Pandora (DC Comics)
Template:Infobox comics character and title Pandora is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She is based on Pandora of Greek mythology.
Publication history
In August 2010, DC Comics released Wonder Woman #45, which introduced Pandora in a back story that involves how Diana Prince and Pandora are connected to the fate of the Amazons.[1] She went on to appear in Flashpoint #5 (October 2011), created by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert. Since then, she subsequently made a cameo appearance in every initial title of The New 52. In August 2013 DC Comics released Trinity War, a comic book story arc which picks up from Pandora's point of view on her cursed crusade to destroy the seven deadly sins. Her series lasted 14 issues and her fate is still open for further story development.[2]
Fictional character biography
Pre Crisis
Pandora first appears in New Comics #5 (June 1936). Pandora was a woman who was constructed long ago by Hephaestus and blessed by the Olympian Gods under order of Zeus to act as the living embodiment of all that is woman. Pandora was eventually given a box by Zeus as a keepsake to be presented to her mate which she was charged with never opening under any conditions. Pandora eventually chose Epimetheus as her mate and convinced him to open the box which released great evils onto the world while containing the force of Hope within the box. Pandora was eventually forced to wander the lands as a reviled figure until she was assimilated back into Earth by Gaea at her behest.
Flashpoint and New 52
Pandora first appears in Flashpoint #5 (October 2011), the conclusion to the "Flashpoint" event. She is responsible for causing the Flash to merge three separate timelines (the DC Universe, the Wildstorm Universe and select Vertigo titles) in order to create a new universe that is seen in the publications of The New 52. After this storyline, she had made a cameo appearance in the first issue of each initial New 52 title. Pandora was not named until January 2012, when Bob Harras posted a teaser on DC Comics' blog, stating that her name is Pandora.[3]
Pandora next appears where she has a dialogue with the Phantom Stranger. It is revealed that the two have a connection, via the Circle of Eternity, who cursed them to walk the Earth forever but unable to get involved.[4]
The origins of Pandora and those who would become The Question and the Phantom Stranger are summoned to the Rock of Eternity by the Circle of Eternity. They are labeled as the "Trinity of Sin" and are each given a punishment. For opening a box and releasing the evil contents, Pandora was sentenced to an eternity of loneliness, pain and being told she is evil. It is also revealed that she has re-obtained her box from A.R.G.U.S.'s Black Room, where it had been stored along with various other mystical items.[5]
The last wizard of the Council of Eternity appears before Pandora, and tells her that she did not deserve the punishment that she was given. Pandora questioned him on how to open the box, he stated that "only the strongest of heart or the darkest... can open the box and claim its power... and can transform the..." before disappearing in a bolt of lightning. Her own series was only 14 issues and a New 52's Future's End One Shot.[6]
Pandora's box was later revealed, in Forever Evil, not to be a mystical artefact at all, but a device for accessing Earth-3, underlining Pandora's innocence. Pandora recurred throughout the Forever Evil: Blight crossover event, taking place in Constantine, the Trinity of Sin titles, and Justice League Dark. After visiting Heaven with the Justice League Dark, Pandora begins to understand more about her true nature, which has something to do with the lights, and she uncovers an ability to manifest a much more powerful, golden angel form. Ultimately, her discovery of these powers is instrumental in defeating Blight, a powerful evil entity made up of humanity's dark side and potential for evil.
In Trinity of Sin — Pandora: Futures-End, it is revealed that the "Seven Deadly Sins" are in reality part of Pandora herself and that they are part of an unending cycle that ended with one of them being victorious and causing the multiverse to collapse and restart. This time, the part of her that is Hope wins and ends the cycle.
In the DC Universe 80-page Rebirth special, Pandora is murdered and disintegrated by a mysterious assailant after she implies that he was the one responsible for all of the sins for which she has been blamed.
Powers and abilities
Pandora's powers consist of immortality, magic and supernatural knowledge. She is skilled in martial arts and is also a weapons expert, having access to magical weaponry. She is omnilingual as well.[7][8]
She was even able to defeat the Seven Deadly Sins easily, with each Sin being capable of wiping out an entire Multiverse the size of DC Comics with ease, having done so multiple times before.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "Wonder Woman #45 – Legacy (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ "Pandora | DC Comics". DC Comics. DC Comics. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ "DC Comics' New 52 Mystery Woman". Comic Book Resources. January 3, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ Justice League Vol. 1 #6 (April 2012)
- ^ The New 52: FCBD Special Edition #1 (June 2012)
- ^ Justice League Vol. 2 #0
- ^ http://www.dccomics.com/characters/pandora
- ^ http://www.comicvine.com/pandora/4005-81779/