Hyperion (Marvel Comics)

Hyperion is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, of which there are several notable versions. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Sal Buscema, the original Hyperion made his debut in '' The Avengers'' #69 (October 1969). The alternate versions are each from a different dimension of the Marvel Multiverse, and consist of both heroes and villains. Thomas says that the character was intended as a pastiche of DC's iconic hero Superman.

The first Hyperion, Zhib-Ran, was a member of Squadron Sinister, a team that the Grandmaster created to fight against a team of Avengers gathered by the time travelling Kang. Two years after the character's first appearance, a heroic version appeared as one of the founding members of the alternate-reality Squadron Supreme. This incarnation of the character was a major character in the 1985 series ''Squadron Supreme'', which fleshed out the characterization of Hyperion and the other Squadron Supreme members. In 2003, Marvel Comics launched '' Supreme Power'', a new take on the Squadron Supreme universe, where Hyperion is raised by the United States government to be a super-powered operative. Yet another alternate Hyperion joined the Avengers and later the Squadron Supreme from Earth-616.

Creation

Thomas spoke in depth on the character's creation stating, "The first of the 4 members of the Squadron Sinister I designed for THE AVENGERS, to be an evil counterpart of Superman, kind of a parody/homage. I took the name from the Greek sun god, by way of the Shakespearean quote from ''Hamlet'': "...that was to this, Hyperion to a satyr." I made sure that every costume line on Hyperion was different from those on Superman... boots, belt, length of sleeves, face mask, etc. And I gave him a cape that only attached to one shoulder, after the look of a 1940s character called Dyna-Man in a Harry Chesler comic."

Publication history

The first iteration of Hyperion, created by Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema, debuted in '' The Avengers'' #69 as a member of the Squadron Sinister.

Two years later, Thomas and penciller John Buscema created an alternate, heroic version of the Squadron Sinister called the Squadron Supreme, once again in the title '' The Avengers'', using characters with the same names as those of the Squadron Sinister (this caused confusion in Marvel's production department, as the covers of ''The Avengers'' #85 and #141 claimed the issues featured appearances by the Squadron Sinister when it was in fact the Squadron Supreme that appeared in both issues). In the 12-issue ''Squadron Supreme'' limited series (Sept. 1985-Aug. 1986) Mark Gruenwald picked up from where Earth-712 was last seen in ''The Defenders'' #114 and revealed this Hyperion's origins.

The character is re-imagined for Marvel's MAX imprint title '' Supreme Power'', where he is an alien who has been raised by the government. This iteration received a spinoff miniseries, ''Supreme Power: Hyperion'', which showed a dystopian possible future.

Another Hyperion joins the Avengers in Jonathan Hickman's ''The Avengers'' vol. 5 #1 (Dec. 2012). Hickman described the decision to use a new Hyperion, rather than an existing one:

This is yet another parallel universe Hyperion. This is not King Hyperion, or Supreme Power Hyperion, this is not Gruenwald's Hyperion. This is Hyperion without all that baggage. This is Hyperion with a fresh slate, for a very specific purpose. He comes out of what the big story is behind the whole Avengers three-year plan that I have. He's very important, very pivotal, and I think people are really going to dig where we go with that. He's not going to be our poor analogue for Superman.

A pastiche of Hyperion, "Hyperius", appears in DC Comics' ''Final Crisis'' and ''The Multiversity'', part of a group of recursive homages to other companies' pastiches of DC characters.

Fictional character biography

Squadron Sinister

Hyperion (Zhib-Ran) and the Squadron Sinister are assembled by the Grandmaster to battle the champions of Kang the Conqueror. The Avengers defeat the Squadron and the Grandmaster, with Thor trapping Hyperion in a glass sphere. The Squadron reappears in ''Defenders'', where its members are reunited by Nebulon.

Hyperion later battles Thor once again and encounters his Earth-712 counterpart.''Thor'' #280 (February 1979) He becomes involved with Thundra, but the relationship ends when she returns to her own dimension. The Earth-712 Master Menace transports Hyperion to his universe and informs him that he is a clone created by the Grandmaster. The Squadron Sinister Hyperion impersonates the Squadron Supreme Hyperion, who later kills him.''Squadron Supreme'' #8 (April 1986) The Grandmaster briefly resurrects Hyperion as part of the Legion of the Unliving to combat the Avengers.

Squadron Supreme (Earth-712)

Hyperion, also known as Mark Milton, is a founding member of his reality's Squadron Supreme and the last known Eternal on his Earth. Following the societal instability caused by Overmind's takeover of Earth, Hyperion and the Squadron assume control of the United States government.

Hyperion becomes trapped in an inter-dimensional zone and is impersonated by the Squadron Sinister Hyperion (Zhib-Ran). Hyperion defeats Zhib-Ran, but is blinded in the fight. After a battle to the death with Nighthawk and the Redeemers, Hyperion relents and relinquishes power.

Hyperion and the members of the Squadron Supreme are exiled to Earth-616. The team encounters the hero Quasar and take up residence at Project Pegasus, where Makkari restores his sight. The Squadron members later return to their universe, where they overthrow a corrupt government that replaced them in their absence.

During the " Civil War II" event, Hyperion is killed when Earth-712 is destroyed in an Incursion, a collision with another universe.

Supreme Power

This Hyperion was sent to Earth in a spacecraft and captured shortly after by government agents who raised him in an isolated environment. When Hyperion is an adult, his existence is made public after a reporter nearly discovers his identity. After Hyperion discovers that he has been lied to his entire life, he becomes disillusioned with the government and rebels against them.

Along with the rest of his team, save Nighthawk, Hyperion is killed by the Cabal during an Incursion.

Squadron Supreme (Earth-616)

This Hyperion was sent to Earth as a baby, the only survivor of a race of Eternals from a dying world. He was raised by a man named "Father", who named him Marcus Milton and taught him the morals of society. As an adult, Milton becomes the superhero Hyperion and joins the Squadron Supreme. After his universe is destroyed in an Incursion, Hyperion is rescued by A.I.M. scientists and transported to Earth-616. Hyperion is held captive by A.I.M. until he is freed by the Avengers and joins their ranks.''The Avengers'' (vol. 5) #4 (March 2013)

Squadron Supreme of America

A variation of Hyperion appears as a member of the Squadron Supreme of America. This version is a simulacrum created by Mephisto who was programmed to possess the strength of an Eternal. In his personal time, he works as a history teacher at Buscema High School in Kensington, Maryland.''The Avengers'' (vol. 8) #18 (June 2019)

Powers and abilities

Hyperion is a member of the race of superhumans known as the Eternals. As a result, he has superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, reflexes, and flight. All versions of Hyperion possess these superhuman attributes, and, in a few cases, powerful breath able to generate force winds and freezing cold. Each also has greatly enhanced sensory perceptions which extends to being able to perceive the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Their "atomic vision" allows them to fire beams of heat from their eyes.

The Earth-712 incarnation of Hyperion can use cosmic energy to augment his life force, granting him longevity and regenerative abilities. The powers of Hyperion and his alternative versions are drained when exposed to argonite radiation.

Reception

Accolades

* In 2015, ''Entertainment Weekly'' ranked Hyperion 72nd in their "Let's rank every Avenger ever" list.
* In 2017, Comic Book Resources (CBR) ranked Hyperion 5th in their "15 Most Overpowered Avengers" list.
* In 2018, CBR ranked Hyperion 7th in their "25 Most Powerful Avengers Ever" list and 14th in their "Marvel's 20 Strongest Villains" list.
* In 2019, CBR ranked Hyperion 7th in their "10 Best New Avengers Of The Decade" list.
* In 2021, CBR ranked Hyperion 5th in their "Marvel: The 10 Strongest Male Avengers" list and 5th in their "Marvel: 10 Fastest Villains In The Comics" list.
* In 2021, ''Screen Rant'' included Hyperion in their "10 Most Powerful Members Of The Squadron Supreme" list and in their "16 Most Powerful Cosmic Characters In Marvel Comics" list.
* In 2022, CBR ranked Hyperion 4th in their "10 Scariest Avengers" list and 7th in their "Strongest Fighters In The Avengers" list.

Other versions

Exiles

King Hyperion, an evil alternate universe variant of Hyperion from Earth-4023, is a member of the reality-hopping team Weapon X. Luke Cage later recruits Hyperion into the Thunderbolts, who he betrays.

Secret Wars

An alternate universe variant of Hyperion from Earth-21195 appears in the ''Secret Wars'' tie-in ''Squadron Sinister''. This version is a conqueror on Battleworld. Nighthawk secretly works against Hyperion and later kills him after weakening him with argonite.

In other media

Television

* Hyperion appears in ''The Super Hero Squad Show'' episode "Whom Continuity Would Destroy!", voiced by Travis Willingham.
* Hyperion appears in '' Avengers Assemble'', voiced by Brian Bloom. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. This version is an alien and member of the Squadron Supreme, who thought the only way to bring peace was to rule over their people like tyrants and destroyed their own planet when the population refused to blindly obey them. Hyperion initially appears as a member of the Red Skull's Cabal until he betrays them.

Video games

* Hyperion appears as an unlockable character in '' Marvel: Avengers Alliance''.
* Hyperion appears as an unlockable character in '' Marvel: Future Fight''.
* Hyperion appears as a playable DLC character in '' Lego Marvel's Avengers''.
* Hyperion appears as a playable character in '' Marvel: Contest of Champions''. Additionally, Gwenperion, an alternate universe variant of Gwenpool who gained Hyperion's powers, appears as well.

References

External links

Hyperion
at Marvel.com

Hyperion
at Marvel Wiki
** Hyperion (Earth-712) at Marvel Wiki
*
Hyperion (Squadron Sinister version)
at Marvel Wiki
** King Hyperion at Marvel Wiki
** Hyperion (Earth-13034) at Marvel Wiki
** Hyperion (Squadron Supreme of America) at Marvel Wiki

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hyperion (Comics)
Avengers (comics) characters
Characters created by John Buscema
Characters created by Roy Thomas
Comics characters introduced in 1969
Comics characters introduced in 1971
Eternals (comics)
Marvel Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds
Marvel Comics characters with accelerated healing
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman senses
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength
Marvel Comics extraterrestrial superheroes
Marvel Comics male superheroes
Marvel Comics superheroes
Squadron Supreme