Highfather
| Highfather | |
|---|---|
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | The New Gods (vol. 1) #1 (February/March 1971) |
| Created by | Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Izaya the Inheritor |
| Species | New God |
| Place of origin | New Genesis |
| Team affiliations | New Genesis |
| Notable aliases | The All-Father |
| Abilities |
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Highfather is a fictional comic book character in the DC Comics Universe. He is chief of the New Gods of New Genesis in the Fourth World and ruled the fictional planet. Highfather first appeared in The New Gods (vol. 1) #1 (February/March 1971).
Contents
Fictional character history
Highfather is in reality Izaya, sometimes known as Izaya the Inheritor. The name is a phonetical version of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. Highfather thematically resembles the Greek god Zeus or the Norse god Odin (who was known as the all-father).
Darkseid uses Izaya in his scheme to seize control of Apokolips. During a raid by his uncle Steppenwolf, Darkseid appears to kill both Izaya and his wife. However, Darkseid intentionally only stuns Izaya, knowing he will seek revenge on Steppenwolf, which he does, killing him and paving the way for Darkseid's ascent to power.
In making peace with Apokolips, Izaya and Darkseid make a pact to exchange their sons. Darkseid raises Scott Free while Izaya raises Orion. Izaya manages to tame the savage Orion (to a point) and he becomes one of the greatest warriors of New Genesis, fiercely devoted to the ideals of his adoptive home. Eventually, Scott Free (Mister Miracle) escapes Apokolips (as planned by Darkseid) which breaks the pact between New Genesis and Apokolips. Izaya and Scott are reunited, though relations between the two have not always been easy.
Highfather often consults the Source, a primal energy field represented by a mysterious wall upon which are written messages which may be of use in resolving crises. Though never stated outright in the New Gods series, the Source is implied to be some form of higher power (perhaps even God), making Izaya a spiritual as well as political leader of his people. As ruler of New Genesis, he is kind, compassionate and caring, but ready to defend it from any threat.
During the Genesis limited series, Highfather is slain in battle with the war god Ares.[1] He is succeeded as leader of New Genesis by Takion, an Earthling hero who is a living conduit of the Source. Since his death, Izaya's spirit has served as a member of The Quintessence, a council of powerful cosmic entities that observe events in the universe.
Highfather later appears in Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle as the leader of the New Genesis survivors living as homeless people on Earth following the destruction of their world. However, much of the events of that miniseries prove to be a vision of possible events, leaving Highfather and New Genesis' current situation in doubt.
However, he was shown in Final Crisis sketchbook, indicating that he will return. In Final Crisis #7, Highfather is depicted next to Barda and Mister Miracle in front of a reincarnated New Genesis.
The New 52
Mortal Life
Before there was New Genesis or Even Apokolips, before there were even New Gods. There were simply mudgrubbers (mortals), the Old Gods who towered above them and the ancient world of Urgrund when it went unsundered. Long predating the time since his ascension; Izaya, his wife Avia and younger brother Uxas were simple farmers who led pained lives under foot of careless, destructive deities they paid homage too.
When his baleful sibling grew tired and resentful of the cruel, mocking nature his gods paid to him. He started a war between the Old Gods which shattered they're planet killing off most of they're pantheon as well as near every living thing on they're home planet.[2] The kindly farmer and husband carried off his dying wife as the former ascended to become Darkseid after he killed off and drained the rest of his former creators divine powers, decimating they're planet and everything on it. By odd chance he ran into the skyfather of the Old Gods and begged him to protect them, but he like all his brethren had all but died off; the time of the Old Gods ending.Avia pleaded with they're fallen idol that he was an all powerful entity who created they're world and was beyond death.
Attesting to his beloved's faith in him the deity granted Izaya a miraculous boon transforming him into the New God; Highfather, whom opted to stave his demented brother's rampage. Who accused him of stealing the powers of the Old Gods too but Izaya rebuked his claim saying now he and himself had become the New Gods and with they're powers the can restore they're broken world together. But Izaya's tender pleading only served to incense his estranged brother who in the fury of battle decimated the planet.
New Godhood
After a time, however silence combed over the empty space where they're world once stood. Some time afterwards Uxas's Father and Izaya's Step Father; the dreaded Old God Yuga Khan suddenly resurfaced, greatly angered by his wayward progeny's slaying of his fellow Old Gods utilized the Anti-Life Equation resurrect all those slain by Darkseid as well as inhibit the stolen divine powers his sons took, a great battle broke out between family members on the ruined soil on Urgrund. Were Uxas and Izaya battled their tyrannic father and his reanimated army.
While Izaya was pinned down by his father stating the time of the Old was over and that the new ways must allow the many to lead instead of just the few, Khan denounces him stating Uxas will never share whatever power they've accumulated. But before a killing blow can be dealt Uxas comes up behind his father spiting him as he plunges the tool he used to kill his divine predecessors into his back, killing him much to Izayas horror. The relevance of the event was chronicled and aptly named "The Final Day" as the Old Gods were no more and the brothers christening themselves the New Gods in they're place.[3]
Eons later Darksied came to an agreement with Highfather and they remade they're broken home together dubbing it Genesis. An era of peace reigned for a time with Highfather seemingly reviving Avia as his New God Bride, but time past and old habits returned to type as Darkseid murdered and allegedly raped Izaya's wife as he walked in on him covered in his own sister's blood.[4] Conflict eventually broke out between the two brothers yet again as Izaya pitted his Throne world of Genesis agaisnt his evil, maddened brother's penal empire of Apokolips, for countless untold eons the war between the New Gods raged but by day seven of the conflict dead had already come to outnumber the living. Darksied was eventually banished back to his hellish domain while Highfather himself went on to create a Utopian society that would forever suspend itself over the war torn remains of his decimated kingdom called New Genesis.
Conflict & Loss of Humanity
The Battles between New Genesis and Apokolips would occasionally intensify with neither gaining a significant high ground over the other. The battles raged would reach a particularly vicious thunderhead whenever the orbital rotation of the native star both planets revolved around would bring the two worlds into each others orbit, where all manner of planetary wide disasters threatened one another.
In order to protect his own interests; Metron the observer would approach both lords opening with a trade off to cull the constant fighting. Horrified with the terms set by both the neutral party and the dark lord; whom Metron had approached first, Highfather would have to select a son in his care to trade with Darkseid's own progeny.[5] In a desperate bid to seeking an end all of the conflict, Highfather ventured beyond his domain and reality itself. Having recently lost a dear friend in the battles that followed Izaya began to waiver in his conflict, he set out to the multiverse hoping to find the answer he seeks commune from the source. Finding an obelisk called The Source Shard near the wall.[6]
The Shard is a remnant of the original Source Wall which was destroyed when the Old Gods had died, Only the most brave, foolish and desperate ever come to this hellish domain for council from it. Demanding an answer after all he'd lost and all he will soon lose to this insane treaty, as the shard remains silent the leader of New Genesis snaps ordering the shard to speak with him after centuries of silence. Wishing to know how he can enact an endevour that would condemn his son, himself and the memory of his beloved Avia forever. As the Shard makes its verdict stating that Izaya's fate has been sealed the former rejects such an this stating the source asks too much of him. He goes onto say that if he took this knowledge back home with him his people would think him mad for having communed with the source.
Feeling that The Sources Essence is little more than torment as penance for his loss and actions committed during the war. Questioning who he truly is whether being a savior or a destroyer; The Source soon states he will do what must be done saying Highfather is of The Source now. In a bright flare of light the gentle Izaya was knocked unconscious, Then a gentle voice loomed over the motionless Highfather stating he would state that he would come to hate his name without ever knowing why. Saying he would come to accept the destiny chosen for him without question, that he would take in and love the scion of Darkseid while trading the last memory of his lovely Avia to his deranged counterparts care. Promising to forever shoulder the burden of they're shattered beings while keeping they're beloved Avia alive within his heart, this being is shown to be Izaya's moral center now taking the form of the Infinity-Man who would promise his mortal coil he would live on as the conscience he had surrendered, knowing the price he paid to become what he is what they both are and vowed one day to return to reclaim they're missing soul.
Contact Prime Earth
After the Source detects an upcoming powerful danger that will potentially result in the end time and originates somewhere on Earth Highfather sends Orion to stop this. This threat is initially thought be 'Zeke' the last child of Zeus, which causes Orion moral qualms as he doesn't want to kill children. However, the threat is later revealed to be the First Born of Zeus, a monster that desires only his birthright; Olympus, destroying everything in his path to get it. Highfather himself appears after Orion brings a badly wounded Wonder Woman, Hera and Zola to New Genesis to escape the First Born. In the New-52 Highfather appears to be more similar to his earliest Kirby appearances as he dresses in armor and carries a baton, hinting to his earliest title of Izaya, the Warrior, who battled Darkseid at the breaking of the Third World and lead the forces of New Genesis for countless years against the forces of Apokolips. His personality is also different as he appears to be a harsh father for Orion on the surface, though he quietly hints his pride in his adoptive sons actions. [7] He later reveals another great threat as being no less than Superman himself, leading to the first meeting between Superman and Orion.[8]
Green Lantern/New Gods:Godhead
Powers and abilities
Highfather can manipulate tremendous amounts of energy for his own purposes through his staff, which is linked with the inconceivable power of the Source. Darkseid once rendered the staff useless, but it has since reestablished its link with the Source and regained its powers. As Izaya, Highfather is an immortal with superhuman strength, endurance and reflexes. He is a superb hand-to-hand combatant and a master of weaponry. However, he left the ways of combat behind when he took on the role of Highfather.
Other versions
JLA: The Nail
Highfather appears in JLA: The Nail, involved in a war between New Genesis and Apokolips, triggered when Apokolips assumed that a Kryptonian shield around Earth was part of a sneak attack by New Genesis and decided that the only way to prevent their destruction was to attack first.
In other media
Television
- In the DC animated universe, Highfather first appears on Superman: The Animated Series in the Season 2 episode "Apokolips... Now! part II". He also makes a cameo in the series finale episode "Legacy".
- Highfather receives his first speaking role in the two-part Justice League episode "Twilight" voiced by actor Mitchell Ryan.
- Though he was never mentioned by name in the final season of Smallville, Kara Zor-El mentioned another being, who was dedicated to spreading the Light and raised Darkseid's son Orion. Most likely a reference to Highfather.
Film
- An alternate universe version of Highfather appears in the animated film Justice League: Gods and Monsters, voiced by Richard Chamberlain. Instead of trading Orion for Mister Miracle, he weds Bekka to Orion to bring their Apokolips and New Genesis together. However, Highfather betrays Darkseid and murders him along with his elite shortly after Orion and Bekka are married.
