DC Database
Register
Advertisement

The spear has had many different owners throughout the years. The Spear's most pivotal role came in World War II, as it fell into the hands of Adolf Hitler. The control of the Spear by the Third Reich prevented American superheroes, particularly those with magic-base

Quote1 The Spear of Destiny... wow. The same one that pierced the side of Christ while he was on the cross. They say that whoever wields the spear can control the world. Quote2
The Flashsrc

The Spear of Destiny, the spear used to pierce the side of Jesus Christ, was a powerful magical artifact.

History

World War II

The spear has had many different owners throughout the years. The Spear's most pivotal role came in World War II, as it fell into the hands of Adolf Hitler. The control of the Spear by the Third Reich prevented American superheroes, particularly those with magic-based origins or powers (and in the pre-Crisis Earth-Two reality, the Golden Age Superman), from intervening in the war, creating a Sphere of Influence that would affect such heroes to fall under Hitler's sway when they enter into it. The Spear was used towards the end of the War by a cornered Captain Nazi who attacked the Spectre with it, nearly killing him and precipitating the end of the world. However, before its loss, Hitler used a magical ritual to taint the weapon, corrupting any who wielded it to his greed and powerlust.

Spear of Destiny 002

Modern Era

After the War, the spear came into the hands of the Allies, and was placed in storage in the United States. It would emerge years later, during a time when the Spectre was considered out of control, having destroyed the entire nation of Vlatava. President Bill Clinton ordered the Spear retrieved and asked Superman to confront the Spectre with it, as it was widely accepted that the Spear was perhaps the only weapon on Earth that could actually harm him.[1] Superman took the Spear and headed for Japan, where the Spectre was grappling with a water elemental sent on a rampage by Naiad. The Spear was also capable of injuring or slaying the elemental itself. Unfortunately, it was not realized until after Superman was in the air how deep the taint of the Spear was. Superman beheld a vision where he used the Spear to take over the world, slaying all of his allies and close friends before being confronted at last by Batman. Superman was able to deny the vision and reject the Spear.[2] The Spectre bound the Spear inside a rocky boulder with the ashes of Vlatava and cast it into Earth orbit.

During the Day of Judgment, the rogue angel Asmodel seized control of the vacant Spectre Force and literally froze over hell. Earth's heroes split into three groups: one group led by Superman went into hell to reignite the fires; a second, led by Wonder Woman, attempted to retrieve Jim Corrigan from Heaven and re-bond him to the Spectre; and a third, led by Captain Marvel, ventured into space to retrieve the Spear. Captain Marvel was able to withstand the taint long enough to deal a crippling blow to the Spectre, weakening him long enough for Hal Jordan (who was retrieved from Purgatory instead of Corrigan) to become the new host for the Spectre. Once joined, this new Spectre cast the Spear back into space.

On another occasion, Felix Faust and Circe both attempted to gain control of the spear in simultaneous yet separate plots, taking advantage of circumstances to seize it with their magics, only to be thwarted by the Justice League and Justice League Elite respectively.[3]

Recently the Spear fell into the hands of the Dragon King; however the Spear is now thought to be lost thanks to intervention by Wildcat and the Flash (Jay Garrick).[4]

Final Crisis: Revelations

During the events of Final Crisis, Renee Montoya (The Question) continued her personal vendetta to hunt down the members of the Religion of Crime, who have sworn to kill her for denying her role as their leader[5] (after accidentally killing their original leader). The members were looking for the mythical rock which Cain used to kill Abel. Renee tried to fight off the members, although they actually did find the rock. Shortly afterwards, Crispus Allen showed up as the Spectre and informed her that it is her time to be judged. They were also in possession of the Spear, using it and the rock in a ceremony on Vandal Savage. Cain was then reborn in Savage's flesh. He then led an army of followers to Gotham, where he managed to best the Spectre and plunge the weapon through him. This separated the Spectre itself from the spirit of its human host, rendering it a slave to Cain.

Cain attempted to corrupt the Radiant, God's Spirit of Mercy, tempting her by offering the deaths of the killers of her human host. When the Radiant refused, he had the Spectre utter the Anti-Life Equation, unmaking creation itself and rebuilding it in the name of Darkseid. However, the Question and Huntress managed to reclaim the Spear, though they incurred serious injuries. The Radiant healed Huntress, but cannot heal the Question until the relic is purified of its taint, something that can only be accomplished by using it to heal a soul rather than destroying it. The Question did this by using the Spear to resurrect Jake Allen, the son of the Spectre's human host. This brought hope and peace to the spirit of Crispus Allen, who managed to reclaim control of the Spectre-force. He then used the Spear's power to change the world to what it was, dealing absolute judgment upon Cain and his followers, except for the killers of Sister Clarice, the Radiant's human host, so she could forgive them before they died.

Notes

  • This item is an adaptation of Spear of Destiny, an item 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.
  • On Earth-Thirty-Two the Spear of Destiny didn't really exist and was used as a cover story to prevent the Allied troops from learning about a German super agent code named Parsifal (Otto Frentz) who could neutralize the super powers of others.
  • The Spear of Destiny appeared on DC's Legends of Tomorrow as a reality-altering tool capable of altering history without messing with the Speed Force and could thus help avoid incurring the wrath of Black Flash. As it does not tap into the Speed Force like other means of time manipulation, it is not capable of altering the history of its use, meaning that even if it was destroyed in an altered reality, time travelers can still prevent its use.
  • In the DCAU the "Spear of Longinus" was an artifact recovered from the Nazis by the Blackhawks during World War II, and stored on Blackhawk Island. Hitler believed it had the power to make its bearer invincible. It was subsequently acquired by the Blackhawks, who decided to keep it safe in a vault on Blackhawk Island, along with various other weapons & technology. Until it was later stolen by Grodd solely for decoration implying it had no powers.


See Also

Links and References

  • None.
Advertisement