Harbingers (comics)

Harbingers are fictional characters with superhuman powers who appeared in every Valiant Comics title. Two different groups of Harbingers appeared in the comic book series "Harbinger".

History

When Solar recreated the world that became known as the Valiant Universe, a number of super-powered beings emerged. The most notable of those were Harbingers, human beings with a wide range of psionic powers. Throughout history, their powers tended to lie dormant, emerging in occasional bursts that were usually brought on by stress. That changed when Toyo Harada, a Japanese-born Harbinger, established the Harbinger Foundation. He hoped to study the Harbingers and the full extent of their powers. He discovered that he was what he dubbed an "Omega Harbinger", a Harbinger who possessed a full range of Harbinger potential. Harada decided to use his powers and resources to change the world for the better, no matter the cost. He began recruiting other Harbingers and creating programs to teach them how to better use their powers. The most skilled recruits became "Eggbreakers", Harada's elite enforcers charged with containing renegade Harbingers, among other things.

In the early 1990s, the Harbinger Foundation discovered the existence of Peter Stanchek, the only other Omega Harbinger that existed at the time. Harada hoped that he would become a valuable ally. However, Pete discovered the truth behind Harada's ultimate plan after his close friend, who was outspoken against the Harbinger Foundation and their methods, was murdered by Harada's assassins and an attempt was made to kill Pete Stanchek as well. Stanchek fled the Foundation, taking his girlfriend with him, and decided to stop the Harbinger Foundation from reaching its goals. To that end, they recruited other Harbingers, and undermined Harada's plans in any way they could.

List of Harbingers

Harbinger Resistance

* Charlene Dupre ("Flamingo"), a pyrokinetic
* Peter Stanchek ("Sting"), untrained "Omega Harbinger" with a range of powers
* John Torkelson ("Torque"), super-strength & durability
* Faith "Zeppelin" Herbert ("Zephyr"), self-levitation
* Kris Hathaway, the only non-powered member of the resistance; Peter's girlfriend

Harbinger Foundation

* Puff
* Eel
* Toyo Harada
* Lump
* Rock
* Thumper
* Sparrow
* Weasel
* Blast
* Swallow
* Warp
* Flashbulb
* Tse-tse
* Ghost
* Taser
* Gridlock
* Mak

(formerly)
* Stronghold
* Livewire

Unaffiliated Harbingers

Ax - an unstable Harbinger with the power similar to that of Geomancers, except in his case, it only extends to technological devices.

Obadiah Archer ("Archer") - a Harbinger with hyper-perception and enhanced coordination and reflexes. He is frequently partnered with the immortal "Armstrong". In the future, he wound up marrying Flamingo. He founded a spiritual movement known as "Archies" which endured into the 41st century.

Angelo Mortalli ("Bloodshot") - Although it was the nanotech enhancements given to him as part of Project Rising Spirit that granted him most of his superhuman abilities (super strength, speed, coordination, healing), the hero known as "Bloodshot" also had the innate Harbinger ability to communicate with and control machines.

* Eugene Mutholland ("Bazooka")
* Frank C. Treese ("Fort")
* Donald W. Tietz ("Spikeman")

External links

* [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/h/harbingr.htm Harbingers Info at International Catelogue of Superheroes]