The Source Wall is a fictional structure in the DC Comics universe. DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company The wall lies on the edge of the known universe, in the Promethean Galaxy. Beyond the wall lies what is known as The Source, a cosmic essence or being that is the "source" of all that exists. The Source was a metaphysical concept created by writer/artist Jack Kirby for his Fourth World series of comic books The wall is theoretically passable. However, all those who try have been inevitably trapped in it. Over time it has been made up of the bodies of would-be conquerors and curiosity seekers from all across the universe.
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Creation and Inspiration
The wall itself was not created or depicted by Jack Kirby although he did refer to 'a final barrier' before the Source and described the imprisoned giants around it. Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg, August 28, 1917 &ndash February 6, 1994) was an American Comic book It was first shown in the Teen Titans/X-Men cross-over and was created by Walt Simonson and Chris Claremont. For the animated TV series based on this comic see Teen Titans (TV series. The X-Men is a team of fictional Superhero characters in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Walter "Walt" Simonson (born September 2 1946) is an American Comic book writer and artist Chris Claremont (born November 30, 1950) is a writer of American Comic books known for his 16-year (1975-1991 stint on Uncanny X-Men Simonson provided this account in a post on Comic Book Resources:
- "The Source Wall as it is currently understood visually in the DCU first appeared in the X/Titans crossover. Comic Book Resources also known as CBR is a Website dedicated to the coverage of Comic book -related news and discussion [. . . ] the Wall as such did not appear in Kirby's New Gods.
- What did appear was a four page introductory sequence in NEW GODS #5 in which Metron, using his Mobius Chair, explores the 'Final Barrier'. "And somewhere beyond--lies the Source: the greatest of mysteries. " An additional description suggests that this is the Promethian Galaxy--a place of giants--where "all roads to the Source come to an end--". Visually, there's a double page shot of a giant strapped to an enormous piece of Kirby debris. There's another panel with a large head of a female who tried to achieve "the maximum state". And failed. And, in the text, Metron notes that 'beyond all the knowledge and sweeping concept at our command, the mystery of the Source lies--serene---omnipotent--all-wise.
- There is, however, no shot of a 'Source Wall' as such. No final visual barrier beyond which an entity may not venture. No wall full of entities who tried to breach the final barrier and failed and became subsumed within the Wall.
- Chris and I invented that notion--and its visualization--for the X/Titans book, clearly extrapolating from what Jack had done.
- The neatest part of the invention is that apparently, the notion of the Wall and its execution were such a perfect fit for the existing New Gods mythology that folks don't really remember exactly where it came from. "[1]
According to Jack Kirby at a San Diego Comic-Con appearance in the late 1980s, the inspiration for the size of the Wall comes from a religious song that contains the lyrics "so high you can't get over it/so low you can't get under it/so wide you can't get around it/you must go in at the door". Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg, August 28, 1917 &ndash February 6, 1994) was an American Comic book Comic-Con International San Diego, commonly known as Comic-Con or the San Diego Comic-Con, is an annual multigenre Fan convention founded as the Golden
Fictional history
One of the few known persons to have entered the Source was an amalgam of Zeus, Odin, Ares, Jove, and Highfather. Zeus (zjuːs in Greek: nominative: Zeús /zdeús/ genitive: Diós; Modern Greek /'zefs/ in Greek mythology Odin (ˈoʊdɪn from Old Norse Óðinn) is considered the chief god in Norse paganism. Ares is a DC Comics character based on the Greek god of the same name. In Roman mythology, Jupiter was the king of the gods and the god of Sky and Thunder. Highfather is a fictional Comic book character in the DC Comics universe. Five others are known also to have passed the Source Wall, Barry Allen (in Super Team Family #15), Spectre (Hal Jordan), Metron working with Swamp Thing (in Swamp Thing #62), and Lucifer Morningstar. Bartholomew "Barry" Allen is a Fictional character, a Superhero in the DC Comics universe and the second Flash Super-Team Family is an Comic book anthology series published by DC Comics in the 1970s that lasted for fifteen issues Super-Team Family is an Comic book anthology series published by DC Comics in the 1970s that lasted for fifteen issues The Spectre is a fictional cosmic entity and Superhero who has appeared in numerous Comic books published by DC Comics. Harold "Hal" Jordan is a Fictional character, a DC Comics Superhero. Metron is a character created by Jack Kirby for his Fourth World series in DC Comics. The Swamp Thing is a Fictional character created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson for DC Comics and featured in a long-running horror-fantasy The Swamp Thing is a Fictional character created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson for DC Comics and featured in a long-running horror-fantasy Lucifer is a DC Comics character that starred in an eponymous Comic book published under the Vertigo Imprint. Highfather and Darkseid together have managed to destroy the source wall before. Highfather is a fictional Comic book character in the DC Comics universe. Darkseid is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by DC Comics. The Flash went into the source for a cure for Orion of the New Gods, but didn't remember anything from his time within. Orion is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by DC Comics. The New Gods are a Fictional race published by DC Comics, as well as the title for four series of comics about those characters When Jordan was the Spectre for a time, he passed it and had a conversation with the Old-Timer, formerly one of the Guardians of the Universe, and saw a giant Green Lantern battery. The Spectre is a fictional cosmic entity and Superhero who has appeared in numerous Comic books published by DC Comics. The Guardians of the Universe are a Fictional extraterrestrial race in the DC Comics universe While talking with the Old-Timer, he asked him "Is this The Source?" The Old-Timer replied "It is Your Understanding of it". The Old-Timer then brought Jordan into the battery and explained to him that without any positive or negative charge, there would be no energy or life. After leaving The Source, Jordan felt as though a part of himself was still in the Source. When Lucifer went past the Source Wall he saw what looked like a huge yellowish man made of rock. Lucifer then stood on its shoulder while looking for Michael in the DC Universe. Whether or not this is what The Source really looks like or is how Lucifer views The Source is left unknown. It seems that humans and other beings such as angels when they pass the Source Wall view The Source differently.
In Countdown, it is revealed the 52 universes are each surrounded by a source wall, with the Bleed between the source walls of the various universes. Countdown to Final Crisis, known as Countdown for its first 25 issues is a Comic book Limited series published by DC Comics The Monitors refer to an impending disaster if they don't act to stop travel between the 52 universes, and in issue #38 of Countdown, they finally reveal that each time a being passes between universes, they break a little of each universes' source wall. If a source wall is breached too many times, it will collapse and lead to chaos and the destruction of its universe. In Countdown #23, Superman-Prime operates out of a cave within the Source Wall itself, specifically a section bordering Earth-15. He mentions its deterioration and later blasts it with his heat vision, causing a devastating chain-reaction which seemingly obliterated the 15th universe.
Darkseid and the Source Wall
Darkseid's connection to the Source Wall is very notable because he has not only been attached to it, but removed from the wall multiple times. Darkseid is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by DC Comics. In Jeph Loeb's run of Superman/Batman, Darkseid is thrown on to the wall by Superman and later removed from it because of a deal brokered with an alternate version of the villain. Joseph "Jeph" Loeb III is an Emmy and WGA nominated American Film and Television Writer, producer and award-winning Superman/Batman is a monthly Comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publisher's two most popular characters Superman is a fictional Comic book Superhero widely considered to be one of the most recognized of such characters and an American Cultural icon Throughout Darkseid's rule of Apokolips and reign as a new god, he has made it one of his primary goals to breach the Source Wall.
Darkseid's father, Yuga Khan once attempted to unravel the unknowable mystery of the Source as well. Yuga Khan is a DC Comics Supervillain. He first appeared in New Gods volume 2 #17 (June 1990 However, like so many before him, Khan was made part of the great wall. One of Darkseid's attempts to breach the wall freed Yuga, but it was Darkseid's manipulations and planning that returned him to the imprisonment of the Source Wall.
Death of the New Gods
The Death of the New Gods miniseries features The Source Wall extensively, and updates a number of elements in regards to it. Death of the New Gods is an eight-issue Comic book Limited series published in 2007 by DC Comics. In addition to a second Source Wall being created to store the souls of the slain New Gods, the Source itself reveals that it has never truly resided behind the wall, and that only the Bleed rests beyond the wall. The wall is one aspect of the universe that is preventing the Source from merging with its "other half" that was split in to the Anti-Life entity after an attack by the Old Gods. It ultimately conspires to destroy the Source wall, allowing the Anti Life entity to fully enter our universe and the Source to merge with it, becoming whole once again. At the end of Countdown, a battered Source wall is shown, with chunks of the wall floating in space.
In Other Media
The Source Wall appears in the final episode of Justice League Unlimited. Justice League Unlimited (or JLU) is the name of an American animated television series that was produced by and aired on Metron takes Lex Luthor there to find the Anti-Life Equation. Metron is a character created by Jack Kirby for his Fourth World series in DC Comics. Lex Luthor is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The Anti-Life Equation is the fictional equation that the DC Comics villain Darkseid is searching for in the Jack Kirby's Fourth World setting Metron himself is unwilling or unable to take him any further, and warns Luthor that only a "twelfth-level intellect" can survive the attempt to pass it. Luthor dryly states that he is overqualified then leaps into the wall. Apparently he is correct, as shortly after he appears again on Earth, and in possession of the Anti-Life Equation.
In Justice League/The Avengers #3, Doctor Doom is imprisoned on the Source Wall. JLA/Avengers (Issues 2 and 4 are titled Avengers/JLA) is a crossover Limited series published by DC Comics and Dr Doom redirects here For other uses see Dr Doom (disambiguation.
References
- ^ Simonson, Walter (11-22-2006). The Source Wall. Comic Book Resources Forums > DC Comics Forums > DC Universe. Comic Book Resources.
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