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As a result of the New 52 in 2011, the entire line of DC characters was relaunched, incorporating properties belonging to the company's imprints: Wildstorm, Milestone, and Vertigo. As such, elements of this character's history have been altered in some way from the previous incarnation. For a complete list of all versions of this character, see our disambiguation page. |
Artus is a renowned Daemonite conquerer, known as Helspont.
History
Based on his belief that by hybridizing with alien races, the Daemonites would destroy themselves with auto-immune disorders, he subjugated entire star systems by fire and the sword, and became a legend. When he came to Earth, he discovered the human metagene - which could potentially save his race, if allowed to evolve - and, on the nearby moon of Europa, a temple containing a powerful blue flame. By experimenting with both, he was able to grant himself and some followers great power. However, his success and abilities created enemies out of his own people though, and he was imprisoned. His superhuman agents were left on Earth to monitor the metagene, but in their immortality, they grew feckless and the metagene evolved in the wild.[1]
His prison was the Eye, which would eventually become the headquarters of the clandestine planetary defense team Stormwatch. When Harry Tanner set off a massive explosion, four thousand years later, that ripped the Eye apart, the portion of the structure containing Helspont's cell crashed down to Earth, landing in the Himalayas.[2][3] It was there that Helspont, now freed, established a new base, and it was there that he had his first confrontation with Superman.
Helspont abducted Superman and tried to win him over, claiming that they were both too powerful for the people they lived among, and, like Helspont, Superman would soon be betrayed. Helspont explained that while the Daemonites ruled galaxies, Earth had never been of much interest, so he offered to let Superman keep Earth if he would help Helspont get revenge on his people. Superman declined and they fought, with Helspont seemingly defeated.[3]
Later, Helspont came to the conclusion that his own Daemonites were not sufficient for the task of claiming Earth, so he forged an alliance with the Citadel and the regent of Tamaran, Komand'r,[4] who claimed to see Helspont as her liege.[5] They also recruited the Earth mercenary Rose Wilson. However, both Rose and Komand'r turned on him, and Helspont and his Citadel forces were ultimately defeated by the Outlaws, with the despotic Daemonite seemingly vapourized by a Citadel weapons platform commandeered by Roy Harper.[4]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Daemonite Physiology: The following represents the potential alien abilities available to the average Daemonite while operating on Earth. Even if demonstration of such abilities has not been explicitly shown in a canonical resource. The higher the status of the Daemonite the stronger their abilities are. Training and practice of their abilities allow them to break the cap of their abilities. Variations of these powers may apply depending upon the wielder in question.
- Accelerated Healing: If a Daemonite is ever harmed it can heal indefinitely while it's brain still survives. Daemonites have been seen losing their limbs, internal organs and portions of their brains while still surviving. It also seems that Daemonites heal more quickly while resting within a host body.
- Chronokinesis Most Daemonites possess a degree of time manipulation however the exact limits of this ability are unknown.
- Claws: Daemonites have long, dangerous claws on each hand and foot which they use within combat and to help break the mental barrier of their host bodies. They can also expose these claws while within their host body to allow for stronger attacks.
- Fangs: Daemonites have long, dangerous fangs in their mouths which they use to rend and tear at targets. Their fangs can help them breach the mental barriers of their hosts. Some Daemonites use long tendrils instead of fangs for the same effects.
- Immortality: Daemonites have survived for countless years within and without a host body. It is assumed by scientists and enemies of the Daemonites that they are immortal; however, this may only be the case in mental form. As such Daemonites can in fact live forever if only while within a host body. Without a body it can still survive at least a million years.
- Metamorphosis: Only the strongest of Daemonites can shape-shift. Only the strongest of those Daemonites can change into inorganic material. A Daemonite can shape-shift even while possessing a host body but they'll normally revert quite quickly. Only one Daemonite has been seen shifting his body parts into inorganic material but the possibility remains for all Daemonites.
- Phasing: Daemonites have a degree of intangibility allowing them to phase through solid objects as they do when they take possession of a host body. They can continue to phase even while within their host body. Their phasing isn't automatic and they must concentrate to hold their form.
- Possession: Daemonites are parasitic beings that not only take complete control over another being's body but inhabits their mind as well. They feed on the nutrients and physiology of the host body until the body is destroyed or the Daemonite abandons it. Normally, possession causes no harm to the physical body but the process changes frequently. The stronger the Daemonite the easier the transition. Occasionally, the Daemonite can leave the host body violently and destroy the body.
- Superhuman Durability: A Daemonite's body is more durable than that of a human while on Earth. While some Daemonites cannot survive a bullet to the head which removes their brain functions others can take multiple bullets to their body without harm. Physical training can increase a Daemonite's durability.
- Superhuman Speed: A Daemonite's body is faster than that of a human while on Earth. Either while within a human host or not they exhibit incredible amounts of speed which can carry them to speeds that match that of most street cars while their physical capabilities of speed while in combat also increase past human levels.
This also confers: - Superhuman Strength: A Daemonite's body is stronger than that of a human while on Earth. When a Daemonite must they will resort to physical combat and exhibit their strength enough to roll over cars or rip off a door to a plane. A Daemonite's strength is determined by their physical capability and some Daemonites may not be as strong as others.
- Telepathy: Daemonites are not only physical beings that take possession of host bodies but they manipulate the mental effects of the beings as well. Not limited to only understanding the thoughts of each other or their hosts they can extend this ability to a wide range and even track targets by their mental signature. Most Daemonites are connected by a central mind which they do not need to focus to maintain.
Abilities
Notes
- Helspont was created by Brandon Choi and Jim Lee, first appearing in WildC.A.T.s #1. However, in the Prime Earth continuity, Helspont first appeared as part of the New 52 DC Universe in Superman (Volume 3) #7 by Keith Giffen and Dan Jurgens.
Related
- 18 Appearances of Helspont (Prime Earth)
- 3 Images featuring Helspont (Prime Earth)
- Quotations by or about Helspont (Prime Earth)
- Character Gallery: Helspont (Prime Earth)
Footnotes
Superman Villain(s) This character has been primarily an enemy of Superman in any of his various incarnations, or members of the Superman Family. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Superman Villains category." |