Geo-Force
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Geo-Force | |
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File:Geo-Force.jpg Geo-Force Art by Alan Davis. | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | Mentioned: Teen Titans #28 (February 1983) Appeared: The Brave and the Bold #200 (July 1983) |
Created by | Mike W. Barr Jim Aparo |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Brion Markov |
Team affiliations | Justice League Outsiders |
Abilities | Superhuman strength, endurance, and durability Flight Lava blasts Gravity manipulation Earth manipulation |
Geo-Force (Brion Markov) is a fictional superhero character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Markov is Prince of Markovia and the half-brother of Terra. Geo-Force is one of the founding members of the superhero group the Outsiders. He first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 (July 1983). The character was created by Mike W. Barr and Jim Aparo.[1]
Fictional character biography
Batman and the Outsiders
Dr. Helga Jace used a device to give Prince Brion Markov superpowers with which he could stop an insurrection mounted by the evil Baron Bedlam.[1] At this time, five other superheroes converged in Markovia for various reasons of their own. Veteran heroes Batman, Metamorpho, and Black Lightning joined forces with Geo-Force and two other new heroes, Katana and Halo. After stopping the insurrection, the heroes decided to stay together as the Outsiders, with Batman (who had resigned from the JLA) as team leader.[1]
Brion got along with his teammates, though he occasionally butted heads with Batman and his teammates due to his short-tempered personality. When he was not active as a superhero, Brion attended college in the US and began dating classmate Denise Howard.
In one of their earliest missions, the Outsiders teamed up with the Teen Titans, who were led at the time by Batman's sidekick, Robin. It was revealed that Geo-Force was the brother of Tara Markov, also known as Terra of the Titans.[1] Tara was the product of an affair King Markov (Brion's father) had with an unnamed American woman. Fearing scandal, the king sent Tara to be raised in the United States. Unbeknownst to Geo-Force and her fellow Titans, Terra was secretly a spy working for Deathstroke the Terminator. Brion was happy to be reunited with his half-sister, though Terra was less happy due to fears that Brion would say the wrong thing and possibly expose the fictional backstory she told the Titans about herself and how she gained her powers.
Several weeks later, Terra would betray the Titans to Deathstroke. In the climactic battle between the Titans and Deathstroke and Terra, Terra's sociopathic personality broke down as she tried to kill both the Titans and Deathstroke, when Deathstroke's son, Joseph, intervened on behalf of the Titans to stop his father. In the end, Terra accidentally killed herself when she tried to bury the Titans alive in a massive rock storm. At first, the Titans did not tell Geo-Force of her betrayal, letting him think that she died a hero. At a later date, however, Batman revealed the truth to Geo-Force, which left him even more heartbroken than before. In his depression, Geo-Force could not bring himself to continue wearing his "earthtone" costume, as it reminded him of Tara, who wore a similar uniform. Designed and suggested by Batman, a new green and gold costume was presented to Brion by his teammates to lift his spirits. It worked well, and Geo-Force wore those colors for most of his career. The colors had dual importance to Geo-Force as both the colors of his native Markovia's flag, and symbolically representing the Earth, from which his powers are derived (green), while reminding him how precious his gifts truly are (gold). By the time he joined the Justice League, however, Geo-Force had returned to another version of his old "earthtone" uniform.
The Outsiders
After the Outsiders split with Batman, they were privately funded by Markovia. During this time, Geo-Force was the unofficial new leader of the team. However, this information eventually came out and Major Disaster destroyed their base.
Around this time, the sovereignty of Markovia again came under threat. Investigating the mysterious new Prime Minister, Geo-Force led a team of Outsiders and Infinity Inc. members back to his homeland. Having grown up in the main castle, it was easy for Geo-Force to lead the team in. He soon discovered that the Psycho-Pirate in the disguise of long term Outsiders enemy Baron Bedlam was attempting to conquer the country. The two teams joined forces to stop Psycho-Pirate and left on good terms.
Brion meanwhile would have a one-night stand with Looker when the team was stranded on a desert island. The move would strain the relationship between Brion and his girlfriend Denise as well as Looker's relationship with her husband. Brion and Looker agreed to remain platonic friends afterward.
The United States government withdrew any foreign aid from Markovia until that nation released the true names of the Outsiders. Before King Gregor, Brion's older brother, could make a decision, he was murdered. Brion became king, but he was forced to abdicate and was imprisoned when his sister-in-law, Iona (Gregor's wife), revealed she is pregnant. His teammate Looker revealed to Brion that the murderer of his brother was the team's trusted friend and scientist associate, Doctor Jace. Jace had betrayed the team for the Manhunters, because she admired their dedication to knowledge. In the end, Jace would die along with a mind-controlled Metamorpho. This, along with a second battle with the descendants of teammate Looker which resulted in Looker being temporarily stripped of her powers and Halo left injured and comatose, caused the Outsiders to disband and Brion to retire as Geo-Force.
In the early 1990s, however, the Outsiders would be revived with former Outsiders Geo-Force, Katana, Halo, and Looker joined by new heroes Faust, Technocrat, and Wylde. The latter two were on hand to sell a new battlesuit to Markovia. Queen Iona has teamed up with Roderick, a vampire, in order to kill Geo-Force, though the first attempt made it seem as if Technocrat was under attack. Using a vampire's inability to be recorded, Roderick frames Geo-Force for Iona's on-air murder, forcing the team on the run.
Geo-Force and the Outsiders went on the run for some time, hiding out mostly in America. They eventually cleared their names and destroyed Roderick and his vampric legions. At the end of the second Outsiders series, Brion married his long-time girlfriend, Denise Howard.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/79/Terraresults.jpg/273px-Terraresults.jpg)
During this time, another Terra had appeared as part of a group known as the Team Titans, who appear to have come from the future. This new Terra claims to have been a normal girl who was given Terra's appearance and powers as a result of a DNA virus. Geo-Force's first attempt to talk to her meets with failure when he accidentally got swept up in a rock column she has created during a loud party. He found her again at the Titans headquarters. After a brief fight with her friends, he managed to sit down with her. The new Terra convinced him she is not his sister. Unfortunately, rogue Markovian scientists attacked with the intention of forcibly duplicating Terra's powers. Geo-Force and the other Titans rescued her. Further revelations implied that this Terra was in fact from their time, when the original Terra's grave was dug up and her corpse was missing from her coffin.
Brion invited Terra to live in Markovia, which she accepted, as her group of Titans was disbanding. In Markovia, scientists conducted a DNA test in hope of discovering if Terra was in fact Geo-Force's sister. Terra herself was in fear of the results, afraid that she might in fact be a villainous traitor. When the test results came back positive, Brion lied to Terra telling her that the results were negative, in order to spare her further stress due to the inconclusive results.
Around this time, as part of the Day of Judgement incident, a portal to hell threatened to swallow the country of Markovia. A small team of Outsiders, including the newer Terra, Katana, and the original Halo were on hand to help combat it.
Geo-Force briefly appears in 52 #35, assisting Metropolis citizens injured in a mass-murder incident caused by Lex Luthor. He later was a part of the army of heroes gathered by the Justice Society at the end of 52 to battle Black Adam, who in his global killing spree after the death of his wife and brother-in-law, had murdered Terra II. Before the battle, Geo-Force told Beast Boy not to blame himself for Terra II's death.
Justice League of America
While sailing in his yacht off the coast of Greece, Geo-Force suddenly found himself losing control over his powers, which had suddenly changed to include his sister's earth manipulation powers. This sudden increase in power, which caused Geo-Force to black out, was ultimately caused by the villainous Deathstroke through as yet unrevealed means.
Geo-Force sought help from the newly reformed Justice League of America, becoming an unofficial member of the group. This would ultimately be revealed to be Deathstroke's overall plan, as he ultimately confronted Geo-Force in order to blackmail him into becoming a spy, just like Terra, in exchange for Deathstroke promising one day to remove the added powers he forced upon Geo-Force. Unfortunately for Deathstroke; however, Geo-Force informed Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman of Deathstroke's scheme and agreed to become a double-agent: spying on Deathstroke for the League while spying on the League for Deathstroke.
Unfortunately, the scheme fell apart when Lex Luthor organized a new incarnation of the Injustice League and captured the Justice League. While a prisoner, Geo-Force was brutally tortured alongside Red Tornado, at the hands of Gorilla Grodd. While recovering from his injuries, Geo-Force is "traded" to Batman's latest incarnation of "The Outsiders" much to Geo-Force's dismay and ultimately, acceptance.
In DC Universe: Last Will and Testament, Geo-Force confronts Deathstroke in a battle. After contemplating murder he is persuaded otherwise by Black Lightning and Rocky Davis of the Challengers of the Unknown. He loses a lot of blood to Deathstroke in their fight, however he set their confrontation at the same alley/building complex where Deathstroke's second son Jericho was kidnapped to. Slashing his own throat in the same manner his son was cut lets Deathstroke's guard down, allowing Brion to impale Slade with his own sword and through his own body. Believing he has defeated Slade, while sacrificing his own life, he is surprised to wake up in the hospital. It is thought that he single handedly took down Deathstroke, but no one knows that Geo-Force was trying to commit suicide. Geo-Force becomes the field leader of the Outsiders and is seen to still be secretly living with the shame of his actions.
Blackest Night
Geo-Force is visited by his sister, who has been reanimated as a member of the Black Lantern Corps, Claiming to have been freed from the dark force that was controlling her, Tara begs Brion to kill her.[2] However, it is later reveals that it was a facade to make the Outsiders to feel emotional outbursts of her claims in order to feed. Geo-Force turned Terra into a statue and her ring is destroyed by Halo.[3]
Marriage/Divorce
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2011) |
Geo-Force later married his long-time girlfriend, Denise Howard.[volume & issue needed] However, since she was not a Markovian, the marriage was annulled by Brion's choice.[volume & issue needed] Unbeknownst to Brion, Denise later tried to undergo the experiment that give Geo-Force his powers, but because she did not have Markovian blood in her, she gained the same powers but with a changed appearance and with loss of sanity.[volume & issue needed] She was locked up, but escaped recently to take revenge on Markovia by killing several innocent Markovians.[volume & issue needed] At this time, Geo-Force is proclaiming his affections for Katana but before she could answer Geo's declaration of love, they are interrupted by Eradicator.[volume & issue needed] Eradicator informs Brion of Geode's escape and her recent attack on Markovia.[volume & issue needed]
Geo-Force and Eradicator go to intercept Geode.[volume & issue needed] The battle with Brion's deranged wife seemed one sided as Geode smacked both heroes around like ragdolls.[volume & issue needed] Eradicator pleaded with Geo-Force to use his powers to subdue Geode but Brion was conflicted with the idea of striking his wife.[volume & issue needed] With Geo-Force unable to take the intiative, Eradicator decided to unleash the full extent of his power to knock Geode unconscious.[volume & issue needed]
Later on, Geode is free from her captivity thanks to an unusual character named Veritas. Veritas wants Geode to begin Markovia's immediate destruction which will draw out Geo-Force.[volume & issue needed] Geo-Force pinpoints the center of the disturbnce in Markovia and is approached by Veritas.[volume & issue needed] Veritas asks Brion to join him and reestablish Markovia's Old World Order.[volume & issue needed] Brion refuses Veritas' offer and Veritas tells Geode to kill her estranged husband.[volume & issue needed] Geo-Force gathers his strength and becomes a giant rock creature.[volume & issue needed] Unfortunately, Brion's unstable powers have put Markovia in danger because his new form consists of Markovia itself and earthquakes begin to spring up.[volume & issue needed] One earthquake opens up a large crevice beneath Geode and Veritas.[volume & issue needed] The two villains fall to their supposed doom and Geo-Force finally realizes that Veritas used Geode to tempt Geo-Force into unleashing his untapped abilities in order to destroy Markovia.[volume & issue needed] Now, Markovia is torn between civil war and the devastation that Brion inadvertently wrought on his people.[volume & issue needed]
Outsiders militia
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Powers and abilities
As implied by his codename, all of Brion's powers are in some way related to the planet Earth. He can manipulate the Earth's gravitational field to make an object heavier ("plus-gravity") or lighter ("null-gravity"). He can also project scorching "lava blasts" in imitation of terrestrial volcanoes. By using his null-gravity power on himself coupled with lava blasts for propulsion, Geo-Force can fly at great speeds for short periods of time (his teammate Black Lightning once remarked that Geo-Force weakens after flying 1,000 miles). Geo-Force has also demonstrated the ability to manipulate the Earth itself, in a manner similar to Terra[volume & issue needed] Geo-force has also been shown to have the ability to turn organic material to stone. This ability is not quite explained in the one instance he has turned the reanimated corpse of Terra to stone.[volume & issue needed]
Geo-Force also possesses impressive superhuman strength and durability. In fact, Geo once used his gravity manipulation powers to enhance his own super-strength, giving him power enough to fight Superman toe-to-toe.[4] When he was shot in the back by the clone of Baron Bedlam, the bullets staggered him, but they did not puncture his skin[volume & issue needed]. With the addition to Terra's powers to his own, his durability seems diminished. He can now be at least slashed by sharp items,[5] but usually deep wounds trigger an increase in his powers leading to earth-manipulation powers.[citation needed]
Geo-Force gained his powers due in part to his heritage as a prince of Markovia, and the effects of the device designed for manifesting said powers. Only one with royal Markov blood can retain these powers permanently. The source of Geo-Force's powers is the Earth itself. During his first adventure, Geo-Force was apparently killed and buried by enemy soldiers. The Earth nurtured Geo-Force, healing his wounds and essentially "recharging" him.[6]
Geo-Force is at his strongest when he is firmly planted on the ground; his powers and health will deteriorate if he is taken off of the Earth for a long period of time. In such instances, Geo-Force will die unless he returns to Earth in time.[7]
Other versions
In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, Brion Markov is the king of Markovia. At some point he was contacted by Mera while trying to make an alliance with the Atlanteans due to the Amazonian Invasion of the UK, and later captured by Aquaman who attached the young king to a machine constructed by Vulko in order to amplify Brion's powers of manipulation of the Earth's gravitational field. It was through Brion that Aquaman managed to cause Western Europe to sink into the sea.[8]
In other media
Television
Geo-Force appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!" voiced by Hunter Parrish. He is shown as one of the latest members of the Outsiders when they help Batman fight Kobra.
Brion Markov will appear in the 22nd episode of Arrow as a seismologist.
References
- ^ a b c d Jimenez, Phil (2008). "Geo-Force". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 137. ISBN 0-7566-4119-5. OCLC 213309017.
- ^ Outsiders vol. 4, #24
- ^ Outsiders vol. 4, #25
- ^ Batman And the Outsiders #19
- ^ DC Universe: Last Will and Testament
- ^ Batman And The Outsiders #1-2 (August/September 1983)
- ^ Outsiders vol. 2, #24
- ^ Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #1 (June 2011)
External links
- Wikipedia articles needing copy edit from November 2012
- DC Comics superheroes
- DC Comics characters with superhuman strength
- DC Comics metahumans
- Comics characters introduced in 1983
- Fictional kings
- Characters created by Mike W. Barr
- Fictional characters with earth or stone abilities
- Characters created by Jim Aparo