Sabbac

Superherobox|

caption=The original Sabbac (Timothy Karnes), on the cover of "Superman/Shazam! First Thunder" #3 (2006). Art by Joshua Middleton.
character_name=Sabbac
real_name=- Timothy Karnes (or Barnes)
- Ishamel Gregor
publisher=Fawcett Comics (1943)
DC Comics (1981 - present)
debut=(Karnes)
"Captain Marvel, Jr." #4 (1943, historical)
"Outsiders" vol. 3, #7 (2004, canon)
(Gregor)
"Outsiders" vol. 3, #8 (2004)
creators=(Karnes)
Otto Binder & Al Carreno
(Gregor)
Judd Winick & Tom Raney
alliances=(Gregor)
Secret Society of Super Villains
Fearsome Five
aliases=
powers=Superhuman strength, speed and endurance, durability, flight, fire-breath, fire blasts|

Sabbac is the name of two comic book supervillains appearing in Fawcett Comics and/or DC Comics. The original Sabbac was created by Otto Binder and Al Carreno in 1943 as an enemy of Captain Marvel, Jr., while the modern version was created by Judd Winick and Tom Raney in 2004 as a nemesis for both Junior and the Outsiders superhero team.

History

Timothy Karnes

The original Sabbac was the alter ego of Timothy Karnes (some comics give his last name as Barnes), and an enemy of Captain Marvel, Jr.. Sabbac appeared in two issues of the Golden Age "Captain Marvel Jr." comic book (issues 4 and 6, both from 1943), and in two issues each of "World's Finest Comics" and "Adventure Comics" during the early 1980s.

Sabbac is depicted as a "dark opposite" to the Marvels, similar to Captain Marvel's foe Ibac. The dark forces of Hell gave the human Karnes the power to become a being with power to rival Captain Marvel. To access this power, all Karnes has to do is say the magic word "Sabbac," and magic black lightning strikes up from the underword and transforms him into a muscle-bound demon with super-strength, super-speed, and the abilities to fly, breath fire, and emit fiery blasts from the palms of his hands. Like Captain Marvel's magic word "Shazam," the word Sabbac is an acronym for the six beings who empower Sabbac: the demons Satan, Aym, Belial, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, and Crateis.

In 2004, Judd Winick reintroduced Sabbac in the third incarnation of the "Outsiders" comic book series, in which Timothy Karnes was established as the former foster brother of Freddy Freeman, Captain Marvel Jr.'s human alter-ego. Freddy's parents, David and Rebecca Freeman, had taken Timothy in, but the boy was sent to live with another family when the couple were killed in a car accident. Timothy would find himself shuffled from one abusive foster home to another, and grew to hate and resent Freddy Freeman, who lived a successful and relatively peaceful life with his grandfather.

Sabbac's origin is depicted in Winick and Joshua Middleton's 2005/2006 "Superman/Shazam! First Thunder" miniseries. Dr. Sivana, hoping to find a way to kill Captain Marvel, has the high priest of the Temple of Bagdan kidnap Timothy, whom they learn is a descendant of the Bagdan line and the heir to the demonic powers of Sabbac. During a satanic ritual, Timothy is transformed for the first time into the demon Sabbac, and challenges Superman and Captain Marvel. Marvel defeats Sabbac after tricking him into saying his name (and thus causing him to turn back into Timothy).

Ishamel Gregor

In "Outsiders" #8 - 10, Captain Marvel, Jr. and the Outsiders team face a new, more feral version of Sabbac. This version of Sabbac, possessing amplified demonic powers and a hairy beast-like appearance with horns instead of the more humanoid original form, is the alter ego of Ishamel Gregor, a Russian immigrant who had become a New York mob boss. Gregor lusted after the power of Sabbac and had his men find Timothy Karnes, who had been incarcerated and had his voice box removed to prevent him from speaking. Gregor initiates a demonic ritual which he states will allow Karnes to access his power without needing to speak. The ritual involves the murder of an entire New York bus full of passengers. At the end, Gregor kills Karnes and gains the Sabbac power for himself.

This new version of Sabbac opens a portal in the backyard of a very specific California home. This brings a host of demons into the world. He is challenged by the Outsiders and Captain Marvel Jr, and flees when his demons are defeated.

The Secret Society of Super Villains sends Deathstroke the Terminator to Las Vegas, where Sabbac is taking over the local mafia. Deathstroke kills Sabbac's personal entourage and convinces him that the Society has much to offer.

He also works with the Fearsome Five to attack Alcatraz in San Francisco, now a super villain prison. They are there for the seemingly minor purpose of freeing the FF member Mammoth. During the attack, the magical Rock of Eternity explodes over Gotham City. Sabbac's preparations allow him to absorb the sentient power of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man. He also grows much larger. He uses 'Lust' to bring down the Five, the Alcatraz prisoners, and a majority of the guards. He uses the other sins in combat against the Outsiders. Donna Troy appears and the heroes use Katana's magic Soultaker sword to imprison the demon. From inside the Soultaker, Sabbac admits that the Society had enlisted him to kidnap Captain Marvel Jr. and bring him to Lex Luthor.

One Year Later

When the Outsiders were out of options, Katana summoned forth Ishamel from the Soultaker to destroy Dr. Sivana's base.

52

In 52, Captain Marvel, on the brink of insanity, mentioned that Sabbac had tried an assault on the Rock of Eternity.

Later in the series, Sabbac attacked Boston on Halloween, with the intention of kidnapping children and sacrificing their souls to the demon Neron. Sabbac is now several stories tall, and is only stopped through the efforts of the both the Marvel Family and the Black Marvel Family.

Powers and abilities

Sabbac has super human strength, agility and endurance. He is able to fly and project fire from his mouth and hands.

External links

* [http://www.marvelfamily.com/WhosWho/whoswho.asp?castid=34 Sabbac I's "Who's Who" file] at The Marvel Family Web
* [http://www.marvelfamily.com/WhosWho/whoswho.asp?castid=1345 Sabbac II's "Who's Who" file] at The Marvel Family Web