.gif)
Zenith (comics)
Encyclopedia
Zenith is a British
superhero
, who appeared in the science fiction
comic 2000 AD. Created by writer Grant Morrison
and artist Steve Yeowell
, with original character designs by Brendan McCarthy
, he first appeared in 2000 AD #536 (22 August 1987).
Shallow and sarcastic, Zenith was a distinctly Generation X
superhero. Morrison used the Zenith serial to explore cultural differences between generations and criticize the Conservative Party
.
Zenith was featured regularly in 2000 AD from 1987 until 1992, with occasional appearances since. The series was an early success for Morrison, who has since written popular works for DC and Marvel, and using his own characters.
and Richard Burton
respectively, were shaking up 2000 AD by publishing numerous new stories which gave new talent a chance. Grant Morrison had been thinking along the lines of Zenith since 1982 but "[t]he original version had a more traditional superhero costume and was a little grimmer in tone" and the final concept came together as "a reaction against torment superheroes
." Despite liking both Dark Knight
and Watchmen
he felt that "both books felt pompous and concept album
y to me as a young man in the 80s" He found more of an influence in the work of Brendan McCarthy
: "tell the truth on to the page and let your psyche all hang out" and it was McCarthy who would provide the initial character designs, although he never drew the actual story because Morrison says "the story as it unfolded would have been too ponderous and long-winded for him".
With hindsight Morrison says that "I like Phase I the least now - it wears its influences a little too obviously on its sleeve" He rates Phase III far higher, saying "I think it is one of the greatest superhero crossover events ever."
Zenith returned for Phase IV in 1992 but Morrison's attention was elsewhere: "I'd moved on and was more excited by the possibilities of working with American superheroes, By 1992 Zenith seemed like something dragged up from my past." However, this does not mean he thinks any less of the story, saying "I like a lot of things I write under duress. I actually really like the last book of Zenith, I'm very fond of it"
Titan Books
published five trade paperbacks
of Zenith between 1988 and 1990 collecting Phase I through III. Attempts to republish the series (including the never collected Phase IV) have so far been prevented by a copyright dispute between the publisher and Morrison. In 2007 Morrison said "Fleetway have no paperwork to confirm their ownership of Zenith so I'm currently involved in legal proceedings to clear things up"
fashion icons. Zenith himself used his somewhat unreliable superhuman abilities not to fight evil but to promote his career as a pop singer. Shallow, spoilt, self-centred and initially cowardly, he was reluctantly dragged into the struggle against malevolent supernatural entities known as the Lloigor
or "Many-Angled Ones".
The British superhuman project "Maximan" had been developed from technology brought by defecting Nazi scientists in World War II
, and the Nazis had developed it from knowledge given to them by the Lloigor. The Nazis created "Masterman"
, but in fact the real purpose of the project was to create host bodies strong enough to house the Lloigor's spirits. Due to these circumstances, within this alternate history, Berlin
was the target of the first nuclear weapon
, not Hiroshima
or Nagasaki, particularly since both the British and Nazi supermen were fighting in Berlin at the time.
The British superheroes came of age during the tumultuous 1960's, and promptly rebelled, like many teens of that time. Most of the former members of Cloud 9 disappeared. Zenith's parents were killed, others disappeared, and the few remaining, having lost their powers, retreated into civilian life: Peter St. John, aka Mandala
becomes a Member of Parliament
for the Conservative Party
, and Ruby Fox becomes a journalist and writer. Saidwell Rhys owns a pub
in Wales - where he apparently spends much of his time drunk.
Zenith has since returned three times to the pages of 2000 AD: In zzzenith.com, a one-off featured in "Prog 2001" which takes place years after the end of the previous series. Zenith once again meets with St John, who is still in control of the country via a telepathically manipulated Tony Blair
. Zenith is aware of this, and is not particularly bothered, however St John seems equally unconcerned that Zenith knows the truth.
He also appeared in a story unconnected to the Zenith universe - A Night 2 Remember, a strip about the comic's 25th anniversary celebrations, which appeared in Prog 1280. His final appearance was on the cover to Prog 1500, although his image is small and hard to see.
ous series which has been collected into a series of (out of print) trade paperbacks
by Titan Books
, all written by Grant Morrison:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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 —...
, who appeared in the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
comic 2000 AD. Created by writer Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
and artist Steve Yeowell
Steve Yeowell
Steve Yeowell is a British comics artist, well-known for his work on the long-running science fiction and fantasy weekly comic 2000 AD.-Biography:...
, with original character designs by Brendan McCarthy
Brendan McCarthy
Brendan McCarthy is a British artist and designer best known for his work in comic books, film and television.- Biography :Brendan McCarthy, of Irish descent, was born in London. Brendan soon began painting and drawing his own home-made comics....
, he first appeared in 2000 AD #536 (22 August 1987).
Shallow and sarcastic, Zenith was a distinctly Generation X
Generation X
Generation X, commonly abbreviated to Gen X, is the generation born after the Western post–World War II baby boom ended. While there is no universally agreed upon time frame, the term generally includes people born from the early 1960's through the early 1980's, usually no later than 1981 or...
superhero. Morrison used the Zenith serial to explore cultural differences between generations and criticize the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
Zenith was featured regularly in 2000 AD from 1987 until 1992, with occasional appearances since. The series was an early success for Morrison, who has since written popular works for DC and Marvel, and using his own characters.
Publication history
Zenith appeared in August 1987 during a period when editor and assistant editor, Steve MacManusSteve MacManus
Steve MacManus is a British comic writer and editor, particularly known for his work at 2000 AD.Born in London and educated in Devon, MacManus joined IPC in 1973, aged 20, as a sub-editor on the boys' weekly comic Valiant, until 1975 when he moved to Battle Picture Weekly under editor David Hunt...
and Richard Burton
Richard Burton (comics)
Richard Burton is a British comic editor who worked on 2000 AD. However, he is possibly better known to readers as Tharg the Mighty's bumbling assistant Burt who appeared in a number of strips with him....
respectively, were shaking up 2000 AD by publishing numerous new stories which gave new talent a chance. Grant Morrison had been thinking along the lines of Zenith since 1982 but "[t]he original version had a more traditional superhero costume and was a little grimmer in tone" and the final concept came together as "a reaction against torment superheroes
Modern Age of Comic Books
The Modern Age of Comic Books is an informal name for the period in the history of mainstream American comic books generally considered to last from the mid-1980s until present day...
." Despite liking both Dark Knight
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is a four-issue comic book limited series written and drawn by Frank Miller, originally published by DC Comics under the title Batman: The Dark Knight in 1986. When the issues were released in a collected edition later that year, the story title for the first issue...
and Watchmen
Watchmen
Watchmen is a twelve-issue comic book limited series created by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colourist John Higgins. The series was published by DC Comics during 1986 and 1987, and has been subsequently reprinted in collected form...
he felt that "both books felt pompous and concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
y to me as a young man in the 80s" He found more of an influence in the work of Brendan McCarthy
Brendan McCarthy
Brendan McCarthy is a British artist and designer best known for his work in comic books, film and television.- Biography :Brendan McCarthy, of Irish descent, was born in London. Brendan soon began painting and drawing his own home-made comics....
: "tell the truth on to the page and let your psyche all hang out" and it was McCarthy who would provide the initial character designs, although he never drew the actual story because Morrison says "the story as it unfolded would have been too ponderous and long-winded for him".
With hindsight Morrison says that "I like Phase I the least now - it wears its influences a little too obviously on its sleeve" He rates Phase III far higher, saying "I think it is one of the greatest superhero crossover events ever."
Zenith returned for Phase IV in 1992 but Morrison's attention was elsewhere: "I'd moved on and was more excited by the possibilities of working with American superheroes, By 1992 Zenith seemed like something dragged up from my past." However, this does not mean he thinks any less of the story, saying "I like a lot of things I write under duress. I actually really like the last book of Zenith, I'm very fond of it"
Titan Books
Titan Books
Titan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
published five trade paperbacks
Trade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
of Zenith between 1988 and 1990 collecting Phase I through III. Attempts to republish the series (including the never collected Phase IV) have so far been prevented by a copyright dispute between the publisher and Morrison. In 2007 Morrison said "Fleetway have no paperwork to confirm their ownership of Zenith so I'm currently involved in legal proceedings to clear things up"
Plot
Zenith, real name Robert McDowell, was the son of two members of Cloud 9, a super-team of the 1960s who had been created by the British military but rebelled and became hippies and psychedelicPsychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
fashion icons. Zenith himself used his somewhat unreliable superhuman abilities not to fight evil but to promote his career as a pop singer. Shallow, spoilt, self-centred and initially cowardly, he was reluctantly dragged into the struggle against malevolent supernatural entities known as the Lloigor
Lloigor (Cthulhu Mythos race)
The Lloigor are a fictional race in the Cthulhu Mythos. The beings first appeared in August Derleth and Mark Schorer's short story "The Lair of the Star Spawn" .-Summary:...
or "Many-Angled Ones".
The British superhuman project "Maximan" had been developed from technology brought by defecting Nazi scientists in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the Nazis had developed it from knowledge given to them by the Lloigor. The Nazis created "Masterman"
Übermensch
The Übermensch is a concept in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche posited the Übermensch as a goal for humanity to set for itself in his 1883 book Thus Spoke Zarathustra ....
, but in fact the real purpose of the project was to create host bodies strong enough to house the Lloigor's spirits. Due to these circumstances, within this alternate history, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
was the target of the first nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
, not Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
or Nagasaki, particularly since both the British and Nazi supermen were fighting in Berlin at the time.
The British superheroes came of age during the tumultuous 1960's, and promptly rebelled, like many teens of that time. Most of the former members of Cloud 9 disappeared. Zenith's parents were killed, others disappeared, and the few remaining, having lost their powers, retreated into civilian life: Peter St. John, aka Mandala
Mandala
Maṇḍala is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". In the Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions their sacred art often takes a mandala form. The basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point...
becomes a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, and Ruby Fox becomes a journalist and writer. Saidwell Rhys owns a pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in Wales - where he apparently spends much of his time drunk.
- In Phase I, Zenith reluctantly teams up with surviving members of Cloud 9 to defeat one of the Many-Angled Ones "Iok Sotot", although this proves fatal to Red Dragon, a Welsh member of the team. St John demonstrates his considerable mental powers by defeating Iok Sotot via a hypnotic suggestion implanted earlier in the story. Phase I shows that Cloud 9 only temporarily lost their powers and regained them under duress - or in St Johns case may have never lost them at all.
- Phase II details the efforts of a media tycoon modeled on Richard BransonRichard BransonSir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
to use Zenith and two female superhuman clonesClonesClones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
as breeding stock for a new group of superpowered humans that he will use for world domination. Zenith is generally successful on his own in Phase II, however he relies on (again) St John at times, and also a CIA agent who is killed early on. Phase II details more of the Zenith history, and introduces Chimera, a superhuman composed entirely of thought, who eventually transforms itself into a pyramid-shaped miniature universe.
- An interlude between Phase II & III introduces the concept of alternate universeParallel universe (fiction)A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
s, and that members of Cloud 9 who were previously thought to be dead were in fact establishing themselves in the alternate realities with other-universal heroes, and developing their powers and abilities.
- Phase III involves a multidimensional war against the Lloigor utilizing comic-book characters from other British comics from the '50s, '60s and '70s (using either the actual characters or analogs, depending on their legal status). The Lloigor are close to "ascending" and dominating the universe(s), waiting for the infinite alternate universes to align and form a universe-sized crystal - the "Omnihedron". The multi-universal heroes destroy several alternate Earths to introduce a flaw into the Omnihedron and prevent the alignment, but discover that they have been betrayed by Maximan - the destroyed worlds removed a flaw already present in the Omnihedron. Only at the last moment do they succeed by destroying the alternate Earth that the Lloigor are using to ascend. Due to the vast cross-dimensional body count incurred in this series a surviving superhero comments that it may have been "...a pyrrhic victoryPyrrhic victoryA Pyrrhic victory is a victory with such a devastating cost to the victor that it carries the implication that another such victory will ultimately cause defeat.-Origin:...
".
- The final series, Phase IV, brought the story full circle as the remaining members of Cloud 9 eventually transform into the very Lovecraftian horrors that Zenith battled in the first series. After destroying America in retaliation for a psychic attempt on their own lives they use the SunSunThe Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
as an incubator for their final metamorphosis into The Many Angled Ones, and (after casually destroying The Earth in passing) they ascend to the heavens attempting to gain control of the multiverse. St John has however (during part two - "The Eleventh Hour" episode,) trapped the Lloigor in the pocket universe created by Chimera, and the universe is assumed saved - although it is implied that St John has his own agenda for taking control - by this time he is already Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Zenith has since returned three times to the pages of 2000 AD: In zzzenith.com, a one-off featured in "Prog 2001" which takes place years after the end of the previous series. Zenith once again meets with St John, who is still in control of the country via a telepathically manipulated Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
. Zenith is aware of this, and is not particularly bothered, however St John seems equally unconcerned that Zenith knows the truth.
He also appeared in a story unconnected to the Zenith universe - A Night 2 Remember, a strip about the comic's 25th anniversary celebrations, which appeared in Prog 1280. His final appearance was on the cover to Prog 1500, although his image is small and hard to see.
Collected editions
He has largely appeared in his own eponymEponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous series which has been collected into a series of (out of print) trade paperbacks
Trade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
by Titan Books
Titan Books
Titan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
, all written by Grant Morrison:
- Book One: Tygers (88 pages, April 1988, ISBN 1852860308, reprint never widely distributed, August 2001, ISBN 1-84023-343-5) collects:
- "Phase I" (with Steve Yeowell, in 2000 AD #535-550, 1987)
- Books Two & Three: The Hollow Land Parts 1 & 2 (June 1989, ISBN 1852861371 and August 1989, ISBN 185286172X) collects:
- "Interlude 1: Whitlock" (with Steve Yeowell, in 2000 AD #558, 1988)
- "Interlude 2: Peyne" (with Steve Yeowell, in 2000 AD #559, 1988)
- "Phase II" (with Steve Yeowell, in 2000 AD #589-606, 1988)
- Books Four & Five: War In Heaven Parts 1 & 2 (June 1990, ISBN 1852862629 and August 1990, ISBN 1852862637) collects:
- "Interlude 3: Maximan" (with M. Carmona, in 2000AD Winter Special 1988)
- "Mandala: Shadows & Reflections" (with Jim McCarthyJim McCarthy (comics)Jim McCarthy is a British comics creator. He became well known for working on Bad Company in 2000 AD before going on to write a number of graphic novels based on musicians, as well as becoming a music journalist.He is the brother of Brendan McCarthy....
, in 2000AD Annual 1990, 1989) - "Phase III" (with Steve Yeowell, in 2000 AD #626-634, 650-662 & 667-670, 1989–1990)
- Uncollected
- "Phase IV" (with Steve Yeowell, in 2000 AD #791-806, 1992)
- "zzzzenith.com" (with Steve Yeowell, in 2000 AD Prog 2001, 2000)
External links
- Seizing the Fire The unofficial Zenith fansite