness, and chaos...
. Danny is assisted by the deity Thoth, who gives advice, tutoring, hints and then at the end of the story, frightens off the bullies.
Reign in Hell
Ibis returns to seek his new apprentice's services during the Reign in Hell crisis, a huge civil unrest between the major demons and the hell-empowered heroes and villains for the control of the HellHell (DC Comics)
Hell is a fictional location, an infernal underworld utilized in titles published by DC Comics. It is the locational antithesis of the Silver City. The DC Comics location known as Hell is based heavily on its depiction in Judeo-Christian mythology...
dimension. Danny accepts the summon, with the apparent help of Black Alice, who shows at his doorstep fully aware of his secret identity
Secret identity
A secret identity is an element of fiction wherein a character develops a separate persona , while keeping their true identity hidden. The character also may wear a disguise...
providing Ibis with her guide and excuses for his leave of absence. However, while in Hell, Black Alice backstabs him in exchange for her safety, leaving him prey to Neron
Neron
Neron is a fictional demon, a comic book character published by DC Comics. He first appeared in the DC Comics cross-over event Underworld Unleashed #1, , and was created by Mark Waid and Howard Porter.- Publication history :...
's forces.
However, he is later seen alive back on earth, fighting against Frankenstein
Frankenstein (DC Comics)
Frankenstein is a DC Comics character who is based on Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's original Frankenstein's monster, but is physically and mentally more reminiscent of the classic Universal representation of the character...
after being corrupted by the energy of the Starheart.