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Black Racer (DC Comics)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the Marvel Comics character, see Black Racer (Marvel Comics). For the snake, see Coluber constrictor.
Black Racer
The Black Racer as he first appeared on the cover of New Gods #3, art by Jack Kirby.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceNew Gods #3 (July 1971)
Created byJack Kirby
In-story information
Alter egoSgt. William "Willie" Walker
Team affiliationsNew Gods
Notable aliasesFlash
Abilities
  • Immortality
  • Infinite super-speed
  • Super-charged brain-activity
  • Intangibility
  • Time travel by running faster than the speed of light
  • Enhanced super strength, endurance, reflexes, agility and stamina
  • Creation of vortexes
  • Electrokinesis
  • Dimensional travel
  • Time manipulation
  • Flight via cosmically powered skis
  • Death touch
  • Wears cosmic armor and skis
  • Energy projection and absorption
  • Matter manipulation
  • Invulnerability
  • Illusion casting
  • Cosmic perceptions and senses

The Black Racer is a character, a deity and avatar of Death in the DC Comics universe who often hunts those affiliated with the New Gods.[1] The character first appears in New Gods #3 (July 1971) and was created by Jack Kirby.[2]

Fictional character biography

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The Black Racer's corporeal form is Sgt. Willie Walker, who was paralyzed during the Vietnam War. Walker was contacted by the Source when Darkseid first brought the war of the gods to Earth, and told it was his responsibility to take on the role. The Racer makes use of what appear to be skis as his means of transport, much like how the Silver Surfer, another Kirby creation, uses a surfboard. New Gods are collected by the Racer at the moment of their deaths, and taken to Hadis (the Fourth World version of Hades).

In Captain Atom #42, it is stated that the Black Racer represents "death as inevitability", whereas Death of the Endless represents "death as compassionate release". Nekron, meanwhile, represents "Death as the ultimate opponent". This has been contested by Neil Gaiman, who says that Death of the Endless is the ultimate incarnation of death in the DC Universe.

During the Our Worlds at War crossover, the Black Racer attempts to harvest Steel's soul, but Superman talks him out of it.[3] Young Justice encounters the Black Racer while he is moving Steel to Apokolips and pursues him by initiative of Lobo and Superboy, even if Robin disagreed.[4]

Seven Soldiers

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In Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle, the Black Racer has a bet with Metron as to whether Mister Miracle will be successful in saving the New Gods following the destruction of Apokolips and New Genesis. The Racer's original form makes brief appearances to test Shilo Norman's skills. Willie Walker is later killed by Infinity-Man in Death of the New Gods mini-series.

Final Crisis

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The Black Racer appears in the Final Crisis event, where he is present at the death of Orion and pursues Barry Allen and Wally West. As with the other New Gods, his appearance has been redesigned; he now wears a sleeker armor and wields scythe-like poles.[5] The Final Crisis Sketchbook states that J. G. Jones and Grant Morrison designed the Black Racer to resemble a knight.[6]

The New 52

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The Black Racer makes his first appearance after the Flashpoint reboot in the Darkseid War storyline, where the Anti-Monitor fuses him with the Flash and forces him to kill Darkseid.[7][8] However, the two are ultimately separated, with the Racer killing Volthoom and freeing Jessica Cruz from his influence before vanishing.[8]

Powers and abilities

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The Black Racer has the power to phase through solid objects and bring death to those he has chosen with a single touch. He travels through the air by means of two cosmically powered celestial skis, which can accelerate to the speed of light. His ski poles can also phase through solid matter to deliver the Black Racer's death touch. As a deity, he is also immortal, and wears a cosmic armor that give him super strength and endurance. When he has finished delivering his message of death, the Black Racer returns to the comatose life of Sgt. Willie Walker until he is summoned anew.

Other versions

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  • An alternate universe variant of the Black Racer appears in the JLA story arc "Rock of Ages".
  • An alternate universe variant of the Black Racer appears in Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger.
  • An alternate universe variant of the Black Racer makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Kingdom Come.
  • An alternate universe variant of the Black Racer appears in DCeased.[9]

In other media

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Television

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Black Racer makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "Apokolips... Now!".

Video games

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Black Racer appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[10]

Miscellaneous

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References

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  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008), "Black Racer", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, London: Dorling Kindersley, p. 53, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1
  3. ^ Superman: The Man of Steel #116 (September 2001)
  4. ^ Young Justice #36 (October 2001)
  5. ^ Final Crisis #1 (July 2008)
  6. ^ Final Crisis Sketch Book (July 2008)
  7. ^ Justice League (vol. 2) #44 (November 2015)
  8. ^ a b Justice League (vol. 2) #50 (July 2016)
  9. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 315. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
  10. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  11. ^ Smallville Season 11 #9 (March 2013)
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