Source (comics)

The Source was a metaphysical concept created by writer/artist Jack Kirby for his Fourth World series of comic books.

Definition

It can be considered a shared Consciousness in the DC Comics Universe, where it is the non-religious equivalent to Buddha nature. It is the "source" of all that exists. Alternatively, it can be considered a description of the Creator God of the Universe, a science fiction analogue based on Judaeo-Christian doctrine.

Mostly associated with the New Gods, the Source was the supposed origin of the "god-wave" that is believed to have been responsible for creating and empowering the "Gods" of the DC Universe with their divine abilities. It also seems to be partially responsible for the ability of DC residents to develop super-powers, especially those which defy physics.

Lying at the edge of the known universe in the Promethean Galaxy is the Source Wall, which protects the Source, and traps all those who attempt to pass beyond it. DC Comics has kept the Source out of the main continuum of its story telling; therefore, not much is known concretely about its many aspects.

Death of the New Gods

While investigating the death of the New Gods, Metron encountered the Source. The Source revealed it was behind the deaths to build a new "Fifth World." It revealed that the most powerful gods of three pantheons of the Second World ( that were doppelgangers/aspects of deities of the Third World: Zeus, Odin and Jove-Júpiter)--the "Old Gods"--attacked it and caused it to split into separate beings. The other being evolved into the Anti-Life entity. In retribution, the Source destroyed the Old Gods and created the New Gods. However, its diminished state caused the New Gods to be flawed. The Source seeks to reunite with its other half and start anew. It took advantage of the actions of Alexander Luthor and Rip Hunter to create the 52 worlds of the multiverse to ease the reunion. Using its agent, the Infinity Man, to kill the New Gods and store their souls in a second Source Wall and Mister Miracle as the user of the Anti-Life Equation, the Source was able to breach the primary Source Wall and reunited with its Anti-Life other half. With all the New Gods dead but one, the Source travels to Apokolips to confront the final god, Darkseid, and complete his task. However, Darkseid has devised a method to tap in to the power of the souls of the New Gods which were being stored in the second Source Wall, giving him equal footing with the Source, until Superman intervened, allowing the Source to deploy his trump card, the Soul of Orion, who shared Darkseid's access to this power. While Darkseid and Orion fought, with Orion eventually defeating him, The Source slams New Genesis and Apokolips together, to create a single planet, with one half similar to Apokolips and the other to New Genesis. When this is over, the Source tells Superman that his work is done, and he is leaving this plane of existence.

In other media

In recent battles on the animated cartoon series "Justice League Unlimited", passage beyond the source wall could only be survived by a 12th level intellect. Lex Luthor was able to enter and exit "The Source," stating to Metron that he was "overqualified." Behind the source wall resided all the secrets to the universe including the Anti-Life Equation sought by Darkseid. One of the beings imprisoned on the Source Wall seems like Galactus from Marvel Comics, but his outfit and helmet are different, so it's more likely a New God.

See also

*List of New Gods
*List of DC cosmic entities