DC Database
Register
Advertisement

Quote1 And remember me, that you shall know when you face the Darkness that the Light shall never die. Farewell, my children... Quote2
Highfather src

Izaya is the Highfather, the wise and benevolent ruler of New Genesis.

Izaya the Inheritor was a warrior of New Genesis, husband of Avia, and father of the boy who would become Scott Free. He and his wife were ambushed by Steppenwolf, his nephew Darkseid, and the warriors of Apokolips, during which attack, Avia was slain. He was found injured by a young woman named Vayla who nursed him back to health, fell in love, and eventually married him before bearing a child by Izaya.[1]

Steppenwolf's attack was part of a plot by Darkseid to take control of Apokolips. In the aftermath of Avia's death New Genesis and Apokolips went into full-blown war. Izaya led an attack on Apokolips, during which he slew Steppenwolf (though Steppenwolf would later return). Revenge, however, brought no solace to Izaya. The war grew larger and larger in scale and led to destruction of cosmic proportions with entire stars being weaponized and planets devastated.[2]

Sick of all the destruction and carnage, Izaya wandered the ravaged lands of New Genesis, seeking enlightenment. It was at this time that he first encountered The Source, communicating with him through a fiery hand on a wall. Taking the name Highfather, he returned to the gods of Supertown to bring them the Source's wisdom.[2]

After years of war, the two worlds struck a peace accord, which involved the exchange of the two heirs of these worlds. Highfather engineered the Pact with Darkseid, by which Izaya's child was sent to the orphanages of Granny Goodness on Apokolips, while Darkseid's son Orion was sent to live on New Genesis as Highfather's adopted son.

In this trade, Highfather proved to be the winner; while his true son would live amongst the denizens of Apokolips and learn to rebel against the system, Highfather raised Orion passionately as his own son, taming his aggressive nature and instilling in him values of compassion. After several years Scott Free escaped Apokolips to eventually reunite with Highfather and New Genesis, and Orion became a loyal follower and step-son, to Highfather, battling Darkseid and his agents for years to come.

To this day, Highfather continues to lead the gods of New Genesis, and hopes to one day pass down leadership to his son. Relationships between father and son are strained however, due both to the results of the Pact, and Scott Free's general rejection of the ways of the gods in favor of that of the humans of Earth.[3]

Genesis

Upon learning of Darkseid's plans to destroy the Source Wall and control the Source itself, he gathered other elder gods, including Zeus, Jove, Odin and Ares together to fight Darkseid. However, this plan quickly fell apart, as Ares rebelled against the other gods, and in the end killed Highfather.[4] Ares was later imprisoned on the new Source Wall.

After Izaya's death, Takion assumed the role of Highfather (after Scott Free turned down the offer); this role would prove to be challenging for the young god. He asked for some sort of help from Highfather, who was now one with the Source, and he got it: Highfather briefly returned to resurrect Supertown to its former glory, giving the forces of New Genesis a new hope in the come battles against Darkseid and his armies.[5]

After these events, Izaya's status became somewhat ambiguous. He was still considered deceased in the Fourth World but made apppearances as part of the Quintessence, overseeing reality alongside the Phantom Stranger, Ganthet, Zeus and Shazam. As per the revelations of Seven Soldiers and Final Crisis, it is possible that the version of him that died was just an emanation of an even grander form.[6]

As part of the Quintessence, Highfather oversaw events that threatened reality and judged the worthiness of heroes.[7][8]

When Shilo Norman was visited by Metron, he was given visions of a war in the Fourth World where Izaya was still the leader of New Genesis, opposing Darkseid and the forces of Apokolips. According to Metron's description, Darkseid won the war.[9]

During the Final Crisis it was revealed that Darkseid had in fact survived a final war that resulted in the death of most New Gods. After Darkseid's final attack on the Multiverse was foiled and his true form was destroyed, reality was rebuilt thanks to the power of the Miracle Machine and the efforts of Monitor Nix Uotan. Like most New Gods on the side of New Genesis, Izaya was reborn on Earth-51.[10]

Following Flashpoint, a new and very different version of Highfather and the New Gods appeared on the Multiverse. The original Izaya was shown to still be resting on Earth 51 alongside his peers, acknowledging the existence of these new emanations of themselves. Still too weak to act directly, Highfather chose to only watch and guide the heroes.[11]

30th Century

In the 30th Century, Izaya was reincarnated as an infant with limited time to exist to help face the reawakened Darkseid. In a pivotal moment of the war against Darkseid, Izaya aged instantly into his Highfather form and turned the tide of the battle. He restored a corrupted clone of his adopted son Orion into a righteous form and let him battle his "father". Highfather then healed all the fallen Legion of Super-Heroes members and used the Alpha Effect to enhance Superboy and Supergirl into becoming powerful enough to fight Darkeid directly. With his power exhausted, Highfather disappeared with a speech of encouragement. Izaya's actions were successful and Darkseid himself was soon forced to abandon his conquest.[12]

Powers

  • New God Physiology: The beings of New Genesis call themselves Gods and live outside of normal time and space in a realm called the Fourth World. These New Gods have evolved due to their close proximity to the Source, a primeval energy, believed to be one of the ultimate foundations of the Universal Expression of Energy, along with their superior technology, into beings of genetic stability and evolutionary perfection. The denizens of New Genesis are immortal, stronger, faster, and smarter than homo sapiens, despite their resemblance.
    • Superhuman Strength: As a New God, Izaya's strength is naturally greater than that of a human man of his (approximate) build and stature who engages in regular intensive exercise. In his days as a warrior, Izaya demonstrated massive superhuman strength, being able to match Darkseid physically. It is unknown how much of that strength carried on to Izaya's more peaceful role as Highfather.
    • Immortality: Like few other of the New Gods, Highfather is functionally immortal, having ceased aging physically near the age of 50. Unless he falls in battle, Highfather is immune to the ravages of time, and could easily live for thousands upon thousands of years.
    • Invulnerability: He is resistant to blunt trauma like punches, kicks, and blows from weapons like bats and maces, though not completely immune; unless the blows a dealt by a being with similar or greater strength than Highfather, there just isn't a chance of injury.
    • Superhuman Stamina: Highfather's stamina and endurance is nothing short of amazing. Highfather is able to manage his stamina on a certain amount of rest and sustenance (more than minimal) so that it seems he is able to constantly function, though this is not entirely the case. Tied directly to his strength and invulnerability, even his immunity to a certain extent, Highfather Izaya can actually function at peak efficiency for almost 48 hours before needing to eat and rest off the stress.
  • Source Avatar: Izaya has the ability to commune with the Source and gain an understanding of its wisdom and motivations. He is a living conduit of the Source for guidance to the New gods of New Genesis.
  • Alpha Effect: Izaya's god power. It is unknown how much of his power comes directly from his communion with the Source and how much is inherent to him since Scott Free, the son conceived before Izaya's spiritual enlightenment, also possesses the Alpha Effect. With the effect, he can send through Alpha Bullets, which can travel anywhere, ressurect anyone, and also restore those who were erased by Darkseid's Omega Effect
    • Energy Manipulation: Izaya can manipulate energy for a variety of effects, including the creation of force-fields, powerful energy blasts, and the absorption of energy.
    • Molecular Reconstruction:: Highfather can transmute and manipulate matter, and in extension atoms, at will; he has demonstrated the ability to both restore or completely undo the structure of other beings (including other gods).
    • Telepathy: Izaya can peer into the minds of other beings and is capable both of healing or exerting influence.
    • Teleportation: Izaya can teleport himself and other beings anywhere in the entire Universe even through other dimensions at a mere thought. He has also demonstrated the ability to manipulate Boom Tubes without the aid of a Mother Box.
    • Power Distribution: Highfather can endow other beings with enormous powers, either granting them new abilities or increasing old ones they already possess.
    • Phasing: Highfather has dispalyed the ability to phase through solid matter.
    • Chronokinesis: Highfather can send his "Alpha Bullets" through time to search and interact with the past.

Abilities

  • Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced): Having had years of experience as a warrior, Izaya was an expert combatant in his youth. Izaya was a superb hand-to-hand combatant and a master of weaponry.[13]
  • Tactical Analysis: Izaya has an advanced strategic sense, and has natural leadership qualities.
  • Diplomacy: After his communion with the Source, Highfather has dedicated all his life to ideals of peace and serenity for both his people and anyone he could help. His greates diplomatic achievment was striking a peace accord (The Pact) with the planet Apokolips, stopping a war that had ravaged entire star-systems.

Weaknesses

  • Vulnerability to Radion: New Gods are vulnerable to a substance called Radion. It source is unknown and its effects are toxic only in sustained amounts or after explosive exposure. The average New God can be slain by an application of Radion from a Radion blaster or bomb. Radion, must be hard to come by, because if it was not, Darkseid would obviously equip more of his troops with it. Perhaps it requires the mysterious Element X to create it.


Weapons

  • War-Staff (Formerly): During his time as a warrior, Izaya wielded the golden War-Staff as a weapon. Besides serving both as an offensive blunt weapon and a defensive tool, the War-Staff could project powerful energy blasts, possibly a manifestation of Izaya's godly power. After Izaya's communion with the Source, the War-Staff was reforged into the Wonder-Staff.
  • Wonder-Staff: Forged from the War-Staff, the Wonder-Staff is wielded by Highfather as a direct link to the Source and as a tool to focus his power. Through the staff, he can direct powers such as energy blasts and other commands, however unlike the War-Staff, the Wonder-Staff is not meant to be used in physical combat. Being a link to the Source's power, the Wonder-Staff's unfiltered touch is enough to hurt regular mortal beings, although New Gods such as Kalibak can touch it without repercussion.


  • Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-One era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and should be considered apocryphal.
  • Izaya is also known as Izaya the Inheritor.

Related

Footnotes


New Gods 02
Jack Kirby's Fourth World
DC Rebirth Logo

This character or group of characters are related to Jack Kirby's Fourth World, either the original concept and group of titles by Jack Kirby, or any of their subsequent adaptations by other creators. This template will categorize articles that include it into the Fourth World Characters category.

Advertisement