Prometheus
Villain For Life
by Phil Perich for the Legends of DC Blog
The name Prometheus is familiar to fans of the Arrow TV show as the villain of this current season. But another Prometheus, one far different from the TV version has appeared in DC Comics.
Origin
Prometheus was the son of two career criminals who traveled the country committing thefts and murders until the pair was gunned down by the Police. In a reversal of Batman’s origin, Prometheus vowed to “annihilate the forces of justice” in honor of his parents.
Coming Out Party
After training and killing an alien monk to steal technology from him, Prometheus kills a young would be hero named Retro to take his place aboard the Justice League Watchtower. Prometheus saw himself as a one man anti-Justice League, devising methods to defeat the entire team including Batman who he defeats in battle by downloading martial arts skills of some of the world’s deadliest fighters.
The only Leaguer Prometheus cannot harm physically is Superman. Prometheus tells Superman to kill himself or the villain would start killing the group of hostages he was holding. Superman saw no way out of this situation until Prometheus was ambushed and defeated by Catwoman, who also disguised herself to gain access to the Justice League’s Watchtower.
Gone Too Soon
Prometheus would return to battle the League again, once even as a member of Lex Luthor’s Injustice Gang. Since no conventional prison could hold him, the Martian Manhunter telepathically lobotomizes Prometheus. Later when the Manhunter dies (temporarily), Prometheus regains his intellect and begins to terrorize the League and their allies. The last straw for Green Arrow is when Prometheus destroys a large part of Star City causing massive casualties including Roy Harper’s daughter Lian. In a rage over the villain’s disregard for human life, Green Arrow shoots and kills Prometheus with an arrow through the head.
Reborn Again
After DC Comics New 52 reboot, Prometheus was seen battling Midnighter with technology stolen from the god garden he used to block Midnight’s tactical computer and to download all of Midnighter’s own skills into his own brain.
As interesting as I’m sure the Arrow version of Prometheus will be once he is unmasked, it would have been a wild ride to see this version battle Green Arrow on TV. What do you think of the different versions of the character? Let me know:
@nightwingpdp or @LegendsOfDCPod on Twitter
You can hear me and my friends discussing all the DC shows and everything DC Comics on the Legends of DC, Channel 52, and Before the Bat podcasts. I also write another blog, the True Believers Blog about all things Marvel. You can find all my podcasts and blogs at www.southgatemediagroup.com or www.philperich.wordpress.com.