Radiant (comics)

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caption = Radiant as drawn by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding in Superman/Doomsday Hunter/Prey #2.
character_name = The Radiant
publisher = DC Comics
debut = Superman/Doomsday #1
creators =
alter_ego =
full_name =
species =
homeworld = Calaton
alliances =
aliases =
supports=
powers = Energy blasts
Flight
Protective force field
Superhuman strength
Near invulnerability

The Radiant is a superhero from the DC Comics Universe. He was created as part of the backstory to Doomsday from "The Death of Superman" storyline, in which the origin of Doomsday as well as his future (and that of Superman's) is revealed.

Origin

The monster known as Doomsday traveled across the galaxy to Calaton, a rich world of golden spires and advanced technology. Calaton could not withstand Doomsday's onslaught, and after three years of his relentless attacks only the capital survived. Royal scientists had worked night and day to find a way to stop Doomsday.

The Monarch's family, inbred for eons, had developed certain unique metahuman abilities which would be the key to Calaton's survival. The royal scientists created a vessel to channel their leaders' abilities, and all members of the King's families were gathered up at his command. Their metahuman life forces were drained, their lives willingly given to a greater good. The royal scientists, grieving as they watched their rulers make such noble sacrifices, channeled the energies into their creation; the Radiant, a being of pure energy, artificially engineered to destroy the artificially engineered Doomsday.

The Radiant vs. Doomsday

The battle between The Radiant and Doomsday lasted over a week. Bertron had created a creature that could kill any known form of life but, as a being of pure energy, the Radiant proved stronger and prevailed over Doomsday, unleashing a final blast of pure energy that destroyed a fifth of Calaton.

Had the Calatonians destroyed Doomsday's body his story might have ended there, but, following their usual custom of burial, Doomsday was suited and chained so his spirit wouldn't escape in the afterlife. As a murderer he was deemed unworthy of burial on sacred Calaton, so his body was cast into the coldness of space where it would drift forever. His ship, in which his body resided, became entangled amidst an asteroid flow and eventually crashed on Earth, its impact carrying it deep underground until Doomsday finally escaped.

Death

After his apparent death at the hand of Superman, the body of Doomsday was tied to an asteroid and flung away from the Earth. Doomsday eventually revived and ended up on Apokolips, the homeworld of Darkseid. Darkseid's servant had Doomsday teleported to Calaton, hoping that the Calatonians could defeat Doomsday again. A new incarnation of The Radiant again fought Doomsday, but Doomsday had adapted, and tore The Radiant apart by cancelling out his energy. As Superman arrived, the Radiant asked Superman to save his people, before finally dying once again. [Cite comic
Writer =
Penciller = Jurgens, Dan
Inker = Breeding, Brett
Story = Jurgens, Dan
Title = Superman/Doomsday Hunter/Prey
Volume =
Issue = 3
Date = 1994
Publisher = DC Comics
Page = 8-13
Panel =
ID = ]

Following Doomsday's battle with the Radiant (and Superman), much of Calaton's surface had been ravaged and irradiated. A religious group sprang up, worshipping the Radiant and expecting his return. As Calaton's police force arrived to arrest the cult and bring them into a (radiation-safe) city, the Radiant's face appeared and left a message of hope, before disappearing again (presumably forever).

Powers

* Composed of pure energy with no apparent limit
* Can project energy from anywhere on his body
* Flight
* Creation of a bubble of energy for protection.
* Can travel great distances in a short period of time
* Apparently limitless superhuman strength
* Virtually indestructible
* Possibly other unspecified abilities

References