Omega (comics)
Encyclopedia
Omega is a fictional DC Comics
entity created to be the physical embodiment of universal hate. Omega first appeared in Superboy and the Legion of Super-heroes
vol. 2, #250 (April 1979), and was created by Jim Starlin (as Steve Apollo), Paul Levitz
, and Dave Hunt.
defeated a renegade Controller
, and as a reward were gifted with a Miracle Machine
, a "simple" (to the Controllers) device that turned thoughts into reality. At the time, Brainiac 5
cautioned that it was dangerous, as if someone rashly wished to be dead for a second, they would be. The Legion locked the machine inside a solid block of Inertron
and hid it in their vault.
Some years later, Legion member Brainiac 5
went insane (originally due to stress, a later retcon
suggested it was induced by Glorith
). Feeling he had never been sufficiently compensated for the many times he had saved the cosmos, in his insanity he decided to destroy it as payment. Retrieving the miracle machine, he could have easily destroyed the earth, perhaps even the galaxy, but not the entire cosmos. As he put it, he couldn't "dream a death that large," but he could dream up a being that could.
Thus, Omega was born, created by the Miracle Machine as a physical manifestation of all the hate in the cosmos. A huge fiery humanoid figure, he appeared at the edge of the galaxy and started walking towards Earth at a tremendous speed. At this point, no one in the Legion knew his origin, only that he set off an alarm. Superboy
and Mon-El were dispatched to investigate. After shrugging off a punch from Mon-El (a Daxamite with Kryptonian
-class abilities), Omega knocked out Mon-El with a single punch.
By this time, Chameleon Boy
had figured out that Brainiac 5 was up to something. Brainiac 5 neutralized Cham, but not before he managed to get a message to Wildfire
, who accused Brainiac 5 in front of the group. Dropping the charade, Brainiac 5 took credit, claiming revenge in the moment the universe would be destroyed. The Legion dispatched squads to stop Omega, all to no avail, as were the attempts by the United Planets
to stop his progress. Dream Girl had a vision of Wildfire standing alone at the headquarters, facing Omega, then "the world seemed to explode."
While the attempts to stop Omega were proving futile, Princess Projectra
and Saturn Girl
finally managed to get through to Brainiac 5, who offered them a choice: if they let him rule the universe, he would destroy Omega. Facing either this or the risk of using the Miracle Machine as last ditch attempt to save the universe, they told Brainiac 5 he could rule the universe. He immediately dispatched a ship to retrieve retired Legionnaire Matter-Eater Lad
from his homeworld, a hero whose only ability was his ability to eat any form of matter.
In an effort to buy more time, Wildfire faced Omega alone where Dream Girl had seen him in her vision, and opened his containment suit, releasing all of his anti-energy at once at Omega. This destroyed the Legion headquarters but did not even knock down Omega.
Nearby, Brainiac 5 instructed Matter-Eater Lad to eat the supposedly indestructible Miracle Machine. He somehow succeeded, though the alien energies contained in the machine drove Matter-Eater Lad into an insane catatonic state. As soon as the machine was destroyed, Omega dissipated back into the multitude of hatreds throughout the cosmos.
This done, Brainiac 5 was locked up in an asylum. Omega has never again gained substance.
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...
entity created to be the physical embodiment of universal hate. Omega first appeared in Superboy and the Legion of Super-heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
vol. 2, #250 (April 1979), and was created by Jim Starlin (as Steve Apollo), Paul Levitz
Paul Levitz
Paul Levitz is an American comic book writer, editor and executive. The president of DC Comics from 2002–2009, he has worked for the company for over 35 years in a wide variety of roles...
, and Dave Hunt.
Fictional character biography
In their early history, the Legion of Super-HeroesLegion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
defeated a renegade Controller
The Controllers
The Controllers are a fictional extraterrestrial race existing in the DC Universe. They first appear in Adventure Comics #357 , and were created by Jim Shooter, Mort Weisinger, and Curt Swan.-Pre-Crisis:...
, and as a reward were gifted with a Miracle Machine
Miracle Machine
The Miracle Machine is a fictitious device in the DC Comics universe. The machine first appeared in Adventure Comics #367, April 1968.It was created by the Controllers no later than 2960, and given as a gift to the Legion of Super-Heroes in the late 30th century for their work in defeating a...
, a "simple" (to the Controllers) device that turned thoughts into reality. At the time, Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5 is a fictional character who exists in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. He is a long standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Brainiac 5 is from the planet Colu...
cautioned that it was dangerous, as if someone rashly wished to be dead for a second, they would be. The Legion locked the machine inside a solid block of Inertron
Inertron
Inertron is a fictional metallic chemical substance found in the DC Comics Legion of Super-Heroes universe. It is the hardest, densest substance in the DC universe, and is often used by the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century...
and hid it in their vault.
Some years later, Legion member Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5 is a fictional character who exists in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. He is a long standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Brainiac 5 is from the planet Colu...
went insane (originally due to stress, a later 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...
suggested it was induced by Glorith
Glorith
Glorith of Baaldur is a fictional villainess appearing in stories published by DC Comics. Her primary foe is the 30th century team known as the Legion of Super-Heroes, and she was a major presence in Legion of Super-Heroes...
). Feeling he had never been sufficiently compensated for the many times he had saved the cosmos, in his insanity he decided to destroy it as payment. Retrieving the miracle machine, he could have easily destroyed the earth, perhaps even the galaxy, but not the entire cosmos. As he put it, he couldn't "dream a death that large," but he could dream up a being that could.
Thus, Omega was born, created by the Miracle Machine as a physical manifestation of all the hate in the cosmos. A huge fiery humanoid figure, he appeared at the edge of the galaxy and started walking towards Earth at a tremendous speed. At this point, no one in the Legion knew his origin, only that he set off an alarm. Superboy
Superboy
Superboy is the name of several fictional characters that have been published by DC Comics, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. These characters have also been the main characters of four ongoing Superboy comic book series published by DC....
and Mon-El were dispatched to investigate. After shrugging off a punch from Mon-El (a Daxamite with Kryptonian
Kryptonian
Kryptonians are a fictional extraterrestrial race of the DC Comics universe who hail from the planet Krypton. The term originated from the stories of DC Comics superhero, Superman...
-class abilities), Omega knocked out Mon-El with a single punch.
By this time, Chameleon Boy
Chameleon Boy
Chameleon Boy , also known as Chameleon, is a DC Comics superhero, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. He first appeared in Action Comics #267 .-Silver Age:...
had figured out that Brainiac 5 was up to something. Brainiac 5 neutralized Cham, but not before he managed to get a message to Wildfire
Wildfire (comics)
Wildfire is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero in that universe's 30th and 31st centuries. Created by Cary Bates and Dave Cockrum, the character debuted in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #195 .-Publication history:...
, who accused Brainiac 5 in front of the group. Dropping the charade, Brainiac 5 took credit, claiming revenge in the moment the universe would be destroyed. The Legion dispatched squads to stop Omega, all to no avail, as were the attempts by the United Planets
United Planets
In the , the United Planets is a fictional governing body, traditionally depicted as active in the 30th and 31st century.-History of the published versions of the United Planets:...
to stop his progress. Dream Girl had a vision of Wildfire standing alone at the headquarters, facing Omega, then "the world seemed to explode."
While the attempts to stop Omega were proving futile, Princess Projectra
Princess Projectra
This page discusses the humanoid version of the character. For the post-Zero Hour/pre-Threeboot version, see Sensor.Princess Projectra is a fictional character, a superheroine in the DC Comics universe. She lives in the 30th and 31st centuries, and is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
and Saturn Girl
Saturn Girl
Saturn Girl is a fictional character appearing in DC comic books. A talented telepath from the 30th century, Imra first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 as a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
finally managed to get through to Brainiac 5, who offered them a choice: if they let him rule the universe, he would destroy Omega. Facing either this or the risk of using the Miracle Machine as last ditch attempt to save the universe, they told Brainiac 5 he could rule the universe. He immediately dispatched a ship to retrieve retired Legionnaire Matter-Eater Lad
Matter-Eater Lad
Matter-Eater Lad is a superhero in the DC Universe. He is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes and possesses the power to eat matter in all forms, as do all natives of his home planet, Bismoll...
from his homeworld, a hero whose only ability was his ability to eat any form of matter.
In an effort to buy more time, Wildfire faced Omega alone where Dream Girl had seen him in her vision, and opened his containment suit, releasing all of his anti-energy at once at Omega. This destroyed the Legion headquarters but did not even knock down Omega.
Nearby, Brainiac 5 instructed Matter-Eater Lad to eat the supposedly indestructible Miracle Machine. He somehow succeeded, though the alien energies contained in the machine drove Matter-Eater Lad into an insane catatonic state. As soon as the machine was destroyed, Omega dissipated back into the multitude of hatreds throughout the cosmos.
This done, Brainiac 5 was locked up in an asylum. Omega has never again gained substance.