Bialya

Infobox comics location


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publisher = DC Comics
debut = "Justice League" #2 (June 1987)
creators = Keith Giffen
J.M. DeMatteis
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subcat = DC Comics
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Bialya is a fictional country appearing in many comic book series published by DC Comics. It was notably featured in issues of Justice League International as written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis. It originally appeared in Justice League #2 (Publication: June 1987) The name appears to be a world play of the country Libya.

Fictional history

Originally ruled by the buffoonish Col. Rumaan Harjavti, the country was taken over by the ruthless femme fatale Queen Bee II. She was eventually killed by Harjavti's brother Sumaan, who was in turn replaced by Queen Bee IV, sister of the second Queen Bee. She, in turn, was deposed by forces unknown. After the disaster with Black Adam (see below), President Rashid is seen in power.

Rulers

Under the reign of the Harjavti brothers and Queen Bee II, members of the United Nations superteam known as the Global Guardians became members of the Bialyan military, causing friction with their replacements in the Justice League International. During Rumaan's rule, he opens the borders to known supervillains. Dozens went there for refuge, to enjoy the casinos, gambling and the pleasant beaches. Booster Gold and Blue Beetle attempt to stop this by infiltrating the country and making it seem as if the villains were stealing from Rumann. When this failed, Batman led a team and fooled the villains into think Rumaan was stealing from them. In the ensuing chaos, Rumann is forced to officially ask for help from the Justice League. He also foils a coup attempt by his assistant, Geoffrey Foukes, who was trying to take advantage of the fact that Rumann did not understand the English translation of the press briefing he was reading. Rumann, who had simultaneous translation, kills Geoffrey live and on-air.

Around this time, the survivors of the Champions of Angor, separated from their home dimension, visit Bialya during a mission to rid the world of nuclear bombs. This ends badly as one of the Bialyan nuclear reactors goes critical. The hero known as Wandjina stops the meltdown and seemingly dies in the process. His reanimated body is later used in one of the country's many coups.

Many international incidents arise when the Justice League cross Bialyan borders against the express wishes of the current ruler and the United Nations.

Once such incident happens when the second Queen Bee gathers volunteers for an army based on the villains known as the Extremists. The members of Extreme Justice invade the country and defeat what would turn out to be cyborg versions of the villains. Captain Atom discovers facilities to make an army's worth and destroys those too. This incident leads to a disbanding of all three JLA groups.

In the series Young Justice, Red Tornado's adopted daughter Traya Sutton is revealed to be half-Bialyan. Traya was the victim of hate crime at her private school after a fellow student's parents were killed in a terrorist attack in Bialya. She was rescued from such attacks by her roommate, Cissie King-Jones, aka the former Young Justice member Arrowette.

Under the influence of an outside telepathic force, the current ruler of Bialya, a male, helps to draft a merger between his country and Qurac. The Justice League later neutralizes this outside force, a telepathic entity which had been inhabiting the mind of the Martian Manhunter.

Black Adam

Found guilty by Black Adam of collaborating with Intergang and serving as a base of operation for their technology-created "Horsemen of Apokolips", two million innocent Bialyans were the victims of a total genocide perpetuated by Black Adam. This retaliation for the murders of Isis and Osiris and many citizens of Kahndaq, apparently results in the death of all life in the country, millions of men women and children, as well as animals and insects.

urviving Black Adam

In "52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen" #1 (October 2007), it is revealed many thousands of Bialyans have survived Black Adam. President Rashid, the de-facto ruler, has refused all but the basic humanitarian aid. Some of such is being supplied by WayneTech and S.T.A.R. Labs. Several instances of more basic crimes are focused upon, such as a food stealing ring and a doctor using injured Bialyans simply to pad his resume.

The legendary "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" have re-manifested inside the borders of Bialya. It is thought by the creator of the Horsemen, Dr. Veronica Cale, that the forms built with technology from the distant planet Apokolips served simply as vessels for the biblical Four Horsemen. She further opines that they will return.

The first re-manifestation, which calls itself "Yuurd the Unknown", representing Famine, formerly 'Sobek', possesses Reese Taylor, the corrupt WayneTech employee who is selling food shipments. He slays many Wayne-Tech employees, kills a guard, injures many others, include Bruce Wayne himself, and escapes into the ruins of Bialya. Another horseman is seen manifesting far from the refugee camps.

The refugee crisis in Bialya and the United Nations response to it continues as a subplot in "Checkmate" v.2 # 21-22.

Blue Beetle scarab

In "Blue Beetle" #8 (December 2006), co-written by Keith Giffen and John Rogers, it was revealed that Dan Garrett, the original Blue Beetle, discovered the scarab which gave him his powers in Bialya. This is apparently a retcon on earlier depictions setting the discovery in Egypt.