Sometimes referred to as the Grim Reaper, Death is the literal personification of death.
History
It is more an abstract concept than an actual person, but Death can assume a physical form if it so chooses, and can traverse any dimension where life exists. As Death affects all living things, it is in fact genderless, but prototypically presents itself as an adult male. Death has the ability to break the Fourth Wall and communicate to those who perceive the world(s) in which he inhabits. Death never actually causes the death of a human being (or any living thing), but is always present when someone passes beyond the mortal veil.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Omniscience: Death knows when and where any living being is destined to die... and shall be there to assure it.
- Omnipresence
- Necromancy: Death is responsible for all deaths occurring in the universe. Once, just for fun, he made the spirit of a dying girl help her father while he was fighting in WWII.[1]
- Immortality: Being a personification of death, Death can't be killed in any way.
- Molecular Reconstruction (or Illusion Casting): Death physically resembles a bleach-white skeleton adorned in flowing black robes holding a scythe. At times of war, Death may alter its clothing in imitation of a soldier's uniform. His attire is always congruent with the nature of the conflict that he is presiding over. He has presented himself wearing the garb of a U.S. serviceman, a Spanish conquistador, a Roman centurion and even Nazi officers.
Abilities
Notes
- This character or object is an adaptation of the Grim Reaper, a character or object in traditional stories. These include, but may not be limited to religious texts, myth, and/or folk lore. More information on the original can be found at Wikipedia.org.
- This aspect of Death is no longer used in modern continuity. Beginning with Sandman (Volume 2) #8, Death is presented as a plucky black-haired girl who belongs to a family of immortal beings known as the Endless. While they share a similar name, but represent different eras, roles, and attitudes within their respective narrative frameworks. In Martian culture, Death is represented in the guise of H'ronmeer. Among the New Gods, Black Racer is known as the Death.
- Technically, any issue where a character dies can be construed as a behind-the-scenes appearance of Death. Death rarely makes actual in-universe appearances, but is often placed in the role of narrator, hosting various horror or war-themed comic titles such as Weird War Tales.
Related
- 110 Appearances of Death (Earth-One)
- 3 Images featuring Death (Earth-One)
- 10 Quotations by or about Death (Earth-One)
- Character Gallery: Death (Earth-One)
Footnotes