Vartox is a fictional

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

published by

DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...

Publication history

He first appeared in ''

Superman Superman is a superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, which first appeared in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1, published in the United States on April 18, 1938.The copyright date of ''Action Comics ...

'' #281 (November 1974) and was created by

Cary Bates Cary Bates (born 1948) is an American comic book, animation, television and film writer. He is best known for his work on ''The Flash'', ''Superman'', ''Superboy, the Legion of Superheroes'' and '' Captain Atom''. Bates is the longest-serving S ...

and

Curt Swan Douglas Curtis Swan (February 17, 1920 – June 17, 1996) was an American comics artist. The artist most associated with Superman during the period fans call the Bronze Age of Comic Books, Swan produced hundreds of covers and stories from the 195 ...

. When asked if the character was inspired by the 1974 film Zardoz, Bates stated "Absolutely, I remember giving Curt a bunch of Zardoz stills as swipes".

Fictional character biography

Vartox is a Valeronian, a humanoid alien from the planet Valeron in the Sombrero Galaxy. After Valeron is destroyed, Vartox adopts a new world which he is sworn to protect. He is older and more experienced than Superman, serving as a rival to him and vying for Lana Lang's affection. Vartox's wife is later killed after her "psychic twin" on Earth is murdered. He pursues the killer, Frank Sykes, to Valeron, ultimately capturing him and subjecting him to rapid aging. Vartox later comes into conflict with his former lover Syreena, who he had previously arrested. She later accidentally petrifies herself and Lana before being cured when Lana is.

Post-''Crisis''

In 1999 a post-''Crisis'' version of Vartox was introduced by

Dan Jurgens Dan Jurgens (; born June 27, 1959) is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for his work on the DC Comics, DC comic book storyline "The Death of Superman" and for creating characters such as Doomsday (DC Comics), Doomsday, Hank H ...

and Steve Epting. He makes his debut in ''Superman'' vol. 2 #148, alongside two other aliens named Vestion and Paz. This version has significantly reduced powers, apparently slightly less than the post-''Crisis'' Superman, and a revised costume. After Valeron's champion Ontor dies, Vartox becomes his self-proclaimed successor.

Current status

Vartox returns in ''

Power Girl Power Girl, also known as Kara Zor-L, Karen Starr, and Paige Stetler, is a superheroine appearing in American comic books by DC Comics, making her first appearance in ''All Star Comics'' #58 (January/February 1976).''Who's Who in the DC Unive ...

'' (vol. 2). After a "

contraceptive Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth control only be ...

bomb" renders every female Valeronian sterile, Vartox comes to Earth in search of a new wife, selecting Power Girl as the prime candidate. The two battle an Ix Negaspike, a dragon-like alien, before combining their powers to restore the Valeronians' fertility, impregnating all of them in the process.

In other media

Television

Vartox appears in the ''

Supergirl Supergirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original, current, and most well known Supergirl is Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), Kara Zor-El, the cousin of superhero Superman. Th ...

'' episode "

Pilot An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its Aircraft flight control system, directional flight controls. Some other aircrew, aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are al ...

", portrayed by

Owain Yeoman Owain Sebastian Yeoman is a Welsh actor, best known for playing CBI Agent Wayne Rigsby in the CBS series ''The Mentalist''. His additional credits include ''The Nine (TV series), The Nine'', ''Kitchen Confidential (TV series), Kitchen Confident ...

. This version is an escapee from the

Phantom Zone The Phantom Zone is a prison-like parallel dimension appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. It is mainly associated with stories featuring Superman. It first appeared in ''Adventure Comics'' #283 (April 1961), and was created b ...

prison Fort Rozz. After

defeats him, he commits suicide to avoid capture.

Miscellaneous

Vartox appears in the audio drama ''Death From A Distant Galaxy'', based on ''Superman'' #373 - #375.

References

External links