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Whom Gods Destroy (comics)
Encyclopedia
Whom Gods Destroy is a 1997 four-issue comic book
mini-series
written by Chris Claremont
with artwork by Dusty Abell and Drew Geraci under the Elseworlds
imprint of DC Comics
. The series, about Superman
and Wonder Woman
, involves Greek mythology
and alternate history
projected into the future.
In the future, Lois Lane
and Lana Lang
have become old, but Superman is still youthful due to his superhuman physiology. The Third Reich in this future never fell, and Germany
is still under Nazi
rule. Lois has visions of Superman gleefully killing people, including Lana and her, but they are dismissed as dreams. In the meantime, Superman gets attacked by trolls and harpies, the latter which cause Lois and Superman to crash land a plane into German soil, where Lana - previously kidnapped - is being held.
Lois soon discovers that the Reich is ruled by the god Adonis
, and Artemis
and Athena
are trying to kill him. Wonder Woman has betrayed Paradise Island
and is now part of the Reich. At this point, it is also revealed that the Greek pantheon is in league with the Nazis, allowing them to employ mythological monsters to fight superhero
es. A fight ensues between the German army and the Greek heroines, who die and give their power to Lois Lane
, transforming her into a new Wonder Woman.
Superman is transformed into an evil centaur
by Circe
. Lana Lang
is imbued with the power of the Oracle
of Delphi
, and can perform magical feats. She tames the centaur Superman and persuades him of his real identity. She also gives Superman a sex change
with her magic, because his "crimes as leader of the Maenads were against women, (and therefore he) must take their part". The female Superman then has to infiltrate the Great Hall of the Reich, which is guarded by the Minotaur
. Lois Wonder Woman defeats Nazi Wonder Woman and ties her up with her magic lasso.
Finally, it is revealed that Zeus
and Hera
were playing a chess
game, using the world as their playpieces. Adonis is sent to be taken care of by Hades
. Lois, Lana, and Superman live together happily ever after.
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....
written by Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
with artwork by Dusty Abell and Drew Geraci under the Elseworlds
Elseworlds
Elseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
imprint of 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...
. The series, about 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...
and Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
, involves Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
and alternate history
Alternate history (fiction)
Alternate history or alternative history is a genre of fiction consisting of stories that are set in worlds in which history has diverged from the actual history of the world. It can be variously seen as a sub-genre of literary fiction, science fiction, and historical fiction; different alternate...
projected into the future.
Plot
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
and Lana Lang
Lana Lang
Lana Lang is a fictional supporting character in DC Comics' Superman series. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist John Sikela, the character first appears in Superboy #10...
have become old, but Superman is still youthful due to his superhuman physiology. The Third Reich in this future never fell, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
is still under Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
rule. Lois has visions of Superman gleefully killing people, including Lana and her, but they are dismissed as dreams. In the meantime, Superman gets attacked by trolls and harpies, the latter which cause Lois and Superman to crash land a plane into German soil, where Lana - previously kidnapped - is being held.
Adonis
Adonis , in Greek mythology, the god of beauty and desire, is a figure with Northwest Semitic antecedents, where he is a central figure in various mystery religions. The Greek , Adōnis is a variation of the Semitic word Adonai, "lord", which is also one of the names used to refer to God in the Old...
, and Artemis
Artemis
Artemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. Her Roman equivalent is Diana. Some scholars believe that the name and indeed the goddess herself was originally pre-Greek. Homer refers to her as Artemis Agrotera, Potnia Theron: "Artemis of the wildland, Mistress of Animals"...
and Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
are trying to kill him. Wonder Woman has betrayed Paradise Island
Themyscira
Themyscira is a fictional island nation in the DC Comics universe that is the place of origin of Wonder Woman and her sister Amazons. Known as Paradise Island since Wonder Woman and the island's first appearance in All Star Comics #8 , it was renamed "Themyscira" with the character's February...
and is now part of the Reich. At this point, it is also revealed that the Greek pantheon is in league with the Nazis, allowing them to employ mythological monsters to fight 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 —...
es. A fight ensues between the German army and the Greek heroines, who die and give their power to Lois Lane
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
, transforming her into a new Wonder Woman.
Superman is transformed into an evil centaur
Centaur
In Greek mythology, a centaur or hippocentaur is a member of a composite race of creatures, part human and part horse...
by Circe
Circe
In Greek mythology, Circe is a minor goddess of magic , described in Homer's Odyssey as "The loveliest of all immortals", living on the island of Aeaea, famous for her part in the adventures of Odysseus.By most accounts, Circe was the daughter of Helios, the god of the sun, and Perse, an Oceanid...
. Lana Lang
Lana Lang
Lana Lang is a fictional supporting character in DC Comics' Superman series. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist John Sikela, the character first appears in Superboy #10...
is imbued with the power of the Oracle
Oracle
In Classical Antiquity, an oracle was a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic predictions or precognition of the future, inspired by the gods. As such it is a form of divination....
of Delphi
Delphi
Delphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
, and can perform magical feats. She tames the centaur Superman and persuades him of his real identity. She also gives Superman a sex change
Sex change
Sex change is a term often used for gender reassignment therapy, that is, all medical procedures transgendered people can have, or specifically to sexual reassignment surgery, which usually refers to genitalia surgery only...
with her magic, because his "crimes as leader of the Maenads were against women, (and therefore he) must take their part". The female Superman then has to infiltrate the Great Hall of the Reich, which is guarded by the Minotaur
Minotaur
In Greek mythology, the Minotaur , as the Greeks imagined him, was a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, "part man and part bull"...
. Lois Wonder Woman defeats Nazi Wonder Woman and ties her up with her magic lasso.
Finally, it is revealed that Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
and Hera
Hera
Hera was the wife and one of three sisters of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon of Greek mythology and religion. Her chief function was as the goddess of women and marriage. Her counterpart in the religion of ancient Rome was Juno. The cow and the peacock were sacred to her...
were playing a chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
game, using the world as their playpieces. Adonis is sent to be taken care of by Hades
Hades
Hades , Hadēs, originally , Haidēs or , Aidēs , meaning "the unseen") was the ancient Greek god of the underworld. The genitive , Haidou, was an elision to denote locality: "[the house/dominion] of Hades". Eventually, the nominative came to designate the abode of the dead.In Greek mythology, Hades...
. Lois, Lana, and Superman live together happily ever after.