Wanderers (comics)

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imagesize=
caption =Cover to "Wanderers" #1, artist Ken Steacy
team_name=Wanderers
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Adventure Comics" #375, December(1968)
creators=Jim Shooter writer
Win Mortimer artist
base=30th Century
members=Celebrand
Dartlag
Elvo
Immorto
Orintho
Psyche
Quantum Queen
memberlist=
subcat=DC Comics
hero=y
villain=
sortkey=PAGENAME|

The Wanderers are a fictional group of super-heroes appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They first appeared as allies of the Legion of Super-Heroes in "Adventure Comics" #375 written by Jim Shooter, illustrated by Win Mortimer with a cover by Neal Adams. DC published a thirteen-issue series featuring the team in the late 1980s.

Fictional history

Pre Crisis

In their first appearance, the Wanderers were introduced as a team of adventurers that had been in existence several years before the Legion of Super-Heroes. ["Adventure Comics" #375 (December 1968)] Their symbol was a mandala, which their leader wore across his neck. The members of the Wanderers are:

*Celebrand - an older male probably in his late 30sFact|date=April 2008, the leader and strategist for the group.
*Psyche - mistress of emotions.
*Quantum Queen - able to project or turn herself into any type of quantum energy.
*Elvo - master swordsman who wields an energy sword.
*Dartalg - expert with blow guns and darts. Has several types of darts for use, such as exploding darts.
*Orintho - born with wings and is able to shape shift into any other bird.
*Immorto - expert marksman who cannot be killed, instead his body automatically rejuvenates.

After meeting the Legion, the Wanderers were accidentally exposed to radiation from the Nefar Nebula that turned them evil. They then stole a valuable gemstone and faced the various members of the Legion in contests of strength. The Legion managed to figure out what had happened to the Wanderers and reverse the process. The two teams parted as friends.

The Wanderers then reappeared as guests at Duo Damsel and Bouncing Boy's wedding ["Superboy" (vol. 1) #200 ] , and also reappeared during the Legion's clash with Darkseid. ["Legion of Super-Heroes" (vol. 2) #294 ]

Artist Dave Cockrum's redesign sketch for the Wanderers was published in Marvel Comics' "X-Men Anniversary Magazine" (1993), which showed that one of the originally planned members was Nightcrawler, who Cockrum instead ended up using as a member of the X-Men after he moved to Marvel Comics.

Post-"Crisis"

In June 1988, the Wanderers appeared in their own eponymous title, written by Doug Moench, which ran for thirteen issues. Original artist Steve Dillon redesigned the characters, however he was replaced by Dave Hoover and Robert Campanella who redesigned the characters again. In this series, all the Wanderers were killed then recreated by Clonus, their Controller mentor, with upgraded powers and drastically diferent bodies with the exception of Celebrand, whose cloning attempt failed):

*Dartalon (formerly Dartlag) - now changed into an almost monstrous form, with quills coming out of his body and out of his hand like talons instead of his simply using them as weapons.
*Elvar (formerly Elvo) - now owned a power-sword that fired emotion-triggered blasts.
*Re-Animage (formerly Immorto) - now had the power to heal and revive other people.
*Aviax (formerly Ornitho) - retained his original powers.
*Psyche - retained her original name and powers.
*Quantum Queen - retained her original name and powers.

The new Wanderers ultimately solved the murder of their original selves, and officially became agents of the United Planets. On their final mission, they successfully created a clone of their former leader, Celebrand, and opted to follow mysterious aliens into another dimension. Only Dartalon was ever seen again.

Five Years Later

Dartalon appeared in a Silverale commercial in "Legon of Super-Heroes" (vol. 4) after the events of the "Five Year Gap".Issue|date=August 2008 Inexplicably, Dartalg was later seen among Leland McCauley's collection of captive statuary.Issue|date=August 2008

Threeboot

In current Legion continuity, the Wanderers are a "black ops" superhero group created by the United Planets. All of the Wanderers, except Mekt Ranzz, were killed fighting the Dominators. ["Supergirl & the Legion of Super-Heroes" #25 (Feb 2007)] Mekt then scoured the galaxy and recruited several heroes, such as Polar Boy, Inferno, White Witch, Nemesis Kid, Plant Lad, and others, to recreate the team. The Wanderers share the same goals as the Legion, but Mekt believes that the Legion can't be trusted as they don't respect authority. Mekt also attempts to recruit his sister (Light Lass), as well as Karate Kid, Star Boy, Ultra Boy, and Mon-El.

Other members of the team include a figure resembling Tyr and the team's co-ordinator Tarik, persumably this reality's version of Tarik the Mute.Issue|date=August 2008

The members of this version of the Wanderers includes:

*Grav - anti-grav acrobat.
*Inferno - generates heat and light.
*Jeyra Entinn - Saturnian telepath.
*Kid Quake - generates earthquakes.
*Mekt Ranzz - leader. Generates electricity.
*Micro Lass - giant who shrinks down to six feet.
*Nemesis Kid - powers unknown (the pre-"Crisis" version could manifest super-powers to defeat any one foe).
*Plant Lad - accelerates plant growth.
*Polar Boy - slows molecular movement.
*Thoom - super-strength.
*Vrax Gozzl - Coluan who possesses a tenth-level intellect.
*White Witch - sorceress.

Notes

References

* [http://www.mykey3000.com/cosmicteams/cosmic/index.html Wanderers at DC Cosmic Teams! website]