Pariah (comics)

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character_name = Pariah
publisher = DC Comics
debut = Crisis on Infinite Earths, #1 (April 1985)
creators = Marv Wolfman (writer)
George Pérez (artist)
real_name = Kell Mossa
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powers = Brilliant scientist; invulnerable to physical harm; seemingly immortal up to and including the Crisis on Infinite Earths; immediately teleports to the focal point of any catastrophic event; flight.

Pariah is a fictional scientist published by DC Comics. He first appeared in "Crisis on Infinite Earths" #1 (April 1985), and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.

Fictional character biography

In the 1985 12-issue comic book limited series "Crisis on Infinite Earths", Pariah was one of the greatest scientists from his version of Earth (later retconned as an alternate dimension rather than a parallel universe). Kell's unorthodox experiments to view the creation of the universe resulted in the Anti-Monitor learning of the existence of Kell's Earth and destroying it with waves of anti-matter. Kell survived (unbeknownst to him, through the intervention of the Anti-Monitor's benevolent counterpart, the Monitor) and acquired the (involuntary) ability to travel from one alternate Earth to another, forced to witness untold millions perish (although he was occasionally shown to be able to control this ability on occasion). Taking the name "Pariah", he is forced to watch as each Earth is consumed. Pariah blames himself for the destruction of his own world, the release of the Anti-Monitor, and the subsequent destruction of universe after universe, until he finally learns he was essentially blameless.

Because of the Monitor's alteration of his being, Pariah is drawn against his will to locations where extreme danger looms, commonly any Earth being destroyed by the anti-matter waves. Pariah was seemingly indestructible and immortal, but relatively powerless in terms of his physical capabilities (although he also appeared capable of flight), and he considers the powers he has a curse, since they doom him to witness horrors he cannot stop.

Many years later, Pariah attempts to warn Lex Luthor that a dangerous predator is coming. However, this Luthor is in actuality Alexander Luthor of Earth-3 in disguise, posing as this universe's Lex Luthor in order to create a new incarnation of the Secret Society of Super Villains. Pariah is subsequently murdered by Alexander Luthor.

"Infinite Crisis" writer Geoff Johns explained that Pariah's immortality was only effective with the original Multiverse, allowing him to be killed,Fact|date=July 2007 in "Infinite Crisis", although he was previously shown to believe himself unable to be killed during the "War of the Gods" series. [For example, in "War of Gods" #4, he responds to an implied threat: "You'll what, Lady Quark? Kill me? I only wish you could."]

Pariah was resurrected by Dark Angel. ["Supergirl" (vol. 2) #19]

References